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Letters from Germany
 Written
between 1948 and 1966, by Sylvester, Else and Klaus-Dieter Viehl. Written after
Sylvesters return to Germany. Sylvester was a Prisoner of War who worked at
Bridge Farm Moulton, for Charlie Jennings.
 He
lived with Charlie's son Alan and his family in Priory Cottage Brookside.
Sylvester was a valued worker and due to the kindness of the family and those in
the Village, he retained fond memories of his time here, which he expresses in
quite a touching way in his letters.
 The
letters are written to Charlie Jennings, his daughter Evelyn and one letter to
the Cox family. Sylvester never did return to England.
These letters were kindly lent to me by Iris Tweed (nee' Jennings) and Barry
Cox.
The only alterations I have made are slight, in order to make a passage
clearer, John Gunson Moullton village recorder, January 1994
Simply click on any of the headings below too see the contents of the letter
 | Ludwigshaven, the 10th February, 1948
 | Dear Mr Jennings, Dear Miss Jennings,
I arrived my wife's home safe by
Monday the 26th of January. It was a very nice and quick trip. We had a
nice clean ship, it took only 8 hour to cross the sea. I could not give
any news to my dear wife before I arrived home. When I come in she only
looked at me, the same with Klaus-Dieter, he said "Oh yes this is
my papa" He is a nice little boy. I am happy to be home and I think
my wife and Klaaus-Dieter too. I am very busy the first days and my wife
is a little ill, she's got a very bad cold, it is a bit better now. I
have not seen my father yet, I hope i get a passport soon and then I go
to see my father, sister and brother. I am telling my wife every day of
you. The weather is good this year and we have some days lovely nice and
warm. I go out for walks every day and my dear wife and boy, she has got
some holidays, I think I start work on the 1st of March, but not land
work. I may get a policeman, if not I get some office work. If I get a
policeman I can be in the open air a bit more, as in a office. I am
thinking very often of my cows and my good old horse, I was happy in my
work. The next letter will be better and I send you more. Please
remember me to Mr & Mrs Sargent and Mr & Mrs Cox and boys, I
hope and wish you are alright and wish you all the best.
Yours truly Sylvester
Many greetings, yours Else Viehl, it big kiss for all Klaus-Dieter |
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| Ludwigshaften, the 4th of April 1948
| Dear Miss Jennings, Dear Mr Jennings,
I hope you are well and you have
a good time. Please forgive me because I have not written a long time,
we are well so far. I have got a very good job, it is a small factory in
our street, where I am working for, have a little nice office, have to
keep a lot of books and to serve customers. My father-in-law is in the
same place, as a worker. We have a half an hour for dinner, that is
enough to go home and we finish off at 5 o'clock. My dear wife on her
place, she she has to work so we get more money, so we buy a bit of food
by the black market. Our dear Klaus-Dieter is so hungry, we all said it
is terrible to see the poor children hungry. Since I am here I have not
got any potatoes, if we had only potatoes enough. I don't mind to be
hungry, but I cannot see my boy hungry. Since I am here I lost 20lbs. We
hope now to get a better harvest this year Dear Miss Jennings you told
me one day I can write you, if I need anything. You can believe me I
would never beg for me, I do it only for my dear little boy. Please if
you are able to send, or you are willing to send anything, please send a
little milk in tin, or a little flour. Klaus-Dieter don't get any milk
and he is such a little poor boy for his age.
When I was in England I did never believe that the food conditions is so
bad in Germany, but it is the truth, it is worse than I thought. I am
thinking very often of you all. Sunday morning about 11 o'clock, I am
thinking of Mr Jennings when we had a nice talk and our pipe. Never I
forget the nice good time I spent with you and you can believe me, we
come to see you, so soon as we can. What about my "Good
Kiddy", my good old horse and my pussy cat ? Please write me soon a
long letter about everything. I had a bad cold but it is better now. Our
country is lovely now, it is beginning to get green. Every Sunday we
have a nice walk, my dear wife, Klaus-Dieter and I. Dear Mr Jennings I
have to tell you, we have been to church, to thank our Lord for all his
goodness and we never forget our Lord. he is with us all and he will
give us a happy time and a happy time one day. My father did not send me
anything, he forgot me and my family, he is too busy with his new wife
and family. If my dear mother would be still alive, it would be
everything alright. We live very good with my father and Mother-in-Law,
they are very good to us. We don't go out very often, it is better at
home, our phrase is "Home Sweet Home". Just now Klaus-Dieter
come home from the playground to ask for a piece of bread. He told me to
give the good aunt Evelyn and grandad a big kiss form him. He knows you
because I tell him very often of you. So and now I get to the end. I
wish you all the best, good health and a lovely time. Please don't
forget to write. Please remember me to family Cox, Sergent, Jennings and
family Russell.
Many greetings Your Sylvester. Many greetings to you all, Else Viehl and
Klaus-Dieter. |
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| Ludwigshaven, May the 27th 1948
| Dear Aunt Eve, Dear Grandad,
Yesterday we received your parcel, I
cannot tell you how plesed we are, we thank you very very much, such a
big nice parcel, such lovely things, God bless you for it. Klaus-Dieter
our good boy is telling his friends "My good aunt and grandad, send
me a parcel from England", he is so happy about it and my dear wife
too. She like the good coffee so much. Today she will make a little cake
for our boy. I hope you don't mind if I call you my aunt and grandad, I
am doing this because you are more as a friend to me. We hope you are
all very well and enjoy your life and we wish you a very happy time.
Last week my wife and I have been to see my father and new mother. We
has a nice time there, our new mother is a good woman. we stoped there
for five days, it was not possible to take our boy with us. We have
lovely weather now, but we want a rain it is so dry. If we don't get a
rain very soon we get a bad harvest like last year. I am thinking very
often of you and I hope soon it will be allowed to travel to England. So
we will save our money and get to see you, how do I like to see you all
again next year. I hope it will be possible. Anita and Audrey have not
written any letters till now, I am sorry they have forgotten me so soon.
Mrs Cox wrote me such a nice letter, grandad wrote me such a nice
letter. I have been very pleased, many thanks for it. tomorrow or
Tuesday I will write a letter to Miss Russell.
What about your garden this year, do you get many fruits ? It is a pity
that I cannot come on Sunday mornings to have a rest with you in your
garden and have a nice talk with you. Nearly every Sunday moring I have
a walk with my boy and we talk about England, he wants to know a lot
about you. It is our duty to teach our children to get friendly with
your nation. You know I like England, not only me, plenty of Germans
like you. When our boy is going to school I want him to learn the
English language, a lot of german children are learning the English
language. Is grandad still going out with his gun ? is his hand alright
now ? Has uncle Ted been with you since I left you ? please remember me
to him. Please remember me to Mrs Hammond and many thanks for the coffee
and milk. This morning we had a lovely cup of coffee, we like it so much
you know. I like tea too, I am half an English man, it is a pity I could
not become quickly an English man. Now I cannot remember of any more
today, very soon you will receive another letter from me. thank you ever
so much for your parcel.
I wish you all the best, with love yours Sylvester.
Please remember me to family Cox, Sergent, Russell and A.D.Jennings |
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| Ludwigshafen the 22nd of January 1949
| Our Dear Grandad and Auntie Evelyn,
We have been very pleased about
your very nice letter, so Klaus-dieter about his birthday card and we
thank you ever so much for it. It is really very kind of you not to
forget us, so I never forget you. We hope you are getting on alright and
hope grandad is very well. so we hope he is going out with his gun to
shoot a little rabbit or nice big hare. Have you had a nice Christmas
time ? we hope it. My first Christmas at home after such a long time had
been very nice and we had a happy time. Very often I was thinking about
you, we had a lovely nice Christmas tree, very big, a lot taller than I
am. klaus-dieter was very happy about it, everyone has got a little nice
present. Today we send you a photo of us, it is a pity Klaus-Dieter has
not been with us when the photo was taken. He had a cold and had to stop
at home. It is taken in the next town 'Marnheim' (American Zone), week
before Christmas, on a Sunday afternoon, where we had been for a walk.
We never had been to see my father since last year at Whit Sunday, it
cost so much money to get on the train and money is just enough to live
on with, things are so expensive, too expensive for the money we earn.
But since we had a new money it is a bit better to live, so we can get
something for our money, so we have been able to buy a few presents for
Christmas We have to save very hard, because we want to buiy our
furniture now. Last year we bought our bed and now we have to buy a
kitchen pantry. A kitchen pantry costs 500 marks(like shillings), we can
save in the month 50 marks, (if we save very hard and do not buy any
clothes), so you can see how we have to save, but we are willing to do
it. I never drink beer and do not smoke a lot. We still live with my
wife's parents and hope to see you one day. we never give up. If we have
all the things we need, we save for travelling to England to see you our
dear friends.
My job is good, I like my work and I hope to get a bit more money one
day. My wife has to stop her work because it is not allowed to work for
a woman when her husband is earning money. What a pity we miss her money
very much. You asked me if I have a camera,yes it is a "Agfa"
size 6 by 9, one thing I ask for you today, I can not get a good razor
blades in Germany and very often I have a very bad face, would be better
if I had a good razor blade. Please would you be so kind and send me
some. Today it is Saturday, today I write my letters to my friends in
England, but I sen it off in 10 days time because I get my money every
month on the first day. And now I will close for today, we will be
pleased to hear from you again. God bless you. With all the best wishes,
yours very sincerely, Sylvester Please remember us to uncle Ted and
Bella and her girls. |
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| Ludwigshafen May 17th 1949
| Dear Miss Evelyn and Dear Grandad
We received your letter and we thank you very much for it. We were
pleased to hear of you. The shaving blade come to us very good, the
thanks. Sylvester can't write himself because he is ill. On Sunday
before light days I used to take him to hospital, he was very ill. The
doctor said it is a appendicitus and he must make a operation. It was
rather hurt, now it is a little better, but he must be in the bed still.
Every day he asked to go home, but he cannot go out of the bed for 10
days. Last Wednesday the operation was started. When my husband is home,
the first when he is able to write, he does it for you. Never he can
forget the nice time with his good friends in England. He is a little
swollen now, but I hope it is better again when he is home and I ask him
what he likes to eat. He would be like to drink good coffee, but it is
to dear for us. Now we hope you and grandad are well. I should be glad
if I would hear of you soon, please remember we and Sylvester to all,
especially Mrs Russell and family Sargent.
Yours truly
Else Viehl and Sylvester
Klaus-Dieter sends a big kiss to you and grandad. |
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| Ludwigshafen, the 5th of September 1949
| Our Dear Miss Jennings, Dear Mr Jennings,
We got your very kind letter with the blades and your very nice parcel
with all the fine things quite and thank you ever so much for it, you
are ever so kind to us, thank you very very much. You know we love your
coffee so much. Klaus-Dieter wants me to tell you, special thanks and a
big kiss for you. We hope you ar all very well , now and everytime.
I am going on alright now, only I have to take care and can not carry
heavy things, I don't think a pencil and pen holder are too heavy, I
work with them. Many thanks for the film too, we are waiting now for the
photo's and so soon as we get it we send you some.
We have a very hot summer this year, Klaus-Dieter and his mama are going
swimming every day to our river Rhine, our beautiful river. We only have
to go about 20 minutes to get there. We all like to swim very much.
Klaus-dieter looks like a little negro. Today I can tell you good news
of me, we have got a garden, not for ow, only to look after, but we may
grow our own cabbage and what we like to. Isn't it nice. The owner is a
rich man 20 miles form here, he only wants some blackberrys and some
fruits (apples). There are about 12 fruit trees and a lot of blackberrys
in the garden. This year we got only a little because we got the garden
to late, but next year we hope to get a lot. I leave off my work at 5
o'clock, have a cup of coffee or something like this and then I going
the garden. I have plenty to do, you know I like to work, I don't like
to be lazy. I remember your nice garden and want to have our garden like
yours. My wife and boy like flowers very much. You want to know if we
have plenty food, coal and clothing now. The food conditions are a lot
better now in Germany, but very very expensive. If we have plenty of
money we can buy nearly everything, but the money is not enough. It is
so, if we enough food, we cannot have plenty clothing or coal, or the
other way round, but we don't grumble, it is enough to live on now and
we hope one day it will be better. So we must not forget, we lost the
war and have to pay for it, you know the poor people suffer for the big
mistake. It is in every country the same. I still hope England and
Germany get friends, would be the best I think. Do you remember my
friend "Sepp", his kind regards to you. He had been here four
weeks ago for weekend. Next month we go to see him, his little girl is
very dear. |
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| 16th September
| We had been waiting every day for the photo's to send off with this
letter, but now it will be too long, so we send you the photo's later
on. I hope you don't shout about us, because you had to wait such a long
time this letter. We are looking very often of you and I never forget of
you. In a few days we write a letter to Mrs Cox and hope I can send the
photo's there. Do you have a nice rain now ? Our news told us in England
it is very dry weather, we have now every day a nice rain. Our harvest
had not been to bad this year. I still hope to se you all one day.
Please remember to family Cox, Sargent, A.D.Jennings aunt Bella and
daughters, family Bond, Miss Russell and her mother and sister and your
cousin Ted. We hope they are all well. And you and your dear father, we
wish all the best and good luck. God bless you. Thank you ever so much
for your kindness.
With love ever your friends Sylvester, Else and Klaus-Dieter
Please remember me to all friends I know, please let me know if my
English is alright, or bad, I am afraid I lost a lot for your grandad we
wish good health. |
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| Ludwigshafen the 21st of June 1950
| Dear Miss Evelyn and Grandad.
Today I take time to write a letter. We
beg your pardon because we didn.t write for a very long time, what must
you think of us ? But we hope you are our friend nevertheless. Always we
are working. The last weeks go, it was very hot weather here. I was
going with my boy every day to the Rhein river for swimming, we are
brown as negro's. Now its many showers of rain.
Sylverster has to work very much, he is going to his work place in the
morning at 6 o'clock and finishes in the evening at 6 o'clock, with half
an hour for dinner. After his work, he is tired, we take supper and walk
a little before we go to bed, or our daddy has work to in our garden.
But how are you and grandad ? we hope very well. Our boy is in the third
class at school. He is a very good boy and we have many pleasures with
him. After school he is going to the street, The street is his life, he
likes to play with the other children, football is what he likes mostly,
We send you two pictures of us, hoping you are not forget us, so many
times we talk of our friends of England. Now I close my letter, next
time Sylverster write himself for you. I am very pleased if you take
time to write a letter to us,
Many greetings of us all, yours
Else Vielh and Sylvester
Klaus-Dieter send a big kiss for his aunt Evelyn.
My dear all,
Just I came home from my days work, I am very tired believe me. I never
forget you my dear friends, I hope you are all well. When I am working
in our garden, I am thinking every time of you, Do you remember when I
was keeping a little goat in your garden ? It was a very nice time, I
did like it so much. Very soon I write you a nice letter.
For today I will close Evertime your sincere friend. |
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| Ludwigshafen the 2nd of July 1950
| Our Dear Miss Evelyn,
A few days ago we got your letter, many thanks
for it. We had been so glad when we say your letter, but what a pity we
must read such bad news. We never thought of such a bad news, we feel so
sorry for you. Please take our hearty condolences. We ever thought we
see grandad one day, if we are able to come over to England. We are
really very sorry. Our Lord took grandad for himself, for the big rest,
we wish he is very happy over there, Dear Miss Evelyn we all have to go
away one day and all the good living people go the best way over to our
Lord, like grandad he had been such a good loved man, we never shall
forget him. I am so much thinking of you, very often I am talking about
you all to my wife an boy, it was a very nice time with you. I hope so
much time will get better, so we will be able to save money for a trip
to England. Just now, we are not able to do it, but never we give up
hope. I hope your cousin Ted is very well. I did like him, he had been
ever such a nice man, please remember us to him, we widh he gets on very
well. So we wish for your brother Allan, remember us to him too.
Now I will tell you a little about us, we are going on alright so far.
I'm working very hard, the money is to short. We have lost so much in
this war, I think I told you our home was burned out. My wife did not
save a lot. So we have to buy everything again. If we want to have
enough food we can not buy anything else, so we very often have to save
(with) on food. You asked me if we like anything like coffee, so I shall
tell you the truth, we can never buy a good coffee or tea, it is too
dear, so can not afford. If you did not ask me, I would not tell you
that, because I don't want you are thinking we are begger. The truth is
we need everything. I will be pleased if you have sometimes a paper
journal for me. I thank you for the two Newmarket Journals, it was very
interesting, I remember all the villages round Newmarket. Now I'll
finish for today, please tell me how did you find my English ? have I
lost a lot. Please remember us to all our friends, family A.D.Jennings,
aunt Bella and daughters, family Russell, Cox,Sargent and Mr & Mrs
Sandle, the cobbler, please tell him I still have his shoe's.
Always your sincere friends Sylvester, Else and Klaus-Dieter
Please remember me to family A.D.Jennings and Bella and daughters, Miss
Russell and mother and sister, Mr & Mrs Cox and boys and to all my
friends in Moulton. I would like so much to see you. |
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| Ludwigshafen The 15th of September 1950
| Our Dear Aunt Eve,
I hope you don't mind if we call you our dear aunt,
do you, Klaus-Dieter is everyone telling about his aunt Eve in England.
At first we will thank you ever so much for your lovely parcel which we
got a week ago. I can not tell you how much we have been pleased about
it, thank you very much. We hope so much you are well, we are going on
alright so far, I am working very hard last week, I started work at 6
o'clock morning and left of 7 o'clock at night, only half an hour for
dinner. My boss is having holidays so I have to play boss now. I don't
mind so do it because I get a bit more money. What do you think about
the Korean mess, isn't it terrible. All the people in German are worried
about. You must know we don't like the communists. We never want to
fight, we hope it will be finished very soon. Everything is getting so
expensive lately. Are the prices in England going up too ? We are short
of sugar, soap and some things, but we hope it will be only a little
time. Klaus-Dieter was travelling to the mountains for holiday, we hope
you got his card. He everytime asks me when are we going to see aunt
Eve.
We all like to see you one day. If the time will be better, we manage to
go over to England. Is your brother Allan and your cousin Ted going on
alright now? we hope it so much and with them all the best. Our garden
is very nice, we have many flowers and cabbage. I like to work in our
garden .What a pity the summer is over now, we all like to swim very
much. If we have had only a little time we went to the river Rhine to
swim, I don't like the winter and the long nights. We still live
together with my wife's parents. Soon I hope to get our own residence.
Now we all have only 3 rooms to live in, it is so small. We want our own
household, maybe we get it in January. Today is Sunday, this morning we
have had agood coffee of yours, only Sunday we are drinking your lovely
coffee. I was sleeping till 11 o'clock, after I finish this letter we go
out for a walk. We only every 6-7 weeks we go to a movie, because we
don't want to waste our money. A few weks ago Sepp and his wife and
little girl spent the weekend with us, soon we are going to see him. Is
Olive Russell very often coming to see you ? In my last letter I asked
you, if my English is very bad, or will you be able to read at all ?
Klaus-Dieter is saving money to send Barry, Chris and Sally a little
parcel for Christmas, I hope he will not stop his saving. He is very
busy collecting iron to sell, so he will be able to save a little money.
He is the best pupil in his class So I will close for today and we look
forward to a nice letter of you. thanks for the papers, I have been too
busy to read it. Please remember us to family Cox, Mr & Mrs Sargent,
family A D Jennings and Bella and daughters, family Russell, family Bond
and all people I know. And all best wishes to your cousin Ted, in a few
days I will write a letter to family Cox. Remember me to the family
Jennings, Post Office, with the best wishes, everytime yours. Sylvester,
Else and Klaus-Dieter. |
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| Ludwigshafen, the !st of December 1950
| Our Dear Aunt Eve,
We hope you are well, so we are, Now its very quick
Christmas, time is running very quick. We send a parcel off, we hope you
get it for Christmas. The parcel is for you and family Cox too. Please
give all things on Christmas Eve to family Cox. It is not a lot but we
are very glad to be able to send you a few things and hope it will enjoy
you all. Sometime age we started to save and we are very glad to give
you a few things for thanks, for all the parcels we got of you. I very
often tell my family of you, everytime you will be "Our dear
Eve". We are still living with my wife's parents, soon we will get
our own home, we hope it so much. then if we have all things we need, we
save for travelling to England, we still hope to see you all one day. I
am working hard but I don't mind you know, I like to work, I hope to
keep my working place for life. Klaus-Dieter is a very clever boy, he
got very good marks at school. We will be glad to hear of you, we wish
so much you are very well, God bless you. Please remind us to your
cousin Ted, happy Xmas to him, to family Russell, say hello and family
and the lady in the Post Office, to family A.D.Jennings and all my
friends. Happy Xmas for Mr & Mrs Sargent.
Everytime your friends
Sylvester, Else and Klaus-Dieter
I wish a very nice Christmas time for you, always we think of you. Many
greetings
Else Viehl. |
|
| Ludwigshafen the 12th of October 1951
| Our Dear Dear Aunt Evelyn,
You must think we are all dead. How are you
? We hope so much you are very well, in the best health. Are you still
alone in your cottage ? What are you doing all the time ? You must not
think we forget you, never I will forget you, of the nice time with you.
Very often Klaus-Dieter says "Please dad tell us a little from
England and our aunt Eve" and very often he asked me when are we
going to see aunt Evelyn. I still to see you one day, if the time will
be better. If we have all our things for our home, we save money to
travel to England to see you. We get our things which we need for our
home very slowly because everything is very expensive, but one day we
shall get it and then we save, we wish so much to see you. Do you
remember of the nice time when I was sitting in your lovely garden, to
have a rest and to smoke my pipe, or when we had a conversation on the
stable door, wasn't it very nice. When you write me a letter please tell
me everything you are doing and about all the news in Moulton,
everything is interesting for me. And now I will tell you about us. We
are well so far now, Klaus-Dieter has been ill some days. I am not
always on the best health, very often I have very bad headache, very
often and very much. But I am going out for my work everytime. I like my
working place very much. we still have our little garden to grow
vegetables and flowers. I like so much to work in our garden
Klaus-Dieter is going on alright in school, he wants to go the high
school next year, if I can afford the money he will do it. We are still
live with the parents of my wife, since two years now we try to get a
home for us, but we must wait because still 50% of all the houses in our
town are destroyed. Your aeroplanes have been too terrible to our town.
Do you meet family Cox and Sargent simetimes ? please remember us to
them, so to your brother Allen Jennings and his family, Bella Jennings
and girls, Olive Russel her mother and sister. Are they all going on
alright ?
With the best wishes Everytime your sincere friends. Sylvester, Else and
Klaus-Dieter
My friend Sepp wants me to remind him to you. |
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