Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula

Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula

Number 47. Writes that his new address will be Stalag Luft VI, although he hasn’t yet got a date for departure and he is worried that he will not be able to send as many letters. He mentions price limits on house buying and that he had sat his first music exam and had two more to go. Mentions photographs of daughter and other domestic family matters. Says Dutch colleagues have been moved to another camp.

1943-06-04

Two page handwritten letter

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EValentineJRMValentineUM430604

NUMBER 47
4th June 1943

Darling Ursula: I had your bright & cheerful 61 today – 57 & 58 are the only missing ones now. So glad to hear that my letters get through but, as I told you last time, I bitterly regret that after our move I shall be [inserted] un [/inserted] able to devote such a large slice of my monthly ration to you & you must be prepared for a slump in receipts from me. My new address is Stalag Luft VI (Six). The date of our departure is not yet known but the 1st party leaves on 10th June – there will be 5 parties altogether but we don’t know who is in which. We shall be travelling in ordinary coaches & not cattle trucks as once feared. Yes your interpretation of my wishes re house & land [inserted] rent or [/inserted] purchase are correct. In a previous letter I mentioned £1500 as an absolute top limit – I mean the word “absolute” to be given full value. I have sat the first of my music exams. Harmony Grade 2 – set by Royal Schools of Music. Conditions for writing exam papers were not good & I made the usual mess of the paper. I’m sitting 2 more – Harmony Grade 3 & Grammar Grade 3. I don’t intend carrying on with Harmony – it is entirely theoretical we never hear any of the stuff we write & its getting a bit boring. Mr fiddle practice hours have been about 4 per day for some time now – I really enjoy it even when grinding out scales – I get more satisfaction & pleasure from it than any other activity here. My one great fear is that there won’t be any suitable asylum for a budding Kreisler at the new camp. The two photos of Frances in your 61 were delightful – absolutely charming. I agree with you that she is sweet. I hope you manage to get the rug ready for the June parcel. We shall definitely need them at the new place. Your “private nightmare” has been mine too for a long time – it fills me with horror whenever I think of it. All I ask for is to be a civilian with you once more. Glad to hear your remarks as to the soundness of your financial condition, even if you wink a blind eye to certain charges to other accounts. The 3 Dutchmen dote on my daughter, especially Louis who gazes for hours at the photo’s admiring the subject & Ba’s proficiency. I’m sure you will like Louis & Hans when you meet them. For 2 days I was miserable this week when they were [inserted]at first [/inserted] ordered to go to another camp. Thanks for your information (in last)[?] re M. Griffins work. You might tell me now the times she clocks on & off on each of the 3[?] weekly occasions. Does she go to the little place at the end of Tenterden Grove. Yes I’m determined to have my blasted nose amputated when I return – its damn all use to me now anyway. I wish I could keep up writing to you fairly often. I love doing so. My fondest love, darling. John

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[reverse of letter]
GEPRUFT 64

MRS U. M. VALENTINE
LIDO
TENTERDEN GROVE
HENDON
LONDON NW4
ENGLAND

[/reverse of letter]
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