Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula

Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula

Number 63-120. Thanks her for letters and efforts on his behalf. Writes of poor weather and his tribulations in finding somewhere to practise his violin. He is still in need of strings and music. List items from last parcel which were appreciated and also what he need in future. Reports his sense of taste has returned.

1943-08-20

Two page handwritten letter

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EValentineJRMValentineUM430820

Start of transcription
20th [deleted] Jul [/deleted] [inserted] Aug [/inserted] 1943
Dearest Ursula
Your letter [one censored word] came today – [one censored word] still en route. I am full of admiration for your tremendous efforts to find a home & deplore my helplessness more than ever. How I wish I could be of some assistance to you – I fully understand all your difficulties & from the bottom of my heart, hope that you overcome them. Bless you for all your efforts on my behalf. There is, of course, little news from here. The climate is filthy – such gloomy weather tends to make it more difficult than ever to be cheerful. This camp is, I’m afraid, generally loathed. One by one, my havens for fiddle practice have disappeared but I now have a place which I had long borne in [deleted] [indecipherable word] [/deleted] as a last resort. It is awful – but that is why it is available. It’s in a semi underground cellar used as a potato store. It is low roofed (sitting down I can’t even get in a full stroke of the bow) dark (so that I have to strain my eyes to read the music) draughty, damp & oh! so smelly. Piles of spuds lie around giving off an awful effusion of dark rotting vegetation. But it has space which is what I want. Considering my extremely slow progress I’m almost ashamed to mention the hours I put in nowdays [sic], when I can. 4 or 5 is not uncommon in fact it is the only form of study at which I find myself able to persevere. Of course the conditions tend to vitiate the value of all this time, but nevertheless I ought to progress more. Am still badly in need of strings & eagerly await the music you sent. Some of the items in your last parcel are very welcome eg paper (I have ample now) sponge & pillow (not equal to my favourite of course) & particularly the lighter. Matches are extremely scarce here & if you could send another wick & more flints next time, I’d be grateful. I find on going through my clothes that I have quite enough shirts & vests for which I asked recently. So please send no more clothing of any kind. My request for shoes still stands for my present old warriors are [underlined] literally [/underlined] on their last legs. My taste has returned in full force, thank heavens – long m[inserted]a[/inserted]y it stay. By the way, that disinfectant soap you send is useful – I could do with more of it (in moderation, of course) I don’t think your photo in 68 is haughty in the least. I love all those of you especially the one in letter [censored word] Heres [sic] to success in your efforts towards a home. Would I could help you. Love to both
John.
[page break]
63 120
[underlined] Kriegsgefangenenpost [/underlined]
[stamp]
An MRS U.M. VALENTINE
[deleted] LIDO [/deleted] [inserted] Little Close
Devon Rd
Salcombe [/inserted]
Emfangsort: [deleted] TENTERDEN GROVE [/deleted]
Strasse: [deleted] HENDON [/deleted] [inserted] Devon [/inserted]
Dries: [deleted] LONDON NW4 [/deleted]
Land: ENGLAND
[stamp]
Absender:
Vor- und Zuname: Sgt John Valentine
Gefangenennummer: 463
Lager-Bezeichnung: Kriegsgefangenanlager Nr. 3 der Luftwaffe
Deutschland (Alemagne)