Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula

Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula

Number 39. Reports on numbers of her letters that he has received. Writes he will not give up fiddle and she should not buy house due to uncertainty pf postwar situation. Speculates over future in agriculture. Lists ways his daughter could be spoiled that he has every faith in her. Mentions his health and urges her to have a holiday. Says that they may be moved sometime in the summer.

1943-05-20

Two page handwritten letter

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EValentineJRMValentineUM430520

Start of transcription
No 39
20th MAY 1943
Dearest Ursula: I was delighted have your letter No 55 today I now have 1-51, 53, 55, & 56. During the last few days, I have been getting quite a few letters from Barnet & elsewhere but never one of yours. Unless circumstances here change I don’t think there is much danger of my giving up the fiddle, but there is a great danger of my wasting all this time because I seriously don’t think I’ll get get [sic] anywhere with it. As far as the house is concerned, I wouldn’t advocate buying one unless I am of the view only because our post war fortunes are so uncertain. I think a rent of £100 pa is as much as I could manage but I agree that we might have to put up with a smaller acreage than 10 acres. The only qualification I would impose is that it should be well & truly in rural surroundings & only then if you are content with it – for your wishes must come first since you would have to live in it more than I. My conception of spoiling a child is as follows (1) Waiting on it hand & foot, & generally fussing over & coddling it – this includes flooding the infant with expressions of extreme affection (2) Letting it be always the centre of attraction with all grown up relatives standing around gazing raptly & admiring every antic & wisecrack (3) Letting it always have its own way & granting every whim or wish. The child must learn that it can’t have everything & unreasonable or unnecessary requests must be firmly resisted. I certainly don’t think you or Ba are spoilt but I think Peter has been – particularly in the last respect. However, from what you tell me of our infant wonder, I have every faith in you & I am sure we share ideas on this point as we do on most. I am very interested to hear of your discussion group & wish it every success. You are a woman in a thousand – what a great pity there aren’t more like you there might be a few more sensible sons born then & perhaps wars would [indecipherable word] historical [indecipherable word]. I am still tasteless but plying myself with the Argotone which I acknowledged in my last card. I managed to snatch a few words with F/Lt Marshall today – do you remember my telling you of him. YOU MUST NOT FORGET TO HAVE A HOLIDAY THIS YEAR – please, please. We are definitely to be moved sometime in the summer but do not expect to go more than a few miles. If we do move, you might not hear from me so often. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate the photos – particularly those of you. One arrived with letter 55. All my love dearest, for ever Yours
John
[page break]
97
[underlined] Kreigsgefangenenpost [/underlined]
[stamp GEPRUFT 64]
An MRS U. M. VALENTINE
LIDO
Empfangsort: TENTERDEN GROVE
Strasse: HENDON
Kreis: LONDON N.W4
Land: ENGLAND
[stamp]
Absender:
Vior- und Zuname: Sgt John Valentine
Gefangenennummer: 450
Lager-Bezeichnung: M.-Stammlager Luft 3
Deutschland (Germany)