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Happy to have received ILE's letter. Finally ILE has left the German hell and happily enough in good health too. He and his family rejoice that the trials and tribulations ILE and his parents have borne over the last four years is now over. How has ILE borne this trial. How difficult it must have been to be a prisoner. He hopes Britain and France will go forward together to a better future. Poor France has suffered terribly, too many of her youth have been sacrificed and her occupied lands systematically destroyed. An immense desolation in a devastated region. The French will never be able to forget this and other crimes against humanity. As ILE knows, the writer's own lands were devastated by the Boche. He asks ILE whether he remembers seeing it. Those beautiful memories of 1912. The writer has informed George of ILE's news. George is in the Alsace. He ends by giving his address (c/o 237th Regiment Campaign Artillery) and extending family greetings.

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.

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.

Ifor sends thanks for the £5 postal, books and postcard of the 18th. He explains how he looks forward to hearing from them and the more they write the happier he'll be. He asks where Willie Hodges is, explaining that he received a postcard from him at Christmas. Ifor says that they are all settled and resigned to a long stay, then informs his parents that it is best to send parcels direct. He has met Harry Player for the first time and is getting much reading done, having found he is able to get books through a supplier in Munich.

The writer's son has not received news about ILE for a long time. The writer and his family are anxious to know what has happened to him. They get news from time to time of some young Englishmen being released and returned to their families. It would be happy news if ILE was one of them. They hope ILE will be released from his captivity at the same time this horrible war ends. The writer's son still fulfils the same role as at the beginning of the war in the medical corps and is not in immediate physical danger. He does his best to relieve suffering and has plenty of ill people on his hands. He has borne himself well. Hope ILE's mother's sufferings will be at an end soon.

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.

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.

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).

Ifor is thanking his parents for the parcels he has received (a tin of biscuits and a birthday package). A experiment which may be repeated. He has also received £5 and is asking for more to be sent around the 3rd of the month. He is enjoying the books they sent, is well and fairly cheerful. Currently Ifor is exchanging French and German lessons with a man called Harold. He is also getting some grammar work done as well as his reading. Ifor looks forward to hearing from his parents and appreciates all the things they send.

She writes that she has just returned from Nuremberg and while she did not meet Ifor herself, a friend of hers knows him. She has been given a message to pass on; his son is well but longing for home, he will only be released on payment of 3000 marks (£150). The only means of transmitting this money would be through the American Consul.

Describing life at the front and some 8 days leave from the front that he has had due to illness in January. He is currently present as a surgeon linked to an infantry regiment at the front.

Glad to hear ILE's news after these last five years. His French is excellent. He addresses ILE with tu as this is common usage amongst comrades, especially in the army. He is glad to hear that the political debacle gives ILE no pleasure. The military debacle neither. The writer and his fellow soldiers were en route to the front towards Nachy for the 'famous' attack that never took place because the colonel came past in his automobile crying out to us the good news. The last three months of the war under the command of General Mangin have been hard. Perhaps ILE knows that the general has a bad reputation. The writer does not know whether the German army deserved its defeat. Perhaps all that happened was deserved. In the army we have always considered that the enemy troops defended themselves tenaciously until the very end. We were, after three months of pursuit, in front of their famous Hermann Stellung at the end of last October and the Prussian Troops defended it with their usual courage and their artillery gave a good and precise account of itself. As for the writer, he will not be demobilized until June or July. Meanwhile they are having a capital time in the Alsace. If ILE is in France in six months perhaps they could meet, but in these times nothing is certain. The writer ends by speculating whether in the future he will go to study in Paris or Edinburgh.

Thanks ILE's mother for her card, and taking an interest. ILE states that his mother speaks French, so he can use his maternal language, forgive him the momentary lack of his paternal language. ILE sends his love.

He writes that Sir Alfred Moud has been making enquiries regarding the payment of "Caution Money" to obtain Ifor's release in Nuremberg. He reports that the Foreign Office is strongly opposed to such payments, fearing it will lead to all British prisoners held in Germany being blackmailed. Mr Evans writes that while it is difficult not being able to help Ifor, he agrees with their view. Mr Evans is under the impression (from information given by a private source) that Ifor is the only British person still imprisoned. He is at a loss as to why this may be so; he has not heard from Ifor for over 3 weeks. He has also not heard of the Germans asking for such payments for either B. J. Dale or Dr Haufse's(?) son. Furthermore, he writes about the plans Ifor had to try for a modern language scholarship at Cambridge but fears that his plans will be upset by his detainment. He suspects that without this any prospects for a University career will have to be abandoned. However he hopes his experience will prove useful in any future career he might undertake.

Ifor is letting his parents know that he feels that it has been a long time since he has last heard from them. He notes that sent parcels are still missing, however he states once again that the birthday parcel and the biscuits were most acceptable. Ifor is asking for 100 marks to be sent each month; he apparently spends approximately 15 marks each week. He stresses that his time is not being wasted and briefly outlines what he is learning. Ifor hopes his parents are well, asks after Willie and asks that they write to him as much as possible. He asks how Prince is, then requests that they send him a dozen handkerchiefs and knitted stockings.

How is ILE? Writer has gone to war and has been at the frontlines since the beginning. He has experienced great misfortunes, having lost his brother, mother and little daughter. The only person left to him in the world is his wife. He asks ILE's opinion of the war and states that England has good reasons for pursuing its participation in the war with vigour. Morale is excellent. He awaits ILE's letter impatiently.

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.

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.

Ifor is sending his gratitude for the parcel sent on the 29th January containing breeches; his knickers were in a terrible state. Now he is asking for a matching coat (half Norfolk); his coat also being in a sorry state. Ifor goes on to ask for the parcel to be made 'a weekly institution', asking for Potatoes, onions, nut meat and biscuits. For his next parcel he would like a few tins of cocoa, coffee, milk and marmite extract. He has received his money the same day. He is getting a good amount of work and reading in. He now writes every 10 days as they are permitted 2 cards per week.

Writes that he understands Mr Evans'reasons for not paying out the bail money demanded of the German authorities. He suggests that if they send word to Ifor that they cannot send payment without saying why, the authorities may see that money won't be sent and release him. Like they have done with the other prisoners.