Dangos 282 canlyniad

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).

Photograph of a large group of soldiers.

He is glad to hear of his father's engagement in Carmarthen. Ifor is sure it will be a big affair and expects his father will be glad to see Uncle Harry once more. Ifor asks after the Professor and his family; he would much like to see them again but fears it will be some time before he does so. He also asks for his best remembrances to be passed onto a Mr and Mrs Jones; Ifor asks if Mr Jones would correct an English composition(once a month) for him. He writes that he has not received his father's order; the postal service being very slow. Ifor proposes staying in Germany until the middle of November, which will cut his French stay to 2 or 3 weeks. Instead of going to Tours which is far from the German frontier, he shall split his time in France between Nancy and Lille. He will then come home via Dover. He states that his new route will be more economical than going to Paris. He submits his plans for consideration. Ifor also details his planned work; he hopes to be able to read German fairly well in a months time. He has been in bed since Monday evening due to a sore throat and ear ache. Ifor is much better today but not quite 100%.

Starts with Ifor wishing his parents a happy new year. He is wondering why I has not received a parcel sent to him through Mr Gaston early last November and requests they make enquiries; Ifor has not so far received any packages from his parents. Ifor explains how he has meet several people from south Wales (including Mr Davies, Mr Jenkins and a Mr Lewis). He states that he is getting a little work and reading done. He also asks for a further £10 to be sent to him via Mr Heck. The postcard is finished off with Ifor asking for his best wishes to be passed on to Willie and sends love to old people.

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.

Ifor wants the order with American Express Company to be cancelled at once. He finds them very expensive and they are unable to supply what he needs. He provides a list of food stuffs he would like to be supplied with. He writes that bread may be sent if packaged in a cardboard box.

ILE thanks his parents for their letter. He is in the concentration camp at Ruhleben, not far from Berlin. He is well and buys something extra to eat. He is overjoyed that Dale & Hughes are here as well. Writes every Monday.

Sent from Nuremberg. Writes he was pleased to get his letter yesterday and write he was sorry to hear of poor Harry. He then explains that the picture on the card depicts one of the gates of the town. Ifor will be departing for Regensburg today at 2.00pm. He asks for any news about war between Russia and Germany.

Ifor's life continues much as usual. His hours of service have been cut to 8 conversations a week. He is in good health and can work almost as well as before the war. Ifor fancies that he will be ready for the examination on Constitutional law as well as the other subjects. However he does not find coaching by correspondence to be satisfactory. He then discusses and explains the marks he has received for his compositions. States that he is gradually succeeding in memorising the functions of administrators, from Archbishops to Justices of the Peace. Ifor encloses a post card to be sent by his parents in respect to his application to the University of London and requests his parents arrange for someone well deposed to him to provide a certificate of good conduct for him. He writes that he is quite certain that Michenean was killed in 1915, a friend of his has endeavoured to find out further information and not succeeded. Ifor will return home almost immediately after Whitsum and states that David has not made the progress with his French he had anticipated. He describes the friends he has recently met and those he hopes to see shortly. He was in Paris last Sunday and attended a very enjoyable concert. He will go again next Saturday to hear 2 concerts by the New York Symphony Orchestra.

In reply to his father's letter of 16 October 1917. In response he acknowledges parcels as well as bank remittances and discusses possible changes to both. Ifor expresses his sorrow at hearing the news of E. G. Coote's death and mentions a serious (but not fatal) injury suffered by the professor (B. J. Dale). He congratulates his father on his successful concert and mentions he is having difficulty reconciling the death of his grandmother. Next he moves on to the subject of his parents moving house. Ifor mentions the 2 alternatives that they are considering, Aberdare (or Abwydeodd) and Swansea. He suggests that Aberystwyth may suit his proposed business plans as well or better than Aberdare. Moving on to the subject of Ifor's future; he mentions that had he decided on the Civil Service he would be obliged to study at Cambridge; should he choose India he will be subject to a long exile (not appealing given his recent experience); should he pick law Aberystwyth will do just as well, would allow him 3 years at home and be cheaper. Further Ifor mentions that he feels his future lies in his own 'little country'. Bangor would do just as well but Ifor writes that he would prefer Aberystwyth. He asks his father what his mother's opinion would be.

Sent from Budapest. Ifor arrived by boat from Bratislava. He has met a lad he knows from Cambridge that does not know any French or German, accordingly they visited the city together. Ifor visited an old friend from Ruhleben (J. Balfour)who took him to the foreign office. The weather is very hot and Ifor sleeps for most of the day. News will be delayed as he travels east but he will endeavour to wire more often.

Translation from Welsh: -- Dear Father -- I am staying here until August 1st, and then will be going to Brno and afterwards to Bratislava. I received your letter thankfully yesterday. I received another when I was here before. If you wish to write, you can do so to me until August 2nd: Hotel Ceskoslovenysky Dum, Bratislava, Czechoslovakia. I will be staying there until the 7th, and leaving then for Budapest. -- Much love -- Ifor

Translation from Welsh: -- Dear Father -- Here I am on my own for four days studying the problems of this world. I am in good health and enjoying myself; what more could one want? This is a delightful country but the population is quite mixed. -- With much love to you both (?) -- Ifor.