Rover Bulletin No. 53

NUMBER FIFTY THREE. 31st January 1946.

Dear Lads,

Several replies have been received about the continuation of this Bulletin and they show that a good deal of disappointment would be felt if it stopped. Make certain all you fellows in far off parts that no such thing will take place. The Bulletin will go on. We wanted to alter its form to suit the very much changed position – many older lads now being demobbed – but meantime it will go as usual.

We have a wee sweepstake on just now to raise funds for postages etc., and the going is good. Prizes – a pair of silk stockings and a large box of chocolates. We received a handsome donation of £1 from Mrs Wright at North Berwick for which we are very grateful. We receive other donations (on the quiet) for which we are also very grateful.

John (Baird) is now home for good and very pleased to be done with it all. He’s wearying on his lady love (we think) who unfortunately is still overseas.

Tommy (Thomson) has put in for another 18 months service and also for an Extended Commission, which, if he gets it will last a good many years.

Stand back lads for sensational news!!! Tommy has become engaged – to a nice young lady from Ayr – at present a medical student at the University here. Congratulations, and the very best of luck to you both! There’s a chance that Tommy may be posted not very far from here.

Continuing with news of the hatches and matches.

David (Clark) and his wife paid us a very welcome surprise visit when going North to Aberdeen to continue their honeymoon. Now we learn that Eddie (Gamley) has met them in Aberdeen. David and his wife will come back to stay in Edinburgh, David returning to his job in the bank. Grand!!

Another homecoming – Gilbert (Williamson) is just home and even called in to see us on his first day, after a lot of heavy travelling.

Peter (Williamson) called too, and he expects to be out in about a month and back to his old job in London. He may come North to represent his firm when things get in to stride again.

Murray (Frier) is feeling much better but has not heard the result of his all-In medical examination yet.

Some of you may be wondering what our programme is on Fridays. Well, apart from the usual feed and chatter we find ourselves discussing – informally many quite important subjects – often the result of new legislation passed by the Labour Government – all most productive in getting adjusted to the post war resettlement. We can assure you the evenings are full of life.

Will (Taylor) is now at Tain You mention a course for aircrew Will, Are you now in the air?

Bruce (Bailie) has received a letter from Chorty asking him to meet him in Poona, but unfortunately it is a month old by now and Bruce has moved. Hard luck. We don’t know just how to get you lads more quickly in touch with one another. It would be grand if we could. He is now in barracks in Singapore. Demob seems a long way off for him. He says “The amount of stuff in the Singapore shops is incredible. Stacks of American Watches and fountain pens all at terrible prices.”

Alasdair (MacKellar) has left the “Mermaid” and now has an appointment in R.N. Hospital Malta and from his point of view an excellent job. He says “We spent a month in Beirut where I had a trip to Damascus and then returned to Alexandria. From there we came back to Malta and went up to Trieste – a lovely spot. My only regret was that I had to leave there before I had a chance of getting to Venice. Since coming here I have bumped Into Colin Cheshire who was in the Cubs & Scouts at one time. He is a writer on the Vice Admiral Malta staff. Big changes have been taking place lately. Nearly all the doctors left have straight stripes – only three R.N.V.R. Malta has quite a strong Scout Movement and I have been approached to take on the job of Assistant District Commissioner for half of the Island. The Commissioner is also a doctor in the hospital so we are going to see what we can do.” Really grand, Alasdair, and best of luck. “There Is certainly plenty of scope for work and the Government appears willing to do all it can to help.”

Campbell (MacKellar) from the North West Frontier says “The warfare is just glorified police work with an odd spot of shooting here and there. I’ve been out ‘on column’ again but once again was lucky enough not to be shot at. Columns are interesting because they offer a good deal of variety in work and living, as opposed to the life within the barbed wire, out of which you cannot go. Apart from that it is rather ridiculous that three to four thousand armed men should go out on a ‘police tour! because twenty or thirty mischievous Pathans have been shooting at each other.

However that is India and probably much safer than many places in the plains such as Calcutta, Bombay, Delhi and so on. India’s trouble lies in the fact that there are so many different religious sects each seeking to establish itself by fair means or foul and each coveting the others possessions and power. The British are first class scapegoats for anyone who wants to find a cause for some apparent injustice or wrong.” He has a hope of wangling some leave home. Hope so. Thank you very much Alasdair and Campbell.

CHEERIO LADS!