Hi all,
A long shot this.
Does anyone know if there are any surviving relatives of the above airman who was sadly killed whilst serving with 1 squadron SAAF in 1942.
A few years ago I bought some bits and bobs on ebay amongst which were a lot of letters from him to his parents and vice versa. He was killed when the airfield they were based at was bombed. He lost his legs in the raid and eventually succumbed to his injuries some months later. There are also some really sad letters to his mother from the nurse that was looking after him.
I was going to sell them on ebay but I simply can’t do that – my conscious won’t allow it.
I would really love to reunite the family with them as they are an important part of their heritage or alternatively I will donate them to the SAAF museum.
Many thanks in advance for any help.
Gerry
By: kev35 - 31st March 2025 at 14:49
Most definitely please.
Regards,
kev35
By: gedburke3 - 31st March 2025 at 14:48
I’m pleased that you thought they were worthwhile.
In my attempt to contact the family I placed articles in the local free and subscription papers, I also contacted the local news (TV and Radio). However, I failed to receive an acknowledgement from either the tv or radio.
There was a large full page item placed in the local paper which covers a wide area.
The paper received one reply telling them that Ronnie Peters sister was still alive and that they would make contact.
However that was a year ago and to date I have had no further contact.
Now having read some of the letters you can understand why they need to be with the family.
Incidentally I have posted about a quarter of the letters etc I have. Unfortunately no further photographic images.
I also have about 20 letters from his family to his mother and father offering sympathy etc.
All the best
Gerry
By: kev35 - 31st March 2025 at 14:48
Gerry.
I have to say that that makes for astonishing reading. It is the minutiae of the lives of serving personnel that fascinates me and the above is a perfect example. One can only imagine the pain he must have felt throughout his long and slow deterioration.
You are to be admired for your efforts in reuniting these items with the family. I presume you have tried the family tree route to find surviving family?
It is a sadness to find that these items seem unlikely to be returned to the family. However, by saving them and posting them here you have done much to perpetuate the memory of this man. For a while, he is brought to the consciousness of those reading the letters and sharing both his joy at finding Esther and the inevitable sadness of his impending death.
Thank you very much for posting them.
Regards,
kev35
By: gedburke3 - 31st March 2025 at 14:48
part 2
By: gedburke3 - 31st March 2025 at 14:48
Kev35,
As I explained earlier, I bought these by accident. They were listed as letters from a 1 Squadron airman with no further details.
I have tried and tried to contact the family to return them without success.
I have listed these in chronological order:-
RAF Donnie Nook 1939
4th October 1940
12th Oct 40 from ship
on arrival in Egypt
Ronnie Peters in North Africa
Christmas 1941
Boxing Night 1941
Last mail home. written on Jan 31st 1942 just a few hours before he was fatally wounded on Feb1st 1942
Letter to Ronnies mum from his Girlfriend Esther.
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November 24, 2008 at 6:40 pm