Letter (copy) from Leisterer to unknown recipient: In reply to a postcard of 14 August. States that Ifor gave up his lodgings at the beginning of July, in order to visit southern Germany. They have sent him money twice but on one occasion it was returned as it had not been collected. -- According to news sent by Ifor, he was being watched by the police because of his nationality, but was otherwise alright. Then a post card from him dated 31 August informed them that he had been imprisoned in Nuremberg.
Includes a transcript of a card from Ifor that he should receive in the same post. Transcript included in case the card does not arrive. He asks that Mr Evans be informed that his son was well the last time he saw him. Mr Rosenstein will be happy to do anything else he can for Ifor if needed.
Dear Mr. Ponachi? With the last post I have received a card from Leslie Evans with the following contents: Please inform his father that he is well, but held as a prisoner of war in Nuremberg. Please send 25 pounds to American Consulate. He can also send postcards there. Please also inform Mrs. Dale, Mrs. Hughes and Mrs. MacDuff their sons are well. Next part is illegible. All well and treated well. Went walking for 2 hours. Writer is at disposal addressee. He hopes there will be peace soon. Jacob Rosenstein Note written on the back in Italian.
In answer to letter 16th the writer has made enquiries after ILE, first at his hotel Trefser and then at the Criminal Police Headquarters, where he was speedily informed, that ILE, like other nationals of states now at war with Germany - there are Montenegrins, English and some Russians here in Neurenburg - has been interned as a prisoner of war and is currently in the investigatory prison (Barenhoelz Strasse 68), a hygienically excellent new building surrounded by gardens. The writer visited ILE this afternoon. The neat and loveable young man, who was in Neurenburg to study the German language, looked well and healthy, was pleased to be visited and did not have any complaints, except of course his lack of freedom. He can read, work, write and - under supervision - is allowed to correspond - though he did recently have a letter sent by him to a contact in the Netherlands returned as undeliverable. He can eat as he pleases within his means. For a bond of 5000 marks to be deposited at the Kgl. Hauptbank here in Neurenburg, and under the condition that he will not leave or change his place of residence without informing the authorities, he can be released from prison and be allowed to go back to stay at his hotel. I have been informed that the American embassy is already undertaking steps to raise the necessary bounties with English money. These sums naturally will be repaid to the last heller and pfennig at the end of the war. The family of Mr. Evans need to consider whether they wish to do this though ILE was not so sure. The writer assured him that this bond would be as safe in the Kgl. Hauptbank as if it was in the Bank of England. Letter breaks off at this point.
Regarding a letter Mr Hoyle had sent to Professor Fungersen, requesting he contact Herr Leister in Suhl to find out any news he has on Ifor Leslie Evans. Attached is the reply from Herr Leister of 16 September 1914 (attached), which gives details of Ifor's situation.
Writer has received news with joy. ILE was never forgotten during all the terrible years of the war now gloriously terminated. ILE was often discussed. He wonders how ILE survived captivity. He looks forward to seeing ILE some day. In Beauvais, close to the front line, there was much suffering during the war. It was nearly overrun by the Germans twice and suffered terrible bombings from the air. At one point they had to hide in their cellars for a period of 3 months. They will overcome this all thanks to this glorious and lasting peace, but poor France has been left devastated and enfeebled. It will take many years for her to rebuild its strength, health and prosperity. The French hope to remain good friends with Great Britain, who has done so much for France, and that the excessive idealism of President Wilson will not deprive France of the legitimate spoils of her victory. If ILE comes to France to settle his affairs, he should not forget to come and see the writer. As your ILE's young friend - she can become an English Assistant in a girl's schools in France, though it might be difficult to find such a post in these times. She will need to send two letters giving her diplomas, references, grades and age, one to the Ministry of Education (Department of Secondary Education) and the other to the director of the girl's school she wishes to work at, either in Paris or another town. She will definitely get a response, perhaps a favourable one. No doubt she will be successful in the end.
Something about a reply he has received to a letter about Ifor which he encloses. He hopes that the conditions apply to Ifor (likely some sort of exchange).
Writes that he will do everything he can to help but cautions that the military authorities are opposed to individual exchanges. The cases which his correspondent refers to were special exchanges arranged against the German Consular Offices.
States that the State department has received the following cable from Berlin "Leslie Evans over seventeen and is interned at Ruhleben". Written in pencil is a note "Am afraid that ends my efforts and there is no possibility of an exchange", signed H.
Writes that his friend Mrs Kidd who had written to Herr Leisterer in her mother's maiden name has received the enclosed postcard (not present) in return. She has thoughtfully provided a translation. Herr Leisterer has done everything in his power for Ifor. Mr Ciffin writes that he would send another card out to Ifor if thought advisable. Alternatively he could write to the American Consul in Nuremberg. He writes that several letters were received from Germany in Linares but they have taken some time to get there. He mentions that there is considerable unemployment in Linares, which he puts to several mines and works having shut down. The government has opened its mines in response and put men to work on the road. They get their English papers but they are irregular (sometimes 3 or 4 at a time). The Spanish papers are fairly impartial as news is taken from all sources, though the leading articles tend to favour the allies. Mr Ciffin writes that things aren't too cheerful in this English Colony; some men are on half pay and doing nothing; several families are hung up in England and intend on making no effort to return. He wishes he had joined them as he now teaches a school which is half full and finds it no easier than when it was full. The French and German colonies are worse off as all their serviceable men have left for the front.
Acknowledges receipt of his valued favour of the 18 instant. As regard to Ifor, he is still detained in Germany. If Mr Harper will supply Ifor's address they will communicate with him and try and obtain information of him for his parents. They will be pleased to render him or his parents any assistance they can.
Mr Ken Hardie desires that Mr Price be informed that all particulars about Mr Ifor L. Evans have been forwarded to the American Consul in London. The US Consul has been informed that any telegram expenses will be promptly refunded.
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.
January 1915. Mary Harold is wondering whether Ifor has received any of parcels sent out to him, having received 2 postcards from John claiming not to have had any. She has contacted Mr Gaston requesting more information but received no reply as yet. Mary has sent another parcel for John addressed to Ifor, in case he should be away, having dispatched letters to both explaining the situation. -- 02 February 1915. Mrs Harold sends thanks for news on the parcels sent to their boys in Germany and exchanges the information she has received. She is grateful for the newspaper cuttings sent by Mrs Evans regarding prisoners of war, which she had not seen. Mary is keeping copies of the papers for her son so he can read what has transpired in his absence. Mary wishes it were possible for the two of them to meet and discuss the situation together, she finds it difficult not having anyone nearby in the same situation. She has heard of a Russian girl and shared classes with her son in Marburg than has never been heard of since she left to go home.
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 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.
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 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.
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