Letter to Douglas Hudson from his parents
Title
Letter to Douglas Hudson from his parents
Description
Writes about the cost of food, flowers coming out and comments on the weather. Mentions again the arrival of six letters from him the previous week and glad they were able to celebrate Christmas in camp. Relief to hear they were getting Red Cross parcels but sad that food had been stolen from them before they arrived. Still awaiting reply to cable. Says things had been difficult for last 18 months but hoping for slight improvement. Catches up with family new and quotes from cable she sent. Closes with comments about cables.
Creator
Date
1942-04-01
Spatial Coverage
Language
Format
Two page handwritten letter
Publisher
Rights
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Contributor
Identifier
EHudsonP-HEHudsonJD420401-01
Transcription
[inserted] 131 [/inserted]
[underlined] 31 [/underlined]
[inserted] 14-5-42 [/inserted]
191 Halifax Road
Nelson Lancs.
England.
Wed. noon. 1/4/42
My dear Douglas.
I was just starting my letter to you last night when Miss Chester popped in so of course had to postpone it until now. I have just finished my light lunch & when my letter is written must sally forth in search of food. I think I told you in my last letter that my butcher prophesied 8 penny worth per week per head in the near future, in which case it will cost me nearly as much in fare as the price of the meat. But I do go out, [deleted] where [/deleted] [inserted] when [/inserted] I should be pottering about inside, if I were not obliged to collect my meat, & I love the walk through the park. The crocuses were so pretty last week & there was promise of hundreds of daffodils. When we got up this morning it was a beautiful Spring morning with blue sky & grand sunshine. By eleven o clock the rain & sleet were pouring down & [deleted] the [/deleted] now again a bitter wind is blowing a gale. Dad & I were delighted to have 6 letters from you last week dates from Dec. 9. 18. 26. January 2. 6. 9. We were glad to know that in spite of unusual circumstances you were able to make merry at the festive season & I must express a very belated thank you for all your kind wishes for us. It was such a relief to learn that you did get some of the things from the Red X parcels.
[page break]
It is difficult to imagine a [deleted] most [/deleted] [inserted] more [/inserted] despicable action, than stealing food destined for prisoners of War. My cable was rather later this time. I waited in the hope that I may receive the one returned to Laghouat for revision, but I have not got it yet. I wonder if you could “get” the message of my cable. It was the answer to your enquiry. I was afraid you would be very disappointed. As I explained in a previous letter difficulties have been many these past eighteen months but we are hoping for slight improvement now. If only Dad can hang on!! Believe me I am very anxious. It is foolish to worry at all, in present conditions but it seems inevitable. We are looking forward to seeing Uncle & Auntie [deleted] A [/deleted] Una on Friday & will give them your message.
Here is my cabled message in case there is any inaccuracy. “Delighted six letters December nine to January nine. Whitworth Street account eighty one hoping slight improvement Easter greetings all love Hudson”. I thought it rather a coincidence that your [inserted] last [/inserted] letter should tell of an inaccurate cable too. No doubt the foreign language makes difficulties at both ends but we are so thankful for the privilege. Your letter of Jan. 6th had a paper clip attached but nothing clipped. As I have not received the note from Tony (please thank him for me) I wondered if it were in that letter & not allowed through. End of the page again. So Goodbye & happy Easter greetings. All love & thoughts & prayers from Mother & Dad.
755052 Hudson
Camp Militaire
Laghouat Algerie
[underlined] 31 [/underlined]
[inserted] 14-5-42 [/inserted]
191 Halifax Road
Nelson Lancs.
England.
Wed. noon. 1/4/42
My dear Douglas.
I was just starting my letter to you last night when Miss Chester popped in so of course had to postpone it until now. I have just finished my light lunch & when my letter is written must sally forth in search of food. I think I told you in my last letter that my butcher prophesied 8 penny worth per week per head in the near future, in which case it will cost me nearly as much in fare as the price of the meat. But I do go out, [deleted] where [/deleted] [inserted] when [/inserted] I should be pottering about inside, if I were not obliged to collect my meat, & I love the walk through the park. The crocuses were so pretty last week & there was promise of hundreds of daffodils. When we got up this morning it was a beautiful Spring morning with blue sky & grand sunshine. By eleven o clock the rain & sleet were pouring down & [deleted] the [/deleted] now again a bitter wind is blowing a gale. Dad & I were delighted to have 6 letters from you last week dates from Dec. 9. 18. 26. January 2. 6. 9. We were glad to know that in spite of unusual circumstances you were able to make merry at the festive season & I must express a very belated thank you for all your kind wishes for us. It was such a relief to learn that you did get some of the things from the Red X parcels.
[page break]
It is difficult to imagine a [deleted] most [/deleted] [inserted] more [/inserted] despicable action, than stealing food destined for prisoners of War. My cable was rather later this time. I waited in the hope that I may receive the one returned to Laghouat for revision, but I have not got it yet. I wonder if you could “get” the message of my cable. It was the answer to your enquiry. I was afraid you would be very disappointed. As I explained in a previous letter difficulties have been many these past eighteen months but we are hoping for slight improvement now. If only Dad can hang on!! Believe me I am very anxious. It is foolish to worry at all, in present conditions but it seems inevitable. We are looking forward to seeing Uncle & Auntie [deleted] A [/deleted] Una on Friday & will give them your message.
Here is my cabled message in case there is any inaccuracy. “Delighted six letters December nine to January nine. Whitworth Street account eighty one hoping slight improvement Easter greetings all love Hudson”. I thought it rather a coincidence that your [inserted] last [/inserted] letter should tell of an inaccurate cable too. No doubt the foreign language makes difficulties at both ends but we are so thankful for the privilege. Your letter of Jan. 6th had a paper clip attached but nothing clipped. As I have not received the note from Tony (please thank him for me) I wondered if it were in that letter & not allowed through. End of the page again. So Goodbye & happy Easter greetings. All love & thoughts & prayers from Mother & Dad.
755052 Hudson
Camp Militaire
Laghouat Algerie
Collection
Citation
P Hudson, “Letter to Douglas Hudson from his parents,” IBCC Digital Archive, accessed April 26, 2024, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collections/document/23623.
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