Mr Evans is sending a hand written transcript of a postcard he has just received from Ifor. He has asked Mr Heck of Amsterdam to find out if Ifor desires the surety requested to me sent. If yes he will do so. He has no confidence in the affair but his son's safety and comfort are his utmost concerns. Mr Evans comments on the discrepancies in the amount requested, and expresses his hope that the lessor sum of 3000 marks (£150) is the correct one.
S/he has just return from Nuremberg and is happy to report that Ifor is well although still imprisoned when s/he left. Ifor is not in need of money as some Englishmen visit the prison and take him all that he needs. Ifor can be released upon the payment of £250 but there is little chance of him returning to England before the war is over.
Informs Mr Evans that he has received a postcard from Ifor telling him that he has received £5 and a parcel containing marmite extract. He would like such a parcel to be sent each week with some biscuits.
He has just received a postcard from his son and is sending him a translation. He also briefly describes a visit to the prison camps made by Anderson and Hales he has read in the papers.
Describes in response to a letter from Mr Evans the conditions of camp life and Ifor's state of being. He also discusses an article he has written lately, his move tomorrow to London and representations he is making to reduce the medical standards for exchange.
January 1916. Mary Harold discusses their sons and how they expect them to return changed by their experience and the stories they will have when they return. One of Mary's sons was home for Christmas, he has finished his training and may be sent to France at any time. She also provides some information on a gentleman who can get money to prisoners. -- 24 January 1916. Mary is very sorry to hear of Mrs Evan's recent accident, but glad that it is not serious. She is grateful for the letter forwarded on to her from Mrs Dale, detailing how the Germans hold on to some of the things they send. Though she does mentioned that the Germans turned a blind eye to the prisoners celebrating the new year. She also details the progress they have made with the camp school and her son's recent attempts to develop his cooking. Then goes back to the subject of parcels.
Mary Harold is glad to hear that Mrs Evans receives an occasional postcard from her son but sorry that he is still a prisoner. She writes that she thinks it unreasonable for the Germans to ask for so much money to allow Ifor out on parole, and does not trust they won't re-arrest him once released. She recommends that Mrs Evans not pay out the money; they are well treated and Mary hopes that an exchange will soon be arranged. Mary wonders whether her son has received word of his brother's death, she expects it will be a great shock to him. She then explains that as difficult as their situation is it is not so bad as those that have family that are missing in action.
Mary is glad that Ifor is now in Berlin, she expects he will be much happier among British P.O.Ws. She has had a postcard (they are permitted 2 a week) from her son John who had left Nuremberg before they had received his letters. She says that sending money would not have done any good as they were not detained. They now wait on whether they will be permitted to receive the parcels they have sent. -- She is feeling better knowing that the British prisoners are now together, but has heard they have been taken to Berlin to deter the Russians from bombarding the city should they advance that far. She therefore hope an exchange will soon be arranged.
After 4 weeks of not receiving any word from John, Mary has received 3 postcards and a letter. She hopes Mrs Evans has also received word from Ifor by now. She discusses the sorry state of how their mail is treated and the parcel situation. Then Mary moves on to writing about their sons situation as prisoners in Germany and describes how she is occupying herself, as well as helping others. For example she provides some details or a recent neighbours nervous breakdown.
Mary Harold's son John has received the money she had sent through Sweden and a parcel. There has been delays in the post due to the volume sent over Christmas, so he has not got everything yet. Mary hopes he will get the clothes she sent soon as it is very cold over there. She has been notified by the Foreign Office that John's name has been placed on a list for a possible prisoner exchange, an action she believes to have been taken by her local M. P.
Mary Harold has received a cheerful letter from John, they are making the most of their circumstances. She mentions that they are not permitted to receive cakes or sweets and hopes John has been permitted to have his birthday parcel. She has also just heard news of another Maeduff boy's death; killed by his own grenade. Mary writes that she hopes Mrs Evan's friends have had good news about their boys, saying how terrible it is to have someone missing in action.
Mary is wondering if their boys will have any chance of getting home, having just received a letter from a gentleman who has just arrived back from Ruhleben. She informs Mrs Evans that she has just heard of the death of one of her neighbours eldest sons at Dardanelles. This had come as a shock as they had got the news in a letter from a friend (who had seen the news in the paper) sending their sympathises; they had not yet been notified by the war office.
A response to a letter Mrs Evans has passed on to Mary from Mrs Balls, a friend of hers; Mary hopes she gets news of her boy soon. She writes that John fears they will be detained through the winter and has requested she send a sturdy pair of boots. John has started a German class for sailors that trade between England and Hamburg, who are keen to learn and have something to pass the time.
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.
UCW Aberystwyth Military Training Committee Minute Book, November 28 1908 - March 11 1935 (Includes letters, reports from War Office and miscellaneous documents).
