Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula

Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula

Number 65-122. He writes about Ursula purchasing a new house for them and discusses financial matters. Mentions new British medical officer and treatment he is receiving. Sends request for contents in Swiss contacts to arrange for Rolex watches to be sent. Mentions he has received several tobacco/cigarette parcels.

1943-09-05

Two page handwritten letter

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EValentineJRMValentineUM430905

Start of transcription
5th September 1943.
Darling Ursula: Your No 69 is now here & I know where Broomfield is. I don’t know yet whether you have bought the house but I’ll assume that you have. Firstly I [underlined] endorse emphatically [/underlined] your action in doing so & marvel at your courage & ability. The home sounds so attractive from your description. I hated the thought of acquiring a suburban villa. How does the garden compare with Lido or Queens Rd? How old is the house? From my point of view, Liverpool St is easily the most convenient London terminus & the time from Chelmsford is very reasonable. How far is the village from C. I wonder if you are living there now, if you have managed to get our dining room furniture from David Hays & what other furniture you have managed to buy. What a pity that you have to do everything on your own while I live in idleness. I am afraid that you’ll be a bit short of money even when the extra allowances which I have ordered come in. If you fail to get satisfaction from the RAF re Income Tax, ask George Touche to ensure that the RAF is not stinging us, pointing out the GAT deduct tax on our total income. I am quite satisfied with the price of the house – what do annual rates amount to? From now on, dont [sic] spend a single 1d on me that isn’t necessary. I want for nothing (that money could buy) I assure you. How I wish I could help you!! I am very stirred by this news & anxiously await fuller details. Life is as usual here – a new British M.O. is giving me treatment in the form of a daily douche for my nose & my senses are in better shape. I thoroughly enjoyed the Terry’s choc from Frances’ ration I wallow in tobacco smoke whenever I can taste. I have asked Grunfeld’s Swiss friends to order 4 Rolex watches & send them to me here. They are not all for me of course, would you ask Grunfeld to guarantee my credit until after the war? I have had a lot of cig & tobacco gifts recently – my Father & the wardens remember me regularly; who the other donors are is an official secret apparently, 500 Players No3, 200 Players, 1/4 C.G.B. have come anonymously also another gift from MRS Hoare. I wish I could write more about the house which has excited me considerably but I’m just useless here. Best of luck, darling, grateful thanks for everything & love to you both – Ever Yrs John.
[page break]
65 – 122
[underlined] Kriegsgefangenenpost [/underlined]
[stamp]
An MRS U. M. VALENTINE
[deleted] LIDO [/deleted] [inserted] Little Close
Devon Rd [/inserted]
[stamp]
Empfangsort: [deleted] TENTERDEN GROVE [/deleted]
Strasse: [deleted] HENDON [/deleted] [inserted] Salcombe [/inserted]
Kreis: [deleted] LONDON NW4 [/deleted] [inserted] Devon [/inserted]
Land: ENGLAND
Absender:
Vor- und Zuname: Sgt John Valentine
Gefangenennummer: 450
Lager-Bezeichnung: Kriegsgefangenenlager Nr. 3 der Luftwaffe
Deutschland (Allemagne)