Letter to prisoner of war John Valentine from his wife Ursula

Letter to prisoner of war John Valentine from his wife Ursula

Writes that she has received no mail from him for a month and that she is returning home the next day. Describes challenge of transporting all the items she bought back to their house Writes they have had good holiday but she needs to get home to get things organised. Mentioned lack of news from him but that he has left Stalag Luft VI.

1944-10-02

Two sided handwritten letter card

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EValentineUMValentineJRM441002

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[inserted] 7/12 [/inserted]
DATE October 2nd
My own dearest Johnnie,
Still no mail from you – over a month now, and I expect you are faring just as badly if not worse. I’m hoping there may be some waiting for me at home. We are going back tomorrow, travelling up with Barbara who has been having a fortnight’s holiday, & she’s going to spend a couple of nights with us. We have had a lovely long holiday down here, but I feel it’s about time we went back & I started to get things into order. It’s quite an upheaval leaving here, for I have acquired a lot of goods (the wardrobe, lino, various pots & pans etc) which are going back by goods rail. I can’t have them insured or anything so can only hope they’ll come through alright. Pat Hodson has now rented a wee cottage down here, near where she was staying, so I’ll be able to get rid of all her things eventually and have the house to ourselves – all ready for you, so do hurry up! Frances is very keen to be back at Chalfont in spite of the counter attraction of the beach & the ferry-boat, I’m so glad she loves it & feels it is “home” already, and I do
[page break]
hope you will too. To crown my dressmaking efforts I have knitted myself a jerkin & made Barbara a blouse, so the time here hasn’t been all wasted! If only I knew where you are now, its awful not having any news except that you have left Luft VI. I’m afraid you’ll have had to jettison a lot of stuff but hope you’ve hung on to the fiddle. All my love dearest – á bientot! Ursula.
[stamp GEPRUFT 131]
[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 J.R.M. Valentine,
Little Close,
Devon Road,
Salcombe,
Devon.