Description

1944 (Nov 29) Plain envelope by airmail containing 3 family letters of no military consequence dated 19 & 25 Nov 1944 with last undated bearing 1/- & 3d tied Hamps datestamp to Marine Matthew Lyon-Williams, R.M.E. 10300, R.M.Detachment 350, c/o GPO London with blue crayon deleting part address & on reverse redirecting To R.M.E. HQ., Butts Close Camp, Farringdon, Berks bearing ………

April 1941 saw the formation of Mobile Naval Base Defence Organisation 1 (M.N.B.D.O. 1) & later in great secrecy the 1st RM Coast Regiment, Landing & Maintenance unit called Detachment 350 was recruited. Sailing from Liverpool in spring of 1942 it was originally destined for Crete but diverted to Gan (600 miles South of Colombo) the most southerly of the Addu Atoll group of inhospitable, barren & remote islands. Japan had bombed Colombo 5 April 1942 & Detachment 350 were tasked with the construction of an airfield, service roads & maintenance sheds etc….

see FPHS Journal 270 Winter 2006 Bob Swarbrick, FPHS Newsletter 175 Spring 183 K. Raheram & https://www.naval-history.net/xDKWD-EF1942a.htm