South Yorkshire Times, August 26th1944
Leave With C.M.F. (Central Mediterranean Forces)
An interesting letter has been sent by Leading Seaman Arthur Meese, to his parents Mr. and Mrs. T. Meese of 8, Browning Road, Mexborough, describing the life in a rest camp somewhere in the Central Mediterranean area, where he has been spending a few days leave.
He writes: “While in the rest camp we were waited on hand and foot.” He then goes on to describe the condition of some of the camp and also mentions that the price of food is high, the price of bread costing anything from 10s a loaf upwards.
He continues “Although the price of some of the food is high, it is impossible to buy fruit in great quantities very cheaply. Just outside the rest camp is an avenue of grape vines but unfortunately the grapes were not quite ready.”
Before joining the Navy in 1940, he worked at Messrs. Dale, Brown’s, Swinton.