Herbert Huie Armstrong -Letters and Postcard -1944-1945 - Part 4

Absender:

Vor- und Zurname: Bdr. H H Armstrong

Gefangenennummer: 27251

Lager-Bezeichnung: M.-Stammlager 357 BLOCK 105/6

[*2 OPENED BY CENSOR*]

18/7/44

Dear Mother. I got your letter telling me that Dad was

ill & not likely to recover, yesterday & at the same time

one from Billie written the following sunday. telling

me they had a wire on friday to say that Dad had

died that morning. It was a nasty shock as I did not

even know untill then that he was ill. I am terribley

sorry about it. I would have liked to see the old chap

once again. The worst of it is, not only that I could 

not send any word, but did not even know untill

so long afterwards. It is a good ^thing that it was all over

quickly & he did not linger on, that would have been

worse for everybody. I'm glad that Bill & John were

both able to get home, they would be a great comfort

to you, & I'd hate for you to be alone at a time

like that. I'm also glad that Lew & Flap got home

& so Dad would know at least a little of what

had happened to me, that I could never tell you

while I'm still here. It's ^not much good me saying anything

because by the time you get this letter, I expect

everything will be settled, & I know that Bill & John

will do everything they can for you. But I do hope you

get someone to stay with you other wise it would be

pretty lonely. Don't worry atall about me I'm alright, &

much safer than the other boy's, even if its not very pleasant.

Cheerio Lots & lots of love

From Red

 

Mail.vir.U.S.A.

PAR AVION

An M^rs. E. H. Armstrong

30 Cavendish S^t.

Empfangsort: Concord West

Straße: Sydney

Kreis: N.S.W.

Land: Australia

 

 

Absender:

Vor- und Zuname: Bdr. H H Armstrong

Gefangenennummer: 27251

Lager-Bezeichnung: M.-Stammlager 357

HUT. 105 ROOM.6

 

 

Datum: 18/7/44

Dear Billie I got your letter telling _^me about Dad, & at the same time one

from Mother, written a few days before your's & telling me that Dad was very

ill & not likely to recover. It was a terrible shock to me, as untill then I did

not even know that he was ill. The rotten part is, not only that I could not

send any word, but I did not even know untill months afterwards.

I would have liked to see the old chap once again, but it is a good thing

for everyone that it was over quickly. I thank you & Frank for your sympathy.

Bert

 

M^rs F.J. Strong

Empfangsort: "Currah"

Straße: Hillston N.S.W.

Land: Australia

 

Absender:

Vor- und Zuname: Bdr. H H Armstrong

Gefangenennummer: 27251

Lager-Bezeichnung: M.-Stammlager 357

HUT. 105 ROOM.6

Deutschland (Allemagne)

[*PASSED 

BY 

CENSOR

1651*]

Kriegsgefangenenlager

Datum: 24/7/44

Dear Mother I got your letter today, telling me about Dad. I knew already because

I had a letter from Billie last week, at the same time as one from you telling

me that Dad was ill. Billie's letter was the same date as the one I just got

from you, but just happened to arrived a bit sooner. It is a good thing that it was

over quickly. I think it was a good thing to arange the funeral as you did,

as I know Dad belived cremation was the best way & would have prefered it.

I was very sorry when I heard, I do wish I could have seen him again.

Your loving son

Bert

 

Stalag 357

M^rs E.H. Armstrong

Empfangsort: 30 Cavendish S^t.

Straße: Hillston Concord West, Sydney

Land: N.S.W. Australia

 

Absender:

Vor- und Zuname: 

Bdr. H H Armstrong

Gefangenennummer: 27251

Lager-Bezeichnung: M.-Stammlager 357

Block. 105/6

 

 

No. 16

19/8/44

Dear Mother I hope that before now you have been able to

go away for a holiday. I expect you would be in need of

a good rest. You said in your last letter that you are very

lonely, I know you must be & I do wish that at least one of

us could be at home, but perhaps with good luck we might

all be before very long. I had a very sympathetic letter from Joan,

she is full of praise for you & Bill & John. We have moved

once again but this time the number of the camp moved

with us so there should not be much delay with the mail.

That last sentence, brings to my minds eye a picture of a

crowd of prisoners walking along a road with the numbers

357 staggering along behind. I must ^be getting what we call

stalag happy. I think most P.O.W. are a bit. Last summer

I droped my watch twice within a couple of weeks on a

cement floor & the second time it stoped. While we

we were in the last camp I managed to get it repaired

& have been wearing it again for about a month.

I was very pleased to get it back after so long without it

Also while I was at the last camp I had two back

teeth out, they were both very hard to get out & it

took the dentist about half an hour for the two,

using most of the time what felt to me like a 10 lb

sledge hammer & a cold chisle. Some time ago I wrote to

Bill asking him to buy me a car, if he gets one ^please give

him the money from my bank account. Cheerio Mother

Lots of Love from

Red

 

ENGLISH 

MAIL vir U.S.A. 

MITLUFTPOST.
BIS NORDAMERIKA

An   M^rs. E. H. Armstrong

30 Cavendish S^t.

Empfangsort: Concord West

Straße: Sydney

Kreis: N.S.W.

Land: Australia

Stalag 357