Letter from Hubert Taylor to his parents dated 12th July 1945
Photocopy of a letter from Hubert Taylor to his parents dated Thursday, 12th July 1945. Hubert has arrived back at Secunderabad. He has enjoyed the break but is glad to be back where it is cool. He writes that it was much too hot in Lahore where “clothes stuck to us all the time”. He writes that he left Lahore the previous Saturday, spent Sunday evening at the YMCA in Delhi and travelled for four days to get bsack to the station. Hubert writes that he has travelled almost the whole length of India, the journey there and back being over two thousand miles. Hubert was not impressed with northern India and prefers the south where the climate is much better. He asks his mother to tell Miss Fry that the more he sees of India the more he is convinced that it is a “rotten country” and the conditions in which the Indians live are terrible. Hubert writes that kids are begging every time a train stops in a station and fears that some may lose their livelihood when the war is over. Hubert reports that the train system is slow and awful and wonders what they would say if they could see the Flying Scotsman. Hubert reports that the Indians use third class on the railways and “pack themselves in like sardines”, climbing through windows from both sides of the train and riding on the foot boards. Hubert reports that at one station they packed all their household belongings, including chickens, into an already full carriage. Hubert feels lucky that he travelled first or second class all the way. Hubert reports there has been no more news about postings and thinks that it has all dropped through. On his return he had received two letters from home and is glad all is OK. He expects Frank and Beryl are away at Felixstowe and hopes they are having a nice time. He refers to his family’s successes at cricket and asks how his father is faring at bowls. Hubert has received two lots of papers from home and looks forward to the next batch which will report on VE day. He has seen a copy of the Picture Post which had photographs of VE day in London Hubert writes that his wife has told him that a friend has had a baby son and is sure they are thrilled. He has heard that British troops are now allowed to fraternise with the Germans and bets “it wont take the Yanks long to get organised with the girls”. Hubert apologises for not writing while travelling but wishes his family well.
No Comments
Add a comment about this page