Letter from Douglas Hudson to his parents

Letter from Douglas Hudson to his parents

Mentions he is allowed two letters a month and hopes his previous ones have arrived. Hopes they are keeping well. Reports he is well and has not lost any weight. Mentions current weather and that they are quite high up. Writes of various clothes he has received and that he has retained his uniform and most of his possessions, Mentions that it was Ramadan. and that they had been issued boxes of Turkish delight. Postscript mentions it should be possible for them to send him cablegram and that he has increased his pay allotment to them.

1940-11-01

Three page handwritten letter

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EHudsonJDHudsonP-HE401101

Royal Air Force
755052. Sgt. Chef. T.[?] D Hudson
Camp de Sejour Surveille.
LE KEF
TUNISIE
AFRIQUE DU NORD.

1st November 1940

My Dear Mother & Dad,

It is two weeks since I wrote to you last & it is now time to write my next letter, as I am allowed two per month. I do hope my previous letters have arrived (I have written about five) and I do hope that you are both safe & keeping well. I always say this when I write to you, because it is my chief concern, & I think about you at all times day & night, hoping that everything is O.K. I am keeping very well & I am in no way any worse for wear, neither have I lost any weight, or anything like that.

I expect that now you will be having almost winter weather. I remember the warm day two years ago when we went into[?] Wales on Nov. 6th & how I am looking forward to the times when those things will be possible again. It has

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been rather cold during the last fortnight but to-day has been very warm (like our hot summer) with not a cloud in the sky. The winter season is approaching & I think should be pleasant. We are very high up here, probably about 3000’ feet, in fact this part is quite mountainous.

I have received various [deleted] different [/deleted] types of clothing from different sources & am the possessor of a leather jacket which would be admirable for motor cycling. I still retain my uniform & have with me my possessions such as petrol lighter, cigarette holder & Mother’s pullover, also a few of my photos, one of us three taken in the Trough of Bowland in the days of the Riley. All these things remind me of England. My watch is still O.K. and has now got a new strap. I have shaved my beard & am persevering with a ‘tache.

To-day the Arab feast of Ramadan has finished & we, in common with the Arabs, have been issued with small boxes of Turkish Delight. In order not to over burden the censor I will say cherio[sic] now. Sending you all my love & every best wish for Christmas & New Year (I shall be with you then in spirit if not in person.
Douglas
P.T.O.

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P.S. It should be possible for you to send me a cablegram. Would you make enquiries & see if you could send me one to say you are safe & well?

I have tried to increase my allotment so if the negotiations go through don’t be surprised if you receive more money from the R.A.F.