Li/PM4/3

Letters from Suzanne Fesq, Lieutenant in the US Army, to Mr Clark, and correspondence between Mr Clark and the Colonial Office enquiring about the whereabouts and well-being of her father E William Fesq in Malaya. Includes the following: - Letter from Mr G H Clark to the British Red Cross enquiring on behalf of Suzanne Fesq about her father Mr Emile William Fesq, of Kampong Kuantan Estate, Bukit Rotan, Selangor, Malaya, a member of the Malayan Defence Force. [20 Apr 1942];

1942 - 1944

From: 1942 To: 1944

- Reply to the above from the Colonial Office stating that there had been no notification of Mr Fesq as a casualty. Two letters stating same thing. 9 & 11 Mar 1942]; - Draft letter thanking the Colonial Office for their courtesy and apologising for writing to two separate departments.[n.d]; - Copy letter from the Colonial Office to Mr Clark stating that a message reading ‘Fesq well’ had been received from Mr E W Fesq , understood to be a prisoner of war at Saigon in French Indo-China. [21 Oct 1942]; - Draft letter of thanks from G H Clark for the message from the Colonial Department [2 Nov 1942]; - Letter from the Colonial Office stating that although the message from Mr Fesq was received through Saigon in Indo-China, “the senders themselves are still believed to be in Malaya.” [17 Nov 1942]; - Letter from the Colonial Office stating that a message from a Mr E W Fesq, broadcast from a Japanese controlled station, had been picked up in Australia. Does not give details of the contents of the message. [19 Apr 1943]; - Letter from Suzanne Fesq in Italy. Mentions the effect of news of the flying bombs on the morale of troops, particularly the Americans. Describes her flight from North Africa, sitting beside the pilot who illegally allowed her to fly the plane, and how beautiful Mount Vesuvius was at sunrise. Spent a short time in Southern Italy, notes that the town [Naples?]was a filthy mess. “One would think the sewers opened onto the street, and most of the bombing rubble is still lying about. In fact there is not much left of the town.” Travelled north on Highway 6 noting the devastation of towns and burnt olive groves, mine and bomb craters surrounding villages. In the town where she is stationed, notes that in comparison it is untouched. “If it were not for the starving population, one would never know it had been touched by war. Clothes and luxury items are plentiful... there is no food.” Notes that the Princes and Counts seem to eat well. “They entertain us a good deal and we return their hospitality, for they are often very useful”.[22 Sep 1944]; - Letter from the Colonial Office stating that a message broadcast from a Japanese controlled station in Singapore was picked up in India on 9th Sep 1944 reading, “Hope you are all in good health...keeping well...” [12 Oct 1944]; - Letter from Suzanne Fesq to Mr G H Clark. Thanks him for the copy of Staff News “I...like the idea of giving news of the members of the staff scattered about the world. It doesn’t make one feel quite so cut off.” Gives details of a weeks leave spent hitch-hiking to Naples, Sorrento, Pompeii, Amalfi and Caserta. “On the way from Naples to Rome I sat on a barracks bag full of hand-grenades, thinking the lumps inside were army boots!” Missed a two day trip to London “Because an over officious Colonel put his foot down!” Mentions floods in Southern Italy, especially the Pontine Marshes.”[26 Nov 1944]; - Notification to Mr Clark from the Colonial Office of the news that Mr E W Fesq had been released from internment in Singapore, state of health not yet reported. [17 Sep 1945].

item

Fesq, Suzanne,
Clark, G H,
Fesq, Emile William

CORRESPONDENCE, Deputy County Librarian, lieutenant, Second World War, US army, Colonial Office, Malaya, British Red Cross Society, Malayan Defence Force, prisoners of war, Saigon, Italy, North Africa, Naples, bombs, floods, Singapore