Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula

Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula

Number 167-24. Reports arrival of personal parcel but has given up on a further two sent last summer. Especially pleased with shoes. Mentions chocolate getting soapy flavour and that he is still receiving cigarette/tobacco parcels. Comments on loss of violin duet rehearsal space to band due to fire in theatre. Last month was poorest on record for mail. Reading a book on design and getting ideas for fittings and furnishings new in new house.

1944-07-02

Two page handwritten letter

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EValentineJRMValentineUM440702

Start of transcription
2nd July 19.44
Darling Ursula: The past week has been an outstanding one for me because of the arrival after an interval of a year of a personal parcel. It was the Jan one & was in excellent condition. I am afraid that I’ve given up as lost those sent in July & Oct of last year. Its most unfortunate especially as the former did get to Luft III but I, of course, am powerless to do anything about them. The big item in this most welcome parcel is the shoes which fit me exactly & are a splendid pair. I’m afraid they must have set your finances back a bit. I have removed the partially worn out rubber soles & heels from what was left of my former pair & am having them nailed on to the new ones. The abundant consignment of chocolate was most acceptable although having been closeted with a bar or two of soap for so many months some of choc had a slightly soapy flavour. However it isn’t serious & the choc will serve the dual purpose of cleaning the teeth at the same enchanting the palate. I wonder how many more parcels you’ll send me & how many of them Ill [sic] receive. I’m still getting occasional cig & tobacco parcels from the Wardens. They have been very kind to me, although I’m not very fond of the tobacco they send but hesitate to ask for a change for fear of causing offence. My attempt at duet playing was abruptly terminated after only a week or two’s [inserted] [indecipherable word [/inserted] [indecipherable word] the loss through fire of our theatre. The bands etc. which used to rehearse there now do so in my former practice room – the spud cellar. The weather being good I spend my days in the incinerator which has room only for one. Last month was, for mail, the poorest on record. I had only 1 from you & I have schooled myself to expecting very little from now onwards. Have been reading a book on Design which has clarified a few of my ideas on domestic furnishings & fittings. I’m very keen of having a really well & tastefully lit house (amongst other things) & only hope that our pocket will be able to provide the things I have in mind. I’m extremely keen to have, even if in the distant future, a house built to measure which could incorporate all my ideas. In fact I’m bursting with ideas in several directions but doubt if I’ll realise any. Hope you & daughter are well. I’m so fond of you both
John
[page break]
167 24
[underlined] Kriegsgefangenenpost [/underlined]
[stamp]
[postmark]
An MRS U.M. VALENTINE
FELMERSHAM
[stamp]
Empfangsort: BOTTRELLS LANE
Strasse: CHALFONT ST. GILES.
Kreis: BUCKS
Land: ENGLAND
Absender:
Vor- und Zuname: Sgt. John Valentine
Gefangenennummer: 450
Kriegsgefangenenlager der Luftwaffe Nr. 3
Lager-Bezeichnung
Deutschland (Allemagne)