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Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
First letter as a prisoner of war. Asks her to let him know how long she was in suspense with him missing before he was reported as prisoner. Writes of conditions in camp. Describes how pilot stayed with aircraft and allowed the rest of the crew to…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Letter number 2. Writes he is now in camp where he will remain. List items he is short of and would like her to try and send. Mentions he has been installed as leader of hut containing 164 men. Discusses money and ask if she has enough. Mentions…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 4. Reports he is more cheerful but hungry. Writes of possibilities of food in Red Cross parcels. Writes that he is busy looking after his hut, mentions study opportunities and garden. News of servicemen and prisoners he knows. He is longing…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 8. Writes he is feeling much better. He is trying to arrange that any friends or acquaintances who live outside the empire send him food parcels because any that are sent from inside are pooled. He describes his appearance after being shot…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 10. Writes that he has received her first two letters. Discuses small chance that other crews from the operation survived as only a small number now in his camp. Asks when she heard from Red Cross that he was prisoner. Mentions his poor…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 13. Writes that her letters 1-5 arrived. Says post could be delayed both ways and suggest she send one letter a week. Notes that ration cuts have been restored and regular Red Cross parcels arriving. Says he is now feeling much better and has…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 15. Writes that her letters 1-9 have arrived. Lists in order of importance item he would like her to send. Thanks for and sends well wishes. Do not send books, time fully occupied. Started violin lessons and lists stationary he would like…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 16. Reports on letters that have arrived. Mentions money he left in his locker at the squadron and discusses finances and income tax. Thrilled with photographs Barbara sent. Writes about life in camp, room mates, his daily routine, Red Cross…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 17. Lists letters that have arrived. Apologises for upsetting her about food but things are much better now if largely vegetarian. He appreciates her efforts to organise food parcels. He writes that he is coping well. Asks her to enquire if…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number [censored]. List letters that have arrived and mentions one from Swiss friend promising parcel soon. Food situation now better than it was in first month when there were no Red Cross parcels. [censured lines]. More about food and sport. Time…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 20. Notes that letter ration has been reduced to one letter and one card outbound and 4 letter inbound in per month. List letters arrived including some from friends. Not able to reply to them due to limits on letters out. Writes of domestic…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 21. Lists letters arrived. Still allowed only one letter and one card out a month. Limits ability to write to anyone else as saving allowance for her. Red Cross has issued some clothes but mentions he still need some article s to avoid having…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 23. No mail since last card. Is fit and has enough to eat. No exercise for two months but hopes to play soccer soon. Has had notification of books on their way but no sign of clothing food or tobacco parcels. Has joined newly opened Toc H…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 26. Notes mail ban has been lifted and large bunch of letters arrived. Thanks for sending book 'Agriculture' and tells her not to worry about sending sleeping bag. Mentions other items sent and their usefulness. Discuses reasons for stating…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 27. He explains that, due to lack of time, he has had to curtail some of his activities. He writes he has little time to exercise and that he has abandoned any form of religion. He mentions a number of family members and friends who have…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 29. Mentions he has had no recent letters from her. Writes of health issues effecting his activities but he is keeping on with violin. Mentions camp duties and difficulties organising other prisoners, Goes on to explain that life in camp is…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 31. Reports no new mail received. Mentions parcels that have arrived. Writes of reading about agriculture and plans for future and where and in what sort of house they might live. Encourages her to approach an estate agent. Mentions weather,…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 32. Notes letters received. States he has no objects belonging to his pilot (Floyd) and that he also tried to get recognition of his gallantry without success. Catches up with news. Writes he is fully occupied but has not stated his…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 33. Wishes her happy birthday. Speculates on when he will be home. Mentions health and medicine issues. Writes about his Dutch room mates and another Belgian prisoners he likes. Describes multinational nature of prisoners in his block. Notes…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 35. Lists letters and parcels (contents) received. Writes of nasal problems and relates issues of another prisoner, Frank Pepper who has been in interned for 2 1/2 years. Describes treatment of prisoners and reckons he is in best camp. Reports…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 39. Mentions letters and parcels, and their contents, that have arrived. Discusses medicines and his health. Writes that Christmas was dull but they were allowed some watery beer. mentions theatrical show and that they are allowed to have…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 41. Lists books that have arrived and ask her to thank donors. Planning to start agriculture course. He is continuing with violin and would like to master Dutch. Reports second parcel of clothing has arrived and he has most of what he needs…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 42. Complains of lack of mail. Life uneventful apart from cold weather. Writes about practising violin in latrine. Hoping for photographs of daughter Frances. Notes some prisoners have had optimistic letters. Mentions ice rinks but lack of…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 43. Hopes he will get more letters from her. Mentions going to officers compound for show but with restrictions on speaking to anyone. Reports very cold weather but is able to keep small room warm even with small coal allowance. Mentions he…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 45. Four weeks since last letter. Mentions new year pantomime which he did not enjoy. Describes gramophone recital and states that they have many mostly classical music records. Mentions problems with learning Dutch but still plugging away…