Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula

Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula

Number 24. He writes about life in camp and the slow passing of time and learning to play the violin. Mentions that London had been bombed and worries over her. Discusses parents return from India. Says camp is well stocked with Red Cross parcels. Mentions birthdays including his and that spring is on the way.

1943-04-18

Two page handwritten letter

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EValentineJRMValentineUM430418

[underlined] NUMBER 24 [/underlined]
[underlined] 18-4-43 [/underlined]
Dearest Ursula: It is 2 weeks now since I heard from you & I’m looking forward to another of your most welcome epistles any day now. I haven’t heard from anyone else recently, but I can stand that without much bother. I wonder how our 2 year old wonder is nowdays [sic]. I’d give anything to be able to see you both & to see the progress Frances has made since I last saw her almost a year ago. What an age a year is at a place like this! The days pass, thank goodness, quickly enough but a month seems endless & a year infinite. I am so glad that I started the violin – it passes an hour or two a day & I get a lot of pleasure from it – even from grinding out scales. Of course I am still awful but since Harry Friend took me in hand I have felt a lot less despondent & am developing a certain amount of self confidence which I badly needed. I pray that if we are shifted, Friend & I will go to the same camp & that there I shall find somewhere to practice, even if it is an adjunct to the lavatory. Yesterday I got up at 6.30 am & did some practice before morning parade & if I can amass sufficient will power I intend doing the same quite often. My senses are still playing funny tricks although I can taste for some of most days, but apart from that & my spots I am very fit & playing a game of Rugger & Soccer once a week. I hear that London has been bombed again & hope that Hendon wasn’t in the news. I wish you weren’t there – I worry about your welfare much more than you probably realise! I wonder if you have any news of the probable date of your parents arrival in Britain. They will find conditions vastly different from India. This camp is well stocked with Red X parcels now – we have enough in hand for a month. Hans Lensing’s birthday was 3 days before mine but we didn’t do anything to celebrate. We didn’t even make a cake out of Reich bread which is quite a common practice here. They are as heavy as lead & we haven’t the raging appetite of a year ago. Hans is a year older than I. I have just finished one of AG Streets book – “The gentlemen of the Party” & found it quite entertaining. This camp is surrounded by pine trees but here & there are a few deciduous ones which are just showing a little green – about the only sign that spring is on the way. I often think of the large chestnut tree in front of Lido but I think more of the occupants of the house & long to be with them. All my love dearest John.
[page break]
83
[underlined] Kriegsgefangenenpost [/underlined]
[GEPRÜFT 55 stamp]
An MRS U M. VALENTINE
LIDO
Emfangsort: TENTERDEN GROVE
Strasse: HENDON
Kreis: LONDON NW4
Land: ENGLAND
[PASSED stamp]
Absender:
Vor- und Zuname: Sgt John Valentine
Gefangenennummer: 450
Lager-Bezeichnung: M.-Stammlager Lufte 3
Deutschland (Germany)