Letter from Harold Dryhurst to Kaye Wagstaff

Letter from Harold Dryhurst to Kaye Wagstaff

Writes of recent entertainment and the weather. Continues with description of crafts and fun fair. Mentions friends visiting, that he has convalesced and he has taken up Spanish.

1944-08-07

Two sided handwritten prisoner of war letter form

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SDryhurstHG1332214v10008

Kriegsgefangenenpost

[rubber stamp] Stalag 344

[date stamp] 11.8.44.

Miss K. Wagstaff
Police Station
High Street,
Tring,
Hertfordshire,
England

[rubber stamp] PASSED P.W.4918

Sender: Sgt. Dryhurst. H.G.
26826.

[page break]

H. G. Dryhurst,
26826
Stalag 344
Germany.
7.8.1944.

Dear Kay,
We have had a marvellous week-end of entertainment, a carnival procession and a fun-fair, reproduced to the best of our ability, facilities not being up to requirement. It has been appropriate weather for the occasion too.

The tableaus which constituted the procession were on a par with many I have seen at home, there was a “Things to come” effort with that of a “Chinese mandarins”, models of ships, very intricate too, one had a workable engine and an “Engineering” reproduction of the “Clydeside”, they were the main ones, afterwards a visit to the fun-fair, cigarettes being the currency for shies, darts and some very local talent. You must realise Kaye that we are all men who have been confined for a considerable time.

A friend of my calling dropped in to have a casual chat recently but I was not surprised to see him as I had heard he was around. I believe you know Sam.

I have convalesced sufficiently now Kaye and am ready for the fray which I hope will materialise, just spend a hectic period before I launch out again on some more nomadic travelling. I am still studying hard and have take [sic] up Spanish besides German & French which I already knew. Yes, my people, yourself & Joe are very near to me in spirit near, but yet so far.

Well Kaye give my regards to all, have you contacted my home yet?, Cherio, [sic]

Lots of love,

Harold.