204651 Pte. Charles " " Mason South African Army from:Johannesburg, South Africa My name is Clifford J. Rae-Smith (born Clifford John Smith 25.Jan.1946)
I am trying to trace my natural father or any relatives. I have come up against many brick walls because of the lack of detailed information available to me.
His surname is Mason and first name Charles, I do not know if he is alive or deceased at this date. He could have (but only possibly) a middle name initial B.
All I know is that he was born between 1914 – 1924 in or close to Johannesburg and that he joined the South African Army at the outbreak of WW2. He was captured early and served the duration of the war as a POW in Germany.
He was repatriated to Brighton Sussex England about or before April 1945
He had a minor operation in Brighton & Hove General Hospital
He then returned with his unit to South Africa prior to my birth on 25th Jan 1946 He apparently wrote to my mother on several occasions but my mother did not wish to burden him as she felt he had been through enough already at that time. If you can possibly help me in any small way I and my daughter would be forever grateful. My mother Henrietta (Etta) Smith and I emigrated to Australia in 1968. My mother died in 1991 and I now live in Brisbane Australia
|