Letter to Douglas Hudson from his parents

Letter to Douglas Hudson from his parents

Writes of last letters received and latest cable. Asks about dogs he mentioned in camps and catches up with news of family and friends. Mentions other correspondence and passes on news. Writes of father going out on night duty and comments on the weather. Writes of book she is reading and asks whether he received book sent by friend.

1942-01-09

Two page handwritten letter and envelope

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EHudsonP-HEHudsonJD420109

Prisoners of War Post
[inserted] 105 [/inserted]
[BY AIR MAIL stamp]
[postmark]
[four postage stamps]
[postmark]
[inserted] 9 Jan 42 [/inserted]
755052 Sgt. J. D. Hudson
[deleted] C [/deleted] Interned British Airman
Camp Militaire
Laghouat
[underlined] Algerie [/underlined]
Afrique du Nord
[page break]
From
Mrs Hudson
191 Halifax Road
Nelson
Lancs.
England.
10/1./42.
[inserted] 4 [/inserted]
[inserted] 26.2.42 [/inserted]
[three postmarks]
[26 L stamp]
[page break]
[inserted] 105 [/inserted]
[underlined] 4 [/underlined]
[26 L stamp]
191 Halifax Rd.
Nelson Lancs.
England.
Friday 9.30 p.m.
9/1/42
My dear Douglas. I have just been reading your letter written on Dad’s birthday. It was one of the 6 received on Dec. 15th. & the last news we have from you. That is not strictly true because the precious cables come through nicely & bring great joy with their short messages of well-being. I received one yesterday Jan 8th which you had sent only the previous day & you can imagine what pleasure it gives us to have such recent news. I am pleased to read that you have 2 dogs in your camp. What kind? Mongrels no doubt but Auntie Una’s Bunty was an instance of a mongrel being a very lovable animal. Have I told you that Ella & Tommy are now living near Cheddar Gorge? Tommy makes the daily journey to & from Bristol (his petrol ration allows him to use the car 3 times a week) & Ella has got something very like her old occupation, at the Town Hall or some such place quite near. Did I tell you what a nice Christmas letter I had from Mrs Baggaley? She wished me to send their very kindest wishes to you. Mr & Mrs Donner were going to spend Christmas with them & she wrote “you may be sure we shall be thinking
[page break]
& talking of you a lot. Tell Douglas we are looking forward to seeing you all here again.” Well love it is going near 10 oclock & I am here alone again. Dad set out, in intense darkness, at 7-15 pm for another night on duty. The moon is waning now so it will probably be bright & much lighter for his journey home in the morning. He gets in here about 7 a.m. His journey to the works here is very different from the one at Prestwich as he is able to get a bus just across the road which makes things much easier. Today has been beautiful out-of-doors – a very cold wind, but the frost has gone & visibility today has been grand with lovely sky effects bringing memories of our lovely journeyings. Do you remember how we used to watch the ever-changing clouds as we rode along the grand new road? I have just been reading Jeffery Farnol’s book “John o’ the Green” & can recommend it if you are able to get it from your “library”. Did you receive the book from Mrs Clayton? What was its title? She said she couldn’t remember. Well love I can’t think of any news for you now so will say Goodnight & leave my letter open until morning hoping that the postman will bring letters from you. All our love & thoughts & prayers are ever with you.
Mother & Dad.
Saturday a.m. & no letters from you. Ever hoping.
755052 Hudson
Camp Militaire
Laghouat
Algerie
Afrique du Nord.