WW2 British Soldiers Letter Written On A Pagri 2nd Coy Hampshire

For sale is a Rare WW2 British Army Soldiers Letter Home Written On A Piece of Pagri by a soldier serving in the 2nd Coy Hampshire regiment. 

  This letter states the following:   “X coy 2nd Hampshire’s, C/O G.P.O   Dear Laura    I hope you got my other letter, quite safe of course, yours has not reached me yet, but I is well on the way ……. You must enclose my papers this time as I have written in short, this is a piece of puggwee off my helmet, but it is better than nothing mate. I must say the weather has been grand lately and I have ……(unreadable)… well dear. I suppose things are still lively down home with the soldiers. I wonder when we will be there next time I shall be there, for good, I hope next time. How is Mother and all at home quite well I hope remember me to them all. Has Walter joined up yet now …. With Ronald? Love I will say goodbye, trusting you will be able to read this from yours Everloving, bay Jack xx”   WW2 History of The 2nd Battalion Hampshire Regiment:   The 2nd Battalion was also a Regular Army battalion and started the war in Aldershot, Hampshire, England. In September 1939, the 2nd Battalion moved to Cherbourg, France with the 1st Guards Brigade, alongside the 3rd Battalion, Grenadier Guards and the 2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards, attached to 1st Infantry Division. It then moved to Sille-le-Guillaume, and from there 250 miles north to take its allocated place on the "Gort Line", which it reached on 3 October. Later that month, the battalion moved to the Belgian/French border and, in February 1940, the battalion spent three weeks on the Maginot Line before returning to Metz.   The battalion crossed into Belgium in response to the German invasion of Belgium and, by 14 May, was digging into a defensive position. While an attack never came, with the retreat of the Dutch and the French Ninth Army, the 1st Division was ordered to retreat on 16 May. A slow retreat then commenced, ending at Dunkirk. The battalion began to be embarked from Dunkirk for the United Kingdom (some were evacuated on 2 June). The battalion managed to carry away 100% of their small-arms, mortars and anti-tank rifles. It was congratulated by the Minister for War, Mr Anthony Eden. The battalion then spent two years on home defence, training and preparing for a German invasion that never arrived.   In November 1942, the battalion, Hampshire Regiment sailed for North Africa, taking part in Operation Torch with the 1st Guards Brigade, which was now part of the 78th Infantry Division. They disembarked at Algiers on 21 November and joined the British First Army. Later that month, the battalion moved to Tebourba. The following day the 2nd Battalion were attacked by heavy shelling and, on 1 December, the battalion was attacked by a force four times its size, which was able to outflank it and rake it with enfilading fire. This was the start of three days of fierce close combat, fought at close quarters and featuring bayonet charges and counter-charges. The battalion was forced back a mile and a half and, on 3 December, Major Wallace Le Patourel was awarded the Victoria Cross for his gallantry in leading counter-attacks against the enemy. After three days, the battalion retreated through Tebourba, only to find all other troops had been withdrawn and the road behind them was cut. The battalion broke into small groups and attempted to break through to allied lines, reuniting at Medjez-el-Bab; many, including the Commanding Officer, were captured. The battalion, which had started the battle with 689 men, was down to 194 men. The battalion was withdrawn from the line and in December, nine officers and 260 other ranks joined the 2nd Battalion.[38] After the fall of Tunis on 13 May 1943, the 2nd Battalion joined the 128th (Hampshire) Brigade attached to 46th Infantry Division.   This measures 20cm in length x 21.5cm in height.    This will be sent via Royal Mail 1st class signed for and dispatched within two working days.