I've always liked the designs on Christmas Airgraphs sent home during the War and this seems a good time to post some examples. Feel free to add more images if you have them (and I may as well add that I'm always on the lookout for more) Regards Alistair
I think that's them all - mixed amongst these posts are examples of Airgraphs as they would be received, blanks for the men to fill in and ones the men have filled in and kept Alistair
Great to see these Alistair, I have always wanted to pick up an airgraph from eBay or similar place, written by a Chindit 1 soldier. No luck as yet, however I have been sent many from the families who have made contact via my website.
Found this thread about Airgraphs: Kyte Many thanks for that most interesting piece of research. I used to use the aergraphs (I believe we used to refer to them as Aerograms) almost every week and the blank forms used to come up with our NAAFI rations (one per week, if I remember rightly). On special occasions such as Xmas the blanks would be specially designed. See: BBC - WW2 People's War - New Years Day 1944, Snowed in at Carovilli http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/13/a3443113.shtml Ron
Hi Ron, You may well be right, they may be Aerograms - I have heard both terms. Bamboo, I have a couple of Chindit Airgraph/Aerograms - not Christmas ones, but the ones sent home to say the soldier was on operations so wouldn't be in touch for the moment - these relate to a Leicester Regiment soldier, not sure which Chindit operation that was (I can send you scans if you want) Alistair
Hi Alistair, Thanks for the offer. The 2nd and 7th Leicester's served on Operation Thursday in 1944 (Chindit 2). I have a Chindit 2 standard airgraph for a man in the 1st Essex. I also have a copy of the original layout and wording for the Standard Airgraph sent to families by Rear Base in 1943. These were sent to the soldiers next of kin once a month for the duration of the operation. This procedure was then repeated the following year. See attachments below. What I'm hoping for one day is a straight forward airgraph letter sent from the training camp at Saugor in 1942. There a few on my website, sent by families, but I do not own one myself. One of my greatest regrets is that my Nan never kept any of her letters or paperwork for Granddad after he did not return from Burma. It is a shame, but she had her reasons and I respect her for that. Cheers Steve
HI Steve, That's almost identical to the 2 I have, just a different unit heading. There are lots of these about, finding the right unit and the right time is the hard bit, plus most aren't advertised with that kind of detail, but good luck with your search. In terms of families keeping thing like this - my Dad told me that when he used to spend time staying with an aunt during the War she got her regular letters from her Husband, basically read them once and chucked them in the fire straight after - seems odd to me but she obviously didn't want to keep them (he made it back OK though). Paul, glad you like them, I have seen a few nice Recce ones over the years but its a Corps that's always been collectable (and more expensive), plus one of my mates used to be heavily interested in them so I tended to step aside and let him get things. Alistair
I have a few airgraphs in my collection and obviously one only sees the front of the reduced form as completed by the sender. However, I actually have an example of a completed form that was not reduced in size but sent home inside a Christmas card. It gives full instructions about their use.
Just seen this poster in the IWM collection. Thought it'd fit this thread. Send Airgraphs. © IWM (Art.IWM PST 10004)IWM Non Commercial Licence