BURMA. An archive of approximately 138 manuscript letters from Major Bedford Hugh Nicholas McNeill to his 'darling' Monica Watkins, a secretary from Maidstone, Kent, written from India and Burma, circa 1943-1945, mostly 3pp. closely and neatly written aerogrammes, 19cm x 24.5cm, with circumspect detail McNeill writes of his life, but, unable to describe the military operations 'because I am in a special branch of the army', nevertheless incidental details slip out. In Burma, 'the Tommy-gun becomes your best friend', and the 'Japs have crucified white men and flogged them to death'. In India, it was more relaxed and he describes in detail how to make 'curry and rice'. He longs to receive more letters from Monica and is fulsome in his adoration of her, though has never met her. Occasionally he understands the fragility of their romance ('you're doing your war service by writing to a lonely man in Burma'). Note: Major McNeill received the Military Cross for his operations in Northern Burma. In August 1944, he led his company in capturing 18 Japanese bunkers ('pillboxes') which contributed to taking Myanmar from the Japanese.