Mail census WW11

[Alan SHARP]

Greetings Maureen.

I'm sorry you have taken offence at my question.

Here is a link explaining the WWII system of AIRGRAPH Messaging that I was referring to.

http://www.aerogramme.com/exhibits/airg ... rview.html

The service was used extensively by the Allies, not just NZ services. I quoted NZ because that is where my experience is. The example I have has numbers on the cover.

As I have transcribed some 60,000 words written by our fine young men [teenagers] who never returned, I have some knowledge of the forms of correspondence used. I have also had contact with others who have WWI letters / correspondence [turned into a book from some 400 photo copied pages], and a diary that I am also working with. I know enough, to know just how little I know.

This, in part, is what a Senior NZ Army man wrote about the heavy handed CENSORS action in removing the last three months notes in his RNZAF sons' diary. A diary / note book, that he had handed his eldest son, as he sailed from NZ never to return. The diary was on forwarded to the airman's younger Brother, to continue until he in turn also lost his life.

QUOTE:

Remainder of diary taken out of book by a damn-fool airforce outfit. What did it matter if “Jerry” Knew that a Sergt. Pilot by name of “XXXXX” was towing gliders or not ? Any information contained in his diary could not have altered the course of the war one iota. That is the point upon which many of us just simply write the authorities at Home off as a blundering, stupid lot of fools, of no use either to God, man or mammon !

END OF QUOTE:

My research into that diary, reveals that the pages were most likely removed NOT BY CENSORS but by his surviving flight or squadron when parcelling up his locker. Things are not always as we assume they are/ were. Therefore my innocent question.

Alan SHARP.