Letter to Douglas Hudson from his parents

Letter to Douglas Hudson from his parents

Starts with general chat and mention that granddad is visiting and gives account of looking after him. Mentions visiting Burnley. Writes of spring arriving with green leaves and warm sunshine. Quotes the cable that she had sent with news and was waiting for reply.

1942-04-17

Two page handwritten letter and envelope

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EHudsonP-HEHudsonJD420417

[inserted] 136 [/inserted]
[BY AIR MAIL stamp]
[postmark]
[two postage stamps]
Prisoners of War Post.
Service des Prisonniers de Guerre.
[postmark]
755052 Sgt. J. D. Hudson
Interned British Airman
Camp Militaire
Laghouat
Algerie
Afrique du Nord
[page break]
[postmark]
From Mrs Hudson
191 Halifax Road
Nelson
Lancs.
England
[three ink stamps]
[inserted] 21-5-42 [/inserted]
[inserted] 36 [/inserted]
[page break]
[inserted] 136 [/inserted]
[underlined] 36 [/underlined]
191 Halifax Road
Nelson. Lancs.
England.
Friday a.m. 17/4/42
My dear Douglas.
It seems a long time since I wrote to you (Monday night) & always I am thinking of you & wondering how things are with you. Each morning this week we’ve had a marvellous sunrise & instantly as I see it my thoughts fly to the Barracks at Laghouat where the best part of my life at present abides. I know so well how utterly weary you must often become of your enforced inactivity & we just keep on hoping & praying that the future will reveal much joy & blessing in glad reunion. My letter will only be a short one today as Grandad is staying here & I have to keep trotting around. In a few minutes [inserted] 11 a.m. [/inserted] I shall go help him to get up, pull trousers & slippers on etc. then in a few more minutes [deleted] wip [/deleted] upstairs I go again when he has finished in the bathroom to help put coat & vest on. Then have ready whisky & syphon of soda water, as the effort of dressing is rather a strain, then about 12-30 a light lunch, then he wants to go out in the lovely sunshine (the weather has been most beautiful since Tuesday). Yesterday we went to Burnley, rode from door to door, but he is very feeble getting in & out of the buses & could only walk about 200 yards along the main street in Burnley, then afternoon tea, then dinner in time for Dad’s return & so it goes on. But not as usual. The rationing has set a problem for housewives but we are thankful for many blessings still.
[page break]
Well, love, our beautiful Springtime is here again with the new green leaves slowly unfolding in the warm sunshine. The grass is looking fresh & green again & my bulbs which are very late indeed show promise of bloom in another month or so. There are many tiny pink buds on my new apple tree.
I sent a cable to you on Wednesday as follows “Delighted cable eighth Latest letter dated January nine. Did parcel arrive. Grandad staying two weeks All well. Love. Hudson.” & hope you have now received it. I am eagerly awaiting my reply. The cost of the cable was 11/6. (5/6 prepaid reply).
Dad will be out again Saturday nights so I shall be glad when it is over. I would rather be quite alone that [sic] in charge of a feeble old gentleman on these occasions.
Now I must say Goodbye love & run up stairs again. Always all our love & thoughts & prayers are with you.
Mother & Dad.
755052 Hudson
Camp Militaire
Laghouat
Algerie
Afrique du Nord