Wartime letters home to Moray
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Below are several extracts from a regular weekly feature that first began to appear in the Northern Scot on January 2, 1943
Services Spotlight:
Under this heading each week we hope to give interesting extracts from the letters home of North men and women in the services. Perhaps your son or daughter or husband has sent you a story that is worth passing on. If so, we shall be glad to have it for inclusion in this feature. Photographs or snapshots of interest will also be included.
A small world!
To find himself stranded in the Ceylon [Sri Lankan] jungle through the break-down of his motor bicycle and to encounter an old schoolmate at a lonely encampment was the remarkable experience of Sgt William Gordon, nephew of Mr Robert Gordon, painter, 4 East Back Street, Bishopmill.
When his machine failed him Sgt Gordon met some natives who led him to their jungle village. The head man gave him tea and mentioned that a small detachment of soldiers was encamped on the edge of the jungle fairly near.
Sgt Gordon decided to go there, and being invited to share one of the soldier's tents he accepted with alacrity.
"I knew my host to be a Scotsman," he writes, "and when I asked him from what part he came, he said Elgin. I almost fell off the box I was seated on.
"His name is Alex Murray (Sandy) and his home is in West High Street, Bishopmill.
"On hearing my name repeated he was able to recollect me. Can you imagine how amazed we were at having met each other – in the wilds, of all places.
"Sandy was able to supply all the information I required. He said he had been in Elgin not so long ago and mentioned he had been talking to Uncle Bob.
"We sat for hours and gossiped about what had happened in days gone by, and time passed too quickly for our liking.
"We both attended Bishopmill school and must have played with each other as kids on countless occasions."
Sgt Gordon's boyhood friend was able to arrange for his return to his unit the following day, and the two have made up their minds that they will meet again as frequently as possible.
Soldier and Padre
A visitor when you are ill in bed and far from home is always welcome, and Private John Innes, a Lossie loon, thought so when he saw the padre approaching him in a Middle East hospital.
He was more than delighted when he found that the padre was none other than Rev Andrew Stephen of St Andrews-Lhanbryd, who has been on service since early in the war.
Private Innes, who was seriously wounded while serving with the Seaforths in the desert, had plenty to talk about to Mr Stephen.
Naturally discussion centred on Moray folks, with Lossiemouth golf course a place of mutual interest.
Private Innes' wife, who was formerly Miss Cameron, Cooper Street, Bishopmill, is also doing her bit, being a charge-hand in a NAFFI canteen.
'Elgin For Ever!'
When Sgt 'Sandy' Fraser, RAOC, formerly a bus driver with Messrs Alexander, whose home is at 26 Victoria Road, Elgin, was driving a truck along a desert road "somewhere in the Middle East", he noticed another army lorry coming to meet him.
As it drew nearer he had one of the pleasantest surprises of his life, for on its side, in large chalked letters, were the words "Elgin For Ever".
Sgt Fraser pulled up sharply and hailed the driver of the other vehicle.
"Who wrote that?" he inquired eagerly, and when the other driver replied, "I did," there was a joyful meeting.
The driver was Private James Shanks, Longmorn, a former employee of Elgin Laundry, and the two Moray loons found plenty of yarns to swap.
