Name/Title

Letter, Alan Steggles (England) to Stanley White (New Zealand)

About this object

Letter from Alan Steggles (Essex, England) to Stanley White (Mataura, New Zealand) dated 20 October 1943. This letter has a unique back story. As a teenager during World War Two, Stanley White worked at the Mataura Freezing Works. One of Stan's jobs was to pack lambs' livers in tin billies. The billies were then boxed, frozen and exported to England. For fun Stan wrote his name and address on a piece of paper and added 'please write to me'. He then slipped this note between the cellophane that covered the livers and the lid of the tins.

This letter is one of the many replies that Stan received from England. The sender, Alan Steggles was a 15 year boy working in a butcher's shop in Barking, Essex. Alan starts the letter with the liver story, introduces his family and speaks of their experiences during the Blitz. Alan shares his hobbies and expresses the hope that Stan can introduce him to a gorgeous female pen friend, ideally a cross between Betty Gable and Dorothy Lamour.

Maker

Steggles, Alan

Maker Role

Letter writer

Date Made

20.10.1943

Place Made

UK, England, London, Barking

Medium and Materials

processed material, paper

Measurements

Envelope
h 90mm x w 120mm
small

Subject and Association Keywords

industry/mataura freezing works

Subject and Association Keywords

industry/mataura freezing works/employees

Subject and Association Keywords

military/world war two

Credit Line

From the collection of the Mataura and Districts Historical Society Incorporated.

Object Type

document

Object number

MT2013.12.1

Rights

All rights reserved