Letter to prisoner of war John Valentine from his wife Ursula

Letter to prisoner of war John Valentine from his wife Ursula

Writes of going to furniture auction and describes items she bought including a wardrobe as well as other items. Concludes with mention that daughter is getting very brown on the beach but that weather has now broken.

1944-08-19

Two sided handwritten letter card

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EValentineUMValentineJRM440819

Start of transcription
[inserted] 18/10 [/inserted]
DATE August 19th 44.
My dearest Johnnie,
The main occurrence this week has been a visit to an auction sale of furniture in the village. I bought quite a lot of things, and am really very pleased with them. The chief item is a Heal’s sectional wardrobe, for the spare bedroom which at present only has the linen chest by way of accomodation [sic] & my home-made corner hanging-cupboard. I paid £16 for this wardrobe & consider it a bargain. It is in white, measures 66” wide & has a full length hanging cupboard with hat shelf, a chest of 4 large & 2 short drawers with above a spacious hat cupboard with shelf. It is beautifully made in sections, so that you can use the three pieces separately but it all goes together with cornice top & bottom. The wardrobe has full length mirror. Getting it home will be a problem, meanwhile it is standing in the garage here. I also bought an Acme rubber [indecipherable word] for £4, (unobtainable now), a large fish kettle for doing my fruit preserving in (7/-) hide & wicker trunk (16/-) shopping basket (13/-) watering-can (10/-) length of wire netting (for our future poultry 4/-) mahogany butlers tray & stand (9/-) hose-pipe (7/-) electric iron (7/6) & an enormous feather-bed for 19/- which I
[page break]
am going to cut up into a quantity of pillows & cushions, which we badly need. It set me back over £26 but they are all useful acquisitions for our home. Frances & I have been getting very brown on the beach but the weather has broken the last 2 days. Next week Ann is due to come & stay for a while. All my love dearest, kiss from Frances xxx Ursula.
[stamp GEPRUFT 67]
[postmark]
[postage stamp]
RANK & NAME: W/O John R.M. VALENTINE
[stamp PASSED P.W. 3112]
PRISONER OF WAR No.: 450
CAMP NAME & No.: STALAG LUFT III
COUNTRY: GERMANY
FROM
Mrs JRM Valentine
At Little Close,
Devon Road,
Salcombe.
Devon.