Bombardier Charles "Scotty" Lawson was well-known in the Portadown area of Co. Armagh. On 3rd January 1942, he wrote "home" via local paper The Portadown News.
On 3rd January 1942, the Portadown News published a letter home from a local man on the frontlines. Bombardier Charles "Scotty" Lawson of Portadown, Co. Armagh wrote home with updates from several local soldiers in his Artillery Regiment.
Hello Portadown, we are all keeping fine. Weather is terrible. But the boys can take it. We are all being posted to different Regiments, and the boys are anything but happy. Where we go we don’t know. After being through Dunkirk and all the tough spots, it isn’t easy to just say goodbye to all your pals.
Hello Tommy Lutton, what do you want to say?
“You can tell them I am going on the guns and there will be a deal more shining to do than there was on the Searchlights, but I am glad of the change. I was tired running up and down the beam every night to see if we were on ‘Jerry'”.
Here is Mosie Mulholland of Mourneview Street. To us, he is Sergeant Mulholland. Well, Mosie, what have you to say?
“It’s practically all over now. I’ll be walking up Portadown Street at the ’12th’ to the tune of the Big Drums”.
May I add that Mosie said that in Bethune, 1940,. What 12th he’s alluding to, I don’t know.
Of course, you all know the famous ‘Dusty’ Millar, who hails from Thomas Street. Well ‘Dusty’ is keeping fine and has asked me to remember him to the workers of Portadown Weaving Co.
Billy Baxter of Mourneview Street (nice smiling boy is Billy) has just arrived here beside me. Wishes to be remembered to all his friends in the ‘Port’. Our Detachment Commander, Sergeant Johnny Duke, who comes from Knocknamuckley direction, has asked me to convey his good wishes to all his friends. I have been with Johnny for a considerable time, including action on Dunkirk beach. He is a good man at his job, and one of the best Detachment Commanders in the Battery. Now, we are all leaving him.
Scotty.