Letter Sep 26th 1945

Frank refers to his arrival in Manila following a journey from Japan on the US troop ship “Haskell”. Frank mentions he had initially travelled to Okinawa on a hospital ship on the 18th September. Frank writes of the B-29 food and medical supply parachute drops.

26/9/45

NX 43393
PTE F. LARKIN
D. Coy
3rd Aust, POW, Reception Group
Australia.

Dear Dad,

I’m writing you this letter from the Aust. Camp at Manila, where I arrived to-day, off the U.S.A troop-ship “Haskell”. I left Japan for Okinawa on the Hopsital boat on the 18th, where we transferred on to the troop ship. I sent you a cablegram from Wakayama near Yokohama on the 16th of the month and I hope you received it O.K.

Well, Dad, the first thing I want to do is to give you and Alice my best wishes and hope you are happier than I can wish you to be. You understand, Dad, I haven’t been recivilized very long, and I just don’t know what to say to you both.

I’ve had a few letters since Jan 42, two from yourself, two from Lucy and one from Dulcie, Ronnie, and Bill, all written before August, 1942. I’ve had no word from home since, but am hoping there are letters for me here. So, Dad, you can see everything that has taken place in the last three years is all news to me.

Please Dad have no worries about myself, as I’m now enjoying very good health, and am just about back to normal weight. About six days after the war finished, food, clothing and medical supplies were dropped from B.29’s, and I guess it’s a sight I’ll never forget. The American Red Cross people have been looking after us until our arrival here, and believe me, they couldn’t do enough for us. From what I’ve seen of the Americans they are great people & I like them very much.

I’m happy & hoping that everyone & everything is O.K. at home, and will be very glad when I receive letters from you all. I suppose Rita, Dulcie & Ronnie have some more kids since I left home, and I often wonder if Bill married the little nurse he used to write about. Gee, Pop, I’m just dying to hear from Jack & Ern & Lucy, and all the rest of the family, to know what’s happened to them all. How are the Nelson’s and the McEwan’s these days.

I suppose I could write page after page, asking questions, but I guess I’ll have to wait until I get home. When writing please send photographs, if possible. I do not know how long I will be here; anything for two weeks till six weeks so you had best write by air-mail. I’ve got everything I want, free beer, free shaves, free postage, mass every day, and anything I want. Well, Dad, my love to you & Alice, and all the family, and am counting the days when I’ll see you all again. Love from your son,

Frank.