Print preview Close

Showing 262 results

Archival description
Aberystwyth University Archives File
Advanced search options
Print preview View:

252 results with digital objects Show results with digital objects

Letters from Karl Seifert and Leisterer Frase?,

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).

Seifert, Karl. Frase, Leisterer.

Letter from Anne,

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.

Letter sent by W. J. Evans to unknown recipient,

Explains he has heard through a Mr Desmund Warren of Dublin that around 27 August 1914, after a medical examination, Ifor (with others)was moved out of Nuremberg. Mr Warren was declared unfit for military service and released. Mr Evans hopes that Ifor is still able to stay in touch with the American Consul in Nuremberg, who has so far been very helpful. He has sent his son £25 through the American Consul at Rotterdam and hopes arrangements can be made through Nuremberg to get this sum to him.

Letter from William Evans Hoyle,

A reply to a recent letter from Mr Evans. He finds it incredible that his son should be treated so, but recommends against publishing the letter as that could only spread ill feeling, which should be avoided. Mr Hoyle is sorry to hear that Ifor has been moved and suggests that Mr Evans next course of action should be to find out where he really is. He recommends trying the American Consul in Nuremberg via his counterpart in Rotterdam.

Letter from Telwyn Davies,

Writes that he had hoped to be in a position to offer Mr Evans some news, but when he visited the Foreign Office yesterday he was not able to see the gentlemen he wished. He has been informed via an unofficial source that 2 or 3 weeks must pass before anything can be done.

Davies, Telwyn.

Letter from J. I. Davies,

Acknowledging receipt of Mr Evans letter of 8th instant on behalf of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. He writes that the Foreign Office is doing everything in its power via the American Ambassador, to ensure the safety of British subjects stranded in Germany.

Davies, J. I. British Foreign Office.

Letter sent by W. J. Evans to unknown recipient,

He has received a postcard from Ifor of which he provides a transcript (translated to English). Mr Evans writes that while he is still in prison, there are other Englishmen there; 2 gentlemen B. J. Dale and Mr Hughesdon? As the American Consul has visited the prisoners he suggests that arrangements could perhaps be made for others in the area to visit them.

Evans, William John (1866-1947). Musician.

Letter from W. J. Evans to Dr Hoyle,

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.

Evans, William John (1866-1947). Musician.

Letter from William Evans Hoyle,

He has just received Mr Evans' letter and a telegram from Copenhagen. Mr Hoyle cannot offer any explanation for the message beyond what is contained in the telegram. However he expects the letter on which it is based to arrive in due course. He supposes the 5000 marks (£250) requested is a security for good behaviour and asks if any similar requests have been made of other prisoners known to Mr Evans. Mr Hoyle recommends not acting on the matter until the original letter is to hand.

Hoyle, William Evans. National Museum of Wales.

Letter from William Evans Hoyle,

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.

Hoyle, William Evans. National Museum of Wales.

Letter from W. J. Evans to Dr Hoyle,

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.

Evans, William John (1866-1947). Musician.

Results 101 to 120 of 262