Lorne Goat’s POW letters, 1942-1945 Glenbow Archives (M-7878-4)

Sept. 12/42 Betty my darling – Well this my second letter to you, the first was from a hospital in Brussels where I was for ten days. When we got shot down, I received about a dozen bullet holes but as there were no bones broken I’m allright now so there is no need to worry. This, and most likely the next two or three letters, will be like what I call “gimmy” letters, asking for things. Before sending anything get in touch with mother and between you two it should be allright. What I need is underwear, towels, shaving articles, toothbrush and paste, socks, a big heavy sweater, scarf, mits leather or woolen and chocolate. You can send 10 pounds of clothes each 3 months and in that put the chocolate and candy and add magazines but no food parcels – how I’m going to miss your date squares. You can write as often as you like but try to get this special paper and don’t send too many long letters as it holds up censorship and we won’t get them for months even if they are sent Air Mail. My address is – name, number – P.O.W. number, Stalag VIII B [blacked out], Germany. Letters and parcels can be sent to that address. Please tell dad to send as many fags as he likes through the tobacco company. The Red Cross will give you all particulars if you can’t understand these, it would be advisable to get in touch with them in any case. I hope you haven’t forgotten that I still love you, my wife to be, because I’ll never stop that, I send my love the usual way each night. I looks as if I reached the end for this month but I’ll write again soon as I can. Remember you have all my love and I’ll always be Your Lorne Xxxxx for you darling P.S. Tell mother I’m fine and in good health

Letter number Sept. 26/42 Stalag VIII B LAMSDORF, Germany Betty my darling – Here I am back again with another letter, a short one because of the lack of paper, but with every line, every word you have my love. I’m still thinking of and missing each day and night as the weeks roll by. Last night I gazed at the big dipper and as I sent my love to you I wondered if you would be looking at the same stars. Gosh darling but I do love you an awful lot. How is everything going along with you and your parents? Give my regards to Mum and your dad. I’m afraid I won’t be able to write to them now but I’m sure they will understand. Everything is going along. I’ll write. I’m cooking for four of us and there are no complaints as yet. The food is really pretty good and everybody looks forward to the days we get the Red Cross parcels. Today we received an extra ration of chocolate, my it was good. By the way my dear would you ask mother to send some pyjamas in the parcel, and also a separate parcel of books and magazines on adventure, mystery etc. I won’t mention cigarettes for a while as I know dad will send them each week. Could you send me a few snaps of yourself in a separate envelope without a letter, and ask mother to do the same, thanks, darling. Well I must close now but I’ll be back with a card soon, until later my wife to be, I’ll say once again I love you an awful lot and will always be, Yours alone, Lorne P.S. How is “Pete” coming along?

Letter No. 5 Oct. 9/42 Betty my darling, Hello sweetheart, here I am back again with another letter to you. I hope you have received the others. Everything is going along as good as can be and I’m getting enough food to keep me fairly happy. How are you these days? I hope you’ve stopped worrying now as you should know I’m alive and a prisoner. One thing that bothers me is the thought of you worrying at home. How long did you have to wait before you knew I was a prisoner? I hope you have sent some photographs – in a separate envelope – of yourself. I had some when I was shot down but some Belgium people kept them for souvenirs, that is why I want you to send me some each month, of you, Jim and Fran and baby and mother and dad. You can also send a few parcels of books as reading passes the time away. Did you receive the things I sent you from Scotland? I doubt if you will receive this before Xmas so here’s wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, maybe we’ll be together for the next one, I hope so darling. It looks as if I’ll have to close now darling, so until later never forget that I love you very much and am thinking of you always. Keep smiling sweetheart as I’ll always be Your Lorne Xxxxxx

Nov. 21/42 Betty my darling, Hello dear, how are you? Me, I’m fine and right now I’m extra fine because today I received my first Canadian mail, from you, dad and Fran, gee it was good to hear from you and that everything is going along all right and that you still love me as much as I love you – and that is a great deal. Darling never forget, no matter what happens, I’ll always love you and you alone. I’ll have to answer the three letters now and you’ll have to pass on the news, until I write again. Yes I still smile [?] when you ask me, do you do the same?

I see you have started bowling again, try and beat last year record. By the way your letter was dated, Oct.8/42. I’m glad you’re going to write so often but I won’t be able to answer them all. Thank Fran for her letter and tell her to keep Lorne Jr. in good health. Does he ski yet? Dad’s letter of Oct.13/42 did not mention how he heard I was a PoW, but I guess there are more letters to come. Glad to hear he and mother are feeling fine, that is a good thing. I do quite a lot of reading so could you send a few book and game parcels? Thanks darling I knew you would. Well it looks like the end has come again, so until a future date remember I love you. Give my regards to “Mum” and your dad, Always yours, xxxxx, Lorne

Jan. 5, 1943 Betty darling – [first line unclear] hope it finds you and your mum and dad fine and dandy. I feel pretty good night and am just waiting to hear from you again. Have you or dad sent any fags yet? I hope so because its nice to get something to smoke. Have you done any skiing this year? I’ll bet you’ve been up north again. How did you spend New Year’s Eve? I’ll say there was a party somewhere and a good time was had by all. We had a whist drive and concert and then rang the old year out and New Year in finishing off with tea and [?]. Here’s hoping [ illegible line} New Year’s Eve together. Tonight I’m going to a camp concert in the theatre, as its been running for some weeks now, I’m sure its pretty good. Darling could you do something else for me that is send me a book parcel some time. You know what I like to read – adventure, mystery etc. I can’t think of very much to write about just now as I have to go to school in a few minutes. I’m taking up Building and Construction and although they are English teachers it might help me some day. Until later I’ll have to close again sending you all my love as usual and I hope you never forget that I still love you an awful lot and always will no matter what happens. Until the next letter I’ll always be yours xxx Lorne

Feb. 2/43 Betty my darling - Here I am back once more and this time with a little good news. First, as you know, I’ve received my first clothing parcel from mother, second, I received a fag parce [sic] from the one and only person I love (that’s you), third, to-day I got a letter from Pete mailed from London and 1000 Sweet Caporal cigarettes from Muriel and Harold Atkins, it was a very pleasant surprise. Could you see them sometime and give them my thanks. I would write myself but paper and cards are very short here and those I do get I use for you and the folks at home. Oh yes, I’ve also heard from Joyce Hamer [?] and also from Betty Goat who, by the way congratulate me on becoming engaged, gad but I’m a very lucky man knowing that some-day, and may it be soon, you and I will march down a church aisle as man and wife. Oh darling I do love you so very very much. One thing they can never take away from me is the memories I’ve got, of you and I at the Excel Boating Club dance, walking around the mountain on Wednesday nights, listening to the radio with the lights turned low in your parlour, walking over to get some Elmhurst ice cream, the evenings spent together when I was at Wireless school, the telephone messages, and thousands more. All I can say is that on the night of May 26 th 1941 was my lucky night. Give my regards to all the folks at home, your “Mum” and father and sister etc. I’ve received quite a number of your letters but no photograph as yet so please keep sending them. Until next time sweetheart, remember that I’ll love you forever and will always be yours alone. xxx Lorne.

Mar. 21/43 Betty darling, Well, sweetheart, and how is my beautiful lady in pink and blue today? Fine? That’s good, because I’m feeling pretty good myself today. Your mail is coming through very good, last week I received one dated Feb. 1/43. I’ve also heard from George Boswell and Alf Gross so if you see them with [sic] you pass on my thanks. By the way, will you be joining the swimming club this year? I hope you are because you’ll have a swell time. Will Lorne Jr be in the crib? I’ll bet he’ll be able to swim like a fish when I get home. So far I’ve received two fag parcels from you and the first two clothing parcels from home. Will you tell mother to send candy, chocolate and food stuffs in my parcels from now on with the odd pair of socks, toilet articles, shoe polish etc. Now that the good weather is coming I don’t feel like going to school so much but I’ll keep on as long as I can, even if this course doesn’t do me much good, it always helps to pass the time and keeps my brain – if I have any – busy. Yes darling I always send you my love by the Big Dipper so I hope you receive it. By the time you get this it will be past your birthday so I’ll wish you Many Happy Returns now. Last night I saw a play at the camp theatre called “Golden Boy” and it was very good, especially the chaps who dress up as girls they look very life like. When I got back to my billet there was a chap playing the violin, boy it was nice but brought back very pleasant memories of you and I, gad but I do love you an awful lot, Betty and I’m just waiting for the time when we’ll be man and wife so darling, remember I’m always thinking of you and will be yours alone forever---- Xxx Lorne

Apr. 18/43 Betty darling Today I received three letters from you and two from dad so that was a very nice birthday present. That cooking I told you about some time ago has stopped, there are two of us eating together now and we take turns at the cooking. Now that summer is here I’ve given up school so I can play ball or lie in the sunshine and get a tan, I’ll start school again this fall. By your scores the bowling isn’t coming along any to good but you had better keep at it because when I get home we’ll have to go out each week and have a few strings. Everything is going along fine here and now that we’re getting a Red Cross parcel per man instead of half a parcel per week I believe I’m putting on weight, that is I’m heavier now than I was four months ago but I’ll never get up to what I was back home. Right now I’m having a cup of tea – in a tin cup – and a slice of bread and jam, its really good. You’d be surprised at the amount of tea I drink now, seven or eight mugfulls each day so be prepared for when I get home. Yes darling I still send my love to you as usual and each night I’m always thinking of you and how much I’m in love with you. I’m glad to hear your dad is getting better, he has been sick hasn’t he? Well darling, it looks as if I’ll have to close again sending you all my love and hoping that we’ll celebrate my next birthday together – you and I my darling. Until later I’ll always be yours and yours alone, Xxx Lorne

10/5/43 Betty darling – Well sweetheart how are you these days? Me? I’m fine and getting a good tan. Everything is going along fine here. I’ve been playing basket-ball quite a lot and trying to get into some sort of condition, but after yesterday’s game I’m stiff all over. Last week I received two letters, one from you – my “beautiful lady in pink and blue” – and one from Rena. By the way how is your dad? I hope by now he’s better and able to get back to work. He has been sick quite a while hasn’t he? By your last letter I see the bowling has improved quite a bit, and it looks as if I’ll have a job on my hands if I try and beat you. Will you give me a few weeks to practice in? Yes darling, I still send you all my love by the big dipper each night, I hope you get it all right. Do you? By the time you get this you’ll most likely be swimming at the club – something I can’t do here – and having a grand time, I hope you are anyway. Honey, do you remember that evening we spent on Mount Royal sitting by Beaver Lake and watching the stars? Well I was thinking of that and hundreds of other things, and places we’ve seen together, last night. Boy, it is sure nice to have such pleasant memories to look back upon, but I think the greatest pleasure of all is thinking of the future – our future as man and wife, gee darling that will be the happiest day in my life, when you become Mrs. L.T. Goat and until that time and ever afterwards I’ll always be, Yours alone, xxxxx Lorne

July 3/43 Betty darling, Received another letter from you today honey and it made me feel real good. This week I also received my third and fourth clothing parcel from home with the tea, sugar, etc. – tell mother to send coffee, tea, sugar and at least two pound of chocolate in the next, also shoe polish, tooth brush and paste and summer underwear - on Wednesday I got fags from dad and 200 from the Woman’s Aux. RCAF. Will you ask dad to acknowledge it for me please. I’m still playing basketball but need running shoes and you know sports equipment in book parcels so would you ask mother to send running shoes and basketball shorts. I’ve made a pair of shorts out of some cloth I had, gad what a job of sewing. I’m not very good at it as you know. Right now I’m laying on my bed next to “shorty” Young who is playing the gramophone using some records he received the other day. I still like the song “Yours” don’t you. Well, my beautiful lady in pink and blue, it is time to close and say those three words which mean so much – I love you darling and will always be yours alone xxx Lorne

[21.10.43, postage stamp] Betty my darling – You’ve made me very happy this last week. Why? Well I’ve received seven letters including some more snaps, yes, honey, I’ve now received quite a number of snaps thanks a lot, you really are a dear and I love you an awful lot and always will. Won’t it be wonderful when I get back home and we can go out together? Remember the Wednesday nights and our walks over the mountain? We’ll have to do that again won’t we? I’ve got your picture here in front of me by gosh you’re beautiful and I do love you an awful lot. I hope everybody is well at home including yourself. You know, you’re the most important person in my life and sometime – soon I hope – we’ll be man and wife then we’ll spend the rest of our lives in happiness. Oh darling, when will that day come? Will you let Uncle George, Uncle Harry, Jim and Fran know that I’ve received their letters, also Ally MacCrimmon, I got her’s last week. Well darling, the page is coming to the end so I’ll have to say “Good-night sweetheart---“. Until later please remember that I’ve loved you since May 24/41 and I’ll love you forever. Always your xxx Lorne

7/11/43 Betty darling – It has been two weeks since I’ve written to you, so here goes once again. Yesterday I received some more snaps, that’s the eighth lot, they were of you in your pink dress and jacket, a couple of you in a picture frame which is very good – will you send me one of those wrapped in cardboard? – and there was one of another girl whom I don’t think I know – who is it? Everything is still going along fine, and even though we had one snowfall on Friday, we’re still playing basketball and having cold showers. Believe it or not I even play English football and go to nearly all the games, also cricket. I’ve received four tobacco parcels and seven fag parcels from you, thanks a lot and don’t think I’m greedy when I say, “keep sending them please”. Give my regards to your mother, dad and sister and I hope everything is going along OK with them. Is your dad all over his sickness yet? If you ever see any of the gang give them my regards and if possible get a picture of them for me. Each night I send my love home to you by the same way. Do you get it? I do love you, darling and always will, won’t it be a great day when we’re together again. This will reach you around Xmas so may you have a very Merry Xmas and Happy New Year, Always yours, xxx Lorne

Dec. 5/43 Betty darling – And how is my future wife (sounds nice eh?) feeling? Everything is going along fine here, and although the winter is coming along I’m more prepared for it this year, with clothes etc. By the way honey, we’ve got a new address, although it is the same camp – it is now called Stalag 344, as on the back of the letter, send all letters, parcels etc. to that number – Stalag 344. I received another letter from Ray Gascaigne and three from you this week. Books and fags are coming through pretty good. I have asked mother to send “The Robe” and “White Banners” by Lloyd C. Douglas, could you remind her. I’ve received the snaps of yourself, Pat and Earl last week, they were very good. Darling will you send one of those photos of you in the folder, the big one which you took a picture of, I’m sure it will get here all right if it is well wrapped in cardboard. You know I’m think [sic] of you all the time and of the happiness we’ll have when I’m home and we’re married. I do love you darling, so very much and always will. Remember Beaver Lake and the look-out, the Excel Club dance and our first walk on the mountain? – I’ll never forget them. Good night “my beautiful lady in pink and blue”. Always yours xxx Lorne

Dec. 19/43 Betty darling – Received another letter from you this last week, gad, you’ll never know how happy I am when I hear from you. Yes, sweetheart, I do love you an awful lot and always will. Could you let mother know that I received her letter with the signatures of the guests who were at Ruth’s wedding. It seems funny hearing of all the marriages and changes coming off at home. How I wish it was you and I, well someday it will be and if I didn’t have that to look forward to, well, life wouldn’t be worth living – I love you. We’ve started decorating again for Xmas and the New Year, so that is something else to pass the time with. When we’re man and wife, darling, there is one thing we’ll have each year and that’s a Christmas Tree. I don’t thing [sic] that that day is complete without it, do you? Have you done any skiing this year? Wouldn’t it be nice if we could spend next week-end up north? Give my regards to Ruth and Stan and all the happiness etc. Thanks darling. Well, my beautiful lady in pink and blue – remember that day – I’ll say so long and I’ll always be xx Your Lorne

9/1/44 Betty my darling – What about a smile for me while reading this, my first letter of 1944? Thanks honey, I knew I’d get a nice big one. Well the parcels have started coming again, this past week I’ve received the Table Tennis set from Aunt Flora (Palmer), a thousand fags from the Montreal South Red Cross and some more from dad. Could you thank dad and ask him to thank the others. Gosh but you’re nice and I do love you so much. I’ve also received that snap of “Doc”, Tommy Bell and Campbell, gad, to see them sitting on the old wharf brings back memories of the good times we’ve had at the club, swimming, dancing and enjoying ourselves. Remember that first dance we went to there, that was when I knew I was in love with the most wonderfull girl in the world – that’s you sweetheart. Although there is no skating here this winter the time is passing pretty quick. By the way darling, could you or mother send me two books by Lloyd C. Douglas called “White Banners” and “The Robe”, that is, of course, if you can get them. Well that’s all for now, give my regards to “Mum” and your dad and sister xxx Always your Lorne

Feb.6.44 Dear Miss Hopley. I am taking this liberty in writing to you, simply, owing to my appreciation of Lorn Goat (We call him “Homer”). He has shown me some stunning snaps of you and your friends in holiday mood and dress! This big boy of yours in his modesty, no doubt, forgets to mention himself in his letters, so I should imagine a neutral observer’s opinion may be welcomed! Everybody knows Homer and, is liked by all – he is the P.O.W.’ s friend – I’ve never met such a generous-hearted, good-natured, easy-going lump of human flesh before - If you are short of anything ask Homer – he has it, and its yours – nothing is too much trouble to him; this I know full well as I have benefited through his actions as have most of the barrack. At the present moment he is playing chess, a game at which he is getting very good at. You would have wept tears of blood if you had seen him doing a big days’ washing! towel for apron, sleaves rolled up, a determined look on his face, as he splashed soap suds in all directions! –Oh boy!! – I am an Australian airman. Cheers and all that. Yours Sincerely, Mervyn (Snow) Campbell

Mar 18/44 Betty darling – Gee honey I really feel good today. Why? Well yesterday I received your letter written just before Xmas, it’s the first I’ve had since Jan 20 th and beside that it smelt of perfume – oh sweetheart it was swell. As I’m writing now, with your picture and letter before me, well it makes me think that you are beside me – you beautiful lady in pink and blue. I’m glad you’ve met Andre Michaud the one armed chef who was a re-pat. from the camp – he’s a swell chap and darned plucky. Gad but the population is increasing back home – it will be a change from when I left. Darling if you send fags instead of pipe tobacco it would be better, just send the tobacco occasionally. I received your records and they are very useful here but we’re short of needles. Could you see dad and ask him to send me a good chess set and board. I’ve taken the game up seriously and we’re short of chessmen. Heard from mother yesterday also and she mentioned about Ruth, then Rich and Beverly’s son. Never mind darling someday we – you and I – shall have a son and heir. I’ll have to close now but give my regards to “Mum” and your dad and keep all my love for yourself and it’s a lot. I’ll always be – xx Your Lorne

8/4/44 Betty darling – I have just returned from the Camp Theatre after seeing “Charlie’s Aunt” and gad I haven’t laughed so much since leaving home. The chap that took the part of the “Aunt” was perfect and the fellow who was the leading lady, well she, or I should say he, was very good. This week I received my clothing parcel and a fag parcel from dad and a few more. Everything is going along fine and my mail is coming through again, it had stopped for about eight weeks. I’m glad you’re sending that big picture of yourself, I’d like to have it, it would look good on my shelf. This is Easter week-end and there are lots of sports to watch – its still too cold for outdoor basket-ball and softball. By the way did mother send me the basket-ball yet? Yesterday I heard from Jim and Fran but not much news. I bought one of these letter cards so I’ll write to mother and dad tomorrow. Well sweetheart its getting late so I’ll have to get ready to go to bed [2 lines blacked out]. That’s a job you’ll have after we’re married, I won’t mind it darling because you’ll be there beside me, gee but I love you very much and always will, how I want this war to end so we can become man and wife. I’ll always be xxx Your Lorne

6/5/44 Betty darling – Well, my beautiful lady in pink and blue, (remember? I’ll never forget how you looked that sunny evening, as I came walking up your street, and saw your mother, aunt and sister on the stairs and you my sweetheart, standing against the railing dressed in that beautiful pink dress, the funny little hat and veil and the flowers, gad but you looked lovely and I love you) enclosed you should find a photograph, including your future husband, of Stalag 344’s bikers club. It was taken last week so I’m sending one to you now, one to mother in a fortnight and keeping one for my Log Book. I do hope you get it all right. The chap on my left is Jack Rowlinson and the sixth chap on my left is “Snowy” Campbell, I’ve mentioned both of them in previous letters. Jack sleeps in the bunk below me and we get along swell. I’ve just come back from the sports field after our team had won the semi-finals in the Tug-O- War. We’ll be pulling on Whitsun Monday Sportsday, wish us luck. Received letters from Dad, Ray, mother and best of all yourself, gad darling I do love you and always will. Someday I’ll sign my letters – Your loving husband xx Lorne

June 18/44 Betty darling – This is the first of two letters which I’m writing to-day, the reason I’ve got two is because a mate of mine gave me his, I’ll mail them both this afternoon. Your mail and parcels ae coming through pretty fair. Gad, but I like the “Little Devil” you put on the letters, everybody in the barrack smells them, I’ve just re-read some of them and boy they’re swell. Ruth really rushed things after she got married, didn’t she. You’ve mentioned a new job of yours in various letters but I still don’t know what it is. Surely you haven’t joined what Ruth’s in or any branch of it. Remember you said you would not do that? I know I’ll like the diamond socks, one thing, it will be a change after wearing blue for so long and another thing is that you made them – gad, but I love you darling, ever so much. So Gladys is going out now. Boy what a change there will be when I get home, but you’ll be there and as that is all I’m looking forward to, you know I’ll be very happy. I’ll have to close this one but I’ll say “I love you” and so long for now, Your loving husband-to-be, xx Lorne

June 18/44 My darling wife – someday, and I hope it will be soon, I’ll be calling you that and holding you in my arms, gee honey, I love you an awful lot and every time I read in your letters that you love me, it makes me feel very happy. This is the second letter to you to-day, but I’d need reams of paper to say how much I love you and have missed you since leaving home. Darling, have you ever thought where you’d like to go on our honeymoon? I’ve spent hours lying in bed thinking of that and other things which will be for us after we’re married, our house, our furniture, ourselves and our children, it seems funny to me when I think of myself as a father, with you as my wife and mother of our children. Gad I’d like to be with you now, holding you tight in my arms, feeling your lips on mine. I’m afraid when that day comes I’ll never let you out of my sight again. Give my regards to Jim, Fran and Lorne Jr. , tell mother I’ll write next week and to make sure the pantry is full when I get home. I’ll have to close now sweetheart, with the old saying, yet true, I love you and will always be xx Your Lorne

9/7/44 Betty darling – Another week and so another letter to you, my sweet. Everything is going along fine, still sunbathing – gad I’m not brown, but black all over, that’s one advantage of sun-bathing here, you can do it without clothes, on some of the hot days as we’ve had lately, the ground between the huts looks like a nudist camp, but its healthy. If we have this kind of weather for another couple of months, I’m afraid you won’t recognize me. They’ve started an International Basketball Tournament and I was lucky enough to be picked for one of the ten men on Canada’s team. So far we have played and defeated U.S.A., England and Australia, next week we play South Africa, and win or loose we’ll be in the play-offs so wish me luck, sweetheart. I hope you have joined the Club this year and getting lots of swimming . Gad I’ll be glad to get in a pool again, I haven’t had a swim for almost two two year. Got fags from dad and you this week. As I sit here I can look at your photograph which is sitting on a shelf beside my bed. I love you and will be your xLorne

Aug/6/44 Betty darling – Hope you’re feeling as good as I am to-day. It must be the weather, last Saturday, Sunday and to-day have been clear and hot. We’re holding Bank Holiday here and have had a good show. Saturday was boxing, yesterday was the fair and parade, gad, that was really good, all the various floats such as Chinese Street Scene – Things To Come – Her Ladyship, Old and New – North West Mounties – and many others, the costumes and work done was perfect, one float took eight weeks to build, and most of it was made from tin cans which the Red Cross food comes in. Today is the Sports day with track and field events, the only thing I’m in is the Tug-O- War, it takes place at 5 o’clock this evening so wish me luck honey. Enough of that. If you’re getting the same weather as us, by gad you’ll be swimming 24 hours per day. I can’t swim here but I’m getting a swell tan. Yes sweetheart, I’ve often thought of our happy days to come when you and I are man and wife with a home of our own. Have you decided where you want to live, Montreal or the South Shore? Oh, honey, I do love you an awful lot and will always remain yours alone, xx Lorne

Aug 8/42 [This letter seems to out of sequence] Norah darling – I received some more snaps from you yesterday and I’ve put them with all the others in my album – Did I tell you about the album the Canadian Y.M.C.A. sent us, it is a big book containing a diary and album etc. all in one. A great souvenir. Everything is going along pretty well and the weather is just right for sunbathing so you can imagine the sun burn I have. How is everything at home? Has your dad started back to work yet? I do hope he is feeling better. I hope you’ll excuse this scribble but I have a toothache and want to lay down for a while, I’ll see the dentist soon, to-morrow if possible – and get it out. I had a letter from Mrs. I. J. Johnston yesterday, will you tell mother to thank her or me. She is one of my old school teachers. You haven’t forgotten that I still love you, I hope, because I always will and some day we’ll be married. Gee I hope it won’t be too long, I’d give anything and everything in the world to be with you right now, but at least I have your pictures before me, which cheers me up quite a bit. Well, darling, that is all for now so until later I’ll say again – I love you and will always be Your Lorne

15/10/44 My Betty – Another letter darling in which I can say that I’m still very much in love with you, gad honey I want to get home and be with you again. Everything is going along fine, mail and parcels are not to bad. Received one from dad which he wrote from St. Stephens, N.B. also the one regarding my pay, honey, if my calculations are right we’ll have a great start in our married life. Yes, sweetheart, I often think of what our future life, what our home will be like, etc. I’m afraid its not much use dreaming[?] it by letter as so many are lost but when I get home, everything will be o.k. You said in your last letter (Aug. 3) that I’m going English, you don’t know the half of it, I’ve taken up cricket now and I’ve been playing English rugby and football for some time, I even played for our barrack’s second team, its really good, now that the basketball season is over it is the only exercise I get. Tomorrow we’re playing American Rugby – gad what a sight to see all our home-made pads made from towels, blankets, underwear, cardboard etc. Well, my darling, it looks as if I have to say good bye for now but always remember that I’ll love you and will be yours forever, xx, Lorne

22/10/44 Betty darling – Gad honey, you’ve been good to me this week, why? well I received 4 letters – June and July making total up to 96 – three fag parcels from you, letters from dad, mother and Jim and Fran. Glad to hear you enjoyed your holiday and when you get this you’ll be on your Christmas holidays and ready for your Xmas dinner, maybe next year darling, I’ll wish you Merry Xmas in person. Oh sweetheart, to hold you in my arms once again and know you are mine, that day will come. Yes, I, too, am glad that our people would like us to get married soon after I return, I know I want to and if its [sic] all right with you, we’ll do that. This is what I’d like to do – Get home, have a couple of weeks around town, get my name with some firm for a job, have a couple or three weeks holiday – with you honey – come back home, start work for about two months then when everything is settled get married and have a long honeymoon. Where? Across Canada to British Columbia, down into the United States or up north, anywhere as long as your [sic] with me. Gash but I do love you an awful lot and always will. I still send my love each night and remember I’ll be yours forever, xx Lorne

28/10/44 Betty darling – A mate of mine let me have a few [unclear] letters which he doesn’t write so I’m sending this to you. I’ve just written to ‘Pete’ and sent it in care of you, as I don’t know where he or his wife live. Right now I’m in bed writing this, no darling I’m not sick but it gets to be a habit of going to bed early here when we have to be on parade at seven o’clock in the morning. You’ll find me hard to keep awake when I get home as the latest I’ve ever stayed up here is 11.30 P.M. last New Year’s Eve, so don’t expect me to keep late hours the first night I’m home. Darling when you get this it will be almost Xmas time so let me wish you a Merry Xmas and Happy New Year now and I’ll give you your Xmas kiss (and a lot more) when I get home. Oh sweetheart maybe next year we’ll see the New Year in as husband and wife. It really makes me feel good every time I write that word wife, it means so much to me, knowing that you love me as I love you, gad but we’ve got a long and happy future in front of us and many happy memories behind us remember the Excel Lake and Beaver Lake, our “trip around the world”, the week-end in the Laurentians, etc. Oh honey I do love you and will always be Your xxx Lorne

19/11/44 Betty darling – How is my future wife these days? Fine I hope. I’m not too bad but each time I look at your picture I feel much better. Gad I do love you honey, as you already know and always will. I received a letter from Rita the other day giving me a bit of news of the gang. Would you tell mother that I received some fags from Mrs. Roe. I don’t think you know her, Betty, but mother does. Also I got two lots of snaps from home, these were taken at St. Stephens and turned out pretty good, the only trouble is that I don’t know half of the people. I think it would be a good idea if you and mother would write the names of the people in the photograph on the back of the snap and then I’d know who’s who. It will pass the censors that way because the other chaps here always get theirs through. I’m in another chess tournament which started last week. I know mother has sent a chess set but I haven’t got it yet so I’m waiting patiently. Now the winters [sic] coming I suppose you’ll be skiing again. Wait until I get home and we’ll have some swell times up north skiing etc. Oh darling I do want to be with you so much. And I’ll always love you and be only your . xxx Lorne

16/12/44 Betty darling – Well it looks as if our winter has finally arrived, we have about three inches of snow which came down last night and yesterday, most likely it will go again when the sun comes out. Will you tell dad I received more fags this past week, and mother that “Snowy” received the chess set and puzzles. I also had two letters from you and one from dad – I love you (that slipped honey). So Fran – with Jim’s help of course – has done it again, I’m glad everybody is well anyhow. You’re right, sweetheart, there will be a lot of new people to see when I get back. I’m glad you’ve kept the returned mail, it’ll be fun reading it together. I’ll never forget Mr. Miller and the party at Eileen’s. By the way, did mother send my July clothing parcel? She’s never mentioned it and as yet I haven’t got it, Gad I hope she didn’t forget it. I gave “Shorty”, “Snowy” and Jack your regards, they said thanks and for me to send you their love. If this keeps up darling I’ll be getting jealous. The first thing we’ll talk about when I get home will be our plans for the future, boy we’ve got a lot of happiness in store for us. Well honey, I’ll have to close now, so never forget that I’ll always love you and be your xx Lorne

[no date, reference to fall] Betty my darling – To start this letter I’ll say “I love you”, you know that already but I want you to keep believing it because it is ever so true. Enclosed you’ll find a photograph of a group of chaps and I’m one of them. Puzzle “Can you find me”. I sent one to mother a couple of weeks ago so one of them should get through. As you see I haven’t lost any weight and to tell the truth I’m pretty fat, but I’ll get rid of it when I’m back in England and doing strenuous P.T. Oh by the way sweetheart you’ll notice a new address – so use that for letters and pictures, but continue to send the parcels to Stalag VIII B. The idea is for quicker service. Everything is going along fine and now that the fall is here I’m digging out that long underwear – which I’ve never worn in my life before – ready for the winter. Each night I send my love to you as usual, I do hope you get it. You know darling, some day I’ll get home and boy we’ll have a great holiday together before settling don’t, won’t we? Where would you like to go? You think it over and I’ll agree to it when I see you again. Until later darling, good-bye and never forget that I love you and will always be, Your Lorne

Apr. 3/45 Betty darling – Well, sweetheart, its me again, but this time I’m writing, not as a P.O.W., but as a free man, a man who does not have to jump when a German says anything to me. Gad, but it’s a wonderful feeling knowing that within a few weeks I’ll be back in England, then Canada, home and with you for the rest of my life. The great day is getting closer, honey, and its making me feel better each hour. I’ve written mother and dad today, so if you get together you’ll both get news of the march, which I did from Stalag 344, Lamsdorf to Stalag IX A Ziegenhain, covering 515 miles in 39 days, and it wasn’t any picnic. The main trouble being lack of food. You know that I weighed about 195 pounds as 344, but now I’m just about 150 pounds, my legs, hips, arms, knees, chest, look like those of a skeleton with skin on. I’d be ashamed to be seen and that’s the truth, back at the Club. But lets get off the bad news and talk of something pleasant – mainly food – the thing I’ve been thinking of for weeks and months. Here’s something I want you to do for me, its this – will you make a good batch of those delicious date squares and send them to me at Aunty Vies address in Glasgow. Remember the way you sent them to me in England, packed in a tin, well if you do the same thing again well I’ll get them just after I get back to Blighty. I’ve asked mother to send me a parcel of clothing and food, something like I used to get before I was shot down. You’ll see, honey, that this letter is all jumbled up, well that’s because I’m excited and also that this letter has to be finished in a few minutes. The Yanks, who liberated us on Good Friday, March 30, 1945, are treating us as best they can, giving us smokes, food, sweets etc, gad they’re a great bunch of fellows. Ah yes, darling, send some smokes to me in Blighty also. Just think, I’m a free man after 949 days of being a Prisoner of War, it’s a wonderful feeling. Now all I’m looking forward to is reaching England where I’ll send you telegrams one after the other. Oh, honey, I’m feeling happy. Give my regards to “Mum”, Gladys and your dad, and of course Jim, Fran and family and anybody else you see. Well, it looks as if this is the end of the paper so until I wire from England, Remember I’ll love you always in the future as I have in the past. So long for now. Always your, Lorne xxx