Letters relating to William Arthur Allsopp - Part 9

And when we started skiting about, and

comparing it to the Sydney bridge the people

didnt know what we were talking about
so maybe Sydney is only a small place

afterwards. The bridge is truly a great
engineering feat, but the spans are not as

long as those of the Harbour Bridge, but then

again it only cost about half the amount of

money.

After quitting Edinburgh we hied
off to a place called Aberfeldy up in the
highlands and a prettier place would

be hard to find. The country around there

is beautiful and this town is set in a
valley with the Taye River running through
it. It is a great resort for trout fishing so

we cadged a few rods and spent a great

few days trout fishing sleeping and eating.

I think that was the first time I had to
knock any food back since I arrived in

this country and have experienced that

feeling which I thought was only imagination,

of being full of food for few days on end.

The old girl we were staying with was

as scotch as Dewars whisky and

looked after us extra well and then only charged

us 6/- a day so it looks like off to Scotland

every leave now. We caught a fair few

fish and one of the Aussies I was with,

has the honour of catching the biggest trout

this year to be taken out of the river, but

I think this honour is doubtful as we

now think he was poaching on some

game sanctuary when he caught it.

I would like you to see this country

everything green for miles around and

lochs couched in between big hills

each with its own waterfall. I think

I might look for a wee scot's lassie with

a big farm and settle down to a life of

ease or something. Up there it doesnt
get dark untill 1 A M and tis light at

3 A M so there are good long days, but I

suppose winter would be just the opposite.

That the worst of this hemisphere, beautiful

in the summer, but lousy in the

winter.
Am now up in Yorkshire so

can clear off and see how these dear

Yorkshire people live and might continue to

sell our labour of haymaking for a feed of
bacon and eggs.

I suppose you have been receiving

my cables. I think it is a good way even though
you cant say anything, of letting you know that

I am still hale and happy. As you see

I am writing by courtesy of the A.C.F, but that

is only because the R.C. Padre has charge of

the distribution and is maybe trying to kid

some of the bad types to Church - which you

know there is no need to do in my case.
How's things at home and from what

source is Pop now getting his sugar? I think

things must be a bit tough now with

Australia on a war footing but I suppose

you will make out alright. I think the last

letters I got from you were dated March

so I'm a bit behind in news but I see where they

may be starting an Air Graph system to

Australia now. Well mum, as usual

I have not much to say, of note so

I will say cheerio to you with love to

the family and remember me to who's

who. Love Bill xxxx

P.S. I never received any letter from the Shire. 

Avs 411063.  Sgt Allsopp W.A.

overseas Hdqts.

Kodak House

Kingsway
London W.C.2

England.
17th July '42

Dear Mr. & Mrs. John Allsopp.

I adress you as such, not having

had the pleasure of meeting Mrs John Allsopp,

and the words dear sister-in-law do not appear to

read correctly so will have to be content with

the above.

Well, this is a well meant but very

belated attempt at a letter of congratulation and

the wish for your future happiness seeing you

two have joined forces and decided two can

live as cheaply as one. I would have written

earlier but only received word about a month

ago of the happy event, so I promptly despatched

a cable, which no doubt you didnt receive, and

this is only to endorse that. The mail comes through

very irregularly and I think Mum mentioned

something about Jack and his wife doing something

or other, before I received the letter saying you

were happily wed. The only wedding gift I am

able to make at the present time is to cancell

all Jack's debts to me, which should be a

considerable relief to Jack but of no value

to Mrs Jack Allsopp but that is the best

I can do, seeing the circumstances.

I received word today of Mick's

marriage also, so seeing I will have no one

to go to the races with, I think I will hie off

to Scotland and catch myself a wee scot’s
lassie. The girls up there are very nice indeed

particularly those who happen to posses a dairy

or a chicken farm; but up to date the Australian

girl is about three furlongs in front, but have

heard good reports of the veiled water carriers

and such like out east so I will reserve my

judgment untill a later date.

As you can see I am writing per courtesy
of the Australian Comforts Fund - the distribution of

some on this station being the R.C. Padre,
so seeing I'm a good type and go to Mass now

and again I am well stocked with stationary

and biscuits, and am living in hope, with the

passing of a few more Sunday masses, to

of advance to the tinned fruit and chocolate 

stage. The old boy is very interested in
medieval art and buildings and has promised
to give me the low down on the public buildings

and Cathedral of the nearby city of York - steeped

in Catholic tradition - which should be very

interesting - no doubt.

I don't know if it is quite the thing to

write about local happenings in letters such as

this was meant to be but seeing the mails
are far between will have to skip that.

The last I heard of Bede he was chasing around

the Middle East - this from a Rhodesian who 

thinks he knows him - and was doing alright

for himself, though by now he would be well

in it. I've been over to see how Jerry is

behaving a couple of times, and had a grandstand

seat of a firework's display but an now off

on a conversion course to Halifax, so have

plenty of time to polish up my St.Christopher's medal.

Les McLeod, Mac Ross and Clive Sutton, when I last

saw them about a fortnight ago, were going
extra well and posted to this squadron at

the same time as I, was George Sloman. Remember

him? Pretty small worl; as some one once said.

This country is beautiful now and will be an

ideal time to have a honeymoon; everything as green
as could be, and covered with wild flowers. I was

up in the Highlands of Scotland a few week ago, and

spent the best week since I've been in this country,

eating, sleeping, fishing and laying snares for

defenceless, buxom country wenches. There's no

doubt that Scotland is pretty, what with its lochs,

and birks and each hill with its individual

waterfall emptying into the parent stream. It didnt

get dark untill 1 AM and daybreak at 4 AM.

So there was plenty of daylight for fishing for trout

and hiking, but this phenomen to us, has its disadvantages

as well as its advantages. The Australian blue

was a novelty there and the people gave us a wonderful

time so it looks like 'back to Scotland every leave

now'; meantime getting the "gen" on the Highland

reels and such like.

Most likely by the time you receive this letter

You will be looking upon yourselves as old married
people, so I will say cheerio for the present, again with

the wish for your happiness, and the hope for
other tidings of another happy event.

Love and Regards

Bill.

Reference:-

358/C68/60/P1.

No. 35 Squadron,

R.A.F.Station,

Linton-on-Ouse.

Yorks.

26th July, 1942.

Dear Mrs. Allsopp,

I find it my unfortunate task of confirming the cable

you will have received informing you that your Son is reported missing from
operations.

As Air Gunner of his aircraft he took off at midnight
on the 25/26th July to attack Duisburg, and I regret to say we had no further

communication with him.

The weather conditions throughout the route were good and

Pilots reported that they had encountered no heavy storms or any abnormal

conditions so that we can only presume he came to grief through enemy action 

either by fighters or ground defences. No news was heard of his aircraft after he

had taken off so that we do not know at what stage of the flight he was

brought down.

In spite of this lack of any information, we can very

reasonably hope that they were able to abandon their aircraft and land safely

by parachute or even make a forced landing and are prisoners of war, in which 
case we may expect news of them in due course. Some times this comes

through

within a few days, but on the other hand it night be some weeks or more.
Whilst in the Squadron your Son was always cheerful and most
popular with every one. His work was carried out most thoroughly and he

always

set a very fine example to us all.

I and the Officers and your Son's fellow N.C.Os, and the
remainder of the Squadron wish to convey to you our very deep sympathy in

this
period of anxiety, and wish you to know that we are all waiting with equal

anxiety

for the good news that he is safe but a prisoner of war.

I am enclosing the names and addresses of the next-of-kin

of the other members of his crew in order that you may communicate with them

should you wish to do so.

Your Son's kit and private effects are being attended to now

by the Padre and my Adjutant. It is the regulation that they are forwarded to

a Standing Committee of Adjustment.
You may rest assured that I shall forward any further news

immediately it is received.

One further point, I would request you to be discreet

concerning the items of information contained in this letter which might be useful

to the enemy.

Your sincerely

J H Marks

Wing Commander, Commanding

No. 35 Squadron

Mrs. I.M.Allsopp,

Napier Street,

Tamworth,
N.S.W.

Australia.

LA. 5271.

RAAF 163/87/240(7A)
AUG 24 1942

[*87860*]

Dear Madam,

I desire to confirm telegram from this Department

dated the 30th July, 1942, informing you that your son,
Sergeant William Arthur Allsopp, is reported to be missing

as a result of air operations on the night of the 25/26th
July, 1942.

The details available at present in this Department

are that your son was a member of the crew of a Halifax aircraft

which was lost while on an operational flight on the date

mentioned above. The circumstances surrounding the loss of
the aircraft are unknown, but it is presumed to have taken place
over enemy territory.

I would point out, however, that although your son

has been reported missing, he is not necessarily killed or

wounded, and, in view of this, it may be of assistance to you,

in your anxiety, to know what action is taken to trace missing

members of the Air Force. I am, therefore, forwarding herewith

a leaflet which gives full information concerning this matter.

You will see from the leaflet that any further information

received will be conveyed to you immediately.

I desire to extend to you the sincere sympathy of the

Department in the anxiety you are suffering.
Yours faithfully,

M.C. Langslow

(M.C.Langslow)

SECRETARY

Enc.

Mrs. I. M. Allsopp,

Napier Street,

TAMWORTH,  N.S.W.

Casualty Section,

DEPARTMENT OF AIR

Merton Hall,

MELBOURNE, XXXX Anderson St.,

South Yarra.

S.E.1.

[*30419*]

[*JAN 4 [[?]]*]

163/87/240(19a)

Dear Madam,

I deeply regret that I have to confirm the telegram

from this Department dated the 23rd December, 1942, informing you

that your son, Sergeant William Arthur Allsopp, previously

reported missing is now reported missing believed to have lost

his life on the 26th July, 1942.

The change of classification has been made by the Air

Ministry, London, in consequence of a report received from the

International Red Cross Committee at Geneva, which states that

according to German information your son lost his life as a result

of the operations following which he was reported to be missing.

I regret that the report does not state your son's place of burial,

but should this information be received it will be immediately

conveyed to you.

Although, unfortunately, there is no reason to doubt

the accuracy of this report, information obtained by the Red Cross

from enemy sources that a member of the Air Force has lost his life,

is not, in the absence of corroboration, accepted by the Air

Ministry as conclusive evidence of death. Your son has therefore

been classified for the time being, as "missing but believed to have

lost his life".

Should corroborative evidence of your son's death be

forthcoming, a statement will then be made that he has lost his life.

In the absence of such corroboration, enquiries will be continued

with a view to obtaining further information, but should no further

evidence be received, steps will be taken after the lapse of

approximately six months from the date upon which your son became

missing, to presume his death for official purposes. You will be

informed by telegram when this action has been taken.

.....2/.