5681695 Sergeant Eric COBURN, RASC Section, Royal Artillery: North Africa, Italy

I assume some battle had recently been won somewhere, hence the positive attitude...

T/5681695
Sgt Coburn E
1514 Hy AA Regt
Platoon, RASC
M.E.F.

17/5/43

Darling
Your welcomed letters of 27 Apl & 1st May arrived today. It is great to hear that you both are so much better & brighter. Well dearest news is great these days eh? It seems that it wont be so long now, gee it will be great to be back home again after all this long & trying time. You ask love if am near the sea, well we can hear the pounding sea very plainly here so you can guess how near we are. The boating business has gone off a bit, you know one or two duckings & that put one off, anyway there has been some fun. We have had it quiet here for some while, we did have a few friends in the mess a couple of nights ago, & it made a change. We have an ENSA Concert here this week, & I understand it is quite good so am looking forward to going. We are getting in some cricket again so am getting some exercise. I have had an AG card from Press so will write to him tomorrow, I have not had Freda's letter yet so expect it is roaming around, have received one lot of J Bulls from Freda, they were Nov-Jan lot. Am pleased Valerie got her cable alright, I sent it early so as to be sure of it arriving in time. It seems that V takes after me in the way of shows as you know I prefer them to the flicks, but must say have been seeing quite a lot of pictures lately, as it is somewhere to go for a break. You have no need to worry dearest about me sending you a leg of pork, as we have got these two for breeding, not eating at the present, but dont know how long it will be before they find their way into the cookhouse. You have asked what we christened the boat, well it is Gawdhelpus & sometimes it has been living up to its name. You can tell Dad that we have a good assortment of sand, some pure white, grey, black brown etc, but am afraid he will have to charter a boat to fetch it, then he can have his choice as there is tons & tons of it. The old garden is progressing quite well but it takes some water being nearly all sand. So Freda has had a letter, I hope she enjoyed it, am still waiting for that one she was supposed to be writing on the 18th Apl, but I suppose she has got cold feet & is afraid of whats coming next so she wont write eh. Well my darling space is running short so will sign off looking forward to hearing soon from you, so bye bye for now my love.
Youe loving husband
Eric xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Valerie- Daddy hope you had a very nice birthday. Lots of Love Daddy xxxxxx

 

Thanks Diane. I will watch the Path to Rome films with interest, as that was the Path that my Grandfather Eric took after Africa...

 

Does anyone know which cinema it would have been that is mentioned as having caught fire?

T/5681695
Sgt Coburn E
1514 Hy AA Regt
Platoon RASC
MEF

5/6/43

My Dearest
Your most welcomed letter of 11th May received, no doubt would have had it earlier, but have been on the move, so it was delayed, anyhow it is great to hear from you darling that you are keeping much better these days, also Valerie as well, bless her. I have been very well, but am feeling the heat, it has really turned hot these last few days, & what with the flies pestering & sand blowing & smothering you, one does not feel in the best of moods. Gosh how pleased we will be to get this all over, it was not so bad where we were before as being near the sea made a difference, but here, well you can guess what one has to put up with, as it is nothing but miles & miles of soft sand, & to crown it beer is scarce. Have not seen any for nearly a month, & now the only cinema around caught fire the other night, so we are in a pretty fix. I have not had that much spoken of leave & dont know when it will come along but if this is going to finish quick, it can go by and we'll have a good one later. By the way darling have sent a Reg packet to you today with a little something in, but it is not what you wanted but I hope you will find it useful. Also have sent a packet to Valerie which I hope she will like. What you asked for I will try to get when I have a chance to get around the big places. So our friend Sid has been called at last, I thought he was in a safe job, I must be mistaken? I suppose Fred is still alright & free. I hear that Smith does a little for the old man when he is free so he is still out of it. Am glad dearest to hear that you are having a few friends around, they no doubt help to pass the days away. If you feel like it I think it would do you good to go to Aunt Em's for a break also it would be good for Valerie before she starts school. Anyhow will leave that to you to decide. Well kid, things are again getting back to their old shape after a few busy days of sorting etc, so will get down to writing again as have just received the mail in, & yours of 15th May, Mums of 10th & Freda's of 11th just been sorted out, so will close this & write again tomorrow so my pet be patient till later. All my love darling & to my precious. Bye bye for now darling.
Your loving husband
Eric xxxxxxx
Valerie xxxx



The rest of June passed with quite few letters mostly complaining about the sand, but also mentioning ENSA shows with the Four Dancing Daughters, Marvin(?) Saunders, John Murray & others.

 

Lynda
May I thank you very much for letting me have a glimpse of their lives by posting the documents.

It was the same scenario that my parents played out during the same years.

 

Thanks Oldman.

The Group moved again in July and again in August- little comfort, lots of heat and lots of sand.

On the 8th September Eric wrote his last letter from Africa:

T/5681695
Sgt Coburn E
1514 Hy AA Regt
Platoon RASC
M.E.F.

8/9/43

My Dearest
Your letters 23 & 30 Aug just received. Darling it is great to hear that all is well with you & Valerie, so the great day has arrived. I bet you are having some enjoyable times & laughs with her & her experiences. I see that she has started well, getting bowled over, but expect that as soon as she gets settled she will look after herself. Well love now that Valerie is off hand, you must get in that much needed rest & get going on the right road. So you have been to see Jack's show. I suppose he is still the same, how is June keeping these days. Also how is Dad now, has his fingers healed up. Well my love things all about the same here, just jogging along, with hopes of seeing the old country again much sooner now that we have started moving Jerry along. By the way Joe Ruddell & Harry & Frank have left us & we have one or two new faces, old Bob Richardson popped in to see us today, you remember him from Walton days. He has not altered much since we last met which was over a year ago. I hear that Alex was in for home as his accident had left him in not too good a form, but expect it will take a time. I see that you have been seeing the girls quite a lot, I suppose they have got quite used to their jobs now. Have you had any news from Press of late as have not heard for a while, but expect he is waiting for one from me, which I hope to get off this week, anyway will do my best to get one away. Also to Mum & Stan, Sister & a few others. By the way you had better break it very gently to Sis that photo has been delayed as I have mislaid it & have not been able to locate where I have put it, but tell her that as soon as found will send by the fastest means available. Well my love there is very little else in the way of news this time so will close with all my love darling till next time so cheerio love till later.
Fondest love darling
Your loving husband xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hello little darling
Well I hear from Mummy that you have started school. Thats great. My you will be quite a lady when daddy come home. Well darling you must keep up the good show. Bye bye little lady.
Love Daddy xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

More photographs and documents to follow soon...

 

Lynda thank you for sharing all these photos, letters and additional snippets. Am very much looking forward to reading your next posts.

Jules.

 

Lynda-
This has been a most interesting journey for an RASC man – unfortunately the Service units are never given much publicity but they are always there just the same doing the same old job of bringing up the supplies – in this case ammunition to both heavy and Light AA units.

Consequently they are invariably listed way down in the list of units in any formation as in this case – his parent unit is never mentioned but I do think – just a guess mind you – that he started off with 5th Division and 61st HAA – then on to the 42nd LAA – then finally to 1514 HAA – which I guess – again was with the 56th Division. I could be way out as I am guessing – but someone might have the facts – they usually do – so doing a time line – this is how I see his progress…..

25th Sept 41 – Embarked
16th Dec 41 – Iraq
3rd May 42 – MEF – just before the Gazala battle
4th July 42 – retreating from Gazala and losing Tobruk
23rd July 42 – retreat to Alamein Station.
14th sept 42 – Monty’s first battle at Alum El Halfa
30th Nov 42 – after El Alamein battle
1st Jan 43 – chasing Rommel through desert
16th Feb 43 – Tripoli
22nd Mar 43 – Mareth line and El hamma – change to 56th Division
5th Apl 43 – Tunisia – Enfidaville ???
17th May 43 – Tunisia
5th June 43 – Tunisia
8th Sept 43 – Salerno – Italy

could be the way he went on to Rome – and Anzio – the Gothic Line – Venice etc – or he came home in November with XXX corps for D Day- as I pointed out – I am just guessing ….
Cheers

 

Thanks for the kind comments Owen and RosyRed, and thank you Tom for the information. Actually I do know that Eric ended up being grouped with the American 5th Army in Italy as you will be able to spot in later photographs when I have a chance to load them from his arm badge.

 

Lynda -
More than welcome - it will be interesting to find which Division he was attached to in his journey across the desert after leaving the 5th Div with the 42nd LAA - and joining 56th Div in Tunisia....and his journey after Anzio as the 56th took a terrible beating at Gemmano/Croce in the Gothic Line in the September '44...
Cheers

 

This is the first of the correspondence to have been censored, a piece of the paper was spliced out- I think that Eric gave away that he was in Italy. Note the change to C.M.F. from M.E.F.

T/5681695
Sgt Coburn E
1514 Hy A.A. Regt
Platoon R.A.S.C.
C.M.F

2/10/43

My Dearest
Ever so many thanks for letters 12, 15th Sept received today, am glad to say all is well here, you will see by the above address that we have left the old M.E.F. & are now on the right road though still a long one. Well love this is some change from the old sand & it is fine to see open land, trees etc. again, this CENSORED countryside is exactly like the old country & my have we had our fill of apples, & I am afraid there are very few left now after the lads had been around the trees, It is certainly typical English climate here at the moment, with quite an amount of rain, which we had began to think was a thing of the past as it has been so long a time since we had any. It is very pleasing to hear love that you & Valerie are keeping well, I bet you are being kept busy with her ladyship now the school days are here. Its great to hear that everyone concerned are so pleased with our precious one, it takes that worrying feeling away when one knows that all is well. I see that all the folk are still keeping up the regular visits, which must be quite enjoyable for you, & must help a lot to pass the odd time. So Joan's affair is coming to a close at last, it certainly has taken a while. I suppose it will be a relief for her when the final settlement is at hand, you don't mention how the kiddie is getting on, but I presume all is well. So you have not heard from Billie P for a while, nor have I but expect my moving has left the mail a chasing me, anyhow I wrote him so expect he has received by now. By the way darling thanks a lot for the cables, they were a pleasant surprise, & you judged the time well as I received them a day before, also please thank Mum & Freda for theirs received the same time. Have just had a letter from sister telling me off for not writing, but these have been busy (days), but will write soon, so I expect she will excuse. Darling what has happened to Florrie, fancy after all this time? Well I wish her all the best of luck also yours & Mums wishes. Gee when this one arrives I guess there will be high times. Well my precious there is very little news to tell from this end this time so will close down for now so dearest all the best of wishes for a more speedy return now that we are on the right road, bye bye love keep smiling.
Your loving husband,
Eric xxxxx xxxx xxx

My dear daughter,
Daddy has received your letter with mummy's & am pleased to hear that you are getting a fine big girl, & thats good. My you will have a lot to tell daddy wont you. Bye Bye dearest.
Lots of Love Daddy

 

Eric is seated second from right, sadly do not know who the others are, but they all seem to have received their Africa star ribbon.

 

T/5681695
Sgt Coburn E
1514 Hy A.A. Regt
PLATOON R.A.S.C.
C.M.F.

2/11/43

My Dearest
Many thanks for letters 6, 11, & 18th Oct, just received. I am sorry to hear about Valerie not being so grand, but do hope that by now she is much better & that she has returned to school, as it seems a pity for her to be away, as by your letters she is going ahead so well. I am sorry to hear about Uncle Joe, it must be a great shock to Aunty as being so deaf, it must be hard for her. I have sent a cable to her c/o 6 Mildred. Well my love everything here is rosy & we seem to be making a headway now, though slow. I have seen quite a change of scenery and some of the well known spots, & have had some enjoyable evenings with the local people trying to learn things over a glass of wine, & a very liberal amount of nuts etc which are very plentyful here. Your parcel arrived a few days ago love & it was grand & in fine condition. I have also received J.B. & (?) from Stan. Please thank him the next time you see him & by the way tell him he must not fall into line on my pet doings of carrying on to the next station. Darling on the question of Flo, I thought you would have been in a better position to inform one of the reasons, as Mum has not mentioned & me being terribly interested, so please in your next letter try & do the necessary so that my nose may be blacked. I have received two letters from Mum today everything seems to be going on quite well at home, she told me about the purse incident. It certainly seems a mysterious affair & especially to happen in so short a distance, but there it has happened before to others. Well love there has been very little change since the last time of writing. I see you have the place off alright. You must have had a laugh about Valerie's query about the letter box, but as you know her idea of a letter box must originate from ours at home. The weather here has not been so bad of late, not so much rain, but when it does rain you know all about it. It is getting colder now especially earlier in the morning, and have quite a few early ones but it has not been much trouble in getting up as I have not yet lost touch of the market days, but quite expect that when the day comes to really return to it it will be hard. I have not yet heard from W.H.P. but expect mail is still chasing us around as there has not been a lot arriving the last few days, but expect it will right itself soon with a large batch altogether. By the way love, you remember Tommy Mason & Steve, well I heard the other day that CQMS Insley had seen Betty who used to be a great pal of CSM Abbot & she told him that Tommy had been killed, but where & when she did not know. I think it must have been at home, as am sure he did not come away, but if I do hear I will let you know. Well kid there is very little else, so will close hoping to hear from you again soon. So till next time love all the best. Keep smiling, it wont be long now. Bye Bye pet.
Your loving Eric xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Dearest Little Pet
Daddy hopes you are much better now, & that you have started back to school. He is very proud of you. Keep it up little one.
Lots of Love Daddy xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

In November they were on the move for a while, but by the end of the month had settled into good accomodation:

"..if only you could see the place we are in now, you would say it was just like a civic office. We have a really marvellous block of flats with our office quarters in a large room fitted out for convenience, desk furniture etc. & our mess runs off of the office, so all one has to do is to open one door & fall into one's seat. We have a three piece affair, spring beds & all modern, so really it is something more like home than ever it has been before, so am hoping our luck will stay with us for a while, as it will be a darn good place for Xmas."

 

December brought the usual hopes in the letters as it was Eric's third Christmas away from home...

"Well my darling Xmas is around again & I trust that this will be the last away from home as it seems we are putting great pressure on so that it will finish soon & gee what a relief it will be.."

Sadly it wasn't to be his last Christmas away.

 

Eric is in the middle. The gentlemen on the end are both clearly wearing the arm insignia of the British 6th Armoured Division, so this may have been before Eric left North Africa or it could have been in Italy- they are wearing their Africa Star ribbons (with the 8, to signify the Eighth Army clasp). However for at least some of his time in Italy Eric was under the US 5th Army as will be seen in a later photograph.



Addition- Having read a letter written at the end of April 1944 I think this was taken during his leave that month as he talks of travelling and drinking with 5 other fellows (4 in the picture & 1 behind the camera?)

 

Lynda -
Now we have some sort of a clue as the "Mailed Fist" certainly signifies the 6th Armoured Div - however - only the Guards Bde and the 16/5th Lancers were in Italy - earlier that the rest of the division (Jan/Feb '44) - so that photo was taken - or had to be taken when the whole of 6th armoured went to Italy namely March '44 - so that is quite a gap from Christmas when it appeared that they were still close to Naples which had been captured on 1st October '43 - and that photo on posting #35 does appear blurred - but not the Black cat of 56th Division - more like 7th Armoured ....
very strange ....not even a hint on the Christmas cards- which is again odd !
Cheers