Letter from Douglas Hudson to his parents

Letter from Douglas Hudson to his parents

Reports arrival of recent letters and records the time some have taken. Has some photographs but not sending them until the have the consul route available for mail as this is more reliable. Explains production of the camp weekly newspaper. Writes that they are rehearsing a pantomime despite many limitations. Says they are making more marmalade but running out of sugar until next Red Cross parcels. Mentions they are still short of tobacco/cigarettes. Writes they are existing on couscous, carrots and turnips.

1942-01-30

Two page handwritten letter

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Royal Air Force. 755052. Sgt. J. D. Hudson.
c/o. Consul Général des États Unis.
Rue Michelet.
Algar. Algérie. Afrique du Nord.
Jan. 30th 1942.

My Dear Mother & Dad,

I have not received any further news from you since your letter of Dec. 27th arrived on Jan. 23rd. The mail does arrive in batches. A few letters came together and then there is an absence of about 10 days One letter made a good trip being posted in England on January 15th and arriving here yesterday. I wonder if you are receiving any more letters from me? I have a group photograph taken in the late summer at Aumale and another showing the simple method of corking on a window ledge which we employed at Aumale. I am not sending them today because I hope that soon we shall be able to use the Consul route again, which should be much quicker and more reliable. I have three more ‘photos “coming up” – one a head and shoulders – another taken with Tony & Riddick and a third showing the editorial staff of the “Camp Echo” at work. When these are ready I shall send them out to you. The “Camp Echo” as I explained in earlier letters, is a paper of 30 pages, containing approximately 10,000 words, and cartoons etc. which we are producing weekly. Tony is the Editor and I do all the typing (we got a second-hand machine from Algar). Articles are submitted by anybody in the camp with a flare [sic] for writing, or any particular knowledge of interesting subjects. We hope that one day it will go down in history as being something “unique”. I wish I could send a copy to you. The next best thing would be to take a few close-up ‘photos of an issue and send these out. This I hope to do shortly. Another section of the

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boys are rehearsing a pantomime to be presented tomorrow evening. This is being done as a result of a similar previous success produced at New Year. The only musical instrument is a ancient piano which we have obtained on temporary loan. The talent is good, and the whole show is praiseworthy when we consider the obstacles and limitations. We made some more marmalade yesterday. Process is – grate up skins of nine oranges and cut up the pulp etc, also cut up five tangerines but do not include skin. Boil for four hours and add one cup-full of saccharine to sweeten, and four spoons of sugar to preserve (No more sugar available from stock – await next Red Cross Parcels which are on the way containing, we believe & hope, cigarettes & food) Cigarettes & tobacco are scarce and I think I might say nearly non-existant [sic]. We may be able to arrange for a supply in due course, once again we hope. This happens just when I am tackling with success a smart new pipe. At the moment we are existing almost entirely on Cous-cous & carrots & turnips. Oranges are plentiful too. We have still [deleted] got [/deleted] some tea from the last R.C. parcel & powdered milk, also a little jam. The weather has been rather warmer during the past few days. The sun is quite hot from 11am until about 4pm but the wind is cold. I did about half an hour’s sun-bathing away from the wind the day before yesterday. My chest and back have gone a pale yellow, all that is left of last year’s tan. The bottom of the page is almost reached so I must say good-bye once again until next letter. My thoughts – you know – are constantly with you, and I hope everything will go well. As ever, all my love and good-luck to Mothers small apple tree, [deleted] about [/deleted] [inserted] of [/inserted] which she is so proud.

[underlined] Douglas [/underlined].