Letter from Ursula Valentine to her husband John Valentine

Letter from Ursula Valentine to her husband John Valentine

Writes that she is enclosing telegram that arrived just after he left and his name plate that he left behind. Relates going to church and other activities which include plans to go to a concert. Continues with baby news and mentions attack on St Nazaire.

1942-03-29

Four page handwritten letter

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EValentineUMValentineJRM420329

No. 1 Lido Sunday 29.3.42
My darling Johnny, I enclose the long-awaited telegram, which arrived about 2 minutes after I got home from seeing you off. Words fail me! I'm also sending your name-plate, which you left behind the bathroom door after all. I went to Communion this morning at 7.15 am. - actually got up at 6.30 when the alarm went off!! I was much impressed with the service, it is far more satisfying in every way than Matins, or the average non-conformist service; dignified and
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beautiful, & a far more real act of worship than any other I have experienced. How I wish we could have gone together – if only the telegram had arrived a bit sooner.
Yesterday evening I busied myself with the Savings Certificates. This morning I was working in the house, this afternoon we shall go for a walk & post this, & this evening I am thinking of going to a concert – Myra Hess is playing at the Orpheum, Finchley Rd, so I think I shall try to get in & Ba will mind Frances. It is not till 7 pm so I shall have lots of time to bath her & put her to bed.
Life seems incredibly dreary without you – I don't
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know what I should do at all without Frances, so I can imagine that it is hard for you. Still there is a vast amount of work to be done inside & outside the house, & I shall see how much I can get done before your next leave. How I long for it already! Frances is as bonny & as good as ever. The neighbours have been admiring her, & Mrs Neal says she thinks she has a ground-sheet to fit the play-pen, so if she has it would save me a lot of bother. I must go & take Frances for a walk now, she is beginning
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to get impatient. It's good to hear about this raid on St Nazaire, but it doesn't seem very clear yet how successful it was.
I'm longing to get a letter from you – that's one consolation about being away from you! I love you so much, my precious one, & I'm so proud of you too, tho' I know you'd probably demand to know why. Anyway I am. With all my love to you for always, Ursula