I have cut and pasted an item from the 9th Royal Sussex War Diaries dating from early December 1945. It refers to the fact that the authorities were trying to persuade soldiers to provide personal details and interesting stories about their experiences that could be sent back to the press in their home areas. The orders are bemoaning the lack of detail provided.The 9th were still out in Malaya at the date of this order, and I am not really surprised that the men did not want to provide copy for newspapers.Most of them were waiting for a troopship home. I wonder if anyone else has come across actual examples of Local Boy Stories? Also were they kept anywhere and are they accessible?
Doesn't answer your question but they could have added 'so long as it is the right story'. At the same time FEPOWs were being expressly forbidden from talking, especially to the Press, about their experiences. Tim
Well, yes, I am sure there would have been some censorship, and I think I have found two newspaper snippets which were published in all likeleyhood as a result of this order but am keen to hear if there are files full of such submissions anywhere, such as Kew.
