Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula

Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula

Number 48. Writes that they should depart for new camp on or before 10 June. Notes that letters should be addressed to Stalag Luft VI but parcels still to Stalag Luft 3. Says he is looking forward to change as he has been outside camp only once. Speculates over conditions during move and composition of new camp. Writes about recently taken music exams and that he will not be able to write as much in the future.

1943-06-06

Two page handwritten letter

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EValentineJRMValentineUM430606

NUMBER 48
6th June 1943

Darling Ursula: I’m dashing this off in a hurry in order to catch the “pigeon” post. It may [inserted] be [/inserted] the[sic] that I shall be able to send this[?] for we know now that we shall be leaving on or before Thursday 10th June. Our address has been modified – for letters it will continue to be Stalag Luft III but for parcels of any sort Stalag Luft VI is the answer. Will you please make this clear to all friends & relations. If letters were addressed to VI they would take at least twice as long to reach me. At first I didn’t want to leave this place but I am now eagerly looking forward to the change. I have been outside the barbed wire only once in 12 months ( once more than most of the camp ‘tis true) & a shot of variety will be refreshing. The train journey will be most exciting although we shall probably travel “bare foot” to prevent us escaping. Frank Pepper[?] I believe is quite cross because we are to be shifted in decent carriages. In his previous moves he has always had the most uncomfortable conditions – cattle trucks with a tin in the centre of the floor as the only sanitary convenience. He thinks we ought to experience the same thing to be able to know what it can be like. All the Americans & Poles left here yesterday for a different camp. At the new place we shall be almost entirely British though my Dutch mates will be there. I have sat the 2nd music exam but it was a fairly easy one, although it was a wretched day for it I was frantically busy getting rid of the Yanks & Poles, I had to play a final game of football – to prepare lists of the chaps travelling under my wing next week & answering innumerable queries. I was late for the exam & had to leave early to get on with my work but I think I passed (Grammar of Music). The final paper is tomorrow & I expect the same frantic conditions. Someone is waiting for me to finish this so I must stop. I’m bitterly sorry that I shan’t be writing so often in the future – I’ll do my best though. Please have that holiday this year, you thoroughly deserve one. I hope you & your beautiful daughter – who gets her good looks from her Mother are well – you have my fondest love, darling. I’m longing for you always. John.

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[reverse of letter]
GEPRUFT 64

MRS U M VALENTINE
LIDO
TENTERDEN GROVE
HENDON
LONDON N.W.4
ENGLAND

[/reverse of letter]
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