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Ifor (Ivor) Leslie Evans - World War I Correspondence
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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.

Postcard from Ifor to his father,

Ifor sends thanks for his father's letter of 07 January 1917 and lists the parcels he has recently received. Ifor recommends that no more fish or oats are sent. He has not received any bread, but suggests 8 lb. a week is too much and recommends 4 Ib. with the rest from Selfridges. 1 small tin of butter a month is insufficient for his needs.

Postcard from Ifor to his father,

Informing of the deliveries; a parcel on 07 September 1915 from Whiteley's dated 17 August 1915, the bread within being rotten; a parcel from choir on 30 August 1915; 2 postcards from home on 30 August 1915; on the 10 September 2 cards from his father dated 2 postcards from his father dated 01 and 03 August 1915. He sends thanks and promises to write tomorrow. Ifor then asks for a range of books: Economic History by Meredith, Cambridge Curriculum in Economic, it's purpose and plan by Marshall and his Cambridge Student's Handbook. Mr Masterman will be supervising his work.

Postcard from Ifor to his father,

He is thanking his Dad for spending so much time on an 'unfortunate and undeserving son'. Following on he writes that he should not worry if the mail becomes irregular, he shall write regularly all the same. Ifor requests to have his Student's Handbook to Cambridge sent to him as well as New Cambridge Curriculum in Economics, it's Purpose and Plan by Marshall. The card finishes with 'poor old prince'.

Postcard from Ifor to his father,

2nd postcard of this date. There is still at least 15 months before their release, Ifor is convinced. Ifor has taken up golf and would like his clubs sent out to him. This has been permitted for his fellows and the Central Committee allows 6 new balls every 3 months. Finally he would like the monthly allowing reduced from £3 to 30/-.

Postcard from Ifor to his father,

Reply to his father's letter of 04 September 1917. He hopes is father's concert will be a success but wonders why they are singing the Hymn of Praise. Ifor hopes the choir will be singing to Welsh words, which he feels will result in a better performance than if they sang in English. As to their future home; Ifor is attached to his family not the building they live in, however he feels that Swansea is more 'pseudo' than Aberdare.

Postcard from Ifor to his father,

Sends thanks for regular parcels. He requests that in future that parcels are not sent through Am. Ex. Co.; they are expensive and unable to supply bread; their deliveries are slow and the parcels do not contain what he wants. He cannot understand his mother arranging parcels to the cost of £5 fortnightly. Ifor asks that his father thank Mr Jack Jones et al for two parcels he has recently received.

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