Letter from Donald Baker to his mother

Letter from Donald Baker to his mother

Discusses what they can send him in parcels and mentions no mail since one dated beginning of October. Says his Egyptian parcels have stopped and only getting half a Red Cross parcel now. Discusses getting people in neutral countries to send food parcels. Mentions creating a skating rink and catches up on family/friends news. Asks her to send information about land settlement schemes and asks after other acquaintance. Looking forward to coming home but not much before eighteen months.

1943-01-17

Handwritten prisoner of war letter form

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SBakerDA19210428v20109

[three ink stamps]
[two postmarks]
[underlined] Kriegsgefangenenpost [/underlined]
MRS C. BAKER
“CHARLTON,”
INYAZURA
S. RHODESIA
SOUTH AFRICA.
[two postmarks]
Absender:
Vor und Zuname: P/O DONALD ARTHUR BAKER
Gefangenennummer: 665
Lager-Bezeichnung: M.-Stammlager Luft 3
Deutschland (Germany)
[page break]
17:1:1943.
My Dearest Mother, Have just sent off a circular to you about what you can’t send in parcels. As you already know most of it, it won’t mean much. Haven’t had any mail from you since the one dated the beginning of October. Anthony has had a few letters today latest 25TH October, and everyone seems pretty fit. He also had a November Egyptian parcel. I am very sorry mine have stopped as they would have been specially welcome now that we only have 1/2 R.C. issue. Did you manage to get anyone in P.E.A. to arrange for parcels from Portugal. I have written to Turkey to arrange for Fruit Parcels to be sent once a month. Americans here are very lucky as they seem to be allowed unlimited food parcels. We have just had a short spell of bitterly cold weather, 40o Frost, but its not quite so bad now. The fellows are making a skating rink & a short toboggan run. The latter has caused quite a few casualties already so I am content to watch. Did you go to Almeigas wedding? I gather there was a shortage of spirits. Is the Government going to do anything to assist ex-Service men to go on to the land after the war. Can you send me any information about pre-war land settlement schemes, as I am pretty vague about it all. Have asked you this in previous letters but am doing so again to make sure. What are the Bartens doing in Sly? Has he given up farming? I gather the Harlands are buying up a lot of tobacco farms. Expect by the time you get this it will be about Easter. How I am looking forward to coming home again but I don’t expect it will be much before 18 months. It seems a terribly long time and I hope so much it will be before then. Am afraid we have too much time to get “home sick.” The song “Ma, I miss your apple-pie” is only too applicable. Anthony had a letter from Canon Lloyd, which he read to me. The letter to me must have gone astray. Have you been notified of my promotion to Flying Officer which should have come through last June. Must close now dear mother with much love to you all from your loving son Donald.