2 more places to purchase the paperback.

The paperback book, Letters from Stalag VIIIb, is now available here and from through the Lamsdorf Remembered website here.  P&P is included in the price on our website.

Thank you for your interest.

Blog is now an eBook.

Great news, we've now published the blog as an eBook and in the New Year will be publishing the paperback.

Letters from StalagVIIIB

I hope Arthur would be pleased with what I've done, and am very happy that his letters will never be lost and his history will carry on.

If you do decide to buy and read the blog, please leave a review on Amazon so that others will have an idea about the book.

Thanks,

Kathy, Arthur's daughter.

Sunday, 17th October 1943

My Dear Dorothy,

This morning I received your wedding-photographs.  You all look splendid.  But you especially, take the praise, you look truly wonderful.  How I wish I could have been there.  You look really charming.  Ken certainly knows how to "pick 'em"!  Both Ken and his people look very pleasant & homely.  Is that his little sister in front?  She is very pretty.  What pleases me most of all is how well & happy Mum & Dad look, although I know that practically all the time they were thinking of me, despite that however, they look really well & very happy.  Bill & Anne too look quite pleased & well settled down to matrimony. 

And now please settle and argument between Jim & I.  Who is the girl between Mum & Ann.  At first I was hopelessly puzzled, but after a long scrutiny it suddenly flashed through my mind that it may be Betty Evans.  I am right?  If so, she has changed considerably.

Well, I am very proud to have such a charming sister, and such happy and very healthy looking parents, long may they remain so.  Thanks for your letter of 3rd July.  And now goodbye for the present.

Love to you, Mum & Dad, your loving brother.

Arthur

My Dear Mother & Father,

Two letters to acknowledge from you this week namely  9th July &15th August.  I also received a letter from Dot which I have acknowledged by the same post as this.  

However, I must repeat myself and say how well & happy you both look, that means a lot to me.  I am pleased to hear my photograph has arrived, and readily forgive the "insult" about the shadow on the lower part of my face; actually it is rather a good one, as far as moustaches go, but whether I leave it on for the great union remains to be seen!  Your remark re me getting thinner caused loud protests from Jim, he reckons that at the moment I would top the scales at 14 stone!!  What do you think of that?  

It gave Jim a great deal of amusement to hear about he & his wife my try for a daughter when he comes home.  Anyhow, he's told me to tell you it won't be his fault.  He said, "it just shows how they talk about us", meaning he & I.

The January parcel containing the hold-all & slippers has not yet arrived.

All my love,

Arthur.

On this day:

On the Eastern Front... Soviet forces breakthrough the German defenses around Kremenchug. Other Soviet forces cross the Dniepr south of Gomel and capture Loyev.

In New Guinea... The Japanese mount another air attack on Allied positions in Oro Bay and sustain heavy losses in aircraft and crew. The Japanese counteroffensive around Finschafen continues to be held by Australian forces.

In the Pacific... The last operational German auxiliary cruiser,Michel, is sunk by the American submarine Tarpon off the Japanese coast. The German raider has sunk 17 ships during its cruise.

In Italy... The advancing US 5th Army takes Liberi and Alvignano.

Sunday, 19th September 1943

My Dear Mother & Father,

Received your very welcome letter of 5th Aug the other day.  Fancy the doctor rescuing Uncle Benni almost from death's door - I think it is only a temporary recovery though, he will never be able to shake off that illness now.  Glad to hear good news of Uncle Joe - he must be a great worry to his competition, especially at a time like this.

Please thank Auntie Emily for her kindness in knitting the socks.  I have received no July letters from you yet, therefore when you talk about Bill convalescing, I am in the dark. Re the photo, I am afraid I must disappoint Mrs Simcox. The chap sitting in front of Jim is named Weight and the one in front of me Walker.  Therefore I don't think it can be her son.  We might have some more taken shortly.

We held a "Grand Variety Concert" last night, the whole show lasted 2¾ hours, and of course Sunday is a day of sport.  Two football matches were played during the day - England v Scotland and England v Dominions.  England won both matches, both were very exciting.

I am in the very best of health and spirits.  Regards from Jim. Love to you all.

Arthur

On this day:

Over the Gilbert Islands... American land-based Liberator bombers attack the island of Tarawa.

On the Eastern Front... Northeast of Smolensk, Soviet forces capture Yartsevo and Dukovschina.

In Italy... A British 8th Army unit (5th Division) takes Auletta.

In Occupied Greece... At Cephalonia, the Italian "Acqui" Division resists German forces seeking to disarm it.

http://www.onwar.com/chrono

Sunday, 8th March 1942 (postcard)

My Dear Mother & Father,

I have received 21 letters this week.  What do you think of that?  All dated Jan except one from Dorothy dated 8th Feb which arrived 2nd March.  2 Dec letters from Bill.  The November parcel has not yet arrived.  I will get a letter next week and answer in detail then.

I am very well and hope you all are the same.

Yours loving son,

Arthur

On this day;

In New Guinea... Japanese invasion forces land at Lae and Salamaua. http://www.onwar.com/chrono

Saturday, 30th August 1941

My Dear Mother & Father,

My "fan mail" amounted to 9 letters this last week.  2 from you 16+30 June, 3 from Dot 1 + 31st May and 15 June.  1 from Aunt Em.  1 from my pal in my Bn and 2 from lady friends, it's fine to be receiving letters like this.  

We received 600 parcels yesterday so we are alright now until beginning November, I am having plums, damsons and custard for tea tonight.  

Thank you very much for the snap of you and Dad, I will write to Dorothy Mary next week and thank her for the photograph, she is very pretty.  Could you send me a couple of Bill, I hope you and Dot send some more of yourselves.  I wish it were possible to send one of myself.  You could then see for yourselves how well I am keeping.  Whose is the tie Dad is wearing, I somehow recognise it?  

Please send me two more towels when you can and a pair of gym shoes size 91/2, I am glad you are sending plenty of woollen stuff, I will need all of it.

I hope you are enjoying yourselves, it is marvellous weather here.

All my love,

Arthur

On this day,

On the Eastern Front... Near the Leningrad, the German forces capture Mga, securing the last railroad link between Leningrad and the rest of the USSR.

http://www.onwar.com/chrono