Letter to Douglas Hudson from his parents

Letter to Douglas Hudson from his parents

Writes while listening to radio on cold day. Wonders if he has radio in camp. It has been a long time since they had a letter and wonders if some have been lost. Sent cable previous day with pre-paid reply. Writes of clothing rationing and shortage of umbrellas. Mentions other shortages and catches up with family news.

1941-10-26

Two page handwritten letter

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EHudsonP-HEHudsonJD411026

[inserted] 79 10-12-41. [/inserted]

191 Halifax Road
Nelson
Lancs.
England.

Sunday Oct. 26th/41.

My dear Douglas.
This has been a very cold day with very strong east [inserted] wind [/inserted] & we have had to stay indoors. And now we are sitting beside a lovely fire, listening to a variety programme, & of course thinking of you all the time. At the moment two people are screaming away & making the most awful noise, & the audience is (or are) clapping enthusiastically, as if they enjoyed the noise. Now they are just warbling[?] about “When we were young in May” but it doesn’t appear to have been much of a tune by the way they are screaming [paragraph symbol] Well, love, the days are just passing away & all the time we are looking forward to days of joyous reunion. I only wish the time passed quickly for you too. & often when we are listening in & wonder if you are able to listen in too. I think Mr Cummin’s[?] letter said you had radio in the camp. It does seem a very long time [deleted] to [/deleted] since we had a letter from you, but I’m afraid very much mail has been lost & I wonder if you are not getting letters either. Yesterday we sent a cable to you with the usual prepaid reply & now I’m just looking forward to your message. I bought a calendar to send to you & do hope it

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reach[sic] you all right. It is such a pretty picture & will bring happiest memories of the days when we travelled so much together. Do you remember two years ago those happy afternoons in the Cheshire lanes? The weather was very much like we have had these few days. Very bright sunshine but cold when the sun has set. [paragraph symbol] Yesterday we went into town & Dad got a pair of new shoes. Did I tell you that all clothing is rationed & can only be bought by coupons? East adult is allowed 66 coupons for one year. We had to give 7 coupons for a pair of shoes. There is a very acute shortage of umbrellas now. It’s funny how things seem to disappear & then reappear. Do you remember the shortage of flash-lamp batteries? There are plenty of those now & we still have the very large one which we bought together, though I doubt if it will be much good now. They deteriorate with keeping don’t they? We not had a word from Calverley[?] since we heard that Grandad had arrived back [deleted] one/two letters] [/deleted] safely. Now it is time to prepare for supper – just the usual. Won’t it be just marvellous when we can all enjoy it together again? I will say Goodnight to you now & leave my letter open in the hope of a letter from you in the morning.

Monday morning & no luck re letters. It is dark now when Dad goes out & we don’t care much for groping about do we? Now love goodbye again. With all our love & thoughts & prayers from Mother & Dad.
755052 Hudson
Camp Militaire
Airmale
Algerie Afrique du Nord.