William & Janet Clark's Children - Janet - Janet & Luke's Children - Jenny - George is Missing

On the 21st November 1941 a brown War Office envelope was posted to Jennie at Lincoln House, 586 West Road, Denton Bank, Newcastle upon Tyne  It contained notification that "Gunner Pattison, George Alexander" was posted as 'missing' on the 2nd June 1941 - it took a few weeks before Jennie received the notification which was originally dated 8th July 1941 at Foots Gray Sidcup Kent, and then was received by the Record and Pay Office also at Foots Gray on the 11th September 1941, it was then forwarded to The Casualty Branch of the War Office where it was posted on the 21st November 2041 containing the devastating news that George was 'missing'. 

The terrible stress this brown envelope contained was confirmation of the undoubted fear that Jennie must have been experiencing when she hadn't heard from George.  At this time he could have been taken prisoner or been killed.  It also must have been hard for Grandma and Grandpa to see their young daughter having to live with such a heavy heart.

Just over a year later, Jennie must have written to her Uncle Carlos in Peru, informing him that George was still 'missing.'  Carlos replied on the 7th March 1943.  It is a lovely letter, beautifully written to his "Dear niece Juanita."

"Mrs Jennie Pattison
586 West Road
N/c on Tyne
England

My dear niece Juanita:

It has been an unexpected and very nice surprise for me receiving your kind letter dated (?)well I see you forgot to date it.  It was sent by Hilda to Caraz, a far place up in the hills where I went some months ago. It crosses with me when I was coming back home and returned to Lima by the P.O so I have read it.

I know now that the nice little girl I used to play with and called me "Tio Carlos" is at present a young married lady.  Sincerely I wish you may have some good news about your hubby.

We are here both with good health remembering you all daily.  Very sorry with your hard times and delighted the last news about the war victories in the Pacific, Russia, Africa etc, and expecting every morning that the invasion of the Continent has begun.  So you will know that Peru was the first South American country to break relations with the Axel on January 1943, so your worries and joys are also ours.

Do you remember when you used to eat "mani" when your dad killed the "conejos" (rabbits) and dear mamy Janet put you on slippers to climb all over. I close now my eyes and see clear that house in Magdelena and you in."

"After I got bad my stomach and suffer fourteen years; it is only four years past and operation and I am well at all. I am working now on an "anthracita" (coal) business and travelling between Lima and Caraz a nice village 500 kilometers from Lima and 3,000 meters 'high over sea' of the Andes, at the feet of the eternal snow.  Their rains like in England sometimes day after day, but when it is clear the suns come strongly too. everything is great over their, vegetation, storms, could or heat, peins and voinds, the mounts and the river, and the sickness to. I am sure you will like this place.

Well dear Juanita please give my best regards to Lukey and Janet, to Lilly, Willhemena and Hellen [Aunty Ellen] and do not forget to visit your loving uncle.

Carlos A Terry

Carlos A Terry
Clachaga 
Lima Peru              ps please excuse my bad English"