The letter was in my mother’s personal effects, found after she passed away in 2006.
Clarification: The writer, my Grandmother was evacuated to Oxford, writing to my mother who was still in East London helping the war effort.
Friday (must be after July 1941 as Dad’s POW record started on 27th July 1941. Captured on the Isle of Crete 1st June 1941). Dad was 25 years old. Married my Mum on 12th October 1940, just prior to Embarkation.
My girl, my Eileen, don’t know what to say, I’m drunk with joy do you know girl when I put my eyes on ‘Prisoner of War’, well I just collapsed. Aunt Edie finished the letter. I went upstairs & fell on my knees and cried in prayer, just think me mad my girl, but how I’ve prayed for the boy’s safety & to think my prayer was answered was so grand, and when I went over the house, (the Farmhouse), well my joy made other’s cry. I did not think I would feel like I did, I feel Eileen my girl, your own father (who was killed in WW1 in France in May 1915, before my mum was born), has guided Ted (love him), to safety. Well my girl to be a Prisoner of War is not all honey but Ted can take it and after the War please God everything will be made up to him. Everybody over in the house joins in our joy and Mrs Busget ?? ‘well I am with you in your Joy Mrs Anderson, she said’. ‘Yes, I said, I have known sorrow’. (Death of Nan’s first husband in WW1).’But to see your own children suffer is terrible, but now old girl cheer up and I must say you have kept your chin up. So here’s all the best to the Bride & Bridegroom (Ted & Eileen) and what a lovely present for Ted’s sister to know her brother is safe’.
So cheerio from your loving Mother. xxxxxx.
X this one is for Ted, love him. If only I could get hold of him.
Written up the side of the letter is a note: What about Ted’s jellied eels? (They were a favourite of his}.
