Lance Sergeant Trevor Seymour-Smith

Trevor Seymour-Smith

 

E142

 

Trevor Seymour-Smith was, in 1940, a lance sergeant in the   Queen Victoria’s Rifles. He was a prisoner of war at Lamsdorf from 1940 until 1945. During those years he wrote more than 300 letters to his family and friends, and he made a copy of each letter he sent, in tiny, pencil writing, in little diaries and notebooks. These notebooks survive, along with some of the letters he received from his wife Joyce. 

 

Diary, Wednesday 22nd May, 1940

5 am train, Ashford to Dover. SS Canterbury about 10 am. Calais about 3 pm. Greeted by bombers.

 

Diary, Friday 24th May, 1940

Very little food, no sleep, no smokes, no beer – all very important for fighting.

 

On 26th May Trevor, along with large numbers of his comrades, was taken prisoner.

 

Diary, Sunday 26th May, 1940

Marched to Guines. No grub. Slept like sardines in cemetery. 

Diary, Monday 27th May, 1940

Up at dawn and marched to Marquise. Small packet of biscuits issued and spent afternoon in cemetery. Feet getting bad.

Diary, Tuesday 28th May, 1940

Marched to Desvres and herded into stadium. Cup of bean soup issued. Tin hat only utensil. Pouring with rain. Marched on many mile and slept in field. Wet. 

Diary, Wednesday 29th May, 1940

Marched to Hesdin. Bought raw eggs and burgundy – very nice. Only biscuits issued. Slept in large stable.

 

On 29th May 1940  Trevor wrote a letter to his wife on two sheets torn out of a little blue diary. Joyce received this more than three months later, on 3rd September 1940. This was the first communication that she had, that he was alive. Joyce had no idea how it was sent, it just arrived with the morning post. 

 

After marching 283 miles, on 20th June the men were tightly packed into railway cattle trucks and after 36 hours like this, they arrived at Stalag VIIIB, Lamsdorf, on Friday 21st June, 1940.

 

On 1st July 1940 Trevor wrote to his wife on one of the correspondence cards that were supplied to the prisoners. He said in his diary that there was only room for 112 words. Joyce received this card on 8th December 1940. She received his second card, sent on 23rd July, on 10th November, a month before she received the first one. She received his third card, send on 19th August, on 2nd November 1940, before both of the first two. 

 

1st July, 1940 

 

I do hope you have not been too worried. We crossed to Calais early that Wednesday morning, went straight into action there and after five hectic days practically the whole battalion was taken prisoner on Sunday 26th May. Moore was badly wounded. Have not had any opportunity to write before. Since capture we have been continually on the move. Now in an official prison camp and allowed to write. Conditions good and I am very fit, though terribly homesick. Have a lovely cropped head and slim figure. Write me all the news darling and find out about parcels through the Red Cross. Have nothing but what I stand up in.

23rd July, 1940

A party of us have moved out of the big prison camp and are billeted at a farm in a charming village. We are just commencing to work on the farms, for which work we expect to be paid. I shall be glad to be able to buy fags and a few necessities. There are 7 QVRs in the party and we keep cheerful in spite of everything. Please send me snaps of you all as often as you can; also of Dad, father and Annie and the dogs. Mr prison number is 14041, which must be on all letters and parcels. 

19th August, 1940

Hope you are all well. I am very fit. Hope you have been able to contact the Red Cross re parcels as I have nothing but what I stand up in. I dread the winter. Send rubber boots and thick shoes. My cards are limited so advise Father etc. All love Darling, Trevor.

1st September, 1940

Darling, have done two months work on the farms and in the fields and am lean and brown and very well. Have been promoted to sergeant – pay 4 shillings and ninepence per day, but as proficiency pay of sixpence ceases with capture, additional pay only three pence. Shall be glad to hear from you and to know you are all safe and well. Send socks, shirt and warm clothes and books. 

 

9th September 1940: For some time Trevor had been on a working party in and around the villages of Kröschendorf and Dittersdorf, about 20 miles south of Lamsdorf. For several weeks they had been working in the fields – presumably this was harvest time. 

 

Diary, Monday 9th September, 1940.

Railway smash yesterday. Working till 12 o’clock. Bread and lemonade at the hotel!

 

Ealing

9th September, 1940

 

Darling,

Your letter of May 29th made me the most relieved woman in the World! I received it last Tuesday, 3rd September, and immediately let everyone know the good news of your safety. The suspense of the last few months has been very hard to bear. 

 

You will be anxious to hear all our news. I couldn’t write sooner as have only this morning received your card of 26th June with your address. We came home a week after you left and I sent the children back to school for the rest of the term. They are both fit and well and as happy as I am to have news of you.

 

The dogs miss you a lot and still wait in the hall every evening for you to come home.

 

I go to lunch with Father every week. I have given him your address so he will be writing to you himself. Mary spent a night with me a few weeks ago – all her family are well and so are Stuart and family. We have not been down to Daddy this summer but the boys are still with him and Audrey has been there for some week, to Boy’s annoyance. He is fed up with being on his own. Charles and Marjorie have been more good to me than I can tell you – I don’t know what I should have done without them. Charles saw to the building of a good dog kennel in the garden for me in June. When things settle down again we shall have to have a dog with a pedigree a yard long to live up to it!

 

Every week I go up to headquarters where Mrs Haywood holds a wives’ and mothers’ meeting, and I help her dispense teas. She is a dear, I like her so much and also Mrs Johnson, Mrs Worsfold and Mrs Chapman.

 

Is Pat with you? I have also met Miss Muriel and she always enquires most anxiously about you. 

 

Sir Kenneth wired me last week on hearing of your safety, and dear old Bailey was overjoyed. He was been almost as worried over you as I have. He came down and went through all your papers and took the responsibility of turning out what were no good. 

 

I have been to the tennis club several times.

 

Billy will be writing to you and Geoff Huddle says they all want to send you something. I have been to the Red Cross to hand in your particulars and they tell me we are not allowed to send anything except books and games at present, but that they will send you clothing and food as they know where you are. They hope that we will shall be able to send personal parcels again very shortly, and then I shall be able to send some of your own clothes. I was so worried because I knew you couldn’t have a change of anything with you. What are you doing about your razor darling? If I were you I should grow a beard until you can get another electric one! 

 

I sold your motorbike to the doctor a few days after we came home. I am glad I did now, though I was a bit doubtful about it at the time. He was going to use it to go to golf at weekends.

 

Mrs Sitton rings up occasionally and we have a chat. They all send their love. The children have written you apparently.

 

Darling, my prayers are with you day and night. May God bless you and keep you safe. Don’t worry about us.

 

All my love to you.

 

Every your loving Joyce

 

Diary, 11th September, 1940

Rain, no work. 

 

 

 

11th September, 1940

 

Darling,

 

How lovely it is to be able to write to you once more! 

 

I think I forgot to tell you last time that Tris is well. Connie went to spend a weekend with him a fortnight ago and they had a good time together. Jack spent Saturday afternoon and evening with us and I am writing to him when I have finished this to give him your address.

 

I went to W. H. Smith and Sons this morning to find out what I could send you and they are despatching a writing pad and envelopes (I didn’t know if you could get paper), four books and a card game. I hope you get them safely and that they help to pass the time away.

 

The children have a friend of Anne’s in to tea today. I don’t think you know her, her name is Joan O’Rourke, she is a year older than Anne and such a nice child. She lives over the road. They go back to school on the 19th and I think will be glad to be back again. Nine weeks is a very long holiday but they have been very good. 

 

The weather has been lovely and we have had no rain for weeks.

 

I have just had letters from everyone at Clovelly saying how glad they are to hear you are safe. The tennis club people say they are all going to club together to send you something. I thought at first I would send you a dart board, but did not know if it would be allowed. I have been so worried about your lack of clothes etc. I have an army shirt and underclothes of yours here and several other things and as soon as we are able to send personal parcels again I will see if I can send them to you.

 

Did you lose your sleeping bag? If so I’ll get you another one like it if I can.

 

Anne showed  me a letter she has just had from Marjorie. The child is dying to write to you and wants your address.

 

I haven’t heard from the Island for the last few days. Did I tell you that Daddy had another abscess a few weeks ago, but seems to be getting over it very well? Jean came to spend the day with us on Sunday. She has been to Canada with her patient and left her there and says she is thankful to get back – the heat nearly killed her!

 

I spoke to Mrs Haywood today. She says that her husband is not in your camp but Mrs Chapman’s is, and several of the others. 

 

I’m afraid I haven’t much news for you, I don’t go very far afield, mostly out with the dogs and to the town and my spare time is spent knitting and reading to the children. For months we have been knitting comforts for the many we knew must be prisoners and taken them to Mrs Haywood and she is distributing to those who cannot afford to get much for their men, so that they can send them as soon as they are allowed.

 

I am longing for your next letter darling. You don’t know how eagerly I wait for the postman now.

 

Goodnight dear heart. All my love and all my prayers are for you.

 

Ever your loving Joyce.

 

15th September, 1940

 

Darling,

 

I am so hoping I shall have a letter from you this week. I dreamt last night that you were home again. I was so disappointed when I woke this morning to find it wasn’t true.

 

I have been sorting out Jane’s clothes today and have packed up the thins she has grown out of for Mrs Moore. She has been up to see me once or twice and I think has a hard struggle to keep things going. She has had no news of her husband yet and gets very depressed at times. She often rings me up for a chat. I have had no end of letters this week, all about you. All the Clovelly people have written and also Aunt Gwen and Bea. It’s going to take me quite a long time to answer the pile. 

 

Hugh rang me yesterday to ask for your address and I sent it to Tris this week and also to Bertha, by request, so I hope you’ll get a nice lot of letters to cheer you up. They all understand that you can’t write much but I have promised to give them all your news when I hear from you. 

 

Anne has been very busy these holidays with her knitting and is really making great progress. She can make all sorts of things now and finds it more interesting. She says will I tell you that she will write to you again after she returns to school on Thursday, when she will be able to give you all her news.

 

Jane is as lively as ever and both children are very well. I wish I could send you a photograph but it is not allowed. 

 

I don’t think I told you that Colin asked me to take the children to him in June. I was very touched but didn’t feel I could leave home just then. That was before he knew about you and I have had such nice letters from him and Roma since.

 

Father gave me a lovely lot of damsons a fortnight ago, so I was very extravagant and invested in a bottle of gin and Annie has made damson gin to drink at our reunion!

 

Marjorie and Charlie were up her yesterday. I am going to knit him a sweater in return for all the good work he has done for me.

 

Daddy writes to me that Robert has been helping at the milkman’s farm during his holidays and has learnt how to milk, and is now going to go in for chicken keeping in the field in front of the house. Jane too says that she will write after next Thursday and sends you lots of love.

 

All my love to you, dearest heart. I live for the day when we may be together again.

 

Ever your loving Joyce.

 

Diary, 22nd September, 1940

Haymaking at Dittersdorf.

 

22nd September, 1940

 

Darling,

 

Anne is writing you a little letter today and Jane says she’ll do so tomorrow. They were both going to do it today but Marjorie and Charles came to tea unexpectedly so they were interrupted.

 

I send Daddy your address and he writes me that he has written to you and he also asked me to ring up one of the stores and order you something from him, so I phoned Harrods and asked their advice. They assured me that it would be quite all right to send a dart board, so I ordered one and two dozen darts from him, and I do hope you get them safely darling, and that it will help to pass the time. We still use our board here, the children are quite keen on it.

 

26th January, 1941

 

The dart board came a week ago, but no darts. Were they separate? We have improvised some and the board is in constant use.

 

I am still receiving very nice letters about you and had a particularly nice one from Illingworth yesterday. He is in Cornwall at present and I will be sending him your address. Mrs Hastings was up here for an hour this morning and dashed in to say how glad she was; the poor dear was quite overcome. 

 

Here is an anecdote about Jane. Frank was in town for an hour or two, and Uncle phoned to ask if I would go up to the Trocadero with them to meet him and have tea. Jane asked who was going so I said Great Uncle, Great Auntie, Auntie Marjorie and me. I didn’t think Uncle Charlie would go as he had to work. She said why didn’t Great Uncle work? I said because he was too old, so she replied “Oh, I suppose he gets the old-age pension then” !!!

 

Pamela is learning German at School is term and hopes you’re becoming proficient so as you’ll be able to give her some practice.

 

I have had a letter from the Red Cross saying you would now receive their parcels regularly and that if I did not hear from you I was not to worry as posts were a bit irregular. I haven’t heard this week; I was rather disappointed but it will be all the more precious when it does come. 

 

I have sent the Red Cross a subscription in gratitude for what they are doing, and shal continue to do so from time to time.

 

Do you remember sending for your tennis clothes before you went away? They turned up here last Monday! I have been making enquiries about them for months but never received any satisfaction and I thought they were gone for  good. Anyway they’re quite all right and I’ve put them away.

 

Your family and mine are all quite well darling and all send their love. You have all mine now and for ever, darling. You are never out of my thoughts and there is always a prayer for you in my heart.

 

Ever your loving Joyce

 

23rd September, 1940

 

My love to you and the children. Oh, how much I love you and pray to see you all again soon. All is well with me except homesickness. Thank God for the good company I am in. Remember me to Dad, Father and all the family and friends when you see them, and also Cavendish and keep in touch with Manchester. Can you send my Peterson pipe and Wills Cut Golden Bar, Penguin books of the semi-classic Dickens type, a cheap Bible, khaki pyramids, pullover, toilet paper, housewife, cold cream, playing cards, army pants and vests, balaclava and gloves, pipe cleaners, leather boot laces, Carter’s Elastoplast, iodine pencil, a belt, toe and heel guards, a shaving brush and a cheap luminous watch? Do keep the children safe darling and your dear self. We are still working in the fields though have moved to another village. We merely eat, sleep and work, think of the past and the future, and wait for news of our dear ones. We rest and bathe in the river on Sundays. Send as many snaps as you can dear, smokes and sweets etc. T.

 

Joyce received this letter on 21st December, 1940.

 

29th September, 1940

 

My Darling,

 

Still no letter from you, I am afraid the posts must be very bad, but I am very thankful for small mercies. To have heard at all is heaven, but I still hope for another glimpse of it whenever I hear the postman’s knock.

 

Nora enclosed a letter for you in one to me this week, so I posted it off to you and I hope you get it. While I was in the Broadway yesterday I ran into my old Miss Knight. I haven’t seen her for years but she hasn’t changed mulch except that her hair is white. She and our old matron Miss Gaskell have had a school at Harrow. I told her it was a pity we didn’t know as we could have sent Anne to her when she left Harvington. She is coming over to see me. She says she has never need Jane and wants to do so, so it must be a long time since she was here. She sent her best regards to you.

 

You will be sorry to hear that Mrs W. H. Smith passed away yesterday. I was speaking to Blanche this morning and she told me. I have just written a line to Mildred. I was going up to the club with Billy yesterday as it was the last weekend of the season, but it was so cold I didn’t go. I am meeting Blanche in the town one morning this week for coffee. I met Arthur Harvey and Bobby Builday down there the other day and they were both looking splendid. Bobby has grown up a lot the last few months. 

 

I wrote to Stella to ask her to send me some honey and it’s wonderful heather scent brings back very sweet memories. Oh darling, how I long for the day when you and I will be able to drive over that beautiful moorland again and find that vast space and sweet solitude all round us, and to drive down the hill in the evening light to our own little home by the sea; or to gallop over the heather in the morning mist.  Do you remember Lorna? I wonder if they’ve still got her at the farm! Gracie and Stanley were there for a fortnight this summer and say it is just as perfect and peaceful as it always was.

 

Jane is wheeling Shandy and her doll round the garden in her pram, and poor Shandy is looking so miserable, but he is putting up with it wonderfully well. She and Anne send their very best love to Daddy and lots of kisses. All the family are well. I was talking to father on Friday but there was no special news. 

 

There is such a lot I should like to tell you darling, but it must needs wait. My love and thoughts and prayers are ever with you.

 

Ever your loving Joyce.

 

At the time that Joyce sent this letter, they had each written five letters, but none of these letters had been received. 

 

5th October, 1940

 

Darling, I shall be relieved to know that you have heard from me and have ceased to worry about what has happened to me. The worst of this life is lack of news from our dear ones and we are praying for letters and parcels from home. Do send me news. All my love darlings.

 

24th November, 1940

 

I am the happiest man in the World. A batch of letters arrived this week and there were 7 for me. I wept when I saw your dear hand. There were 2 from you: 9th and 11th September, and one from Anne, Father, Stuart, Billy and Marjorie. I am so grateful to them all dear and only too sorry I cannot write direct. We are only allowed about three letters a month at present so until we are allowed more you must give others my news and thanks for their kind thoughts. I love hearing your news and to know that all is well. Anne’s and Jane’s messages were so welcome too, dear things. We have all visualised the knitting tea parties. You are right, Mrs Haywood is a dear – so is her husband. Mrs Chapman I don’t know, but RSM Chapman is a fine man whom we all admire tremendously. I saw him a week ago and he is looking better than I’ve ever seen him, and just as soldierly. We all hope your efforts will be rewarded by our receiving the clothes and comforts before the winter is over. Take care – love, Trevor.

 

Trevor was a Lamsdorf POW for 4 years and 7 months. In that time he wrote 344 letters. His last letter as a prisoner was written on 14th January 1945.

 

14th January, 1945.

 

God bless you and keep you safe until I come back to you, and may that not be long dear. I’ve just about had enough of this. It’s nothing like as unpleasant as 1940 but it seems more irksome. I suppose because it’s been so long. A batch of sick and wounded leave tomorrow for repatriation and a little man called Bailey will call to see you with the latest news of me. He comes from Hillingdon. Have just taken over the job as ration boss for my barrack. Another strange job for me but I like it, and outside duties are not attractive in the present weather. It is freezing cold, but bright. There is skating on the football pitch. The Yeomen of the Guard was splendid – I went last night. Cheerio my darling one – all my love.

 

A week later, on 22nd January 1945 the POWs at Lamsdorf were woken in the early hours and told to be ready to evacuate the camp. They were force-marched westward across Poland and Germany in appalling winter conditions, for up to four months, until being liberated in  April 1945.

 

26th April, 1945, Bavaria, Germany

Air Letter

My Darling,

At last I am a free man and and expect to be home between 29th April and 6th May. I will wire or phone exact date if I possibly can. Darling, it’s wonderful, but it seems so strange. I’m quite fit. The last three months have been a bit grim and I have been on the move, but more fortunate than many as I have not been on foot much. I shall have 6 weeks leave dear, plenty of time for a good rest and holiday. Will it be possible to have a car? Can you hire one or can Bob arrange something? That is of course it petrol is available. I hope we shall be able to spend a few weeks at Porlock after I have been to the doctor, dentist etc. 

My love darling, and to my big girls.

Your own Trevor.