Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula

Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula

Number 85-142. Writes of potential house purchase and problems ahead. Discusses financial matters and instruction sent about RAF pay through Red Cross. Discusses name for new house. Puzzled about watch she is wearing. Mentions his lack of religion and books he is reading.

1943-12-20

Two page handwritten letter

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EValentineJRMValentineUM431220

Start of transcription
STALAG LUFT III
LAGER “A”
20th December 1943.
Darling Ursula: Your letter of 23rd October is here – series to that one complete. Delighted to hear of the then approaching completion of the contract for house purchase. I hope everything has gone smoothly but I shall continue to write to you at “Trifle Oppressive” until I hear definitely that you have moved. I’m afraid you have a bigger job ahead of you than you realise but my faith in you is so profound that I know you’ll manage but, believe me, dearest I’m fully conscious of & grateful for your struggles. I wonder what the outcome of the piano dispute was & also if you managed to collect everything intact from David Hayes. I’m dreadfully sorry that you have to “harp”, as you term it, on the subject of my increasing your cash resources. I don’t mind your “harping” a bit – I’m fond of music anyway – but I do wish the mail situation was better so that you could know that I’ve done all I can. On 6th AUGUST, I sent an order to RAF to [circled 1] increase your weekly dole to the maximum (2) Pay you all available back pay; & on 13th Oct I sent via Red X [circled 1] The PO withdrawal form duly signed for £100 & [circled 2] a Power of Attorney giving you absolute authority to deal as you think fit with every available cent I own. As regards a new name for the house I’d like something (being, as far as you are concerned of a sentimental turn of mind) charged with meaning for you & me, such as Killin. I would prefer, though, IDWAL COTTAGE (or just “Idwal” if you like) in memory of the glorious week we spent together before Frances was launched. I don’t mind in the slightest your wearing my wrist watch but I don’t understand [circled a] What Touches have got to do with it or [circled b] How I can take care of it when I haven’t got it. Please elucidate. Youve [sic] got to know sometime, my dear so I might as well tell you now. I am by [underlined] conviction [/underlined] a disbeliever in God – as you understand – in the heavenly parentage of JC, the Holy Ghost etc. etc. You know, when I was confirmed, how uncertain I was & continued to be until a month or two ago I read, by chance “The Martyrdom of Man” by Winwood Read. There I found many of my hazy & unformed ideas crystallised & set out with force & clarity. Everything in it seems to me to be unanswerable & completely expresses what I was trying to formulate - & not a little afraid to do so either. I don’t think I’ll ever be Christian again. You read it & let me know how you react – fondest love
John.
[page break]
[postmark]
85./142
[underlined] Kriegsgefangenenpost [/underlined]
[stamp]
An MRS U. M. VALENTINE
C/O [deleted] LITTLE CLOSE [/deleted]
[inserted] FELMERSHAM [/inserted]
[stamp]
Empfangsort: [deleted] DEVON ROAD [/deleted]
[inserted] BOTTRELL’S LANE [/inserted]
Strasse: [deleted] SALCOMBE [/deleted]
Kreis: [deleted] DEVON [/deleted]
[inserted] CHALFONT ST GILES
Land: ENGLAND
[inserted] [underlined] BUCKS. [/underlined] [/inserted]
Absender:
Vor- und Zuname: Sgt J.R.M. VALENTINE
Gefangenennummer: 450
Lager-Bezeichnung: M.-Stammlager Luft 3
LAGER “A”
Deutschland (Allemagne)