Letter to Douglas Hudson from his parents
Title
Letter to Douglas Hudson from his parents
Description
Reports arrival of several letters, one considered the most important of last batch. Glad he received most of her letters and comments on his new friend. Mentions having received over 40 letters from him at Laghouat. Mentions contents of various communications including news of safe arrival of a parcel. Hopes the next parcel reaches him safely. Reminisces over past events. Recounts letters and 66 received from Laghouat so far.
Creator
Date
1942-09-03
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-HEHudsonJD420903
Transcription
[inserted] Very many thanks for cable for Dad’s birthday. So glad calendar arrived. Hope the cigarettes are not far behind. Cable came by first [underlined] post [/underlined] September 1st [/inserted]
[inserted] 177 [/inserted]
[underlined] 76 [/underlined]
[inserted] 1-10-42 [/inserted]
191 Halifax Road
Nelson Lancs.
England.
Thurs. Sept. 3rd/42
My dear Douglas.
This morning I received what might truly be described as the most important letter of the last batch of twelve. One last Saturday (strangely enough the latest date, July 17th) ten on Monday & one today dated June 17th which confirms what I had read between the lines of the letter of June 15th. I daren’t comment – I want so much that you receive all my letters – but it was a great joy to learn from a later letter of your new friend from Wales. May you find peace & happiness in companionship. Who is the friend who shares the joke about the underpants? Is it Jimmy, Tony, or Eric or one I do not know by name. It is a great mercy that anything can help to develop a sense of humour under those circumstances. Before I close this letter I will count how many I’ve had from Laghouat. You say about 40 up to June 17th. Since then I’ve been delighted to have many more. I remember the last batch brought 23 from July 11th to August 15th. I was thrilled to bits. This letter of June 17th tells how eagerly you await your small parcel of soap & towels & your cable of August 18th announced their safe arrival & since then your [inserted] other [/inserted] cable told of the Lifebuoy habit & I’m pleased we can add just a little to your comfort. I do hope the next parcel reaches you safely as it is a nice
[page break]
one with soft underwear shoes size 7 a pair of thickish service socks which I fear may be too thick for your requirements unless you do have really cold weather. I saw a sponge in the market yesterday – just one, but quite an ordinary one such as we should pay 6d for in peace time & it was 4/6 so I left it there. The man said it was worth twice as much as it was impossible to buy them today. So I’m afraid we’ll just have to do without.
Well love I wonder if your thoughts have been like mine these few days. I’ve just lived over again those 3 days after the R.A.F.V.R. were called to service. The night of September 1st when all reservists were called by radio to report to Headquarters. The Saturday morning when we said Goodbye again thinking you really were going that time. The Sunday morning when Mr Chamberlain quietly & gravely announced that our country was at war with Germany. How merciful that we cannot see into the future. Little did we dream that the sad business would be carried on for more than three years. Do you ever recall Mr Denner’s affirmation & how sadly wrong he was? Now I will count my letters from Laghouat 66 letters received to date from Laghouat. The first one from Aumale is dated Sept. 17th. There is a big gap there which you will be able to fill in one day. Goodbye now love & on this special day of prayer my thoughts are with you if possible more that ever. God bless you always. All our love & wishes
Mother & Dad.
755052 Hudson
Camp Militaire
(Algerie) Laghouat.
[inserted] 177 [/inserted]
[underlined] 76 [/underlined]
[inserted] 1-10-42 [/inserted]
191 Halifax Road
Nelson Lancs.
England.
Thurs. Sept. 3rd/42
My dear Douglas.
This morning I received what might truly be described as the most important letter of the last batch of twelve. One last Saturday (strangely enough the latest date, July 17th) ten on Monday & one today dated June 17th which confirms what I had read between the lines of the letter of June 15th. I daren’t comment – I want so much that you receive all my letters – but it was a great joy to learn from a later letter of your new friend from Wales. May you find peace & happiness in companionship. Who is the friend who shares the joke about the underpants? Is it Jimmy, Tony, or Eric or one I do not know by name. It is a great mercy that anything can help to develop a sense of humour under those circumstances. Before I close this letter I will count how many I’ve had from Laghouat. You say about 40 up to June 17th. Since then I’ve been delighted to have many more. I remember the last batch brought 23 from July 11th to August 15th. I was thrilled to bits. This letter of June 17th tells how eagerly you await your small parcel of soap & towels & your cable of August 18th announced their safe arrival & since then your [inserted] other [/inserted] cable told of the Lifebuoy habit & I’m pleased we can add just a little to your comfort. I do hope the next parcel reaches you safely as it is a nice
[page break]
one with soft underwear shoes size 7 a pair of thickish service socks which I fear may be too thick for your requirements unless you do have really cold weather. I saw a sponge in the market yesterday – just one, but quite an ordinary one such as we should pay 6d for in peace time & it was 4/6 so I left it there. The man said it was worth twice as much as it was impossible to buy them today. So I’m afraid we’ll just have to do without.
Well love I wonder if your thoughts have been like mine these few days. I’ve just lived over again those 3 days after the R.A.F.V.R. were called to service. The night of September 1st when all reservists were called by radio to report to Headquarters. The Saturday morning when we said Goodbye again thinking you really were going that time. The Sunday morning when Mr Chamberlain quietly & gravely announced that our country was at war with Germany. How merciful that we cannot see into the future. Little did we dream that the sad business would be carried on for more than three years. Do you ever recall Mr Denner’s affirmation & how sadly wrong he was? Now I will count my letters from Laghouat 66 letters received to date from Laghouat. The first one from Aumale is dated Sept. 17th. There is a big gap there which you will be able to fill in one day. Goodbye now love & on this special day of prayer my thoughts are with you if possible more that ever. God bless you always. All our love & wishes
Mother & Dad.
755052 Hudson
Camp Militaire
(Algerie) Laghouat.
Collection
Citation
P Hudson, “Letter to Douglas Hudson from his parents,” IBCC Digital Archive, accessed December 5, 2024, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collections/document/23793.
Item Relations
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