My father, Robert (Bob) Percy Edmunds, was a prisoner of the Japanese during the Second World War. I have a number of letters written by family members upon hearing that he was alive and coming home ...
The following is the text of a letter sent by Hannah, the wife of my Dad's brother, Albert. The letter is addressed to "a.c, 2 R. P. Edmunds, Ex P.O.W. C/o PO Box 164, London". It is dated October 13th (1945) and the senders address is given as "137 Barkers Hill, Donhead St Andrew".
"My Dear Bob
We are all eagerly counting the days now time doesn't really go quick enough to please us, but the weather is lovely at the moment, lovely sunshine all day and hot too. We shall have a lot to talk about and when you see all these boys around, Arthur is much taller than Bert and Bertie he thinks he is quite grown up. Bert is just outside Bremen now waiting to be disbanded, he says he may come back over here, he has had his medical for demobbing so it won't be long now before we get him back and Cliff. I had a nice day in Salisbury with Cliff while he was home, I really never thought he meant to take me, your Dad is off to auntie May for the weekend. I am just about to go to work so will say cherio and all the best till we see you, from Hannah & family"
Notes:
Bert is Dad's older brother (Albert Edmunds)
Bertie and Arthur are Bert and Hannah's sons (Dad's cousins)
Cliff is also Dad's brother (Clifford Edmunds)
Auntie May is Dad's auntie, his father's sister.
