Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula

Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula

Number 21. He writes of his life and occurrences in prisoner of war camp. He mentions attending a camp concert, new arrivals at the camp, overcrowding, bad weather, monotonous existence and visit by brother of Dutch room mate. Says he is looking forward to receiving her parcel containing shoes and reading books. He also mentions feeling depressed but lucky to be alive, and his struggle to find topics for his letter.

1943-04-12

Two page handwritten letter

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EValentineJRMValentineUM430412

NUMBER. 21 12/4/43.
My Dearest Ursula: No more mail yet & little fresh news. Tonight I shall be going to the concert which I mentioned in an earlier letter. The programme has been revised & the highlights will be the Moonlight Sonata played by an American concert pianist Ned Herzstam & Handel’s Violin Sonata [indecipherable word] in D played by the star violinist of the camp, a New Zealander named Frank Hunt with Herzstam at the piano The same two are also to play a few other items & It promises to be a grand evening We had some more new arrivals today & the blocks in the camp are well over strength now – terribly overcrowded in fact. We are indeed lucky in the small room. One of my room mates, Louis Den Boer, had a visit from a 19 year old brother who is doing a spot of work in Germany (not of his own free will of course). It was a great moment for him because he hasn’t seen any relations for 3 years now. I wonder when I shall be visited by my brother? The weather is still pretty lousy so things aren’t very bright here. The weather & the length of daylight provide us with one of the few variable factors in our somewhat monotonous existence. I am eagerly looking forward to your parcel sent off in December because of the shoes it contains. I’m heartily sick of padding around in heavy army boots. I have just finished “How Green was my Valley” & enjoyed it more than I realised. My next book will be the Hermes Chronicle of which I have previously read only 1/2 of the separate novels. With the limited reading time that I have, I reckon it will keep me going for some months. This is the first letter that I’ve written to you over which I have had to struggle to find anything to write about. Up till now I’ve had no difficulty at all but today I just can’t think of anything to say. As a matter of fact I’m feeling very depressed at the moment & also a bit uncomfortable for three wretched spots are itching all over me. However I have really nothing to worry about & must remind myself that I’m lucky to be alive. I wish I could think of something apart from myself to write about – but the inspiration is dead tonight. I hope you are alive & kicking & that our two year old offspring is keeping life merry & bright for you. How changed she must be since I saw her last. Give my regards to Barbara
All just now dearest.
Loving you, as always
John
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80
[underlined] Kriegsgefangenenpost [/underlined]
[postmark] GEPRÜFT 64 [/postmark]
An Mrs U M VALENTINE
LIDO
Empfangsort: TENTERDEN GROVE
Staße: HENDON
Kreis: LONDON NW4
Land: ENGLAND
Landesteil (Provinz usw.)
[underlined] Gebührenfreil [/underlined]
Absender:
Vor- und Zuname: Sgt John Valentine
Gefangenennummer: 450
Lager-Bezeichnung: M.-Stammlager Luft 3
[underlined] Deutschland (Germany) [/underlined]
OPENED BY EXAMINER 3,121
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