Rover Bulletin No 46

NUMBER FORTY SIX. 29th June 1945

Dear Lads,

Here we are a month after reporting the grand news of the return of our two P.O.W. Jimmy and Tommy and to-night we had a gathering round the old table for Jimmy has now had a holiday and has come to the Cottage for the first time since his return. Some gathering it was!

A great many blew in.

Mr Leask and Jimmy (Johnston).

John (Baird) turned up unexpectedly on leave from Belgium (Bruges).

Jack (Piper), is still at Lympstone, Devon, on shore at the Dental Hospital.

Tommy (Thomson) has now got indefinite leave and so is in no way hurried to report back.

Bill (McHaffie) now has a post with the Colonial Engineering Service (Nigeria) and is waiting on instructions. Good lad, Bill, and good luck!

John (Baird) very very pleased to be home for a time, shyly informed us of his engagement. It took place nearly a year ago – talk about keeping it dark. She is a Miss Evelyn Margaret Drewry of Edinburgh at present in the A.S. serving overseas. The very best of luck John, and may you and yours soon be out of the Services and home permanently. John’s demob number is 25.

By the way, lads, Mr, Leask asks specially for your demob number – state it in your first letter and please give your location – (where you are) – there can be no secret to give away now – at least for many of you.

Rowan (Finlay) – Sensational news! Rowan is arranging to be married at the beginning of August but to whom? We only now learn that it is not to be to the lady going out on the ship, but to another whom he has known out in the Sudan. The lady of the ship is marrying a major. We’ve heard nothing from Rowan – he must be too busy making sure of this one. Right Rowan? Best of luck and every happiness to you and Wendy (we understand).

We hear David (Clark) is coming home on leave – seems ages since we’ve seen him.

Hal (Stewart) is on his last trip across the Atlantic for he is now to stay in this country on a new job with the same company.

Ian (Thomson) was home and is he fat and fair! You’ve to see him to believe it. He has finished his training so may hear things soon (Australia?)

We must take our hats off to Mr, Frier (our official gardener). The garden at the Cottage is really very good and its a treat to put your key in the door and look round. We better say no more as some of you will be making a dash for it home! Thanks Mr. Frier!

Dick (Spaven) says his sojourn at home has almost ended. He says “I don’t know where I shall be, I may even be back in civvy street. It will all depend on my next Medical Board. By the way I have written a one-act play (Comedy, I hope) perhaps it may be of use in a future show.” It’s too big to get into the Cottage letterbox, lads, so what? Thank you, Dick, we’ll give it the once over. Good luck!

Chorty (Turnbull) – “Life is so hectic out here – see one motor car every 3 weeks – only 180 miles away there’s a flush lavatory.” The monsoon is on – floods everywhere, He has visited Poona Bazaar – – St. Serf’s Jumble ain’t in It. “I never felt better in my life. Re demob? It looks as if I had a chance of being home in a year from now.”

Bruce (Bailie) is away overseas (India).

George (Simpson) is on another course at Ballah and is liking it fine. He has met an Aberdour lad (his mechanic) John McLaren, who knows all our “auld yins”. Great stuff, George!

Harry (Fyfe) a new lad from the Troop, and just called up, is getting on well under strict training.

Ian (Moffat) volunteered to box and came up against a pukka boxer. The fight lasted one round as he ‘hit the deck’ in that time. The laugh was he came back to life in a truck going back, with the cup in his pocket. Good time for your leave, Ian!

Ian (Furnival) rejoiced at the return of Jimmy and Tommy and hopes to be demobbed by Christmas.

Will (Taylor) has had more leave but still counts the days till his return from West Africa.

Peter (Williamson) is about to leave for the Far East.

Gilbert (Williamson) is now near Cairo.

Joey (Stewart) is on a route touching Karachi, Jodhpur and Allahabad. He was also at Poona.

Murray (Frier) hopes to be home in the next three months and possibly out of it at the end of the year. He’s in group 18. He’s done 4 years overseas.

Campbell (McKellar) has finished his course at Ambala and had 10 days leave in Simla – a home from home. He is now in Meerut.

David (Gosman) now has three medals. Burma Star, 1939-43 Star and Defence Medal. To lads about to be called up he says “Try to got into the Intelligence Corps especially the Field Security Branch. It is the most interesting and freelance job in the Army. Most people at home don’t realise how we have no shows or films – it gets some lads down. Remember Jimmy Reilly and hundreds more like him are still out here and its for their sakes more than anyone that we’ll have to keep going as hard as ever”

Jim (Frier) sent a beautiful card commemorating Victory in Europe, He is in Eindhoven. He’s had 72 hours in Paris and a week-end in Brussels with posh hotels and all comforts “Imagine, out of all the people in Paris, that I should meet the meenister’s dochter, Ann Wright. I also saw Eisenhower, De Gaulle and the Sultan of Monaco”. He stayed with a grape grower acquaintance of Mr Barrie near Brussels. I guess l have been very lucky coming out of the hat for the various trips, but I can’t help it!

Bill (McKelvie) was home for the christening of his son and heir.

Stanley (Mackie) has been convalescing in Tel Aviv.

The 100s in India are getting into touch with each other by letter. Every letter received since the announcement of Jimmy’s, and Tommy’s return conveys messages of good wishes to them.

Cheerio, all the best.