Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula

Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula

Number 157-14. He writes of domestic,family and financial subjects giving her his opinion and advice to her on these. He thanks her for an anticipated parcel and requests no more music. He asks if hot and cold water can be laid on in bedrooms at home. He is continuing his fiddling in an incinerator. He tells of snow and ice for six months.

1944-04-09

Two page handwritten letter

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EValentineJRMValentineUM440409

STALAG LUFT III 9th April 1944
[censored word]
My Darling Ursula, yesterday was a happy one for me bringing your letters of 16th, 23rd & 30th Jan. Glad youre [sic] having the house repainted. Delighted to hear your good opinion of the house compared with High House. Horswells phone No OK now. Quite agree with your remarks re Ann’s education. Her elder sisters are sentimental illiterates & I’m afraid she will follow suit. Sorry Irene ignores you but don’t let it worry you – merely reciprocate! I don’t think she has any right to be jealous of Bunty at Gable End. Her matrimonial career didn’t start until Bunty had been a year or two there. Thanks for contents of 7th parcel. Hope I get it soon. Haven’t had one since July last. My large stock of cigs is dwindling (not entirely through over consumption). Please don’t imagine I intend doing a thorough audit of your a/cs when I return, asking you to account for every penny. I trust you implicitly, of course & will be only too happy to accept the position as it is when we meet – even if youre [sic] insolvent. I would caution you on two points [circled 1] any personal RAF increased pay which we might have to refund to Touches or pay tax on if not refunded [circled 2] when I come back I shall have to live on the same income & I reckon that my cost as a civilian husband not to be less than £2 per week (Clothes, travelling food etc) Any chance of getting H & C water laid on in the bedrooms (as at Barnet)? If cost is not prohibitive, it is a great institution as I know from experience. The Dutchmen do not help me with Dutch In fact I’ve dropped it temporarily. Weve [sic] drifted very far apart now although we haven’t actually quarrelled. They are not quite the fellows I imagined them to be. I am amused at the artless way you write of the music you’re going to send me. Haydn, Handel & Mozart are far beyond me yet. If only you could hear my puerile scrapings, you’d emphatically agree. I don’t need anything more than I’ve asked for. The excellent studies already here will last me years. My latest venue for practice, an incinerator, is a success although cold & dirty. At least I am isolated & don’t worry others. I [inserted] am [/inserted] still hopeless but persistent & I wont drop the fiddle if it is humanly possible. Hope you get the piano done. The snow is disappearing slowly but winter is most protracted here. Snow & frost in 6 consecutive months. Delighted to hear of Frances’ dancing class Tell me more. I’d like to repeat how much I value the long interesting letters you send so regularly. They give me more real & positive happiness than anything else here. My warmest thanks, dearest. Love to both
John.
[page break]
157 – 14
[underlined] Kriegsgefangenenpost [/underlined]
[postmark] GEPRÜFT 25 [/postmark]
An Mrs U. M. VALENTINE
“FELMERSHAM”
[postmark] PASSED P.W. 7754 [/postmark]
Empfangsort: BOTTRELLS LANE
Straße: CHALFONT ST GILES
Kreis: BUCKS
Land: ENGLAND
Landesteil (Provinz usw.)
[underlined] Gebührenfrei! [/underlined]
Absender:
Vor- und Zuname: J.R.M. VALENTINE
Gefangenennummer: 450
Lager-Bezeichnung: Kriegsgefangenenlager der Luftwaffe Nr. 3
[censored word]
[underlined] Deutschland (Allemagne) [/underlined]
[page break]