Thonon, 18 July 1941

My dear Lore,

I was very happy to receive your letter from the 25th April as I hadn’t heard anything from you for a while.  I wrote a letter to you in January, February, March and April with one to Edith in each time. Have you received them? I can’t continue my studies as you know, but I have received a little money from Mr B. and maybe I will receive some a second time. – Our grandparents are in good health but I can’t receive any news of them anymore. I let them know that I had received your letter and that should have given them a little joy. Grandmother knows that Aunt Margot is dead, for it is her who told me before you did, and she had great pain to learn of it.

But dear Lore, you tell me in your letter that you would really like to send me some clothes and I am very grateful for it. But I would like to tell you here that I want absolutely nothing. Therefore don’t give yourself any unnecessary trouble. – I was very surprised and happy at the same time to find out that you were first in your class and I really wanted to know if there were many of you there. I don’t know of the book of which you spoke about in your letter. – I have also safely received the letter from Elaine and I am going to enclose some words to her in this letter for I don’t have the room to write to her separately. – My teeth are not hurting me for the moment and if possible, I am going to wait until November before going to see the dentist. – I wasn’t able to give you (Elaine and you) the surprise, but on the other hand I would like to try something else. Elaine told me that you coloured your hair but she didn’t tell me the colour. So I tried to find it out and I found that your hair is still brown, of a lighter brown.  Then I believe that you are no longer are at school at the moment.  Tell me in your next letter if this is right. Elaine also told me that you call me next to her ‘cheam hut’ (?). What does this mean?

I was at the opticians the other day and I needed a new pair of glasses but one can’t find the money easily.  I am ending this letter by asking you to pass on a hello to Uncle Nat and Aunt E.

I give you a big hug,

Your Oswald

Thonon, 18 July 1941

Dear Elaine,

Lore has often told me about you and this is why I was very happy to receive your letter. I hope that you understand my letter as well as I understood yours. I don’t know why Lore calls me next to your cheam hut and not understanding the meaning of these two words, I have asked her about it. It is an error of Lore’s to think that I was able to continue my studies but I have not lost hope of finishing them one day.

Are you also going to leave school this year? I see that you have enjoyed your Easter holidays without forgetting to work sometimes. I don't have the space to write more to you so I will finish by sending you my best friendship.

Oswald