Explains he has heard through a Mr Desmund Warren of Dublin that around 27 August 1914, after a medical examination, Ifor (with others)was moved out of Nuremberg. Mr Warren was declared unfit for military service and released. Mr Evans hopes that Ifor is still able to stay in touch with the American Consul in Nuremberg, who has so far been very helpful. He has sent his son £25 through the American Consul at Rotterdam and hopes arrangements can be made through Nuremberg to get this sum to him.
Mr Evans is writing to someone who he believes to be acquainted with some people at Nuremberg, Denmark. He asks if it would be possible to get some communication to his son Ifor through them. Describing how he came to be detained in Germany and supplying his current address.
He has received a postcard from Ifor of which he provides a transcript (translated to English). Mr Evans writes that while he is still in prison, there are other Englishmen there; 2 gentlemen B. J. Dale and Mr Hughesdon? As the American Consul has visited the prisoners he suggests that arrangements could perhaps be made for others in the area to visit them.
Dear Mr. Ponachi? With the last post I have received a card from Leslie Evans with the following contents: Please inform his father that he is well, but held as a prisoner of war in Nuremberg. Please send 25 pounds to American Consulate. He can also send postcards there. Please also inform Mrs. Dale, Mrs. Hughes and Mrs. MacDuff their sons are well. Next part is illegible. All well and treated well. Went walking for 2 hours. Writer is at disposal addressee. He hopes there will be peace soon. Jacob Rosenstein Note written on the back in Italian.
In answer to letter 16th the writer has made enquiries after ILE, first at his hotel Trefser and then at the Criminal Police Headquarters, where he was speedily informed, that ILE, like other nationals of states now at war with Germany - there are Montenegrins, English and some Russians here in Neurenburg - has been interned as a prisoner of war and is currently in the investigatory prison (Barenhoelz Strasse 68), a hygienically excellent new building surrounded by gardens. The writer visited ILE this afternoon. The neat and loveable young man, who was in Neurenburg to study the German language, looked well and healthy, was pleased to be visited and did not have any complaints, except of course his lack of freedom. He can read, work, write and - under supervision - is allowed to correspond - though he did recently have a letter sent by him to a contact in the Netherlands returned as undeliverable. He can eat as he pleases within his means. For a bond of 5000 marks to be deposited at the Kgl. Hauptbank here in Neurenburg, and under the condition that he will not leave or change his place of residence without informing the authorities, he can be released from prison and be allowed to go back to stay at his hotel. I have been informed that the American embassy is already undertaking steps to raise the necessary bounties with English money. These sums naturally will be repaid to the last heller and pfennig at the end of the war. The family of Mr. Evans need to consider whether they wish to do this though ILE was not so sure. The writer assured him that this bond would be as safe in the Kgl. Hauptbank as if it was in the Bank of England. Letter breaks off at this point.
He writes that they were very glad to receive his postcard and to learn he is as comfortable can be expected given the circumstances. His father asks if he should send 'this 3000 marks'. If so he should find out where it is to be sent and to get confirmation that it is a guarantee which will be returned following the end of the war. Ifor's father finishes the letter by stating that he trusts his son will do what is right and that all are well at home.
He is glad to hear of his father's engagement in Carmarthen. Ifor is sure it will be a big affair and expects his father will be glad to see Uncle Harry once more. Ifor asks after the Professor and his family; he would much like to see them again but fears it will be some time before he does so. He also asks for his best remembrances to be passed onto a Mr and Mrs Jones; Ifor asks if Mr Jones would correct an English composition(once a month) for him. He writes that he has not received his father's order; the postal service being very slow. Ifor proposes staying in Germany until the middle of November, which will cut his French stay to 2 or 3 weeks. Instead of going to Tours which is far from the German frontier, he shall split his time in France between Nancy and Lille. He will then come home via Dover. He states that his new route will be more economical than going to Paris. He submits his plans for consideration. Ifor also details his planned work; he hopes to be able to read German fairly well in a months time. He has been in bed since Monday evening due to a sore throat and ear ache. Ifor is much better today but not quite 100%.
Explains that he has delayed writing to her because he had hoped that he would have news that a friend of his (Willy Hesse) would be accompanying him in his tour. However Ifor learnt this morning that he would not be coming. He details the timetable for the rest of the trip to Suhl, which he expects to be in by 08 August. He promises to send a postcard each day but cautions that the postal service from the Bohemian forest is not of the best. Above all his parents should not worry. He supplies some dates and corresponding addresses which he hopes his mother will use to write to him. Ifor sends thanks for items his mother has sent him and provides details of Wechmar. He has spoken almost entirely in German during his holiday and made considerable progress.
Ifor's life continues much as usual. His hours of service have been cut to 8 conversations a week. He is in good health and can work almost as well as before the war. Ifor fancies that he will be ready for the examination on Constitutional law as well as the other subjects. However he does not find coaching by correspondence to be satisfactory. He then discusses and explains the marks he has received for his compositions. States that he is gradually succeeding in memorising the functions of administrators, from Archbishops to Justices of the Peace. Ifor encloses a post card to be sent by his parents in respect to his application to the University of London and requests his parents arrange for someone well deposed to him to provide a certificate of good conduct for him. He writes that he is quite certain that Michenean was killed in 1915, a friend of his has endeavoured to find out further information and not succeeded. Ifor will return home almost immediately after Whitsum and states that David has not made the progress with his French he had anticipated. He describes the friends he has recently met and those he hopes to see shortly. He was in Paris last Sunday and attended a very enjoyable concert. He will go again next Saturday to hear 2 concerts by the New York Symphony Orchestra.
He explains that he is quite comfortable in Nuremburg but under no condition permitted to leave the city. Ifor fears he may have to winter in Nuremburg and requests that his parents send £25 on receipt of this letter. As direct communication between England and Germany is cut off, he explains how they should send the sum requested. He expresses hope for an exchange and explains that his parents can keep themselves informed by writing to the foreign office. Ifor goes on to say that he currently has a nice room at a bed and breakfast; he obtains his meals from 'one or other of the Vegetarian restaurants here'. Fortunately Ifor is not alone sharing the hotel with a number of other detained British subjects (named). He is in good health, exercises daily and is starting to work. Above all he asks his parents not to worry.
Ifor expects to leave on 01 June 1920 and expects to arrive in London on the 2nd or the 3rd. The lamb (David) will be with him and Ifor will be glad to hand him over to his parents when he arrives. He hopes to see B. J. Dale, "Papa" Allen and someone else that he will not name. Therefore he expects to be back home on 05 June 1920. Ifor will be pleased if his parents silver celebration coincides with his stay in London but asks that they not let him interfere with their plans if not. He may go to the country for a while as his finances and his exam will not permit him a long stay in London. Another option suggested by Ifor is that his father visit Paris, he provides details on how this could be done and what they might do while he is there. He also discusses stock and his expectation of a good margin of profit in Dutch bonds. David's learning of French has been a miserable failure and Ifor outlines his frustrations with the boy. As well as congratulating his mother for her efforts on behalf of starving children.
Mr Ken Hardie desires that Mr Price be informed that all particulars about Mr Ifor L. Evans have been forwarded to the American Consul in London. The US Consul has been informed that any telegram expenses will be promptly refunded.
Mary Harold is glad to hear that Mrs Evans receives an occasional postcard from her son but sorry that he is still a prisoner. She writes that she thinks it unreasonable for the Germans to ask for so much money to allow Ifor out on parole, and does not trust they won't re-arrest him once released. She recommends that Mrs Evans not pay out the money; they are well treated and Mary hopes that an exchange will soon be arranged. Mary wonders whether her son has received word of his brother's death, she expects it will be a great shock to him. She then explains that as difficult as their situation is it is not so bad as those that have family that are missing in action.
Mary is glad that Ifor is now in Berlin, she expects he will be much happier among British P.O.Ws. She has had a postcard (they are permitted 2 a week) from her son John who had left Nuremberg before they had received his letters. She says that sending money would not have done any good as they were not detained. They now wait on whether they will be permitted to receive the parcels they have sent. -- She is feeling better knowing that the British prisoners are now together, but has heard they have been taken to Berlin to deter the Russians from bombarding the city should they advance that far. She therefore hope an exchange will soon be arranged.
After 4 weeks of not receiving any word from John, Mary has received 3 postcards and a letter. She hopes Mrs Evans has also received word from Ifor by now. She discusses the sorry state of how their mail is treated and the parcel situation. Then Mary moves on to writing about their sons situation as prisoners in Germany and describes how she is occupying herself, as well as helping others. For example she provides some details or a recent neighbours nervous breakdown.
Mary Harold's son John has received the money she had sent through Sweden and a parcel. There has been delays in the post due to the volume sent over Christmas, so he has not got everything yet. Mary hopes he will get the clothes she sent soon as it is very cold over there. She has been notified by the Foreign Office that John's name has been placed on a list for a possible prisoner exchange, an action she believes to have been taken by her local M. P.
Mary Harold has received a cheerful letter from John, they are making the most of their circumstances. She mentions that they are not permitted to receive cakes or sweets and hopes John has been permitted to have his birthday parcel. She has also just heard news of another Maeduff boy's death; killed by his own grenade. Mary writes that she hopes Mrs Evan's friends have had good news about their boys, saying how terrible it is to have someone missing in action.
Mary is wondering if their boys will have any chance of getting home, having just received a letter from a gentleman who has just arrived back from Ruhleben. She informs Mrs Evans that she has just heard of the death of one of her neighbours eldest sons at Dardanelles. This had come as a shock as they had got the news in a letter from a friend (who had seen the news in the paper) sending their sympathises; they had not yet been notified by the war office.
A response to a letter Mrs Evans has passed on to Mary from Mrs Balls, a friend of hers; Mary hopes she gets news of her boy soon. She writes that John fears they will be detained through the winter and has requested she send a sturdy pair of boots. John has started a German class for sailors that trade between England and Hamburg, who are keen to learn and have something to pass the time.
