Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
Ethel Fowler letter from Spears Mission Personnel |
Collection Name |
Ethel Fowler Papers |
Date |
March 27, 1942 |
Description |
A letter to Ethel Fowler from officers and troops (presumably British) serving in the Spears Mission, written from Syria Middle East Forum during World War II. The letter is three pages long, consisting of two sheets of paper with handwritten text that continues on the reverse of the first page, and it retains its original envelope. The letter thanks Ethel Fowler for a book that she sent to the troops, and encourages her to continue writing to them. (Keywords: Military, Troops, New York) Transcription: T/99909. L/Cpl. OLaridge. [or Oldridge] F. T/66206. L/Cpl. Wallace. H. T/44394. L/Cpl. Trendell. J. and the Boys of Spears Military Mission Syria M. E. F. 27. 3. 42. Dear Miss Fowler, We are taking the liberty of writing to you to express the appreciation of all our Section for the book "Saturday Evening Post" which we have just received. It is not often that comforts like this come our way, being so far from home as we have been since our Country was involved in this war, books like this brings back memories of the days when we could sit back [begin page 2] by the fireside & read them at leasure [sic]. However, there are no complaints, we have had our baptism of fire on the "blue" (Western Desert) & after lonely days of campains [sic] you can imagine how we feel now that your great Country is fighting at our side. I think I am speaking for all the boys over here when I say your equipment has enabled us to meet "Gerry" on equal terms. We should love to have a peak [sic] at this great Country of Yours, we have seen it so many times on the screen, New York, Mannhatten [sic], The Bronx etc not forgetting the Statue of Liberty [begin page 3] All this spells "Glamour" to us after being used to the green fields of Old England, but one never knows, we may even visit U. S. A. before we have finished & that as you Americans would say, would be "Just Dandy." So for now we will say "Cheerio" & thanks again. A letter a day keeps the Doctor away, so please write us when you have a few minutes to spare. Lots of Luck for You & Your Country. [Envelope signed] F. Oldridge [Envelope addressed to] MISS E, FOWLER 117, CASSIDY PLACE NEW BRIGHTON 29-42. STATEN ISLAND. U.S.A NEW YORK (This is a description of a single item within the Ethel Fowler Papers collection, MS009.000. It is part of Series 1: Personal Papers. See collection, series, and/or item records of the same collection for additional information.) |
Biography and History |
Ethel G. Fowler (1884-1974) was a Staten Islander who was active in several different charitable organizations. During World War II, she served as Chairman for the Volunteer Special Services of the Staten Island Chapter of the American Red Cross. The Spears Military Mission was formed in 1941 as a liaison between the British government and the Free French. The mission received its name from British Maj. Gen. Edward J. Spears (1886-1974). |
Legal Status |
Images and text in this database are copyrighted by the Staten Island Historical Society unless otherwise noted. Items represented here are from the collections of the Staten Island Historical Society. Materials reproduced for personal non-commercial use must credit the Staten Island Historical Society. Commercial licensing is available. |
Acquisition |
Estate of Ethel Fowler |
Catalog Number |
MS009.001.ITEM.0001 |
Object Name |
Letter |
Archival Description Level |
Item |
Parent Record |
MS009.001 |
Subjects |
World War II Military personnel |
Earliest Date |
1942 |
Latest Date |
1942 |
Lexicon Sub-category |
Documentary Artifact |
Creator |
Fowler, Ethel Gertrude |
Associated People |
Fowler, Ethel Gertrude |
Support Acknowledgment |
Online Collections Database record made possible by the Staten Island Historical Society, 2011. |