Lettergram to Mrs C Clarke from Arthur Hope

Lettergram to Mrs C Clarke from Arthur Hope

The letter to Clara from Arthur is written from a prisoner of war camp. He writes emotionally about his regrets.

1944-05-03

One double sided handwritten sheet

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EHopeADClarkeC440503-0001, EHopeADClarkeC440503-0002

An MRS. CLARKE,

Empfangsort: 2, DARQUE STREET,
Straße: CUBBITT TOWN,
Kreis: LONDON. E.14.
Land: ENGLAND.
Landesteil (Provinz usw.)

[underlined] Gebühenfreil [/underlined]

[page break]

Absender:
Vor- und Zuname: Sgt Hope A.D.
Gefangennummer: 269778
Lager- Bezeichnung: M.-Stammlager Luft 3
Deutschland (Allemagne)

[page break]

DEAR CLARA;

[underlined] 3RD MAY 1944 [/underlined]

[missing word] LAST OF [missing words]
FELT THE UNCONTROLLABLE IMPULSE TO COMPOSE THIS FOR HOME, MY THOUGHTS MAINLY CLARA, ARE OF MY TWO BELOVED AND DEARLY-CHERISHED PARENTS, FOR WHOSE SAFETY I OFFER UP A SILENT PRAYER EACH EVENING THEIR SPLENDID GUIDANCE AND UPBRINGING I HAVE STEADFASTLY AND RESOLUTELY ENDEAVOURED TO FOLLOW, I GRIEVE BECAUSE I AM UNABLE TO BE WITH THEM TO EASE THE BURDEN OF THIS WEARY WAR STRICKEN AND TROUBLESOME LIFE FROM THEIR AGED AND WEARY SHOULDERS. NETHER [sic] THE LESS, THIS ABSENCE HAS ONLY FORGED STRONGER THE MEMORY AND DUTY WHICH IS ALLOTTED [indecipherable word] WHEN I EVENTUALLY ARRIVE HOME. WHICH IS MAINLY TO DEVOTE ALL MY LABOUR TO BETTER THEIR COMFORT AND MAKE HAPPY THE REST OF THEIR LIVES. THIS SHALL AND WILL BE DONE, NO MATTER WHAT THE COST OR SACRIFICE. NO SACRIFICE I CONSIDER IS TOO GREAT WHEN VIEWED IN THIS LIGHT, THEREFORE, WHAT LITTLE I CAN DO TOWARDS THEIR MATERIAL COMFORTS I SHALL TRY MY UTMOST TO ACCOMPLISH. ONLY NOW DO I REALISE HOW SELFISH I HAVE BEEN, AND SINCERELY HOPE THAT AT THIS TIME OF MY LIFE IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO SET OUT TO ACCOMPLISH THESE THINGS. WELL CLARA THIS IS ONLY A SMALL IMPRESSION OF MY THOUGHTS AND NATURALLY, ESPECIALLY FOR LITTLE ARTHUR MY THOUGHTS ARE THE SAME FOR ALL AT HOME. SO WILL CLOSE FOR NOW, AND HOPE THAT SOON YOU MAY SEE YOUR BELOVED HUSBAND HOME, AND ALSO MYSELF, BEST WISHES. ARTHUR.