Letter from grandpa to daughter Rosie

Lewis Place

13.11.43

Dearest Rosie,

Thanks for yours, & glad to say I am still keeping fit. We had some very heavy rain here yesterday afternoon and the 11^th. This am is very bright.

Wonder if you will have any floods this year, seeing not as so much rain has fallen as continues upcountry & no big storms. Bad luck Marie having those sores, she should take some blood purifier, and external treatment, and or change to the Hills. I told Ted this and to tell Mum. I wanted her to take a holiday. I told Ted to speak to Jayatileke but I am told he is a hard drinker, which is not good company for Ted.

It is quite out of the question my writing for Ben’s discharge because they are calling every day for more recruits as the Ceylon Corps are all short of men. It is not all beer and skittles when you join the army, but steady hard work till you are efficient. Ben should put his heart and soul into his work and try to get promotions, a slacker will never rise – whatever job he is put on to he should do his best at it.

He should consider himself lucky as he is in the land of his birth and can see his relations. Whereas all the young chaps from overseas have no chance of home leave till after the war. Many have children they have never seen. Japs would have this island in no time if it was not for these chaps. They keep on sending planes across to try and catch us napping, and may make a try with their ships one of these days.

Tell Ben to look on the bright side of things, and after work, join others in having a good time with “sing songs”, entertain the troops with his dances etc. There must be others who will go in with him and make a good show.

Give him my love when you write, and love to yourself.

Yours,

Father

Comments from George:

Rosie, grandpa's eldest child, was teaching at Avissawella at this time. Her 1-year old daughter Marie was with her. (Rosie was having marital problems.) Grandpa was recuperating at Lewis Place in Negombo, but perhaps not at "Stanlodge", the house he owned there.

Reading between the lines, I assume Rosie had written to him about her brother Ben's hardships in the army. Ben had a reputation for being lazy and irresponsible and may have told Rosie to intervene on his behalf to get out of the army. Going by the letter, grandpa has no sympathy for Ben.

Grandpa passed away within a year of writing this letter.