Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula

Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula

Number 30. Writes that reprisals for minor offences have increased affecting sport, theatre, news sheets, increased number of parades and worse relations with camp guards. Notes that recently arrived concert pianist has left for another camp. No letters from her for a month and emphasises how important they are to him. Shoes in last parcel were a boon. Now prisoner for a year and comments on another three year prisoner who has gone to seed.

1943-05-02

Two page handwritten letter

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EValentineJRMValentineUM430502

NUMBER 30
2-5-43
My Dearest Ursula: A day or two have elapsed since last I wrote but of course little fresh news from here is available. The reprisals for alleged minor offences have been increased by our captors. Yesterday all Soccer & Rugger balls were taken out of the camp & our handwritten news sheet was banned. They seem to think we are getting out of hand somehow & impose all these little petty punishments but as far as we are concerned they can go on doing so. Our theatre has been shut for some weeks now & we have also being [sic] parading thrice daily for counting instead of the usual twice. It is a pity, really, that our relations with the Germans have worsened of late for we have lived quite harmoniously for some months (Accent on the word “quite”) & I had developed a certain respect for their tolerant attitude towards us – but things have changed slightly during the last few weeks. However our spell here is part of the cost of the privilige [sic] of being alive & things aren’t too bad when everything is considered. It was with great sorrow that I bid goodbye yesterday to our concert pianist, Heizslam, when he left for another camp. He has only played to us a few times but they were memorable occasions for me & I bitterly regret his departure. It is a full month now since I last received a letter from you & judging by the amount of mail at present coming in, it may be as long again until the next arrives. Your letters are positively & without exception the main joy of my life here & you can imagine how eagerly I look forward to their arrival. The shoes which came in my last parcel have been a boon. You said that they were heavy but compared with the boots I have been wearing for nearly a year, they feel like dancing pumps. I have now entered my 12th month of captivity, while on 12th May Frank Pepper completes his 3rd year. He hasn’t gone utterly to seed as I may have given you to understand but he has a very gloomy outlook on life. Actually I think he is a very intelligent fellow but his mind is limited to one thing only – the Air Force & things relating to it. Nothing else interests him. He is very rough & uncouth in many ways & shows it particularly in his choice of words & way of uttering them. However he is good hearted & did all he could for me when I was a new arrival. I wonder if Jack B.P. is home now – lucky blighter. Hope all goes well at Lido – give my love to 2 yr old & to her Aunt. Always yours, John.
[page break]
88
[underlined] Kriegsgefangenenpost [/underlined]
[stamps]
An MRS U.M. VALENTINE
LIDO
Emfangsort: TENTERDEN GROVE
Strasse: HENDON
Kreis: LONDON NW4
Land: ENGLAND
[stamp]
Absender:
Vor- und Zuname: Sgt John Valentine
Gefangenennummer: 450
Lager-Bezeichnung: M.-Stammlager Lufte 3
Deutschland (Germany)