Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula

Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula

Number 15. Records letters that he has received and mentions how valuable they are to him. Mentions that typewritten ones seem to arrive quicker. Says he has a new violin teacher. Writes he is looking forward to more photographs, that he is progressing with book and hopes she has not been annoyed with his comment about the future houses. Mentions dry climate and subsequent dust after roll call [number of lines blacked out], sport and effect on his senses.

1943-03-30

Two page handwritten letter

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EValentineJRMValentineUM430330

NUMBER 15. 30 – 3 – 43
My Dearest Ursula: Yours No 48 arrived today – I now have 1 – 51 except 49 x 40 I’m very sorry to hear that I shant [sic] receive so many of those lovely long typewritten letters of yours – they are a positive joy to me with all them details of your & Frances’ life. I really cant [sic] tell you how much I value them. Even if they are slow in coming I’d give anything to have they in preference to faster mail from anyone else. I would appreciate it deeply if you could send an odd one here & there in addition to the fortnightly – even if it does take time to reach me. So far, your typewritten letters arrive more quickly than any other mail – probably the censors prefer them. My greatest joy today, apart from your letter, is that I have a new violin instructor A charming fellow named Harry Friend is taking me over & I’ve had my first lesson. He said I’d done quite well on my own & was quite encouraging altogether, although I’ve a hell of a long way to go yet. I’m looking forward to the photos of you, Frances & Ann that you mention. I’ve nearly finished “Kristin Lavransdatter” & enjoyed it enormously. I hope you haven’t been too annoyed with my comments on the results of your housing enquiries – but I’m convinced of the wisdom of my remarks in view of our lack of capital & experience – so cheer up – if you can’t do anything its not your fault [censored] It’s terribly sandy here & the climate is very dry so that whenever one walks in the camp a cloud of dust is raised. When the whole camp is dismissed after being counted [censored] a hall of sand hangs over us like a low cloud. When we finish a game of football our faces, heads arms & legs are coated with fine particles, while clear channels may be seen around nose & mouth, would you send another pipe, sometime a good one if they can be bought – the one my Father gave is almost burnt through already Much to my satisfaction my senses have returned – permanently I think – & the joys of life here have increased considerably. My old enemy is still present though & is very difficult to combat. I feel very cheerful today having heard from you two days in succession & also having secured someone to help me with my fiddle. So please write as often as your limited time allows. My fondest love to you & Frances. John.
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74
[sticker] EXAMINER 3310 [/sticker]
[postmark] GEPRUFT 32 [/postmark]
[underlined] Kriegsgefangenenpost [/underlined]
An MRS U. M. VALENTINE
LIDO
Empfangsort: TENTERDEN GROVE
StraBe: HENDON
Kreis: LONDON, N.W.4
Land: ENGLAND
Landesteil (Provinz usw.)
[underlined] Gebuhrenfrei! [/underlined]
[sticker] P.C.90 OPENED BY [/sticker]
Absender:
Vor- und Zuname: Sgt JRm Valentine
Gefangenennummer: 450
Lager-Bezeichnung: M.-Stammlager Luft 3
[underlined] Deutschland (Germany) [/underlined]
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