Letter to Douglas Hudson from his parents

Letter to Douglas Hudson from his parents

Writes of weather and earlier blackout times. Mentions his letters which reported that they had had more food parcels from Canadian Red Cross. Mentions letter from friend and passes on news. Mentions factory chimneys smoking after short holiday. Reports arrival of a letter from him dated 26 July which mentions arrival of her letters to him. Comments on content of his letters. Says there will be no more photographs as film is unobtainable. Comments on weather and local area.

1942-09-17

Two page handwritten letter and envelope

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EHudsonP-HEHudsonJD420917

[Airmail envelope - front]
[post mark]
EXAMINER 2681
Prisoners of War Post

755052 Sgt. J. D. Hudson
Interned British Airman
Camp Militaire
Laghouat
Algerie
Afrique du Nord

[page break]

[airmail envelope - reverse]
From
Mrs Hudson
191 Halifax Road
Nelson
Lancs/.
England
17/9/42
OPENED BY

[page break]

[underlined] 81 [/underlined]

191 Halifax Road
Nelson Lancs/. [sic]
England.
Thursday a.m. Sept. 17th. 42

My dear Douglas.

After a day or two of nice Autumn weather we are back again to cold & wind & rain. It seems really wintry with black-out at 7.45 p.m. & when we get up in the morning. I can well imagine that you will welcome the cooler weather & do not suppose black out will make any difference to you. It was a great relief to learn from your letters written towards the end of June that you had got more food parcels from the Canadian Red Cross. I told you they sent me your card acknowledging the parcel you received from them last November. I have intended to write to them before this, but writing has seemed very difficult lately. A letter from Mrs Clayton on Tuesday wonders why she has not heard from me, & I owe letters to everybody including John who wrote such a nice letter at the beginning of August. You will have had my letter long ago telling that at last his ambition had been realized & that he was now living under much happier conditions. Mrs Clayton's letter told that Bill had been to see her. He is now invalided out of the Army & has a good post in some pay department. Of course the tale may not be quite accurate. You know what she is./. [sic] It is strange to see all the factory chimneys smoking after the long weekend holiday. They do

[page break]

not really improve the landscape, but no doubt play a very useful part in the lives of the community I have just this moment received a letter from you dated July 26th. "It is about four days since I last wrote to you & then I sent two letters on two consecutive days [inserted] acknowledging [/inserted] nos. 53 & 55 containing snaps". Since writing that you "have received two more letters, & snaps, of you both at the wheel & just noticable [sic] are the deadly straight lines of the mower showing that you still maintain the art of uniformity when it comes to cutting the lawn." Now what exactly does that mean. - that uniformity ends with mowing.? I [sic] afraid it's the end of the snaps for the present at any rate as films are quite unobtainable. I am glad you have got a roll & portioned them so evenly. I shall just look forward all the time to having the photos & your precious letters./. [sic] The world looks very beautiful at this moment. The rain has ceased & great low clouds are rolling away showing clear bright blue & white. The sun is struggling to get through & the strong light on our few late roses & the reflection in the shimmering "lake" is very lovely. Thank God for delight in simple things. Tears are taboo for the duration but they were very near the top as I read of your dream. I don't want it to come true, love. As you say the impression would be very deep & so many things burnt today that we feel that capacity is almost reached. I am going to Cornholme today. Mrs Banks is going to alter a coat for me. So Goodbye for another short while
With all our love & thoughts & prayers. Mother & Dad

[inserted] 755052 Hudson Camp Militaire Laghouat Algerie. [/inserted]