Letter to Douglas Hudson from his parents

Letter to Douglas Hudson from his parents

Writing first thing in morning and father has just gone out. Relates reading one of his letters from when he was in Aumale and says they have got through the dark days of winter and wonders if his spring is anything like theirs. Wonders whether he has enough warm food and clothing and if any had been received from Red Cross. Did not think it worth sending parcel if it would take 8 months to get there. Relates story of another persons parcels which only took 3 months. Discusses news from his camp including access to radio, the padre and learning to play bridge..

1942-01-07

Two page handwritten letter

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EHudsonP-HEHudsonJD420107

[inserted] 104 [/inserted]
[inserted] 10-2-42 [/inserted]
[underlined] 3 [/underlined]
191 Halifax Road
Nelson. Lancs.
England. Jan. 7th/42
My dear Douglas
The time is now 7-45 a.m. & a very cold winter’s morning. When Dad went out 1/2 an hr ago “the world looked very beautiful” with a clear moon & stars shining from a cloudless sky but we still have the “Willett” summer time in operation & the mornings, for the purpose of the daily round, are very dark. Blackout time is over now at 8-53 but it is not by an [sic] means light by that time. Well love I have just been reading your letter dated September 3rd. It arrived, with five others, on December 15th, & is the last news by letter we have of you & is written from Aumale. Since then we have passed through the darkest days of winter, & the hope of Spring, with its new light & life brings much joy to us. I wonder if your Spring-time is anything like ours & if you are allowed to go out to see the return of life to all growing things. What a miracle it is! & to me it brings renewed faith & ever I am looking forward to the day when we can begin life together again. Do you ever try to picture your home-coming? & Do you ever wonder how much change we shall find in each other? Dad doesn’t alter at all. He just takes things
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as they come, in the old way. It may be, & is, comfortable to live with, under ordinary conditions. Extraordinary conditions cause the snag but why worry?? It doesn’t do any good.!!
Well love I am wondering so much if you have enough food & warm clothing? & if you all received from the Red X. the warm clothes we read about in the Chronicle. It really doesn’t seem worth while for us to send a parcel to you if it takes eight months to arrive. Auntie Una told that Joe received his Christmas parcel (he is not very far from Gordon) safely but the cake (which Mrs Fenwick made specially good in the hope it would keep better) was mouldy & the parcel was only on the way 3 months. I often wonder if you are able to listen in to the wireless programmes. Mr Cummins said you had radio at Aumale but you did not say anything about it & I wonder if I had misunderstood. I suppose you are a long way from him now. Perhaps there is another Padre near to you. I hope so. At least it is a link with civilization. About learning to play bridge!! You’ve surely made a request! I fear that the old lady would be a hopeless pupil, tho’, as no doubt you remember, Dad does know how to play. So perhaps the two of you might achieve something when opportunity offers. There are no facilities for learning here. Now love it must be Goodbye again. With all our love & thoughts & prayers from Mother & Dad.
755052 Hudson
Camp Militaire
Laghouat.
Algerie. N. Africa.