War Office Letters

This letter was sent to Joseph’s mother on 6th January 1944. It appears that a pension of some description of seven shillings a week (about 35 pence now) that she was receiving for Joe was stopped and a letter of great insensitivity sent to her. This was the apology:

To telephone: Leicester 51102 ex 36 Ref: H/14/10

Mrs. M. Cummings 81 Mauldeth Road Chorlton‑cum‑Hardy

Dear Madam,

In reference to the form sent to you recently notifying you of the cessation of voluntary allotment of 7/- per week; it is very much regretted that the intimation to your son’s death should have been made in so callous a manner.

There is no excuse for this even though there are certain instructions to be carried out.

Please accept our sincere sympathy in your great loss and apologies for the apparent indifference in our notification to you.

Yours faithfully, Captain, for Regimental Paymaster, Leicester.

Newarke Street, Leicester. 5 Jan. 44

The original:

This is the letter that was sent to my grandparents from Buckingham Palace expressing the condolences of the royal family:

The following letter confirms the Joe was killed on his ship when it was sunk in the harbour. No details of the ship’s name (Merchant Vessel Fishpool) or what the harbour was (Syracuse). This was no doubt for security reasons. Apparently there were some survivors but Joe wasn’t amongst them.

3rd January 1944

Lochhead Works, Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire

Dear Mr Cummings

On behalf of myself and the officers and gunners of this Regiment, I ask you to accept this, our expression of sincere sympathy with you in the loss you have sustained by the death of your son No. 1809118 Gunner Cummings, J., 1st Regiment, Maritime Royal Artillery. Your son was a good soldier and held in esteem by all.

In this service which works close to danger most of its time please be assured the memory of comrades who have ‘passed on’ is not forgotten.

He will be remembered by those who step forward to fill the gaps; his memory will give the added courage to carry on the duty which he so faithfully performed.

If you have any difficulty at any time, or feel that we can be of assistance to you, please do not hesitate to write.

With renewed sympathy.

Yours sincerely

J.R. Dunkeld

---

Lieut. Col. (136168). Cmdg 1st Regiment, Maritime R.A. (Col. Dunkeld was stationed at the Lochhead Cabinet Works, which is still in existence (2011) but is now a cooperage.

The War Office, Blue Coat School., Church Road, Wavertree, Liverpool 15

October 1943 Our Ref: OR/124086/D

Madam,

With reference to your letter dated 16th October 1943, addressed to the War Office, London, regarding No. 1809118 Gunner J.P. Cummings, Royal Artillery, I am directed to inform you, with regret, that no news of your son has been received since he was reported missing at sea on the 25th July, 1943.

The ship in which Gunner Cummings was serving was sunk, in harbour, by a direct hit during enemy bombing, and it is regretted that your son was not amongst the survivors picked up. In the circumstances, therefore, there is very little hope of his survival, but a further lapse of time must be allowed before all hope is abandoned.

Immediately a decision is reached, or any further information received, you will be notified.

I am to convey to Mrs. Cummings and yourself, on behalf of the Department, an expression of sincere sympathy in the most anxious time.

I am, madam, Your obedient servant, C. Stone

Mrs M. Cummings

81, Mauldeth Road West, Withington, Manchester 20

On the 25th of April, 1944, my grandfather, Robert Cummings, received the following form from the War Office. It is terse, to say the least, and must have caused anger at its lack of sensitivity:

Tel No SLOand 1698 Form E.2.

Any futher correspondence on this subject should be addressed to:-

The Director General, Graves Registration and Enquiries, The War Office, 32, Grosvenor Gardens, LONDON S.W.1 and the following number quoted: GCAE/4358/AG.13.

25th April 1944.

Dear Sir,

I have to inform you that your son No. 1809118 Gunner J.P. Cummings of the 1st Maritime Regiment, Royal Artillery, is buried in Syracuse Communal Cemetery, Sicily, Plot 2, Row E, Grave No. 15.

Yours faithfully,

………………………………

Staff Capt. for Director General, Graves Registration and Enquiries

R. Cummings, Esq.,

(25178) Wt24521/6536 20,000 8/43 A & E B.W Ltd. Gp. 698