Letter to Douglas Hudson from his parents

Letter to Douglas Hudson from his parents

Writes of house hunting and taking temporary home until something more suitable available. Mentions activities, walking round town looking for shoes. Continues with description other activities. Writes of old Skipton grammar school friends. Mentions sending letters by airmail and concludes with other news.

1941-04-17

Two page handwritten letter and envelope

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EHudsonP-HEHudsonJD410417

[post mark]
[postage stamp]
[air mail stamp]
Prisoners of War Post
36
755052 Sgt. Chef. J.D. Hudson
R.A.F. British Prisoner of War
[deleted] C/o The American Consul
Tunisia [/deleted]
[inserted] Grand Hotel d’Orient
Rue Gambetta [/inserted]
Afrique du Nord.
[inserted] Alger MEDEA [/inserted]
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From
Mrs Hudson
6 Walverden
Nelson
Lancs
England
16-5-41
[OPENED BY EXAMINER 4168]
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6 Walverden Crescent
Nelson Lancs
Thursday April 17 th 41.
My dear Douglas.
Just a few lines before bed-time, after a rather run-about day, house hunting. Houses in this part of England are not exactly two-a-penny in fact there is a very acute shortage, & we were thankful to take this tiny place furnished for 3 months, until something more suitable was forth coming. Today, my neighbour, who is very gentle & kind, has been looking round with me, & [underlined] I [/underlined] have walked a lot. We are living about a mile out of the town & this morning I walked into town in search of new shoes. You know what a problem that is for me & I came home without, as I had arranged to out with my neighbour at 2 p.m. & I hadn’t a lot of time. After we had traipsed up hill & down for about 2 hours we took a bus into town, where my further efforts to get shoes were rewarded & I was able to walk home in them. Now since dinner tonight Dad & I have been doing more scouting & got back just before dark. On the way in we had a few words with a neighbour, busy in his garden. He told that with his family he walked from Elslack to Gargrave on Good Friday & they had a grand outing. Talking of Gargrave
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reminded me of a letter I had from Ted Hole some months ago. He asked for your address & said he wished you to be included in the circle of old Skipton Grammar School friends. Just at the time when the letter came we were passing through a period of great anxiety & I neglected to answer it. We are not very far from Skipton now you know. The milkman says about 13 miles, & I hope to go along one day & call on some of the friends there. Did I tell you in a previous letter that Mr Hole had retired owing to ill-health?
I am wondering if it is in order for me to send your letters by Air Mail C/o. The American Consul at Tunis. I have posted 3 letters to you thus addressed & I hope you will be able to let me know what happens – if you get them all right.
On Tuesday morning came a letter from Auntie Maud at Hill Cote asking us to go for the weekend & you could imagine how I am looking forward to my outing. I always love to go see them. Eileen is going to Edinburgh for a long weekend to see Andrew Kenneth Ian. then in a few weeks time she is intending to come to stay with us for a little while. She was on full time duty at Easter & is a most conscientious worker as you know. Now love my tale is ended once again. We think of you constantly, hoping that you are well & in good heart. Always we all look forward to peace & joyous reunions. All Loving wishes if this letter arrives near your birthday & all our love,
from Mother & Dad.
755052 Sgt. J.D. Hudson
R.A.F. P.O.W.
C/o The American Consul
Tunis Afrique du Nord.