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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.

Mary Harold has often thought of Mrs Evans and whether or not she had sent the parole money demanded by Germany for her son. Mrs Harold has received the same demand herself and had wired Mrs Evans about the matter but had the message blocked by the censors. She feels their sons may not understand why they won't send the money and that the foreign office wouldn't permit it anyway. Mrs Harold mentions that her second daughter has left the country with her little girl to be with her husband, who can't return to Britain due to the hostilities. She believes that their sons are better off in prison, believing that once the German population realises they have been misled, they will rise up in rebellion. Mary wonders if their sons are still in Nuremberg having read in the papers that those in Bavaria have been moved elsewhere.

Mary writes that she is pleased to see that Mrs Evan's shoulder is getting better, but sorry to hear that Ifor has hurt his knee. She had not heard the news of the civilians being returned home; only 7 British and 1 American with 4 women held back. Mary explains that she did not hear about the Swiss bread from John but from the papers, along with butter being sent for the prisoners being sold by the Germans. She explains about John having to take his decorations down and discusses his parcels. Her son in training is ill and not able to go to France, he may never go. This would greatly upset him as he wishes very much to go.

Mrs Harold writes that she feels it has been a long time since she has last had a note from Mrs Evans. She hopes that her shoulder is no longer giving her trouble. She conveys John's gratitude for the refills Mrs Evans send for his cooker, the ones she sent were stopped at London. Mary writes that he has requested his camera, but she will not send it as she thinks he will not get it. She mentions that the prisoners held a very successful Burns concert, but they have had to take down all their decorations and mentions that they are no longer permitted candles. Lastly Mary discusses the situation of their bread deliveries.

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.

Mrs Harold hopes that the introduction of home rule at Ruhleben is a sure sign that the Germans are running out of men. She writes that her youngest son is well and that the outdoor life seems to suit him. Her only other son will be enlisting next week; as he gives his father a considerable amount of help she doesn't know how they cope. Mary has also had word from one of her daughters that is staying in Rio de Geneva; she sends word of 2 friends that have been killed. Mary then describes a tragic incident on the front which left the university coy (company?) with only 12 members. She also mentions that the problems she is having with her eyes are getting worse.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.