Letter from John Taplin to his Parents
![ETaplinJATaplinWJ-[Mo][Date]-040001.jpg](https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/files/original/1409/44118/ETaplinJATaplinWJ-[Mo][Date]-040001.jpg "ETaplinJATaplinWJ-[Mo][Date]-040001.jpg")
![ETaplinJATaplinWJ-[Mo][Date]-040002.jpg](https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/files/original/1409/44118/ETaplinJATaplinWJ-[Mo][Date]-040002.jpg "ETaplinJATaplinWJ-[Mo][Date]-040002.jpg")
Title
Letter from John Taplin to his Parents
Description
He asks for cigarettes. He is studying accounts.
Creator
Language
Format
One double sided printed sheet with handwritten annotations
Publisher
Rights
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Contributor
Identifier
ETaplinJATaplinWJ-[Mo][Date]-040001, ETaplinJATaplinWJ-[Mo][Date]-040002
Transcription
[underlined] Kriegsgefangenenpost [/underlined]
RAF
[ink stamp]
An MR. MRS TAPLIN
12 WHITESMEAD RD.
Empfangsert: STEVENAGE
Straße: HERTS
Kreis: ENGLAND
Land steil (Provinz usw.)
[ink stamp]
[underlined] Gebührenfreil [/underlined]
[page break]
Absender:
Vor- und Zuname: F/Sgt Taplin.
Gefangenennummer: 27493.
Lager-Bezeichnung: M. -Stammlager VIII B
[underlined] Deutschland (Allemagne) [/underlined]
[page break]
Dear Folks, at last I have heard from you, It revived my spirits. You have my permission to take my belongings from the Squadron. My crown is definitely confirmed apparently, so please put F/Sgt on my mail, as you have been doing, and disregard that previous letter regarding my F/Sgt., now being authentic Just because I have stated preferance [sic] for Tobacco it doesnt mean not to send cigs. Cigs will be very acceptable indeed. Actually makes no difference. Regarding study, I am studying accounts shorthand. Also when I have spare time I spend it down the carpenters shop. I have worked now the sanders saw, but they wont trust me with lathe yet. I find it occupies my mind. Express my warmest thanks to the office for what they are doing for me. Its a good Idea sending a blanket – dont forget a pipe or two. Let me know when you get my catepillar [sic] card. I am well, thank God. Tell Joe and my friends to write. Well I must close now. [indecipherable word] – Always your Son
John xxxxxxx
RAF
[ink stamp]
An MR. MRS TAPLIN
12 WHITESMEAD RD.
Empfangsert: STEVENAGE
Straße: HERTS
Kreis: ENGLAND
Land steil (Provinz usw.)
[ink stamp]
[underlined] Gebührenfreil [/underlined]
[page break]
Absender:
Vor- und Zuname: F/Sgt Taplin.
Gefangenennummer: 27493.
Lager-Bezeichnung: M. -Stammlager VIII B
[underlined] Deutschland (Allemagne) [/underlined]
[page break]
Dear Folks, at last I have heard from you, It revived my spirits. You have my permission to take my belongings from the Squadron. My crown is definitely confirmed apparently, so please put F/Sgt on my mail, as you have been doing, and disregard that previous letter regarding my F/Sgt., now being authentic Just because I have stated preferance [sic] for Tobacco it doesnt mean not to send cigs. Cigs will be very acceptable indeed. Actually makes no difference. Regarding study, I am studying accounts shorthand. Also when I have spare time I spend it down the carpenters shop. I have worked now the sanders saw, but they wont trust me with lathe yet. I find it occupies my mind. Express my warmest thanks to the office for what they are doing for me. Its a good Idea sending a blanket – dont forget a pipe or two. Let me know when you get my catepillar [sic] card. I am well, thank God. Tell Joe and my friends to write. Well I must close now. [indecipherable word] – Always your Son
John xxxxxxx
Collection
Citation
John Taplin, “Letter from John Taplin to his Parents,” IBCC Digital Archive, accessed June 8, 2026, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/collections/document/44118.