[The envelope is from a letter written several months earlier from Marion to Robert "Bob" Hodgson. It is not the envelope that should be paired with this letter written from Bob to Marion. The text of the letter explains why.]3 Temple St,
Stanmore NSW
Australia
20/8/'43Dear Marion,
Many thanks for your enjoyable letter which took two months to reach me as usual - blast this war. Thanks also for the post cards they're very interesting I assure you.
I'm sending you one of our daily newspapers so you will have an idea of Australian print.
Since last writing a great deal has happened so I'll let you know a little, so here goes: I
flyflew solo O.K. - nothing much to it except a few thrills now and again. Well after a month or so I took crook and had to have my appendix out but after another month was back on the job again till only a few days ago when they told me they wouldn't let me fly again as a pilot and just wasn't I wild, I was going to join the U.S. air corps, the navy, the army and the New Zealand air force all in five minutes but I'm gradually cooling down. They now have me studying for an Observers Course (Navigator - bomb aimer) it's not bad but not as good as a pilots but I'll get back at it before long even if I have to wait till the war is over, I'll fly again.I think I promised you a snap of myself in my flying kit so I've enclosed a couple [no longer with the letter] hoping you'll like them and that one day you'll send me a snap of yourself if you have one to spare.
We have had a few things rationed since I last wrote e.g. 1/2 lb butter, 1/4 lb tea, 1 lb of sugar a week but we are very grateful when we think of others in Occupied Country.
I hope you did O.K. in your final examinations - I know you'll be O.K. and will pass out with flying colours.
I only hold the rank of L.A.C. (Leading aircraftsman) now but I will get a promotion when I finish the Observers Course.
Yes I guess Australia is very much like USA except we are much slower in picking up latest inventions etc;
Yes, I've enclosed your envelope as requested and before long I'll be sending
youmy letters in your envelopes and writing on the back of your letters as paper is very scarse [sic] out here.Well Marion I'll close now as news is also scarse.
Till the next letter Cheerio!
As Ever.
Bob.P.S.
= equivalents = RANKS
RAAF U.S.A. Corps ACI ACII Private 1,2,3 pAC - Corporal Corporal Sgt Sgt. 1 2 3Flight Sgt. Staff Sgt Warrant Officer Master Sargeant Pilot Officer 2nd Lieutenant Flying Officer 1st Lieutenant Flight Lieutenant Captain Squadron Leader Major Wing Commander Lt Colonel Group Captain Colonel Air Commodore Brig. General Air Vice Marshall Major General Air Marshall Lieut General Air Chief Marshall General Marshall of R.A.F. -