Letter from Douglas Hudson to his parents

Letter from Douglas Hudson to his parents

Reports arrival of recent letters and notes that two of sequence had not arrived yet. Answers questions raised on income tax and other family news. Touched that they are trying to sent parcel with chocolate (despite it being rationed), tea and soap. However they were now getting a good supply of Red Cross parcels so less need to be supplemented from home. Praises Red Cross. Shortages, particularly cigarettes were no over. Mentions books being read but he lacked time at present due to production of camp newspaper. Writes that an edition of paper was sent to the Red Cross so they should keep eyes open in case red cross published it anywhere.

1942-02-23

Tow page handwritten letter

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EHudsonJDHudsonP-HE420223

Royal Air Force. 755052. Sgt. J. D. Hudson
c/o Consul General des Etats Unis.
Rue Michelet
Algar. Algerie
Afrique du Nord.

23.2.42.

My Dear Mother & Dad,

Since I wrote to you last I have received two letters from you; one dated Jan 4th (No. 2) arrived via Italy on Feb. 21st. and the other dated Jan. 25th (No. 9) arrived on Feb. 19th. The following are the letters I have received which have been written this year and the dates they arrived I have put at the side. 1, 6-2-42; 3, 10-2-42; 5 & 6 10-2-42; 7, 17-2-42; 9, 19-2-42 and 2, 21-2-42. To complete the sequence I am still waiting for letters 4 & 8. There is not very much to answer in your letter No. 2. As you presume, I expect my income tax will be deducted by the R.A.F. automatically. Where is Mrs. Clayton going to live? I received a letter from John a week or so ago in reply to mine of September. I shall write again shortly. I am very glad to learn that where you are living now it is possible to [indecipherable word] your usual evenings again. Although I had a fair[?] idea, I did not realise that it had been quite so bad. Now I realise just what did happen. I was very touched to learn from your letter of Jan. 25th that you proposed trying to send me chocolate, tea and soap by Air Mail. When I made this request I did not realise that you only received two ounces of chocolate weekly or that your tea ration was a small one. Since I made my request the Red Cross parcels have arrived fairly steadily and as we are now well known to the Organisation we can always expect them to continue. At present my tea supply is good, with more to be distributed, so I implore you to save all your precious tea now – I really do not need it. I should be

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the last person to take chocolate from you under these circumstances. Here again supplies are coming in from the Red Cross. The soap will be useful – it has been a scarcity but once again “Hats Off” to the Red Cross who have sent us supplies. You will understand that since the time my request letters were written the position has improved greatly. The tea shortage is worst[?]. If cigarettes are also difficult to come by, again I suggest most firmly that you do not send them. We have recently received 100 each (Gold Flake & Terfani[?] Kings Guard, also arrangements have been made whereby a better supply of Algerian cigarettes can be obtained for us. I was very glad to learn that my letters describing this place had reached you. Together with these and the book you secured you now have quite a good idea of Laghauat[?] I mentioned in my last letter that I had just read Warwick Deeping’s “Malice of Men[?]” At this time your letter arrived saying Mother had been reading “No Hero[?] This” by the same author. I am now completing Sylvia Scarlett by Compton Mackenzie, but as the “Camp Echo” is in the process of being typed I have not much time at the moment. We sent a copy of an earlier edition of the “Camp Echo” to the Red Cross the other day, so keep your eyes and ears open it may be mentioned by them in some publication. In my next letters I will mention the book of the day I am reading. There is not much space left now so I will bring my letter to a finish. As you will see from the envelope it is going by Air Mail again. With all my love, thoughts and best wishes to you both, good-bye until next letter.
Douglas