Browse Items (932 total)
- Collection: Valentine, John
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Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 26. No letters from her received for three weeks and reprisals mentioned in last letter are being released for Easter. Mentions health. Noted letter from Belgian colleague who had been removed from camp. Writes that he is depressed at the…
Postcard from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 27. He reminisces about their Easter together. Thinks two more Easters before he will see her again. Reports on weather and new arrivals bring hut up to 164 men.
Postcard from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 28. Reports new arrivals and still rumours of move. He wishes that Ursula’s letters would arrive more regularly as they seem to come in a surge about once a month. News of war is encouraging but progress slow.
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 29. Reports arrival of clothing parcel and how useful contents are. Lists a few outstanding requirements. Mentions health [some lines blacked out], weather and tribulations with violin but he will persist, Is feeling sorry for himself.
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 30. Writes that reprisals for minor offences have increased affecting sport, theatre, news sheets, increased number of parades and worse relations with camp guards. Notes that recently arrived concert pianist has left for another camp. No…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Mentions arrival of letter 56 from her. Asks after daughter Frances and recent birthday. Thanks her for sending music and looking forward to the photographs. States parcel of cigarettes have arrived but no books. Writes that relations with camp…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 32. Writes of arrival of book parcel and asks her to track down sender and thank them. Mentions his sense of taste return briefly and describes relations with fellow Dutch prisoners. Still vague news of a move.
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 33. Talks of tracking his letters and some might be missing. Asks that she comply with his requests about the proportion of his letter ration which goes to her. Writes that they are likely to be removed to a new camp five miles away. Mentions…
Postcard from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 34. He writes thanking her for the photos and comments on his daughter’s progress. Mentions it is his Dutch colleagues 3rd anniversary of their departure from home when country was invaded.
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 35. Writes of belief that camp censors delaying mail. Catches up with news of acquaintance and mentions food parcels from Switzerland and arrival of tobacco. Writes that relations with camp guards is now good, of upcoming show and of…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 36. Mentions latest letter from her and is pleased that some of his missing letters to her have turned up. Writes of arrival of music examination papers, food parcel from Switzerland and tobacco/cigarettes. Catches up with domestic matters…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 50(167). First letter from the new camp. He mentions the journey to the camp and the conditions on arrival and is very disappointed that there is nowhere suitable for fiddle practice. Mentions new camp has better surroundings and potential…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 37. He writes reminiscing about his last leave with his wife and how camp life is monotonous. He asks for rosin for violin bow and no more clothing other than socks. He mentions recent show and that he is still playing the fiddle but had…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 39. Reports on numbers of her letters that he has received. Writes he will not give up fiddle and she should not buy house due to uncertainty pf postwar situation. Speculates over future in agriculture. Lists ways his daughter could be spoiled…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 40. Asks after family and friends and her factory work. Talks of postwar plans for study and employment, states they have had notice of move in July and that his Dutch friends going to a different camp. Mentions music exams coming up and it is…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 41. He writes about Ursula’s attempt to buy a house and the parcels and letters he has received. He also mentions their outside shelter and converting it to tool shed and of his chocolate store. Writes of his tribulations with learning to…
Postcard from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 43. Mentions near completion of a year, dance band show, upcoming music exams and his health.
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 44. Writes that it is the end of his first year in captivity and wonders how it has been for her. He tells of his desire to be reunited, his fiddle practice, his apologies for seeming ungrateful for parcels, a request for no further clothes…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 46. He writes of an upcoming transfer to prisoner of war camp named Heidekrug as far to east as possible in Germany, the likely transportation there and the subsequent change to living conditions and mail arrangements. He also writes about his…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 47. Writes that his new address will be Stalag Luft VI, although he hasn’t yet got a date for departure and he is worried that he will not be able to send as many letters. He mentions price limits on house buying and that he had sat his…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 48. Writes that they should depart for new camp on or before 10 June. Notes that letters should be addressed to Stalag Luft VI but parcels still to Stalag Luft 3. Says he is looking forward to change as he has been outside camp only once.…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 106(49). Reports arrival of two of her letters and that she will not hear from him for a while as they leave the next day. Mentions music exams he taken. Says he will keep up his violin, his study of agriculture and Dutch. He writes that he is…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 51. Describes conditions in new camp. Mentions they no longer cook their own food therefore little distraction from monotony. Mentions difficulties in continuing with his violin. States that mail will be slow for a few weeks, comments…
Postcard from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 52 (109). Comments on lack of mail from her and his violin practice. Mentions he saw German doctor about his loss of loss of taste sense. Medical equipment is in short supply but doctor sympathetic.
Postcard from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 53 110. Writes that final party from Stalag Luft 3 arrived along with some mail and photographs. Welcomes his parents in law home and mentions seeing German medical officer who could not find cause of his trouble over sense of taste and smell.…