Showing 253 results

Mary writes about their bread parcels and a garden John has described to her. She says that John has informed her that their conditions have improved considerably and they are in good spirits, though she worries that the monotony of camp life must cause problems. She then writes about smoking, some brothers of one of John's friends that have been killed in France and of persons (not named) missing in action.

Mary Harold has often thought of Mrs Evans and whether or not she had sent the parole money demanded by Germany for her son. Mrs Harold has received the same demand herself and had wired Mrs Evans about the matter but had the message blocked by the censors. She feels their sons may not understand why they won't send the money and that the foreign office wouldn't permit it anyway. Mrs Harold mentions that her second daughter has left the country with her little girl to be with her husband, who can't return to Britain due to the hostilities. She believes that their sons are better off in prison, believing that once the German population realises they have been misled, they will rise up in rebellion. Mary wonders if their sons are still in Nuremberg having read in the papers that those in Bavaria have been moved elsewhere.

Mary is writing about communications being cut, she mentions that not even the solders can write back home and mentions that some families with relatives imprisoned in other parts of Germany have had no word for 3 weeks. She attaches two newspaper cuttings on the treatment of prisoners in Germany, one mentions the temporary cutting of communications from the camp as a result of infringement of the regulations at Ruhleben camp by some prisoners.

Mrs Harold hopes that the introduction of home rule at Ruhleben is a sure sign that the Germans are running out of men. She writes that her youngest son is well and that the outdoor life seems to suit him. Her only other son will be enlisting next week; as he gives his father a considerable amount of help she doesn't know how they cope. Mary has also had word from one of her daughters that is staying in Rio de Geneva; she sends word of 2 friends that have been killed. Mary then describes a tragic incident on the front which left the university coy (company?) with only 12 members. She also mentions that the problems she is having with her eyes are getting worse.

Mary writes that she is pleased to see that Mrs Evan's shoulder is getting better, but sorry to hear that Ifor has hurt his knee. She had not heard the news of the civilians being returned home; only 7 British and 1 American with 4 women held back. Mary explains that she did not hear about the Swiss bread from John but from the papers, along with butter being sent for the prisoners being sold by the Germans. She explains about John having to take his decorations down and discusses his parcels. Her son in training is ill and not able to go to France, he may never go. This would greatly upset him as he wishes very much to go.

Message of thanks from Mary Harold for passing on word of the joint transmission of parcels. Due to being so far north they don't always receive the London papers until it is too late to act on the information contained. She then describes what she has sent and mentions that though they missed the joint transmission and are still in London, Mr Gaston has said he will do his best to ensure delivery. Mary feels it is risky sending things out when the solders aren't receiving things, but writes that they will just have to hope they will be delivered. Finally she hopes that teachers will be set free next.

Mary is once again writing about the situation surrounding the parcels they send to their sons in Germany. She also asks if Mrs Evans has received any letters asking for money for cash given to her boy. Mrs Harold and a number of other have received such requests. She also mentions that they currently have 600 soldiers in the area this weekend; 2 are staying at her house.

Mrs Harold is sending thanks for news of the bread Mrs Evans has sent to Germany. She also mentions that some of the boys are studying German and she has had requests for books to be sent. Apparently the detainees hear very little German and fear forgetting what they have already learnt. Mary also writes that her youngest son has enlisted.

Mary sends thanks for the newspaper cuttings Mrs Evans sent her. She finds it funny that they had both sent each other the same cuttings at the same time. The reason for the stoppage of the post from the prison camps, she understands to be the result of some prisoners attempting to send more postcards than the 2 a week they are permitted.

Mrs Harold is pleased to have Mrs Evans letter of the 27th. She is grateful to her for passing on the news that her boy is well and in good company. She writes that her son has been examined by a Doctor, that 2 Englishmen and he were found unfit for military service and may be let out of prison. Mary Harold has been very anxious about her son who is 25 and a teacher of German. She mentions a recent death in the family; her eldest son died 2 weeks previously in Huddersfield.

Mrs Harold writes that she feels it has been a long time since she has last had a note from Mrs Evans. She hopes that her shoulder is no longer giving her trouble. She conveys John's gratitude for the refills Mrs Evans send for his cooker, the ones she sent were stopped at London. Mary writes that he has requested his camera, but she will not send it as she thinks he will not get it. She mentions that the prisoners held a very successful Burns concert, but they have had to take down all their decorations and mentions that they are no longer permitted candles. Lastly Mary discusses the situation of their bread deliveries.

Mrs Harold is returning an enclosed newspaper cutting from Mrs Dale on the treatment of British prisoners. She is especially worried due to stories appearing in the paper about starvation but acknowledges they can't believe everything that is written in the papers.

Mary Harold sends her Christmas and new year wishes. She hopes Mrs Evans is still getting good news from Berlin. Last she heard John had not received any of the parcels she sent but that is to be expected.

Mary sends news of the parcels she has sent to her son and explains that she has been informed that their parcels arrive quicker than their postcards.

18 March 1921 - Letter from Karl Seifert; (son-in-law of writer next letter), who appears to be the owner of the pension that ILE was staying in at the start of the war before he was imprisoned). -- 17 March 1921 - Letter from Leisterer Frase?: ILE's letter gave them all joy. Happy to overhear ILE has overcome his war sufferings and that he should be able to take up his studies again in his home country. The writer and his family are astonished at the quality of his German. The writer agrees with ILE's political opinions. He is a democrat and believes that only a good democratic government can help Germany recover from its misfortunes. The evil war has also affected our family. The pension has been affected by the bad economy and the pension rooms have now been turned into homes. In one of them my son-in-law, Karl Seifert lives with my daughter Elli. Their small son, Walter (the enclosed picture) is the third person in their home. Karl lost his left foot during the war and was an English prisoner of war for a long time. He can walk well on his artificial foot - up to 15 kilometres. After being wounded several times, but always recovering, Gotthard ended up as a French prisoner of war. He returned in an enfeebled state in February 1920, but recovered fast under our care. He has had to quit his university studies, as circumstances have forced him to take up a job to support himself. He is an intern in a trading company in Mannheim. Little Helmut is now a head taller than the writer. Shortly before the war ended he had to become a soldier, but he came back as healthy as he went in. He has decided to become a land surveyor and is studying geodesy at the University in Bonn. The writer and his wife are doing fine, but his hair has become gray because of the times. He still has his job at the Institute and Karl, the writer's son-in-law, has been appointed study advisor at the Real Schule. In comparison to the past the writer and his family only have a third of their income. They can no longer afford a maid, so the writer and his wife are doing jobs at their age that they have never needed to do before. They, as teachers, like all civil servants are economically worse and worse off. Soon their small savings from earlier times will have run out, and what will happen then to find ways or means to better the situation of the former middle classes. The Germans are prepared to meet the just demands of the Entente, but they hope that the victors will be able to distinguish what is possible and what is impossible in the time frame allotted, so that it will be possible for the mutual trust between the peoples to grow again. The speech of Lloyd George in the House of Commons on the Upper Silesian question has somewhat raised the low mood in Germany. Let's hope these hopeful words will be matched by deeds, so that the Poles will not steal the land that has belonged to Germany for the last 2000 years. The writer agrees with ILE that politics is a pastime of the devil. He has good memories of ILE's time with them. Inclosed photograph with Greetings from Walter (the Baby on the photograph).