Letters from Lt Colin Douglas Simper to Mrs Irene Simper Wallet 3, Part 5

July 27^th

SX8878

Sgt GW Bellinger

HQ Coy 2/48 Bn

AIF.

Dear Mrs Simper

No doubt you will  

be surprised to receive this letter, but

I felt I'd like to write & express,

both my own and the whole platoons

sympathy to you in your sad

loss.

Col was greatly admired & liked

by us all & it was a very great

shock to all of us when we were

informed of his death, so I can

appreciate just what it meant

to you.

He was very game & even

after he was hit, he tried to

carry another lad out who also was

II

very badly wounded. Failing

to do it on account of the difficult

country, he managed to crawl

out himself with the aid of a

stick despite his weakened

condition, and all the way back

to a dressing station he was

more concerned about the chap

who was left behind than about

his own condition. Forgive me if

I have hurt you by mentioning

all this, but I thought perhaps you

would be interested to know just

what actually happened.

I am sending his watch along

to you. I couldn't send it much

before, as the Army wont allow

us to write to relatives for a

month or so after its been published

in newspapers, and I didn't like

sending it without letting you

know. Ill register it, so if

it isn't home by the end of

Sep. you can let me know & Ill

see if anything can be done,

until then Ill say Goodbye

Yours respectfully

GW Bellinger

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

The Queen and I offer you our

heartfelt sympathy in your great 

sorrow.

We pray that your country's

gratitude for a life so nobly given

in its service may bring you some

measure of consolation

George R.I.

10 June, 1947

Dear Mrs Simper,

I beg to advise that information has been received

that the remains of your late husband, SX21753, LIEUT C.D. SIMPER,

have been reburied in the SANDAKAN WAR CEMETERY, BORNEO, PLOT m2m

ROW B, GRAVE 7.

The responsibility for the maintenance of War

Cemeteries will shortly be taken over by the Imperial War

Graves Commission who, you may rest assured, will continue

to care for them in a manner befitting the sacrifice made.

This, I trust, will bring some consolation in your

sad bereavement.

Your faithfully,

B. Wright

for (J. H. CHAPMAN)

Director.

Mrs I. Simper,

Belair Road, Estate,

C/- BLACKWOOD P.O., S.A.

It has been truly said that when you find

a man playing a big part on life's stage, you'll

also find in sight, or just around the corner,

a great woman.

For every man in Australia's fighting

Services we know there is someone back home who

make every hardship worthwhile. The Australian

Comforts Fund offers this little gift as a way

of tightening the bond between you and your

loved ones. Your letters back home are awaited

as eagerly as you await theirs.

We hope, too, that you'll always look upon

the Australian Comforts Fund as a living,

practical bond, linking you with many thousands

of your fellow countrymen.

Oft-times the A.C.F. calls upon our mutual

friends, the Salvation Army, Y.M.C.A. and

Y.W.C.A., to distribute its gifts, but every gift

symbolises the deep affection of your own folk,

whose unflagging efforts maintain the A.C.F. 

solely for you and your brothers in arms.

ACF

AUSTRALIA COMFORTS

FUND

43rd Battalion

SOUTHWARK

2/8/41

J D Simper

PRE CAMP COURSE - 3/9/41-23/9/41

You are detailed to attend a [[General?]] [[E?]]

Course, from 3 Sept. to 23 Sept. at Victoria Park.

Advise immediately whether you will require accommodation

during the week ends.

Rail Warrant, if necessary will be forwarded with more

detailed instruction at a later date.

Camp will commence immediately upon completion of Course.

J.L. Norton

Capt. 

Adjutant 43rd Bn.

I once had a dream dear

a dream dear of you

and darling please help me

to make them come true

for always my loved one,

they'll be in my heart

until they are born dear

of them, I shant part.

They fade not nor wither

nor die in the light,

but live with me always

so clear, and so bright

and surely said my dear,

my dreams will come true.

so please help me darling

for I love you dear Renee

I love you, I do.