Letter from Donald Baker to his mother

Letter from Donald Baker to his mother

Writes that month had been very exiting and they were hopeful after hearing of the invasion. Mentions recent camp sports day with lots of side shows like a fair ground. Writes of gambling with cigarettes, band playing and sweepstake. Also mentions cricket scores and boxing match.

1944-06-24

Handwritten prisoner of war letter form

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SBakerDA19210428v20148

[underlined] Kreigsgefangenenpost [/underlined]
[inserted] [underlined] MIT LUFTPOST AB KAIRO [/underlined] [/inserted]
[date stamp]
[two ink stamps]
An MRS. C. BAKER
“CHARLTON”
Empfangsort: INYAZURA
Strasse: SOUTHERN
Kreis: RHODESIA
Land: SOUTH AFRICA
[two ink stamps]
[underlined] Gebührenfrei! [/underlined]
Absender:
Vor- und Zuname: F/O. DONALD A. BAKER
Gefangenennummer: 665
Lager-Bezeichnung: M.- Stammlager Luft 3
[underlined] Deutschland (Germany) [/underlined]
[page break]
24.6.1944
My Dearest Mother, This month has been so exciting that now is the first time Ive [sic] been able to get down to write a letter. Needless to say we have all been very hopeful since hearing of the Invasion. The Camp Sports were held last Monday. It was quite a gala day as there were a lot of side shows & the place seemed almost like a fair ground. There was plenty of gambling in cigarettes of which there seems to be a good supply in the camp. The military band played on and off all afternoon and in the evening we had an open air concert by the dance orchestra. There was also a camp sweepstake – first prize about £500 and a lot of consolation prizes, but I was unlucky as usual. The day before yesterday was the boxing tournament and as in the sports, I was well hidden among the spectators. The Cricket season opened well with a match between Dominions & Great Britain which Dominions won 185 – 175. Ron Michell from Rhodesia made 78 for Dominions – top score for the day. Well for the first time, I think, there has been enough to say to fill up a page so will continue with another letter – Donald.