Extracts from Geoff's letters

Extracts from Geoff's letters

Several extracts of letters sent from June to September 1942. Tells he was now a prisoner of war, describes camp, accommodation, food, activities, mail, reading, sport, compatriots and his feelings.

Three page typewritten document

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.

MShepherdG167962-201007-51

[underlined] Extracts from Geoff's Letters [/underlined]

[underlined] Received June 8th, 1942. [/underlined]

I expect you will have heard by this time that I am now a Prisoner of War. I guess that one has to be unlucky sometime and that was my unlucky day. But the consolation is that I am alive and very fit. Please don't worry about me as I am as cheerful and well as possible under the circumstances. I am unhurt. Many others are with me, so work, pray, and hope for the end of the war and trust it will be soon.

[underlined] Received June 15th, 1942. [/underlined]

The food is quite good thanks to the Red Cross. I am very fit and getting as brown as a berry, so please do not worry about me. I have met one or two people I know in here, so far from home. There is very little to do here. My correspondence is limited to two letters and four cards per month, so will send something to you each week. We have a dance band here and are able to buy odd things. Please send photographs of yourselves. May the war end soon.

[underlined] Written June 5th, 1942. [/underlined]

I am now in the main camp, composed entirely of air crew, where I have found some pals both old and new. We do no work here at present, only keep the hut clean, 40 men in a hut, sleeping on two tier bunks. We have the German rations cooked mid-day, and have to cook the Red Cross food parcels ourselves. I can only claim to be dish-washer-in-chief, owing to my inability to cook! However we all do something and get on very well together. Our hardest task is to conquer boredom, although we have a good library and play bridge in the evenings. If you write to Irving you can get my Caterpillar, as I can now be a member of the Club.

[underlined] No date [/underlined]

I have become an accomplished housewife what with mending clothes and altering them. To make the most of everything both a creative and inventive mind is necessary. I'm rapidly acquiring both. You and Julie would smile at the very original designs of clothes here, pairs of shorts made out of anything from a tunic to a couple of pocket handkerchieves [sic]! We have concerts by the men, debates, a football league and recitals by the camp orchestra, 20 players in it. It all helps to relieve the momotony [sic]. I am taking a course of study, we have classes by qualified instructors.

[underlined] Written July 2nd, 1942. [/underlined]

You can guess how pleased and relieved I was to get your first letter. I must have read it twenty times. I have now received over [inserted] (20) [/inserted] twnety [sic] letters, many thanks to all who have written to me. Please explain I can't reply to all. I now have my little interests, so mamage [sic] to fill in the time.

[page break]

–2–

[underlined] [missing letter]uly 21st, 1942. [/underlined]

I've been doing a lot of reading, the type of books I should have read long ago. I realised at first I must keep myself occupied. If possible I should like a few elementary veterinary books. My best wishes to all relatives and friends.

[underlined] August 7th, 1942 [/underlined]

I have been learning to play basket ball. I know it would amuse you both to see me playing glorified netball! We have a big sports day very shortly, so are busy practising. On Monday we had Officers v. Sergeants Rugger Match, which I am sorry to say we lost, 20 points to nil! My waist is still about 30 inches. I think the biggest shortage here is news, we have to rely on new-commers for that. I've kept up my reading and done some maths, but the study classes are not organised yet.

Keep on with the good work you are all doing, and I'll soo [sic] be with you. Don't worry about me, I'm quite O.K.

[underlined] August 19th, 1942. [/underlined]

I was lucky last week for mail receiving quite a lot. Keep on writing. Last week was lovely weather, so it was lucky we picked Saturday for sports. We also had another Sports day yesterday, Officer v. N.C.O's. Both days were very good and the sports want well. The second day the band provided music and I am pleased to say the N.C.O's won by the narrow margin of one point. Please do not send boots after all as I have some from the Red Cross. I am keeping very fit – open air life agrees with me. Keep up good work and I'll be home all the sooner for it.

[underlined] September 6th, 1942. [/underlined]

Many thanks for letters and snaps. I am pleased to have them and at the moment am busily occupied in carving some frames to hand [sic] them up over my bed. This week we had an Arts and Crafts Exhibition. The models would be good made with proper tools, but here with the penknife as the only tool, they are marvellous. One a perfect time-keeping clock, made entirely of Red Cross tins, nothing else at all. It just shows what can be done. An old pal has supplied me with toothpaste and brush, so my teeth are in good order.

I'm feeling very fit now, with the benefit of the summer and lots of sun. I'm browner than I've ever been. The studies are not under way yet, but I am doing some of my own. Any good books you care to send are very welcome. I may be able to send a snap later on but not yet.

[underlined] September 7th, 1942 [/underlined]

I have met a Canadian here, who I'm bringing home with me before he goes back to Canada. This week I've had an Argentine Red Cross issue, quite a lot of meat and real butter. It makes a pleasant change.

[page break]

–3–

Our camp library has just been re-organised, and a filing system made of cigarette cartons, it is surprising what can be done. We have divided ourselves into combines of ten men for the purpose of sharing all [symbol] equally. [inserted] FOOD [/inserted]

I walk two miles a day to keep fit.

There has been a birthday party in the hut today.

If optimism is any help, there is plenty of it here.