Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula

EValentineJRMValentineUM420804-0001.jpg
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Title

Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula

Description

Number 13. Writes that her letters 1-5 arrived. Says post could be delayed both ways and suggest she send one letter a week. Notes that ration cuts have been restored and regular Red Cross parcels arriving. Says he is now feeling much better and has played rugby and soccer. Rejoices in Frances progress and mentions friends, finance, conditions in camp. Has got a razor and shaved off beard. Lacks the energy to start studying.

Date

1942-08-04

Temporal Coverage

Language

Format

Two page handwritten letter

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.

Identifier

EValentineJRMValentineUM420804

Transcription

No. 13 4-8-42
Darling Ursula: Your ever welcome letters 1-5 received, read and reread. I’m afraid that future mail may be delayed (both ways) so until you hear to the contrary, don’t waste your time by writing more than once per week. I will send off my usual quota and we must both be patient. Former ration cuts here have been restored and Red Cross food parcels are now arriving regularly so I’m feeling quite normal at last and have played Soccer and Rugger. I hope none of my earlier gloomy messages upset you but the first two months here were very trying & I really have recovered now. I rejoice to hear of Frances’ progress but regret that I am missing it all Haven’t heard from my folks since Father's first two notes in which Irene’s fortunes were not mentioned. I suggest a gift of £3 in cash or kind, not Savings Certs. Please don’t cut your hair. Glad to hear of Gattey & Cairns Regards to both & congratulations to Heath on his commission. Hope you manage financially on our own income. Can increase allotment if needed. Life here is very tedious but I must admit that apart from eating less, we are treated very fairly. Washing, sanitary & sleeping arrangements rough but adequate. Spare clothing non existent & I look forward to your first parcel. Have managed to acquire razor but no brush & have removed beard. Was clean shaven for a time but growing moustache again. It is a comfortless existence but not uncomfortable & I sadly miss the loving attention of my dearest wife. The camp being tree girt we see nothing of the outside world & hear only distorted rumours. I read a fair amount, work a lot running the flock of which I am in charge, but haven’t studied yet being sadly lacking in energy (until now) I enjoy Sundays & always attend both services & gramaphone record recital in the afternoon. When idle I invariably think of you with infinite longing to be nearer.
All my love, dearest and to wee one. Yours for ever, John

Mrs U.M. Valentine
Lido
Tenterden Grove
Hendon, London N W 4
England
From
John R.M. Valentine
450
M-Stammlager Luft 3
Deutchland

Censor stamps Gerpruft 32 Examiner 2360

Collection

Citation

John Ross Mckenzie Valentine, “Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula,” IBCC Digital Archive, accessed March 28, 2024, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collections/document/19215.

Item Relations

This item has no relations.