Correspondence relating to William Dunstan, August - December 1945 - Part 5

C O P Y
309493 Captain W. Dunstan
No 1. General Hospital,
Kantara,
EGYPT.
27th September, 1945.
My dear Dad,
I as still in hospital having treatment for my
teeth. Apparently it really was a hell of a job removing
the wisdom tooth and the jaw still aches like the devil.
I don't have to stay in bed, but can get up and
wander about. After I have seen the dentish at 9.30 a.m.
and the heat-treatment chappie at 10. there is absolutely
nothing to do, so you can imagine what an exciting time I am
having. Kantara is just a bit too far from anywhere to
visit any place that is worth while.
I only wish I had some work to do or someone
would give me a job. However, 80% of the Army are in the
same boat at present — just killing time until they are
released. I am quite sure demobilisation could be speeded
up a lot if all these Army diehards weren't so keen on
stopping their own little empires from crumbling.
When I leave here I have to report to that
place of lost souls, — Base Depot R.A., Almaza!
When I eventually get on board a ship again
I will have to return here to catch it. A round trip of
a couple of hundred miles gives some little organisation
some work to do, so I suppose I shouldn't grumble.
However, the thought of having to put up with
that sort of thing for a long time to come, just about causes
me to weep tears of blood.
Sorry this letter is not more cheerful - blame
the toothache. You had better continue writing to the
India address - I suppose I will get there some day.
Lots of love -
BILL 

September 27, 1945.
Sir Iven Mackay K.B.E.,
His Majesty's High Commissioner for Australia,
NEW DELHI.   INDIA.
My dear Sir Iven,
I am writing to you in a personal way about
my son - 309493 Captain William Dunstan, of 383
Battery, 91st Royal Artillery, - now posted to
R.A.J.N.G., India Command. I have no idea what
this address implies, nor what the posting amounts to.
Bill served with the 2/4th Field Regiment
A.I.F., 7th Division, North Africa, Syria, etc. and
upon his return to Australia was posted to the Armoured
Division. Later, as the United Kingdom was calling
for Artillery Officers, Bill volunteered and was sent
to Cairo. Here he topped the Royal Artillery School
and was posted to the 91st Field Regiment. He served
some time in Palestine, Lebanon and Iran. His
Regiment then went to Italy. For short periods the
Regiment was at Caserta and Cassino and then took part
in the second landing at Anzio. After the capture of
Rome, and subsequent to "D" Day, the Regiment went to
Belgium and took part in the push across the Rhine and
Elbe and since V.E-Day have been occupation troops.
As Bill has seen approximately six years
service, from school to age 25, I am getting somewhat
anxious about his future.
In expectation of his discharge in the
United Kingdom, I had made arrangements to bring him
home through America and to do some rehabilitation
training there. This, of course, has now fallen
through.
/1 

Sir Iven Mackay K.B.E..    2.    

September 27, 1945.
I have written Bill and suggested that
when and if he is in, or near, your area, he might
pay you a call and seek your advice as an old friend.
I hope you do not mind. I feel you won't.
I hope all goes well with you and yours.
Kindest regards,
Yours truly,
(W.Dunstan) 

September 27, 1945.
Roy Gollan Esq.

Trade Commissioner for Australia,

Gorton Castle,

SIMLA.    

INDIA.

 

Dear Roy,

I am writing about young Bill. I think

you know his record. He is now in his sixth year

in the Army — service being with 2/4th Field regiment

A.I.F. — North Africa, Syria, etc. Then when 7th

Division returned to Australia he was posted to

Armoured Division. This looked a poor outlook for

him (as it eventually proved) and he applied for and

got a transfer to the British Army. After topping

the Cairo School he was posted to 91st Royal Artillery

and served in Palestine, Syria, Lebanon and Iran.

Then on to Italy, - right through Anzio and Rome.

After Rome fell the Regiment transferred to 21st Army

Group, B.L.A. (Belgium) and took part in the push

across the Rhine, Elbe, etc. Bill by now had been

promoted Captain and was F.O.O. for his Regiment in 

the big push.

After V.E-Day he was with the Occupation 

Army for some time, but now has been posted to India.

This was just as I was hoping to get him home through

America, where he could get some specialised training.

He should be in India well before your receive this.

I have asked him to look you up and to seek

your advice any time he needs it. I know you won't

mind doing this for me. His address is a mystery to

me. It is — 309393 Captain William Dunstan,

R.A.J.N.G., India Command.

Hope all's well with you.

Best regards.

 Yours truly,

September 27, 1945.
Group Captain K. Wallace Crabbe,

R.A.F.,

care Air H.Q.(I),

INDIA.

Dear Ken,

I am writing about young Bill. I think

you know his record. He is now in his sixth year

in the Army -service being with 2/4th Field Regiment

A.I.F. — North Africa, Syria, etc. Then when 7th

Division returned to Australia he was posted to

Armoured Division. This looked a poor outlook for

him (as it eventually proved) and he applied for and

got a transfer to the British Army. After topping

the Cairo School he was posted to 91st Royal Artillery

and served in Palestine, Syria, Lebanon and Iran.

Then on to Italy, — right through Anzio and Rome.

After Rome fell the Regiment transferred to 21st Army

Group, B.L.A. (Belgium) and took part in the push

across the Rhine, Elbe, etc. Bill by now had been

promoted to Captain and was F.O.O. for his Regiment in 

the big push.

After V.E-Day he was with the Occupation 

Army for some time, but now has been posted to India.

This was just as I was hoping to get him home through

America, where he could get some specialised training.

He should be in India well before you receive this.

I have asked him to look you up and to seek

your advice any time he needs it. I know you won't

mind doing this for me. His address is a mystery to

me. It is — 309393 Captain William Dunstan,

R.A.J.N.G., India Command.

Hope all's well with you.

Best regards.

Yours truly, 

September 27, 1945.
Colonel Gordon S. Jenkins,

DDPR,

GHQ,

NEW DELHI.   

INDIA.

Dear Gordon,

I am writing about young Bill. I think

you know his record. He is now in his sixth year

in the Army — service being with 2/4th Field Regiment

A.I.F. — North Africa, Syria, etc. Then when 7th

Division returned to Australia he was posted to

Armoured Division. This looked a poor outlook for

him (as it eventually proved) and he applied for and

got a transfer to the British Army. After topping

the Cairo School he was posted to 91st Royal Artillery

and served in Palestine, Syria, Lebanon and Iran.

Then on to Italy, — right through Anzio and Rome.

After Rome fell the Regiment transferred to 21st Army

Group, B.L.A. (Belgium) and took part in the push

across the Rhine, Elbe, etc. Bill by now had been

promoted to Captain and was F.O.O. for his Regiment in 

the big push.

After V.E-Day he was with the Occupation 

Army for some time, but now has been posted to India.

This was just as I was hoping to get him home through

America, where he could get some specialised training.

He should be in India well before your receive this.

I have asked him to look you up and to seek

your advice any time he needs it. I know you won't

mind doing this for me. His address is a mystery to

me. It is — 309393 Captain William Dunstan,

R.A.J.N.G., India Command.

Hope all's well with you.

Best regards.

Yours truly, 

AIR MAIL LETTER CARD

6/10/45

Mrs. W. Dunstan

20 Wallace Avenue

Toorak SE2

Melbourne

Victoria

AUSTRALIA

309493

Capt. W. Dunstan RA

No. 1 Gen Hospital

MEF

309493

Capt. W. Dunstan

The Melbourne Herald

85 Fleet St.

London

6 October

Page 1

My Dear Mum

I am afraid that

the last letter I wrote was

not too cheerful as it was

written in the throes of a

bout of toothache. My mouth

feels a lot better now so

I am leaving the hospital

tomorrow to make my way 

to the Base Depot at Almaza.

I want to get to India as

soon as possible in order to

catch up with my baggage

and mail. With luck I

should manage to get there

by the end of the month.

I can now give you some

more definite information as

to when His Majesty who

will be dispensing with my

services. According to a 

gentleman by the name of George

Isaacs, whom I believe is one

of Mr. Attlees cabinet, group

31, in which I am, is due

for release about next May

or June. This is a lot 

better than I had anticipated.

By that time I will

have been away from home

so long that I will

probably ask to have

myself demobilised in

India in order to get

home as soon as possible.

I believe an Army Council

Instruction was issued

recently, stating that

Dominion & Colonial troops

serving in the British Army

will, if they desire, be 

repatriated to their own

countries. Unless I have

a good win at the Bombay

races I don't think I

could afford to go back to

England & return to Australia

via USA as I originally

intended. It would 

probably be better if I

came home as soon as 

possible and decided how 
I was going to keep

Mrs. W. Dunstan

20 Wallace Avenue

Toorak SE2

Melbourne

Victoria

AUSTRALIA

A Dunstan

309493

Capt. W. Dustan RA

No 1 Gen Hospital

MEF