September 2012 Auction Ends Tuesday, September 25th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/25/2012
Riveting archive of 22 autograph letters signed by Allied soldiers throughout the entire course of WWII. The letters are all written to a New York teacher, Mr. Evans, by a handful of young men who had apparently been students of his before the war. Letters are postmarked from all over the world, as the boys are stationed in England, France, New Guinea and Italy. One soldier in particular, Herb Van Dusen, wrote consistently from 1941-1944. His earliest dated letter, 1 June 1941 reads in part: ''...It is a weird feeling to be standing at your post on guard duty and hear the drone of German planes...and dive to the ground as the bombs land...'' In his last letter, datelined France, 31 July 1944, he writes: ''...I guess I will never get used to death and bloodshed...'' Van Dusen begins his letters as a PTE in a supply division with a wife and 2 children at home in Canada. Over the years he gets promoted to Corporal, but is devastated by the disintegration of his marriage when his wife gets pregnant by another man and asks for a divorce. He is also disillusioned about mankind. In a 6pp. letter from England on 4 September 1941, he writes: ''...when we see the devastation caused by the night bombers we wonder how human endurance can stand it. Yet the English race are coming through it with one object in view, to completely smash Hitler and all his rotten system...I had the experience of passing through a town half an hour after it had been heavily hit by the bombers. I witnessed scenes I'll never forget. Broken hearted mothers weeping as their children were taken out of the wreckage...'' On 22 December 1942 he writes: ''...In the dark days to come I will be able to say I have done my duty...'' By 31 May 1943 he reports: ''...We are seeing the large squadrons of the Allied bombs going over on daylight raids and at night we can feel the ground shake with the roar of the motors as the heavier bombers are on their way across. We hear the odd alert. But it seems hard to realize there is a grim battle going on just a short distance away from us...I can remember September and October 1940 with the Battle of Britain being fought in the skies day and night, London with all its terrific bombing and the huge fires...'' A 3pp. letter from another soldier dated 17 March 1944 reads in part: ''...in Sicily...water was scarce...I was detailed as guard on the water truck and we ranged around looking for wells or streams to fill up and carry it back to the troops. My job was to look out for snipers and keep watch while the water man and driver filled the truck up wherever we found good water...I hope I will be spared to come home again...'' Another man reports on 18 July 1943: ''...one of [our] MP was killed down here a few days ago by lightening while on post. He was a good friend...'' On 25 November 1943 Private Austin Hunter interrupts his letter: ''...Oops. Time out. I just heard a big noise and I don't mean a firecracker either...'' Evans' own nephew, Art Stewart writes as well: ''...I can't tell you what the name of the aeroplanes are that I fly but I can tell you that they are twin engined type. Can't tell you where I am either...'' A good many of the letters are written on official army or Red Cross stationery, others are on ruled or plain stationery, and there is one Vmail. All but 2 come with the envelopes. The entire lot is in very good condition, with only minor toning or staining, and creasing mainly just to fold lines. A wonderful collection of WWII letters with excellent battle and personal content.
22 WWII Soldier Letters Spanning Entire War -- ''...I can remember...the Battle of Britain being fought...day and night, London with all its terrific bombing and the huge fires...smash Hitler...''
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