Evacuee Boys (22 page)

Love to everybody from Andrew.

I shall write again this week.

12
January
1942

OPENED BY EXAMINER 7106

Dearest Mum, Dad, Noni,

I was very happy with your letter of the 3rd inst. which I received to-day. I received the parcel containing suit, slippers bedlinen & chocolate on Saturday and I am very grateful for it all. The chocolate was very nice (I have still some left) and it was a wonderful feeling t[o] look like a ‘gentleman’ once more in my new suit. Everybody notices it, & I introduced myself as Andrew Forbat medical student (the others being AF. Internee). Will you please thank all the people who take such an interest in me in my name. I have received all your letters, although very late & all your parcels. I am all right & sufficiently warm & some people say that I look better now than before internment! Imre bácsi
30
is not too depressed, as he is kept busy with the cooking. All the Hungarian internees who are here including Aldor
31
though I do not speak much to him. I do not want anything except ties, cufflinks, Brylcreem, more chocolate if possible, & also cigarettes through a retailer for Imre bácsi. There is not much new, except that we had a ‘Parliamentary crisis’ yesterday, but after a lot of excitement it was solved very satisfactorily. I am missing you a lot too, but I am hoping in confidence & cheerfulness for a very early release.

Lots of love & millions of kisses to share from your Andrew

15
January
1942

OPENED BY EXAMINER 7106

My darlings,

I really cannot complain about not receiving letters for I got 8 letters during the last 2 days, many from Scouts, 1 from John, & yours of the 8th & 9th (continuing on 11-1-42). Please thank Mr. Eve for his interest and Mr. Hawkins, flat 93 for his letter. Unfortunately I cannot answer them for the present, but I shall try in following weeks. Next week I have to write to Mr. Young as he and three other Scouts wrote, so the best I can do is to write Mr. Eve the following week. The weather is quite nice here except for the last 2 days when we had such a wind that it was not safe for ships to go on the sea. Do you think Charles & Jean can do anything for me? If possible urge an application from the Polytechnic for now that the term has begun
every day counts
. You can write to me in any language so that Noni can wrote too. I am getting on well, am in good health & have so much to do now that I am never bored. My spirits stand up to the circumstances and I follow the English motto ‘Make the best of it’. I am doing a lot of English teaching with Peter. I shall write again next week.

Love & kisses from

Andrew

15
January
1942

Dearest Mum, Dad & Noni,

I am writing my only letter this week (the other goes to Mr. Young) now. Because I have important news. The Intelligence officers came to us, and distributed the Application forms. However, he advised students not to apply but ask their Principals to certify to the Home Office that a British student in similar circumstances would be allowed to continue his studies and that it is desirable for him to do so. I have already written a letter to that effect, but I’d like you to make sure that he does write that Application immediately. So if possible see him or if not his Secretary, Mr. Robertshaw. It is of the utmost importance that this should be done without delay. Personally I am well. Today for the first time we heard the radio news bulletins, & we have a table tennis equipment too. I am doing little swotting as I am very busy during the day with the typing correcting, composing translating letters and applications. Besides this we (Peter & I) do a lot of teaching. Advanced students & lead the discussion class. I hope you are all well & tell about me to John as I cannot write him separately. So urge the application and don’t overwork.

Lots of love & ever so many kisses from Andrew

22
January
1942

OPENED BY EXAMINER 9126

Dearest everybody,

By the time this letter arrives, you will probably have been visited by Mr, Brodszky, the famous composer, who was just released. The three Bernsteins left also to-day & Mrs. Bernstein will write to you. As glad as I am that Peter is free, I must say I shall miss him a terrible lot. Nevertheless, I shall be all the busier, for now I have taken on his job as clerk. That is to say I have to attend to the Officer in charge of our House, and I think he likes me. The new Camp leader is Count E. Zichy instead of Mr. Bernstein. Thanks for your letter of the 13th, and the 10/-. I shall buy three shirts so I shall want some more money please. I got a letter from John to-day. I am also getting letters nearly every day from my Scout friends & I had one from Robin Back recently. Please do everything possible regarding my release as I might lose a
whole year
if I am kept here for another few weeks. Above all I want to know what you have done – you can discuss it freely in your letter. Please thank Mr. Hawkins for his letters to me, I am sorry I cannot write to him. Send my watch.

Lots of love & thousands of kisses from your

Andrew

23
March
1942
– after a long gap of missing letters

Dear Everybody,

I am glad that Andy is so satisfied with my exam results, and I hope that you are too, so will I get my long trousers? As I really was second.

Any way, Tommy wrote and told me that if you don’t buy me long trousers then
he will
and I am sure you don’t want that! Do you?

I have written to Mrs. P. yesterday so I am expecting a reply some time this week.

We had our R.S.A. arithmetic exam on Friday and I think I’ll pass (just about).

I shall be coming home on Wednesday April 1st on the 4.6 p.m. train straight after school & I’ll arrive in London at 8.00 p.m.

What do you think of the amount raised for London Warship Week? I think its grand.

Well I am really looking foreward to seeing you all in just over one weeks time and I am looking foreward to that Easter Camp.

After next week I shall be getting 5/- a week for my papers and have to do 2 more. So I’ll be rich.

I have now 6/6 in the savings.

Tommy said that when I shall be home for Easter he will phone me up, all this will be arranged beforehand.

I am just about jumping with eagerness, at the thought of seeing you so soon.

Well I’ll pack up now as I am going down town to get some chips.

Lots of love & kisses from your everloving

John

P.S. Give my love to Noni.

P.P.S. I am sending the Postal Order back as it has to be cashed in Fulham so you must cash it and buy another one and send it to me.

P.T.O. [More shorthand on the back.]

25
March
1942

Dear Everybody,

I am just writing this short note as I have to send my report. It is included in this letter, and I hope you will be satisfied with it.

Officially I came third but really I came second because there were two top boys.

So please buy me some long trowsers.

Well there is nothing much to write now as I wrote yesterday so good-by, hoping to see you in a week (Wednesday 8 o’ clock).

Lots of love & kisses from your everloving

John

P.S. Send my fares at once
John
please