大象传媒

A letter written by Ian latta (21/10/1919-9/11/2003) to his cousin, on release from Oflag7B prison of war camp. He had been taken prisoner April l942
9 May 1945
Dear Jean, When you reply to this it will probably be to Kinmonth, certainly in "Blighty". I am writing this in a canteen in Brussells on my way home. Why I do not write there is that I expect to be with my family before this could reach them. You have no idea how wonderful it is to be a free man again, I just cannot describe my feelings. When the Yanks approached our camp at Eichstatt about 6 weeks ago, we were marched out south for about a week. However they relieved us on April 29 and yesterday I was flown out of Germany. We got a wonderful reception at this end. No sooner had we stepped out of the plane when a Corporal came up, assisted us to stack our kit and off we went for tea and biscuits. The change of atmosphere and treatment was so sudden it struck me tremendously. The day before I was sleeping in a barn, scrounging for my food from the wretched local householders and yesterday I was handed tea, biscuits, matches and cigarettes by a charming girl, and I sat down to gather my bewildered wits. (My God, the girl apologised for only having a certain brand of cigarette).
You know, it is an odd thing, but I have been more impatient to get home since I was liberated than I have been in all the time of my captivity. I suppose that now it is possible, instead of something that is going to happen in the uncertain future, I have no fetters to my feelings in the same way there is no wire round myself.
The air journey itself was a momentous one for me. Whilst I was actually in the air, the pilot handed me a pair of ear phones which I put on. The first thing I heard was Big Ben striking 3 o'clock and then came Churchill's voice to announce the end of all this. It is a moment I shall never forget in my life. Shortly after I myself had actually flown out of Germany and was still in the air, I heard the announcement that there no longer existed an enemy country.
Now to complete the picture I look forward to the thrill of setting foot in England and meeting my family. Gosh it's going to be so wonderful but very trying on my feelings. Still it's going to be the pleasantest ordeal that I could possibly go through.
Well Jean it shan't be long before I bring the family up to see you and Auntie. I hope you and she are well and cheerful.
Cheerio for now Jean, give my love to Auntie and thank you ever so much for what you did for me as a Kreiger. Your loving cousin, Ian.

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