Dee Walsh's Letters from London before and during WWII

As the war went on, Dee and her flatmates (other nurses) kept an open house for lonely Australian and other Dominion army and air force 'boys' in London on short leave. Dee was named as next-of-kin for several of the Australians scattered among British Squadrons.

Throughout her time in England Dee was a prolific writer, maintaining contact not only with home in Australia but also with her two brothers, Cecil and Earle (of the 9th Division). She also wrote a few articles for the newspapers in London (mainly on sport) which we have yet to acquire copies of.

The letters transcribed below are a sample of those saved by the family over the years. There is also a box of letters written from Cecil to Dee which we have yet to transcribe. Unfortunately, the letters from the family to England don't appear to have been kept. Keep tuned for updates - including more links and photos of Dee and the boys!

1. 18 August 1937 - Dee's letter home to Gran from Wimbledon. She talks about her Obstetrics nursing work, planned travel to Europe and Ireland, and family news.

2. 1 October 1937 - Dee's long letter home from Surrey. She describes in detail the last part of her holiday in Scotland, talks about shopping and feeling homesick, and mentions Edna Swinghammer's awful 'electrocution'.

3. November 1937 - Dee's letter home from London before Christmas. She talks about working night duty at UCH, seeing plays about dictators, all the fantastic shopping in London, and their planned cocktail party with fellow Australians and New Zealanders for Christmas.

4. 4 January 1938 - Dee's rambling letter home from Surrey, describing her Christmas with the Locharts and her work for the stingy Aldersons. She also talks about all the mail from home and explains her theory on travelling the world and keeping life full and interesting.

5. 8 April 1938 - Dee's letter home from Surrey. She mentions Alma's pregnancy (Dee is hoping for a boy), then launches into an extensive discussion about foreign policy and the possibility of war in Europe. Dee also talks about Nellie Marshall's royal patients and how they are saving up for their trip to Vienna and Budapest.

6. 27 May 1938 - Dee's letter home from Surrey. She congratulates Alma on producing a son (Peter) and advises her to start making a Don Bradman out of him. She then talks about seeing the tennis and planning to go to Lords for the cricket, and also all her plans for the trip to Europe in July.

7. 10 June 1938 - Dee's letter home from London. She gives Alma advise on nursing her baby (Peter), mentions being paid £6.6.0 for a newspaper article, talks about plans for the trip and seeing the Trooping of the Colour for the King's birthday, and complains about the Australian cricket scores.

8. 28 June 1938 - Dee's long letter home from London describing in absolute detail the cricket test at Lords between England and Australia. She also describes a day at the tennis - centre court at Wimbledon, including each player and their fashions!

9. NEW 8 July 1938 - Dee's letter home from London complaining that she never hears from her family, and that she doesn't even know her nephew's name yet. She describes her jaunts around London - seeing the crown jewels at the Tower of London and the Russian Ballet at Covent Garden. Dee also writes about getting caught up in a march of Oswald Mosely and his 'silly blackshirts' in Regents Park, planning her trip to Europe and more on the cricket and tennis.

10. NEW 28 July 1938 - Dee's letter home from London just after arriving back from Germany, Austria, Prague and Budapest. She describes partying at the 'Arizona' nightclub in Budapest, and being shocked at the Nazi occupation of Vienna. Despite her dislike of Nazis, Dee still managed to have a brief affair with a German officer which she sentimentally describes here.

11. August 1938 - Dee's letter home from London. She talks about a flash private nursing job in Essex, mentions Ween and Phyll visiting London, and how her photos from the continent trip didn't turn out.

12. NEW 29 September 1938 - Dee's letter home from Oxford (nursing the Canon of Rochester) on the day of the Munich Pact, describing the suspense in England of an impending war. She talks about the horror of being fitted for gas masks, and the crowds of children and old people leaving London on trains for the country.

13. NEW November 1938Dee's letter home from London just after Armistice Day. She describes in detail the ceremony in Trafalgar Square, and talks about her more mundane nursing jobs.

14. NEW 13 December 1938 Dee's letter home from London with Christmas wishes for the family. She expresses anxiety about the situation in Europe and Chamberlain's 'peace at any price' policy. She talks about Jewish refugee children arriving in London, but also mentions the cricket and baby Peter.

15. NEW 29 December 1938 - Dee's letter home from London describing ambivalent feelings towards her first REAL Christmas, with snow and a Christmas dinner with the Simpsons (Professor Simpson was the Canon of Rochester). Dee likens the streets of London in the slushy winter snow to the Dorrigo mountain road in the wet season.

16. 25 April 1939 - Dee's letter home to Earle from London. She talks about German Jewish refugees and Australians in London, the European situation, and her plans for returning to Australia before winter. Dee also mentions her nursing work and the plays and shows she has been seeing in London.

17. May 1939 - Dee's letter home to Aunt Ruby from London. She mentions the Griffens and Alison Mills visiting London, spring flowers, and watching the King and Queen sail for Canada.

18. 1 November 1939 - Dee's letter home from London during the 'phoney war' period. Cecil has just signed up and Earle is in Lautoka. Dee talks about scrimping & saving, news reels, and buying bathing trunks for little Peter Graham!

19. 11 June 1940 - Dee's letter home from Holbeck Manor on the day after Italy enters the war (allied to Germany) and President Roosevelt offers material support from the USA to the Western Allies. The letter details the British evacuation from Dunkirk, the first air raids in England & the removal of signposts across the countryside as a precaution against German parachute troops. Earle has signed up in Australia.

20. 22 June 1940 - Dee's letter home from Holbeck Manor on the day France signs the armistice with Germany. Cecil is in England and Dee explains why she is not coming home just yet.

21. 14 August 1940 - Cecil's short letter to Dee from 'The Camp' in England. He mentions the 'little excitement' of a German raid in the district.

22. 20 August 1940 - Dee's letter home written on the back of Cecil's 14 August 1940 letter. She mentions Uncle Reg Walsh, and the plane crash near Canberra that killed several people, including Minister for the Army Fairbairn, Vice-President of the Executive Council, Sir Henry Gullet, General Sir Brudenhall-White and Brigadier Street. Dee also mentions Harold Taylor and Ted Hattersley.

23. Early September 1940 - One page of Cecil's letter to Dee from his station in England, trying to make arrangements to meet Dee in his time off. Dee and Mue are working in Ascot at this stage.

24. 9-13 September 1940 - One page of Dee's letter home, written on the back of Cecil's Early September 1940 letter above. An emotional letter written just after the shocking first German raid on the London docks on 7 September 1940.

25. 3 November 1940 - Cecil's letter to Dee, probably from Salisbury. He talks about going to the movies and getting packages from home.

26. Late 1940 - One page of Cecil's letter to Dee, probably from Salisbury. He talks about hiring iron beds and mattresses from a local furniture dealer to replace the Army issue straw 'palliasse', and mentions the censorship applied to his letters.

27. 7 November 1940 - Dee's letter home from London written on the backs of Cecil's two letters above. A very moving letter where Dee talks about her and Muriel's decision to stay based in London despite the bombings, and their anxieties over whether to live on the top floor or the basement of their block of flats.

28. 1 December 1940 - Cecil's undated letter to Dee, probably from Colchester on 1 December 1940. He talks about the frost, the movies, and trying to get leave.

29. 4 December 1940 - Cecil's letter to Dee, probably from Colchester. The letter is mainly about the difficulty of getting leave, but also talks about a visit from the 15th Division Scottish Pipe Band.

30. 20 December 1940 - Dee's letter home from London, again written on the backs of two letters of Cecil's above. She talks about being off work with an infected foot, Christmas presents, air raids and food shortages.

31. 8 January 1941 - Dee's letter home from London. She talks about her and Muriel having Christmas with the boys - Cecil, Johnny Winter, John Mills, Peter Taylor & John Fairfax - just before they left for the Middle East. She also mentions a Canadian beau, Ira Hamilton, but complains that he drinks too much. Nevertheless she spent New Years Eve with Ira and Johnny Winter before going back to nursing Mrs Neal Green.

32. 7 August 1941 - Dee's letter home from holiday in Suffolk - with the beach all covered with barb wire & land mines. This is the first time she mentions Harry Lovett being taken prisoner in Greece. She also talks about getting contraband tinned food from Canadian Ira.

33. 1 October 1941 - Dee's airgraph from London to Cecil in the Middle East around the time of the Australians' withdrawal from Tobruk into Palestine. She talks about seeing a newsreel of everyday life in Tobruk.

34. 30 March 1942 - Dee's airgraph from London to Cecil, probably in Syria. Dee has just come back from Holbeck and has moved to a new flat with Muriel. She talks about Cecil's long letter of 30 December 1941, and wonders whether Ces and Earle will be sent home with other AIF troops.

35. 15 April 1942 - Dee's airgraph from London to Cecil, probably in Syria. She asks about Earle, Reg & Johnny and mentions the Americans & General McArthur.

36. 29 April 1942 - Dee's letter home fropm London, asking whether Cecil and Earle have arrived home. She talks about going to the ANZAC Day service.

37. 7 May 1942 - Dee's airgraph from London to Cecil, probably in Syria. She talks about being thrilled to see the News Reel of McArthur's arrival in Melbourne, and mentions the fall of Singapore and some of the family going out to Orange.

38. 4 June 1942 - Muriel's airgraph from London to Cecil, still probably in Syria. She mentions a photo of Cecil and Earle looking 'like a pair of Arabs'.

39. 20 June 1942 - Dee's double airgraph from Holbeck Manor to Cecil, still probably in Syria. She talks about the photo of Cecil and Earle and seeing 'Watch on the Rhine' in London. She also mentions the stories from the RAAF boys that were on the '1000 bomber raids'.

40. 25 June 1942 - Phyllis Neal Green's airgraph from Holbeck Manor to Cecil, still probably in Syria. Dee has just returned to London after 3 weeks at Holbeck. Phyllis talks about Dee's fine character and asks Cecil to look up a Czech artist, L. Blum, living in Jerusalem.

41. 1 July 1942 - Dee's airgraph from London to Cecil, probably on his way back to Egypt. She asks about John M and Peter Taylor, mentions getting a suntan in London and complains of having no news from home since 28 February.

42. 25 July 1942 - Cecil's airgraph to Dee from Egypt, at the time of the El Alamein campaign. He talks about trying to contact Earle and in general sounds confident.

43. 1 August 1942 - Muriel's brief airgraph from London to Cecil, after their first campaign at El Alamein. She talks about the Yanks and German prisoners in Australia, and asks about Johnny Mills.

44. 6 August 1942 - Dee's letter home from London the day before her 34th birthday. She talks about getting news of Harold Croydon's disappearance, Rawdon Middleton coming to visit, work, and the weather.

45. 7 August 1942 - Dee's airgraph to Cecil from London, after the campaign at El Alamein. She talks about being relieved to get a cable from Cecil dated 22 July, and sending on photos and letters from home.

46. 13 August 1942 - Cecil's airgraph to Dee from El Alamein, Egypt, during a 'lull in proceedings' (officially described as the 'static period'). He mentions Doug Fairfax, Reg and Jack, and the family back from Orange.

47. 14 August 1942 - Dee's airgraph to Cecil in Egypt from Middleton. She has received Cecil's 25 July airgraph and is down on the coast looking after a patient.

48. 19 September 1942 - Dee's airgraph from Middleton to Cecil in Egypt. She talks about Americans in London 'eating plums in Piccadilly & spitting out the stones', and asks about Mr Manning, Doug and Keith of 'B' Section.

49. 20 September 1942 - Cecil's second airgraph to Dee from El Alamein during the 'static period'. He talks about his weight (12.5 stone), the cooling weather, and having a 'daily dip in the Med'.

50. 25 September 1942 - Dee's airgraph from Middleton to Cecil in Egypt. She talks about the great tan she's been getting, seeing a cricket match between the RAAF and the RAF, and how she hopes a cold winter will help the Russians.

51. 19 October 1942 - Dee's airgraph from London to Cecil in Egypt, just before the major battle of El Alamein. She has received Cecil's 20 September airgraph and hopes he can get leave in Cairo. She says how glad she is that he is not in New Guinea.

52. 12 November 1942 - Phyllis Neal Green's airgraph from Holbeck Manor to Cecil and Earle, after the major battle of El Alamein. She congratulates the Aussies for 'good work done' and talks about hearing news of troops back in Tobruk, and her daughter's forthcoming wedding.

53. 15 November 1942 - Dee's letter home from London just before going back up to Holbeck. She mentions drinking coffee and waiting for news, bad weather, writing to Harry Lovett, going to see films and she asks about the babies and the Gartons.

54. 28 November 1942 - Dee's airgraph from Holbeck Manor to Cecil, before he is sent home to Australia. She describes Lesley Neal Green's wedding, and getting letters from her Mum and Patsy.

55. 12 January 1943 - Dee's incomplete letter home from London first mentioning the death of Flight Sergeant Rawdon Middleton whose aircraft was hit on the way to Turin, Italy, and who was honoured with the Victoria Cross.

56. 12 February 1943 - Dee's long letter home from London describing Rawdon Middleton's funeral in great detail. She also mentions Mary Henry, Lachie McDonald, journalists Guy Heriot, Keith Newman and Eric Baume, Harry Lovett, Jean Hatty, Bimbo Dunky and Norah Arnold moving in.

57. 20 April 1943 - Dee's letter home from London on a few days off work. She talks about applying for RAF and WRNS Nursing Units, getting a package of food from Holbeck, trying to sunbake, and problems with tax and mail.

58. 17 May 1943 - Dee's letter home from London, while working at UCH. She talks about writing to bereaved mothers, going to the theatre and being caught in Regents Park with her stockings down! Dee also mentions the victory in North Africa and wonders whether Cecil and Earle have been sent to New Guinea.

59. Early July 1943 - Dee's airmail letter to Cecil from London. She talks about getting long letters from Edna and a censored letter from Cecil (making her think he is in North Queensland). Dee also talks about Cecil's engagement to Enea, and holidays with Mrs Fildes and the Dixons.

60. 12 July 1943 - Dee's airgraph to Cecil from London. Cecil and Earle were in Australia at the time, about to be sent to New Guinea. Dee mentions the invasion of Sicily and getting a card from Harry Lovett.

61. 13 July 1943 - Dee's letter home from London. She talks about getting a cake from Australia (that took 4 months to come), holidaying with Mrs Fildes, hearing news of her RAAF friend from Adelaide being killed, and bottling berries from the Dixons. She also mentions Mrs Neal Green being pronounced 'more or less' cured.

62. 16 September 1943 - Dee's airgraph home from London. Cecil and Earle are probably in Lae, New Guinea. Dee talks about being filmed in the News Reel at Rawdon Middleton's funeral, going to shows in London, and mentions Dave Higgerson, Barty and Johnny Winter, and 'poor old Harold Lovett'.

63. 1 October 1943 - Dee's airgraph home from London. She has received a letter from Harry Lovett dated 9 September, and a long airgraph from Neddy. She mentions WC Edley Anderson and David Higgerson.

64. 22 October 1943 - Dee's long airgraph home from London, where she is off work with a cold. She asks about Cecil and Johnny Winter in New Guinea, mentions Edley Anderson again and bemoans the lack of wedge heel shoes in London.

65. 29 October 1943 - Dee's airgraph home from London, just after she gets the news of Cecil and Earle in hospital in New Guinea. She mentions Nellie in New Guinea and Johnny Dickie home in Australia.

66. 11 November 1943 - Dee's letter home from London. She talks about Sheila Neal Green having her wisdom teeth out, Rawdon Middleton being awarded the VC, air raids, Edley Anderson, Keith Newman, Harry Lovett & Ken Young.

67. 22 November 1943 - Dee's airgraph home from London, asking about Cecil and Earle. She talks about planning to spend Christmas at Holbeck Manor, and how she saw a fortune teller. She also mentions Edley Anderson and Lt Ken Young (who was in the same POW camp as Harry Lovett).

68. 4 December 1943 - Dee's airgraph home from Holbeck Manor, desparate for news of Earle who now has Scrub Typhus. Earle is back in Australia after contracting Scrub Typhus in New Guinea, and Dee explains how helpless she feels so far away, and how she hasn't heard from Harry Lovett for 5 weeks.

69. 6 December 1943 - Dee's airgraph home to Edna from London. Earle is finally back in Australia from New Guinea. Dee mentions the RAAF lads who died in the big raids on Berlin and asks again about Edley and Ken Young.

70. 12 January 1944 - Dee's airgraph from London to Earle, who is now in a convalescent depot in Australia. Dee mentions a letter from Harry Lovett, all the 'invasion bigshots' in London, and sends her love to Margie.

71. 2 February 1944 - Dee's airgraph home from London. Earle has returned to his unit but Cecil is still off with a 'game' leg. Dee mentions a letter from Harry dated 10 December, also Ken Young and David Higgerson (who has had a crash), and Kath Breden who has moved into the flat.

72. 5 February 1944 - Dee's airgraph to Edna from London. Dee has received a card from Harry Lovett with his new address at the POW camp Oflag VIII in Germany (now Czech Republic). She also mentions Aunt Carrie, David Higgerson and Edley Anderson.

73. 12 February 1944 - Dee's airgraph home from London, repeating Harry's address and talking about a snow storm in London. She also mentions Mrs Dixon sending her a big bunch of wattle.

74. 19 March 1944 - A short airgraph to Dee's parents from her friend Warren Dibb, serving with the RAAF in the Middle East. He praises Dee's independent character and hopes they will all be home soon.

75. 7 April 1944 - Dee's airgraph home from London a few weeks after Edna and Jack's wedding. She asks for all the details and hopes Earle will marry soon too. She also mentions not being able to write to Harry as letters from England to POWs have been stopped.

76. 15 April 1944 - Dee's airgraph home from London a few days after Earle and Margie's wedding. Dee has not received any letters since Edna's wedding and asks everyone to write. She also writes about all the war traffic in the English countryside and how she and Mary went to the Easter Communion service.

77. 28 April 1944 - Dee's airgraph home from London. She has still not received any letters since the weddings and is worried about the prospect of a German invasion. She is also concerned for Harry Lovett and David Higgerson who appear to be missing.

78. 9 May 1944 - Dee's airgraph to Edna from London, after finally getting news of the weddings. She talks about wanting to apply for a position with the RAAF Nursing Service as a way to get back to Australia, and is still worried about Harry - whom she hasn't heard from since 7 January.

79. 14 June 1944 - Dee's airgraph home from London, after hearing that Edna and Joyce are pregnant. Dee is desparately trying to contact Harry via a friend in Switzerland, and notes how quiet London is since 'the invasion'. She asks after Papa, Geoff and Gran Walsh.

80. 8 August 1944 - Dee's airgraph home from Holbeck Manor just after her birthday. She has somehow found that Harry has been moved to camp Oflag 79, and talks about her friend Roy Morant in the RAF who will visit the family in Sydney.

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Last updated Monday, 28 June 2004