Letter from Donald Baker to his mother

Letter from Donald Baker to his mother

Reports arrival of latest letters and catches up with news. Surprised to hear they were on holiday at the cape again and hoped they would enjoy themselves. Thinks of the future. Catches up with more gossip.

1943-02-03

Handwritten prisoner of war letter form

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SBakerDA19210428v20111

[two ink stamps]
[postmark]
[underlined] Kriegsgefangenenpost [/underlined]
25 PFGS
[deleted] MIT LUFTPOST [/deleted] AB KAIRO.
MRS. C. BAKER.
CHARLTON.
INYAZURA
SOUTHERN RHODESIA
SOUTH AFRICA
[postmark]
Absender:
Vor und Zuname: P/O DONALD ARTHUR BAKER
Gefangenennummer: 665.
Lager-Bezeichnung: M.-Stammlager Luft 3
Deutschland (Germany)
[page break]
3:2:1943
My Dearest Mother, Was very pleased indeed to receive 3 letters from you yesterday, the first for 6 weeks One was October & two November letters from Cape Town. Was very astonished to hear about Phyllis getting married again but am also glad as it must have been a pretty dreary outlook for her otherwise. Haven’t any recollection of this chap Jimmy Martin unless he is the fellow who had a small Ford car & gave Buster & me a lift from Rusape School one weekend. Was surprised to read that you and Dad were on holiday at the Cape again as I can’t remember you mentioning that you were going. However I trust you will enjoy yourselves thoroughly and that nothing happens to interrupt you again as has happened the last two times – Harry Roberts & then myself going missing. Things seem to be going so well that possibly next December you will be able to meet me at Cape Town if not in England. It is nearly three years since I saw you last and I am looking forward to seeing you again so very much. I hope Rhodesia hasn’t changed too much but expect it will have grown a lot & will doubtless continue to do so. Anthony keeps very fit & is bearing up. Mrs Parker seems to be spending all her time dashing from Salisbury to Inyazura & entertaining air force men. I hear that she has had her appendix out so that should keep her quite but I hope she has a quick recovery. Have just seen a picture of the bride & groom. Allie looks much better than she used to & has apparently had quite a varied selection of “hearts” before settling down. The husband will probably be “harassed” by Mrs Parker. I wrote Harry congratulating him on his son. What a large “clan” we are now, however the more the merrier Expect Harry’s house will have to take the overflow at the Xmas celebrations. Am looking forward to receiving the books on Agriculture. Well dear Mother, no more space so will close now. Very much love to you all from your loving son
Donald