Copy of the original letter from Manny

                                Transcript

                                            Surgical Wards (34),
                                                        St Luke`s Hospital,
                                                            Guardiamangia Hill,
                                                                Maida,
                                                                    Malta.
                                                     Thursday., 10th Nov., 1955
Korky & Co.,
                        You might have thought that I had failed to keep my promise by not writing. But now I can tell the story of how I cam to find myself in dock.
                        Firstly, we were late in leaving Malta as the service was temporarily suspended and then the old man changed his mind, so Yvonne ( that`s the bint I was taking with me to Blighty), and myselfhad to set on our own. Then last Wednesday we reached Rome exactly five days after we left Malta. On arriving there we heard that Naples were playing Bologna at the former`s, so we travelled south again to see the match and managed to buy an entrance ticket and we were expecting to see the match. I reckon that the match wasn`t 30 mins old when a penalty was awarded to Bologna when all of a sudden the Naples team supporters charged down into the field and were followed by a barage of stones and broken bottles. On seeing this I I tried to make to the doors, but something really solid fractured my left shoulder and Yvonne got hit on her spine. We were taken to hospital there were they plastered me and I think they did the same to her. On Sunday I telegraphed my sister and told her that we were coming back because I`ve just started feeling a great pain on my shoulder without mentioning what the cause was.

 As we arrived back, with Yvonne as a stretcher case we were brought here. But now the pain has gone and expect to leave before this weekend, Yvonne will be staying here for a bit longer, so if you write you can address it to my sister`s place 95, Paula Square, Paula, MALTA.
                        I think you were able to see the cause of not writing earlier, and thank goodness the RAF hasn`t heard anything so far as I know, up to now in any case.
                        I see that one of your wishes came through this weekend when Aberdeen lost to Clyde, and tell Dave to ask you and Smudge for the 50 ackers back because Wolves beat Dynamos . I expect 25 of it.
                        That`s all for now. Best regards to you , Smudge, Dave, Mayo, Queenie, Bonzo and all the rest. Tell Mayo that he still owes me 50 ackers less the postage of that parcel which I haven`t received as yet. I haven`t even received the Aden parcel.
                         Cherio lads,
                                Best Wishes
                                        from

                                           Manny

p.s. I did not type this letter. One of the nurses did for me and remarked what a funny name KORKY is.