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ILE's family is remembered by the writer and his family and they take part in their anguish over ILE's fate. He thanks ILE's mother for her letter and her concern over Georges [the writer's son]. One must be indulgent to our soldiers and forgive them faults that would otherwise be inexcusable. Georges left for the front 21 February. The start was not too hard, but afterwards he was sent to one of the most dangerous parts, from which he emerged unhurt. Thank God! Now he is again in a region with frequent battles. The courage of our brave soldiers is marvellous and they will win in the end. Do not doubt this. But how sad all this is at the same time. So many sufferings, so many chagrins. One must have confidence. The enemy is a coward, once they feel themselves beaten and only the fear of retaliation prevents them from hurting their prisoners. Send best wishes to Leslie and that he may preserve his courage and good health during his captivity. The writer's daughter will pray for him. All need God's help during this time.

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.

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.

The writer has received ILE's letter of 30 March with great pleasure. The writer did not do military service during the war, because of his extreme myopia. His health was very good until May 1918 when he caught the flu, which whilst not serious, was very persistent and annoying. He caught the Spanish Influenza when it was at its height in Cerignola. Now he is better, but still somewhat feeble. He hopes to recover fully soon. He understands that ILE was in captivity in Germany during the war, and that this has released him from his sympathies for his German cousins. Does ILE remember his project in Tours for an Anglo-German alliance? Could ILE relate his experiences during his long stay in Germany to the writer. As regards the writer's plans - they are still the same. He hopes to join the consular service. Subsequently he remarks that there are a lot of opportunities for an import-export company in Italy. There are good opportunities here for ILE. If he comes to Italy, he hopes to meet ILE again. And ILE should not find it difficult to learn Italian.

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.

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.

Acknowledges receipt of communication from Mr W. J. Evans and informs him that a dispatch from the foreign office dated 08 October 1914 states that they are not to take part in the transmission of letter to persons in enemy or neutral countries. They're also under no circumstances to forward money.

Writing about a possible prisoner exchange.

Ifor sends thanks for postcards sent the 26th February and 4th, 5th and 9th March; he observes that postcards seem to take a day longer coming from Geneva and recommends trying through Holland. Mr Heck has written to Ifor offering to act as a middleman for his correspondence; Ifor hopes that sending money through him will result in a better exchange. He pledges to write a letter in a day or so.

Translation from Welsh:-- Dear Leslie, -- Thank you for your letter. I think that my last letter made you quite agitated. -- Firstly let me congratulate you on your success in the exam, although of course I did not expect anything less. I hope you will continue to work easily during the coming years. -- Many thanks for the third book that you sent me. I have now read all three and I must say that they are very interesting in their simplicity. -- Now to the main topic. I can quite understand that you are tired of waiting for me come to some agreement. I am nearly always unsettled in my mind or rather long in coming to a decision. I am very sorry that I cannot promise to be your intended wife, and as you are determined to receive an immediate answer, I now have to break any connection forever. I can imagine what you will think of me after you have read this news and you will be dissatisfied that I did not say this to you before now and think that the little correspondence between us was a waste of time. I would never had agreed to write to you if it wasn't for the fact that I loved you better than any other boy that I have met and I do not regret thinking about our relationship, because it was completely platonic. -- I hope that you will continue to be a friend to me (perhaps in some light-hearted way) but I think that we will see each other only infrequently. -- I can't see my way clear at all in preparing myself to be a wife to you. Circumstances are totally against me as I will have to return home before the end of the year, more's the pity. -- I am having a good time on this island, and am learning to swim and row every day. We wander quite a lot here as well. -- I will finish now, hoping that you will have a good holiday this year as last year, as I believe that this will do so much good to you physically but even more spiritually or mentally. -- Farewell for now with best possible wishes for your future. -- From Anne -- P.S. Don't think that someone has influenced me in this choice. I have not asked anyone for advice or anything and no one knows my circumstances. I shall do my best to be fair with you. You will now be free to arrange your future as you wish.

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.

He once again sends thanks for the regular postcards and parcels she sends. However he explains that the last 3 loaves of bread send were mildewed. Therefore he made arrangements with Mr Heck in Holland to send a weekly parcel containing bread, butter and cheese. He asks that all future arrangements be made through him and not through Mr Gaston. Ifor expresses his pleasure in hearing about his parent's trip to Bideford, wishing that he had been there.

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).

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 reply to Mrs Evans letter of 02 August encloses letters from Mr G. R. Thorne and Mr Kannreuther of Birmingham (the Dutch Consular), as well as copies of letters he has sent them. They concern arranging for Ifor L. Evans to be part of a prisoner exchange.

Informing Mr Evans of the expense a Dr Mackeprang has incurred on his behalf. He thinks Mr Evans may wish to write to him himself when sending the money, so supplies his address.

Mr Evans is writing to someone who he believes to be acquainted with some people at Nuremberg, Denmark. He asks if it would be possible to get some communication to his son Ifor through them. Describing how he came to be detained in Germany and supplying his current address.

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.