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Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 47. Still no letter from wife but her parcel has arrived. Has now got all the clothing required just needs socks. Thanks her for included rug for which he is very grateful and would like another if he is there for another winter. Mentions…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 48. Reports two letter from her have arrived. Deals with matters raised in her letter including her job, tax and how pleased he is with photographs of daughter. Catches up with other family news. Sorry to hear bad news of another acquaintance…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 49. Catalogues letters that have arrived and those missing. Writes that letters give him more pleasure than anything else. Mentions arrival of American food parcel and packets of music. Writes about how difficult violin is. Discusses sock…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 50, Reports that three more letters have arrived. Writes about issues raised, especially over her job and investments in future home. He is in favour of getting a house renting if necessary for the time being due to uncertainty over post war…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 51. John apologises for upsetting Ursula in previous letters. He has received a second American parcel. Mentions he is proud of her of her working in a factory but urges her to be careful. He talks about the care within camp by the Germans.…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 52. He still has concerns about Ursula taking on a new job in a factory and asks her some details of the job. A third parcel has come from America containing about 10 lb of food. Thanks her for violin strings and describes lessons. Writes…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 54. Received cigarette parcels and ask her to trace and thank donors. Notes parents worried that he is not acknowledging their parcels and writes that he has done so but letters may have gone mussing and that he is limited to two letters and…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 55. Thanks her for a parcel and he asks her to trace the sender of some books he has received. He also mentions that he is looking forward to a concert that the Symphony Orchestra will perform the following day. He goes on to explain how he…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 57. Writes saying he has not been reading the mostly thriller books from Stockholm and will give them to the library. He goes on to give his opinion on the entertainment in the camp and mentions some of the various productions. He mentions…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 58. Lists letters received and mentions medicine and request she send violin strings. Sorry that American parcels have stopped. Writes about future home appliances and mentions music theory study. Is delighted with photographs she sent of…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 1. Writes that he is starting new numbering system, last was 59. Records letters and comments he has received and says books from Sweden are welcome. Writes they had outbreak of fleas and of effect on him. He has now recovered from illnesses…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 2. Requests items to be sent and records letters received with photographs. Sends condolences and mentions shock over news about previous boss. Records parcels arriving from Sweden and America. Writes of diminution of appetite possibly due to…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 3. He mentions the letters and parcels he has received from different people and also comments on his health. He wishes he could be home for his daughter’s second birthday. Says he enjoyed recent show and that he discovered an officer in…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 5. Writes glowingly of rug that was sent and he would like another if possible. Writes about all the photographs he has. Discusses the love life of one of his fellow prisoners and expresses wish that the same will not happen to them. Still…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 6. Writes of health issues and asks her not to send anything which he has not ask for as storage limited. Discusses future in farming and possibility of living out in the country. Notes mail arrival falling off and talks of 'belting' (any type…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 8. Has received no mail. Mentions health, playing soccer and two hours a day on violin. He is dabbling in agriculture but Dutch is slipping. Writes he is getting fed up with his Dutch room mates. Mentions discover of lice and upcoming…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 9. Has heard from Caterpillar Club that badges are being sent. Reports food parcel from Lisbon and list contents. Writes of damage to his gold ring. Writes of activities and rumour of move. Mentions lice have disappeared and provides cryptic…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 11. He has a new violin instructor and hopes this one lasts longer than the last one did. A New Zealander called Frank Hurst is to perform in a light classical concert next week. Mentions health and concern over fellow Belgian prisoner. No…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 12. Has received letter and discusses future with affordability for house, agricultural activities, transport, mortgages and other costs. Talks of some properties she has seen and way forward through agricultural journals rather than London…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 13. Discusses future farming enterprise and working through county agricultural advisers. Mentions costs, type of farm. location, transport, need to be close to railway, going to agricultural college when he returns and that he misses her.
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 15. Records letters that he has received and mentions how valuable they are to him. Mentions that typewritten ones seem to arrive quicker. Says he has a new violin teacher. Writes he is looking forward to more photographs, that he is…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 16. Reports letters arrives and sends thanks for tobacco parcels. Request she send him violin studies and that his new instructor is taking him seriously but he has progressed little despite much practising. Requests she send him farming…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 17. Reports no letters arrived and catches up with friends/family matters. He recalls the time around France’s birth and how tough the time has been for Ursula since then. Writes of health issues. Mentions a play 'The Merchant of Venice' is…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 18 date 5.3.43 [sic]. Reports letters arrived one having taken four months. Now has all the letters she has sent. Glad to hear all the news. Writes he is still in the dark about her factory job and requests information. Is fully occupied with…
Letter from John Valentine to his wife Ursula
Number 20. No mail. Wonders if she had last card with suggestion she live on farm and lists advantages. He mentions difficulties in maintaining personal, clothing and bedding hygiene. He asks Ursula to pass on news to his mother. He also mentions…