Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula

Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula

Number 35. Writes of belief that camp censors delaying mail. Catches up with news of acquaintance and mentions food parcels from Switzerland and arrival of tobacco. Writes that relations with camp guards is now good, of upcoming show and of obliquely of bribery. Mentions fellow prisoner's third anniversary and that he misses her.

1943-05-12

Two page handwritten letter

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EValentineJRMValentineUM430514

35
12/5/43.
Darling Ursula: These seems to be a plot somewhere to withhold your letters from me. In the last few days the censor responsible for the [indecipherable word] has started work again & I have had odd letters from my parents & Ann but none from you from whom I really am keen to hear but have reason to believe that there are stacks of mail on the camp but the number of censors is insufficient. So Irene is going to become a Mother! I guessed so when they told me she was leaving the WAAF’s. Oh well – she got what she wanted – a husband & a child – it would be a grand war if it provided everyone with what they wanted. I received an advice note (anonymous) from Switzerland today to the effect that a food parcel was dispatched to me at the end of April. More of Grunfield’s kindness, I expect. Yesterday 1/2 lb tobacco arrived from Dunhill’s – Row Cowdrays beneficence I presume. Unhappily being still tasteless I shan’t try it for the time being. I haven’t smoked a pipe for over a month now. Relations with our hosts are good once more – we almost eat out of one another’s hands. Our theatre being open, a farce is being presented this week – one of Somerset Maughan’s entitled “Home & Beauty”. We go in two days time. If you are at all mystified by any remarks of mine in previous letters, the word bribery might provide a clue – but, for Heavens sake, be discreet when you write to me. It may be that I can say things which you can’t without any blue pencil troubles. Please tell me if this letter suffers any maltreatment. I really do love that happy photo of you. I have mounted it in a place where I can gaze on it when in bed & you greet me cheerfully each morning. We are much encouraged by current news & eagerly awaiting the next slip. Today is the 3rd Anniversary of Frank Peppers descent by parachute – poor devil, he really loathes the life here. I’m not exactly in love with it myself but, having you, I feel that I have a firmer grip on life than he does. You make all the difference in the world to me. On the other hand my longing for you is painfully acute at times – a feeling which Frank probably doesn’t share – but that is part of the cost of such a priceless possession as the best of [indecipherable word]. All my love, dearest, we’ll meet sometime
John
[page break]
93
[underlined] Kriegsgefangenenpost [/underlined]
[stamp GEPRUFT 64]
93
An MRS U M VALENTINE
LIDO
Emfangsort: TENTERDEN GROVE
Strasse: HENDON
Kreis: LONDON NW4
Land: ENGLAND
[stamp]
Absender:
Vor- und Zuname: Sgt John Valentine
Gefengennummer: 450
Lager-Bezeichnung: M.-Stammlager Luft 3
Deutschland (Germany)