Letter from Douglas Hudson to his parents

Letter from Douglas Hudson to his parents

Catches up with latest mail and telegrams and is pleased that experiment with registered mail was successful with quick arrival of letter with them, Writes about the weather being cooler. Notes they had informed him of parcels they have sent and are planning to send, for which he is very grateful. Reminds them that soap, socks and footwear are most needed. Mentions they have to do their own laundry and come winter when they wear more clothes and there will be great demand for soap; however, the allowed limit of one parcel a quarter should be sufficient. Compares his weather to that at home. Talks of having no cigarettes and philosophises over his situation in general.

1942-10-08

Two page handqwritten letter

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EHudsonJDHudsonP-HE421008

Royal Air Force. 755052. Sgt. J. D. Hudson.
c/o. Consul Général des Etats Unis.
Rue Michelet.
Alger. Algérie.
Afrique du Nord.
8-10-42.
My Dear Mother & Dad,
On October 5th I was very pleased to receive your telegram of Oct. 3rd, details as follows:- “Delighted registered letter October 2nd saw John Crumpsall yesterday happy all love.” To which I sent the following reply:- “Delighted cable third acknowledging receipt my registered letter your latest letter seventysix pleased by June letters messages received and glad you understand keeping well all love thoughts best wishes as ever Douglas Hudson” Today, I was very glad to receive your letter No. 77 which, with the old exception of old No. 11, completes the sequence. I was very pleased to realise that my registered letter reached you so quickly and I hope to repeat this experiment at some early future date. Before doing this I intend waiting until I receive further news from you & I have something more to write about. At the moment I have very little to tell you. As my cable says I am gratified to understand that my letter of June have been received and that my messages are understood by you. Life continues here in its usual monotinous [sic] way, the weather is cooler which is a great deal more comfortable because the summer months were very hot & sticky. Your most recent letter tells about the parcels you have despatched and hope to despatch. As I have mentioned so often I do appreciate all that you are doing in this respect & I thank you ever so much. At the moment, as far as I can tell, my most urgent future requirements are likely to be the same as in the past, ie, soap, socks & footwear. I have three towels now which are new, & when your next parcel arrives containing underwear I shall be well off. Soap of course is in continual use & absolutely
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impossible to buy here. We have to do our own laundrying!! nowadays, so when winter arrives and I start wearing clothes again, the demand on soap is likely to be great. I quite understand that you can only send parcels every quarter; this will be quite often enough in future because I do not anticipate requirements much greater than I have already enumerated. It is not my intention of amassing treasures in this part of the world. You do appear to have had poor weather this summer, judging by your news the rainfall has been particularly heavy. Here are we, in this sundrenched spot – yes Laghouat probably has as much sunshine as any place in the world – dying for the sight of a good thick “pea-souper”. The weather now is cloudless, and has been for some time, with a temperature much higher than the hottest summer day at home. In fact it has been perpetual summer since March. I am entirely without cigarettes – not a single one anywhere. The camp, with very few exceptions, has been short for some time. Cigarettes are not transferable – believe you me you simply must hang on to what you have. Yes we get mighty “brassed off” one with the other many times. It is not easy living perfectly at peace under these conditions. It would shake some of the Calverley folks to the very roots & I’ll see it does one day. The value of cigarettes is many many [sic] times greater here than I ever dreamed possible at home. So is the value of many other things. What is going to be the result of this experience? I can do no more than state simple things in these letters – it makes me feel like a child, [missing word] at a grown-ups party. What is left unsaid will keep for telling at a later date, I know, but it is an impatient wait. Glad to learn from your last cable you had seen John. I translate the happiness as referring to John in his new environment. Time flies – it is exactly a year today since I came out of my “super close confinement” at Aumale. Getting looked after so well & thoroughly is beginning to be quite a “forte” with me. The can’t keep a bad lad down – but they sure do try. Do I remember Mr. Dewar’s remarks before the war? Yes, and many others too & take it from me John & I weren’t wrong by any means. All my love, thoughts & best wishes as ever. Douglas.