Lot 4447

Description

General Birdwood letter, dated 16 Sept 1939, from Deal Castle, Kent, writing to CO and 24 Australian Light Horse Regt re the alliance between the 24ALH and 12 Lancers, letter reads 'My dear Commanding Officer, I have to my regret to write to you like this - as I do not know who you are !! But I feel confident you may be one of my dear old A.I.F comrades. I write as Colonel of the 12th Lancers - which I joined over 54 years ago as a young subaltern - to say how very glad I and all ranks of the 12th Lancers are at the approval just given by the King to the alliance of our two Regiments. Will you please pass on to all ranks of the gallant 24th our most hearty of greetings. I do indeed herewith wish you all well & I hope I may be able to see you all some day. I wd. (would) give all I have if only I cd (could) be with my old A.I.F. comrades again now. Yours sincerely, Birdwood of Anzac'. Very fine and historic.

Ex Pat Boland Collection.