Ekkehard Beinssen: Letters from Tatura Camp I

Ekkehard Beinssen’s Letters from Internment: Tatura Camp I

Sections translated by Silke Beinssen-Hesse

Letter 1.

Tatura, 6.6.41

We had a good trip down, by rail to Seymour and by bus from there, arriving shortly after noon in the camp. This is a beautiful camp, well laid out and efficiently run. There is any amount of opportunity for learning, plenty of sports facilities, theatre, picture-shows every fortnight and a great selection of interesting people. So far I have spent my time greeting old friends and talking. Solti was especially pleased to see me again and so was I. He has not changed since I saw him ten years ago. Haggy sends his greetings to you and Silke and Gisela. He has become older and very white, but he hasn’t changed a bit. Nolte was pleased to hear from you and sends his compliments. I am in a hut with part of the old crowd from Orange and Liverpool and have rigged my bed next to Brose. - I see now, that it will be necessary to make a program for the day’s work and to stick to it, otherwise there is the danger of doing a lot and achieving nothing. But I am sure it will be over a week before I settle down. There is another distracting item, too. It is a cafe where one can sit and have a cup of coffee or chocolate and cakes for next to nothing and where it is very comfortable to sit and talk for hours. I am determined to finish that play and also the Arabesken and will go on with my sketching. I may also join the theatre, and apart from that I may go on with Russian lessons. But as I say , it will be hard to fit everything into a day. - Don’t forget that you have promised to write at least once a week and address them to the camp 1A (one A), as there are more camps here. Brose has joined the orchestra which is very good and there is also a choir of about seventy. So we will not go short of music as in other camps. I will write to you twice a week but letters may take eight days to get there. Please don’t forget to have Moore send me some money, as the balance in my account is only ten shillings. – Please let me know how you get on with your plans for the kindergarten for the children. The visiting facilities are said to be quite good. No chicken-wire and for the visitors from another state up to two hours the first day and on the next. It is advisable to make an appointment beforehand by either writing to the commandant or ringing Tatura 270 and asking for the Intelligence Officer. Greetings to all my sweet family and you and love to you all.

Letter 2.

Tatura, 10.6.41

My dear Irmhild. I wrote to you on Friday last. So far I have had no letter from you. I am slowly settling down after having spent practically all of the last days talking. Brose an I are hard at work on the play and we are both very enthusiastic about it. We are determined to finish it as soon as possible and I will then send you a copy. I have met a chap here who knows more about the Beinssen family history than I ever dreamed of and who not only knows heaps of Beinssens from Ramlingen, Celle etc. but also nearly married a girl by that name. I am making notes of all he has to say. One of them, Otto B., is a writer of a wild sort of novels, - I am very keen to hear from you about your kindergarten plans. Please write in detail about them. And don’t come to see me too soon, as it is a long trip and a very strenuous journey, and I want to have a lot to tell you when you come. I should say that end of August or beginning of September would be the time. I am in a hurry today, as the mail closes. You can send books into the camp but we can’t return them. So send those I asked you for,  also the one about “Bilsenkraut” etc. Love to you all and more news next time. Ekke

Letter 3 (Translation)

Tatura, 14.6.41

My dear Haseken, Yesterday your letter from the 5th arrived. Hurrah, others had to wait a fortnight for their first letter. Good that all is well and you are in good spirits even though I am so far away. I have settled down well. The camp is better than the others for working and concentrating. B. [Brose] and I have two thirds finished the drama. Tomorrow a film: Pygmalion. On the 30^th I am giving a talk about gliding. An urgent request from B. And me: Would you lend us your microscope? We would like to do some scientific examinations together. If yes, please bring it with you on your first visit. We will look after it well. Apart from that please sent: 1 bright tablecloth for the collapsible table, a few of the Welteis and Kosmos books, the photos of Ramlingen and the recorder if Gisela will lend it to me. I could perhaps play in the orchestra later on. Director Dr. Gruber of the Wiener Sängerknaben. They are currently practicing Beethoven’s 8th. The recorder is to be preliminary to the clarinet, which I would learn later. The day before yesterday a stimulating afternoon tea with Leonce [Gerhard Neumann]  who is hard at writing books. Waldhausen has received a letter from his father who visited Papa in Lugano about five weeks ago. Intend to write to him today. Also to your mother. My sport is now volleyball. My right hand is so swollen from it, that I can hardly write. But that is supposed to be only for the first few days. We had rain nearly all the first week but the sun has been out since yesterday and the weather is crisp and cold, quite energy-instilling. As soon as we have finished the drama I want to take up Russian again and then continue writing the Arabesques, so that at least a few things are finished and rounded off. All the books have turned up again, also your Thesing. Address letters to Camp 1A. Money has also arrived. Write a lot and in detail about the children. Gisela is to write too. A thousand greetings to you all and many fond thoughts. E. .

Letter 4 (Translation).

Tatura, 17.6.1941.

My dear Irmhild! I have heard nothing from you since your fifth letter. I am assuming that the reason is not that you haven’t written. I would love to hear something from you again. We are making good headway with the drama. I work on it almost every spare hour of the day and Brose too when he isn’t playing the piano or telling dirty jokes. It is going to be good. Haven’t written to Father jet as only two letters per week are permitted and I prefer to write them all to you. Next week you will only get one. Please write to Rex Hall (address in the office) if he wouldn’t feel like visiting me here. I have to discuss a few personal things with him. He is often in Seymour and it is not far from there. He is to ring Tatura 270 and make an appointment with the Commandant. You too, when you come in September. It is not advisable to come without an appointment.- Yesterday we had a marvellous lecture by Dr. Gruber about music. Sunday Pygmalion. It makes you forget the barbed wire. I am just reading Brian Penton’s „Inheritors“. Please buy me his first book „Landtakers“. – I have half finished „Grapes of Wrath“ but will have to put it aside for a bit. – I have explained the matter to S. [Simms?] and everything is okay. I have rarely met anyone who suffers so from inferiority complexes. I think our talk did him a lot of good. Heini is now making a garden for us around our hut. He is still the same strong, honest fellow. I often meet up with Haggy [Hagedorn]. Dr R. [Reitmaier] is working like mad at his Russian and is already translating the first books into Russian and vice versa. Don’t come before September. The long trip is otherwise not worth it. Greetings to all and much, much love. Your Ekke.

Letter 5. (Translation)

Tatura, 25.6.1941.

My dear Irmhild! That was an absolutely marvellous birthday surprise. Your visit was the best present you could possibly have given me. If only you hadn’t become so ill. I was extremely worried about you and still don’t know, whether you travelled home straight away or stayed in S. [Shepparton] I hope the trip was not too bad.

I won’t stop worrying until I hear that you are well again and have arrived at home safely. You should have sent me a telegram. I received your letter abut Uwe’s sickness on Monday evening. The pills will help him.  26.6.41. The Intelligence Officer has just informed me, that you have arrived in Sydney and are feeling better.’ My mind is at ease now.‘ Thanks for the call and get better quickly. – Old Mr. Brüning has been released and travelled home this morning. I am happy for the nice old gentleman. – My lecture on gliding has been postponed by a week, so Monday in eight days. Yesterday I  had kitchen duty all day, peeling potatoes, washing up, serving and sweeping etc. Now we are off for the next three weeks. – Two new scenes have been written since Monday, one by Dr. B. and one by me. Which leaves five still to be written. Send me a copy of “East and West” when you get round to it, or bring it along in August. – I am still totally under the influence of your visit. You looked absolutely lovely, in spite of your sickness, chic and sweet, and I can tell myself over and over that our love is as young and fresh as on the day we first met. That is certainly an advantage of internment. – I am writing to Gerda today so your next letter will only come the week after next. Many greetings and kisses to you all, your hugely in love with you Ekke. [transl.]

Letter 6.

Tatura, 1.7.1941.

My dear Haseken! Since your visit here, I have not received mail from you, only the telephone message that you arrived safely in Sydney. It is horrible that the mail is so slow. Yesterday we were told that all letters from outside had to be stamped. Parcels too, otherwise they are sent back. – It’s been raining for two days, horrible mud in the camp but wonderful weather for working. B. and I finished writing the last scenes today. Now it all needs to be revised, which will probably take three or four weeks. And then typing it all out. We are both very enthusiastically at work and I am looking forward to being able to send it or give it to you to hear your judgement. Apart from sport and regular walks, I have really done little else. – The day before yesterday we had an interesting lecture by Dr. Schönzeler about Russia. My talk has been postponed for a week as a result, so it’s on 7^th July. Wrote a letter to Gerda on Saturday. Pastor W. [Wittmann] has received his recorder. Gisela’s has not arrived yet. Unfortunately, Mrs. R. [Reitmaier]  and Mrs. W. [Weissenberger] have not been here since your departure, otherwise I would probably have heard a bit about your return trip. S. wrote about the photos of the children. As soon as you can, send me copies of the photos of the children that I don’t have yet. – As far as my health goes, I am very well, after I got rid of a stupid cough. By the way, is G. [Gisela] continuing to write down the sayings of the children? Bring the notebook along for me next time. – I am very homesick for you all, particularly for you, my darling. There would be so much for us to tell each other after the long separation and so much more to experience together. I love, love, love you! Much love also to G. [Gisela] and the children. Your Ekke.

Letter 7 (Translation).

Tatura 4.7.1941.

My darling! The day before yesterday, shortly after I had put my letter in the box, I received your letter of 25^th June in which you describe your arduous return journey. It certainly wasn’t sensible to travel back the same evening, but I’m glad that you arrived at home safely and are on the way to recovery. I was quite worried about you. Nothing much has happened here. Constant rain and mud. Our hut was given a ceiling yesterday and tomorrow the windows will probably be inserted. Up to now we had only shutters. We are making good progress with our play. In a fortnight it should probably be ready to type out. We have made some bigger changes. When we wrote the last act we were close to tears, it is so tragic. We are both very pleased with our work. I hope we are not suffering from delusions. – We have a belt-maker here who makes good-looking woven belts. So send me your waist measurements and those of Gisela post haste and what colours you would prefer. Don’t forget. You wrote nothing about the children. Is Uwe completely well again? And are you giving him the pills? Again and again, I look at the pictures of you all. Silke is right, Peter will really be quite big by the time I see him again. On the photos, he looks almost as big as Uwe. For Silke’s birthday I will (among other things) write the continuation of the Christmas story. In spite of my homesickness for you, I am keeping my head and my spirits up. B. and I have the reputation of being the funniest fellows in the camp. Anyway, we have a lot of fun together. – Last night I dreamed of you. It was beautiful! Many kind and loving thoughts to you all, your Ekke.

Letter 8

Tatura, 9.7.1941.  

Darling. I received your letter of 30^th June a few days ago and was so happy to hear that you are well again and to hear all the news about the children. – Sunday and Monday I was suffering from the same sort of flu you had when you were here, but with Sulfanilamid I got over it in two days and am 100 % today. It has been mostly wet weather last week. Our hut ceiling has been lined and we expect to get the windows some time this week. On Monday we had a marvelous sight in the heavens, we saw the Aurora Australis. It was best shortly after sun-down and stayed on half the night. It was the first time I have seen such a spectacle. Sunday night we enjoyed a comic cabaret, which was really very amusing, including a very good juggler and acrobat. Nelson, whom you saw once in Liverpool, of Wirth Circus, was released on Monday. And was he happy! – B. and I are hard at our drama. We are now revising the scenes for the second time and found that quite a lot must be altered. But we are getting on fine and hope now to have it ready for copying out in another fortnight. It is not only great fun but keeps our minds busy and off all the other less pleasant things. It will be ready for you to read end of august, when I hope to see you again. Don’t forget to send me “East, West” and the flute, if Gisela does not mind. Have you heard anything about Xavier [Herbert]? Where is he now? Haggy was happy that the basket was such a success with Silke. Does she remember him? – Next week I shall write a letter to your mother, so you will only have one. Don’t forget to write to Rex; he has not come to see me yet. – I am in no hurry for that book “Landtakers”, have not finished the first one of his yet, so take your time.

Love and kisses to all of you, your loving Ekke.

Have you received all my letters? They are numbered.

Letter 9.

Tatura, 11.7.1941.

My darling Irmhild! Your letter of the 5^th July arrived here in four days. I got it just after I had posted my No.8. I was so pleased to hear from you all the news about the children. – Good that Uwe is over his night-terrors. Hope that Peter is over his little troubles. Always keep some Sulfanilamide in the house in case of pneumonia. It is a sure cure. – The last two days I have had a rotten cold in the head with tantalizing headaches, which is very unusual for me. Hope to be over it till Monday, when I will hold my lecture about gliding. The play is progressing well. What we are doing now is like putting the powder, the rouge, the perfume and the earrings on a beautifully dressed woman going to a ball. But, by golly, she takes some making up! – We got the windows in today and the room is marvelously bright and for once, without draught. – I was very sorry to hear of the illness of Mrs. Ralph. Do send them my sympathy and best wishes for recovery, as I don’t want to write directly. – Please get Moore to send me some money, say £20, as soon as possible. Spent a nice evening with Reitmeier on Wednesday. Had interesting discussion about the World Ice Theory of Hörbiger, and got back my book by that occasion. It is fascinating to adapt the latest discoveries of Jeans with some of Hörbiger’s cosmic theories, which, as far as I can see, do not become obsolete. Otherwise not much has happened in the camp worth reporting. – Tonight we go to the pictures, Sonja Henia, - Don’t forget to write regularly, It is so nice to get letters from you. My longing for you all is very great. Tons of love to you all. Ekke

P.S. Don’t forget that you must put stamps on your letters and parcels.

Letter 10.

17^th July, 1941.

My dear Irmhild! I have not heard from you since last Wednesday (9^th) when I received your letter of the 5^th. This delay in the mail is very worrying. I do so hope everybody is well and that it is only due to the mail that I have not heard from you. I haven’t been too well this last week. Can’t get rid of the cold I got shortly after you were here. Still got a bit of a cough but much better today. – It’s nice, sunny weather today, first after a period of rain. – I held my talk on gliding on Monday, which was a great success. For the first time I talked without a manuscript to go by and had no difficulty at all. Had about 150 listeners. – We are getting on well with our play. Only one more scene to re-write. Will finish this week. We are both very pleased and think that we have done quite a good and definitely a big job. – this morning the tall chap, Peters, was dismissed. I think you saw him once in Orange. That is No.4 out of our hut gone home. – I received the flute a few days ago and wish to thank Gisela heartily for lending it to me. I promise to look after it well. I practice in the shower-bath, not where the water is turned on of course, a there one disturbs the fewest people. I see quite a lot of Leonce lately, who is naturally interested in our play. Only by keeping my mind occupied all the time can I forget for some time my homesickness and longing for you all. It was one year last Saturday that I am away. How much longer? It’s such a waste of time and life! Love to all of you and please write twice a week. Your Ekke.

Letter 11.

21^st July, 1941.

My dear Irmhild! After I had finished my last letter (No.10) I received your two letters of the 8^th and 11^th together. How I enjoyed them! Was so relieved that the delay was not due to illness. I think that if you write your letters in English they will arrive here quicker. – Hope you will soon hear in regard to Gisela. I would suggest to take a furnished house. I am so looking forward to seeing you all again. When you let our house, don’t make a too long lease, if possible not longer than 3 months. I still hope I may be released on parole one day, - I am sending some little wooden animals for Silke today and a hampelmann. It was all I could buy here, as I did not want to start making toys myself before I have finished the play. We read the first Act to our hut last week and were delighted with the effect it had and the praising comments. Will read the last two Acts to them this week and then give it to Leonce to criticize. Then it will be typed out and it should be ready for you when you come. I seldom have been working with so much enthusiasm and it is so marvelous how Henry and I supplement each other. I can hardly wait till I hear your comments. - Our orchestra gave its second symphony concert on Saturday and Sunday. Hayden’s symphony no.101, Beethoven's 8th and the Volkmann Serenade for Cello. It was a perfect performance and I enjoyed the music almost like in the Philharmonie. – When you photograph the children again, please make a photo of all our Heller-and-Ekke-Kunst wall-decorations in the nursery too. You can hang them together for the purpose. – I will write Silke a letter for her birthday. I doubt whether I will be able to write her that fairytale as I intended. – We are having rain and wind again! Your last letters were such a joy! Please keep it up! Love to you all and especially to our little birthday-child silke. – Hope your cough did not become worse. I am 100% again, Feeling very fit! Your loving Ekke.

Letter 12.

23.7.41

Dear Irmhild! Yesterday I received your letter of the 16^th including silke’s little note which caused great delight. I will have the belt made for Gisela as soon as you let me have her waist measurements. I am broke. So please have Hamilton Moore send me £25 as soon as possible. – I was very disappointed that you did not get the permission for Gisela. Have you thought of trying Melbourne instead of Sydney. I was told that it would be much more agreeable for you all in Melbourne, and the trip to Tatura from there is not long and not expensive. I would like you to consider Melbourne in preference to Sydney very carefully, and the permission for Gisela should be easier to get. I laughed over your description of the bargain-sale. So nice to know that the medicines seem to be doing Uwe good. Keep on with them. – We read the second act to the hut yesterday and it was also a great success and we had some valuable criticisms. Tonight we are reading the third and last Act and then comes the hardest test: Leonce! As soon as I have finished writing out the final version I’ll start translating. The time goes quite quickly by concentrating on a work like this and it makes me forget my longing for you all. If I keep myself occupied all day I’m O.K., but otherwise I’m hellishly homesick. We are still having a lot of rain, interspersed with a few sunny hours. My cold and cough have gone and I am feeling 100% again now. Please send me H.B.’s address. Give my regards to Adrienne and let her know, that I am very happy she has found someone she can love and care for. Haggy sends his regards to you and love to Silke. Sorry that there is not much of interest to write. Love and kisses to you all including Gisela, Ekke.

Letter 13.

Tatura, 26^th July 1941.

My darling! I received your letter of the 18^th yesterday morning and must say that I am terribly worried about what you write. And yet, I still have such a high opinion of the gentlemanly spirit of the Australians and of their common sense that I simply cannot believe there is any danger of you and Gisela being interned. They must know, and if they don’t, they will find out, that you both have not behaved in any way which would justify your internment. I am apt to believe that the search was only a matter of routine. I am also sure that the Victorian officials will reconsider their first decision and allow you to move nearer to Tatura, so that you can visit me regularly. – But whatever happens, take the children with you! Please don’t ever leave the children with anyone else, not even with Gisela. They are not ole enough to grasp the significance of prison and I would not have a quiet minute, if I knew that the children are not with you. I surmise that you have seen Hamilton about the matter. Let me know what he thinks. – I have not heard from Rex yet nor has he been to see me. If he should be away, ask Lumeah to come and see me. I’ll pay his fare. I would so like to talk to one of them. – Are the children over their dysentery? – Write in English and oftener, if you can find time, even if the letters are short. – Our drama is finished! Leonce read it yesterday and was highly impressed!- B. and I are very happy. My son will do the typing out. – It will take three or four weeks before I can send you a copy. – I hope I will hear better news from you soon. – All my love to you, Gisela and the children. Don’t forget to send money immediately. I am broke! Yours, Ekke

Letter 14.

Tatura, 29^th July 1941

My dear Irmhild! I received our letter of the 23^rd on Saturday the 26^th. That is record time. – I do so wish I were at home and could give you a hand with all your work. Take it as easy as possible, my dear, so that you don’t become ill. Can’t you get somebody to do the painting? I do so hope that you have heard from Melbourne positively. If Rex should come I shall have a talk with him about it too. So do not tie yourself up with a contract in Blackheath for too long. I would strongly recommend Melbourne, if Shop. Cannot be arranged. I must really give you an admiring pat on the back for the efficient way in which you do all those things which are really my prerogative. It is such a rotten feeling not being able to help you in any way, hardly with advice. I am terribly fed up with this life behind wire and I only stand it by concentrating all day on my work on the play. We have finished the first version and read it to a small group of critics on Saturday night. It took three hours and the audience was red in the face and had to use handkerchiefs at the end. They were all very impressed. Leonce gave some good advice for changes - shortenings, so that we are now using the red pencil. It will definitely be finished and copied out by the end of August. I can hardly await your comments.- I promise not to worry unnecessarily anymore. I know that the family is in the best of hands with you. You are really marvelous. – We had rain again but I am feeling marvelously well and energetic. Do you still love me? If you do as much as I do, it’s terrific! Your letters are a source of happiness to me. Love and kisses to you all, Yours Ekke.

Letter 15.

Tatura, 1^st August 1941.

My dear Irmhild! Thanks for your letter of the 26^th which arrived yesterday. I really have the greatest sympathy for you and Gisela for all the work you have to do in the coming weeks, and the two boys not well on top of it. Uwe’s behaviour shows that my strong hand is lacking in the nursery. It was lucky nothing worse happened. Don’t send “Landtakers”. I can borrow it here. – Money has not arrived yet. Please don’t forget. I have spent my last penny! If you have not yet packed the costumes for the play we wanted to do three years ago, would it be much trouble to keep them out and send them here? We can use them for our theatre here. If they are packed, don’t worry. Don’t forget to send “East and West”. B. and I are considering to make it into a comedy after we finished out drama. – My son is hard at copying it out, but he is very slow as he is just beginning to type. – I made a start at translating it yesterday, but was surprised how difficult it is. How about you two giving it a go later? Yesterday our hut was on mess duty. Washing up for 500 men. And what a mess! Our garden around the hut is practically finished and we are starting to sow the lawn and plant the flowers this coming week. Since yesterday the weather is beautifully sunny and warm. We are building a tennis court, which will be ready in a few weeks, so please send my racket or, if it is gone to the dogs, buy me a new one. Have you heard any more regarding the trouble of the 7^th? I understand, no. That is very consoling. – tonight we are going to the cabaret. – No visit from Rex yet. Have you heard from Xavier? Next week I will write to your mother. Please send Father’s address. Let me know early, whether you will be going to Balckheath or elsewhere and the new address. You must call for the film of the children in the city shop, not in Manly. Love to you all, Ekke.

Letter 16.

6^th August, 1941.

My darling Irmhild! Your letter of the 31^st arrived yesterday. I am now looking forward to hear from you when you will be coming or if. I am terribly excited at the thought of seeing you again soon but wish that you only come if you are sure everything with the children is O.K. in Gisela’s care and that you are not too tired to make the long trip. But it would be good if we could have a chat with one another. Inform me by telegram of your time of arrival. It is permitted. – We are working like hell at our play and hope to have it finished and ready for the censor in two or three days. So if it passes quickly enough, you could very likely take it along when you come. Weather is not too good. Cold, windy and intermittent rains. Take warm clothes. – If you could get permission for Gisela to go to Melbourne, I really think it would be the best, as you would be able to look for a country resort, which would suit the children better for their health, from there better than to try and go to such a place direct from Sydney. But I must leave it to you, and we can discuss it if you should come here. Whatever you decide, will be all right with me. –  There is nothing to report from here as nothing extraordinary happens except that we are working hard and forgetting everything else except our families. We have made great changes to some scenes, but now it is only copying out and correcting. Money seems to have arrived, but I have not been officially notified yet if or how much. Rex wasn’t here yet. – Love and kisses to you all, And don’t overwork yourself. Take a sleeper if you should come, both ways. Ever your Ekke.

Letter 17.

Tatura, 13^th August 1941.

My darling! It was so lovely to have seen you again yesterday. We had such a lot to talk about that I was hardly able to tell you how lovely and sweet you looked. Those who saw you thought the same and you were looking well in spite of all your work. When you left me your letter arrived telling me that you were coming and also a letter to me from your mother, which I will try and post on to you. She writes that everybody is well and that Fritzchen was with her for a fortnight and that she enjoyed having one of her children with her for a time. She is happy that Gisela is with you so that she can help you with the children and be company for you. She will write to me regularly as soon as she hears from me that I am allowed to see you or write to you, as she says it is easier to write to me than to you. She has a great longing for all of us and can hardly await the time when she may see her third grandchild Peter. Her letter was dated 19.4.41. I will write to her next week or use my second letter of this week if there should not be much news to write to you. – I read “East and West” with B. yesterday and we are contemplating rewriting it for the stage. Not sure yet, though. I will see the Commandant in regard to the microscope tomorrow. I was terribly disappointed that you were not allowed to take the two copies of our play along. While you are waiting for it read Shaw's The Doctor’s Dilemma, as it will give you some scope of comparison. – Every time I see you, my longing to be with you all grows. My love for you has never been greater. – Give my love to Gisela and the children and let me know soon, what you have decided. Yours, Ekke

P.S. Don’t sell the wine. Perhaps Büring will store it for us.

Letter 18.

Tatura  20^th  August 1941.

Last night I received your letter of the 15^th. I wrote to you last just a week ago, and sent a letter to your mother on Saturday, answering her letter. It would be very fine if you could get that house in Sassafras as it is most likely that we will sta here and not be shifted. Anyhow, make your plans on the assumption that we will be staying here. – I enquired yesterday if our play had been sent on to you and Jean and was told that it had not gone yet, as the Commandant was still reading it. So you will have to wait a bit longer yet. I am pleased that you read Shaw's play and that you were fascinated. It will give you a good comparison. There is a difference in a reading play and a play for acting. Ours is, as you will see, written as a reading play and for acting we will leave it to the producer to make cuts. Jean wrote to Henry that she can hardly wait till she gets it, too. I hope it won’t be long now till you get it. – The last two days I have been suffering from a bad abscess of the tooth. The worst is over now and as soon as the inflammation is gone I will have it out. It’s a wisdom tooth. – I am reading an interesting book which I want you to buy for yourself: “The Importance of Living” by a Chinaman Lin Yutang. You can get it from Moore’s Bookshop, 264 Pitt St.. – I have not started on a new work yet, as I was not too well these last few days. Although I was pleased that you went right back to Sydney, I was sorry that you could not see me on the way back. There are such a lot of things I want to talk to you about. But they can all wait till next time. – I hope the moving will not be too much for you both and wish you that you may soon know where you are going and soon be able to settle down. Love and kisses to all of you and let me know soon what you have decided. Yours E.

P.S. Mention on envelope when writing: Hut 32.

Letter 19.

Tatura, 23^rd August, 1941.

My darling Irmhild! Your letter of the 19^th arrived yesterday. You both have my great sympathy with all the work on your hands and everybody not too well on top of it. How I wish I could be with you and help you. I am very keen to know where you will be going. I guess it will be Sassafras after all. It would be so nice to have you near and to be able to see you and the children, perhaps also Gisela, from time to time. You surely will be happy when you have settled down again. I sent you Mother’s letter some time ago. Did you get it? – I have started drawing again and did some good charcoal sketches, which I will show you when you come. The flowers arrived a few days ago in perfect condition. They are so lovely and fill the whole hut with their sweet perfume. – the microscope has not been admitted, but we have made an official application and hope to get it yet. I am very keen to work with it. So is Henry. I have not heard yet if the play has been sent or not. So sorry to have to keep you waiting so long. We are having rain and mud again since yesterday. My tooth abscess is better and next week I’ll go to the dentist and have it out or filled. It was the worst I ever had. – Tonight we are reading the play again to a dozen interested people. How we would love to be able to read it to you both and Jean! – I think we will soon start on rewriting “East and West”. – Don’t buy “Importance of Living”. I finished it and find that it has great lengths and repetitions. Have you heard from Xavier the infidel? Where is he now? – If Brüning won’t store the wine, store it at the office. – I look at the photos of you and the children over and over again. Oh, how I love you all! – Keep fit and healthy and you remain as lovely and sweet as you were, when you were here last. You looked so charming. Really, I feel as if I had only just now fallen in love with you for the first time. Will it be long till I may return to you? – Love and kisses to you all including Gisela, yours Ekke

Letter 20.

Tatura, 26^th August 1941.

My dear Irmhild! Since I received your letter of the 19^th last Friday, I have not heard from you. I am very keen to know if you will be coming to Victoria or not. Hope to have a letter tonight. I do so hope you are all better again, you with your lumbago and Gisela with her hip as well as the boys. My tooth is 100% again and I will be having it out next week. – I have begun doing a lot of sketches again lately and think that I am improving. It is great fun and I am looking forward to showing them to you, pencil and charcoal. – We have been thinking a lot about our comedy “East and West” but so far we have not yet found the right enthusiasm for it. So I think that I will go on with my “Arabesken” for the time being. The weather is fine again and we are starting again to fist-ball. Last weekend we had pictures: “French without Tears”. It was very jolly but I enjoyed the play at the Savoy much better. I had to think of that nice evening all the time. How beautiful it will be when we can go out together and enjoy a play or the pictures again together. Sometimes it seems to me that this terrible war will never stop and yet: one day the gates will open and we will be able to walk out. It will be like starting life all over again. If only one knew how much longer! – Don’t forget to tell Hamilton to send me another £20 middle of September. – The description of the house in Sassafras sounded very good and I do so hope that you will be able to go there. Please let me know your plans as soon as you can. And don’t forget to have copies made of the film of the children and you. Photos mean such a lot to me here. – Pardon this letter, but nothing much has happened since I last wrote to you. Love and kisses to you all. Your Ekke.

Letter 21.

Tatura, 29^th August 1941.

My dear Irmhild! Your letter of the 23^rd arrived yesterday. Many thanks. I take it that you have received permission for Gisela to move to Victoria but that you lost the nice home you wanted to take. Is it right that you are going to take the one that Arthur found for you? Or what are your plans? When will you be ready to move? I was so pleased that the boys are better again and hope that you have lost your lumbago in the meantime. I am so looking forward to your coming to Victoria as then I will see you oftener. – We were informed today that our play will very likely not be let out of the Camp. This is a terrible disappointment to us, as we so much wanted you and Gisela to read it and give us your opinions and criticisms. But it is not quite certain yet. There is still hope. We have done a lot of shortening and correcting of it lately and now I am starting in earnest with the translation. It is great fun. I have been doing a lot of portrait sketches lately and am improving in style, resemblance and speed. Yesterday I played my first game of handball (different from fist-ball) and noticed that I am getting older and short-winded. Still we won 5-1. My legs are all stiff today. – I also was of the opinion the Mother’s letter was lacking in facts, but think she first wanted to see whether she gets a reply. I will write to her regularly every 14 days, or to Father. Another letter is due next week. – Henry saw the Official Visitor in regard to the microscope, but so far it has not been passed. Should they not let it in, I’ll get them to hold it till your next visit for you to take back personally. – I do so wish that you may soon settle down in your new home and that you will then have an opportunity to take a good rest. – I love you as ever before and send you and Gisela and the children all my love and many kisses. Yours Ekke.

Send a wire when you leave and give your new address, if possible a week before, so that letters won’t be delayed.

Letter 22.

Tatura, 2^nd August, 1941.

My darling Irmhild! Since your letter of the 22^nd I have not heard from you and don’t know where to look for you in my thoughts. Have you already moved and if so whereto? Hope I’ll hear something tonight. – there is not much to report from here. Weather is fine, and I am doing the translation, apart from my daily sport and walks. One day is so much like the other that it is hard to remember them looking back. 

Gerhard read a comedy he wrote lately to a small gathering last Sunday. Sorry to say it was a complete flop. He tried to imitate Büchner but didn't get  anywhere near him. I was so sorry for him as he thought such a lot of his work himself. Hope you won't say the same of our drama when you see it. No decision yet, if it may be sent to you or not. It is such a pity as we would so much have liked to hear your criticisms. – I am writing to Mother again this week but will wait till I hear from you about your plans for moving, - I just read Loens’ “Wehrwolf”. A beautiful story of the Lüneburger Heide in the 30-Years War. It plays all around the villages we came through in 1938. I am also reading the plays of Sir james Barrie. If you can buy a copy, I would like to give it to you instead of the Chinese book. They are excellent and there’s a lot to be learned from them. – Tell Hamilton to send me £20 or 30 now as , as it seems that it takes time to arrive here. – I am so longing for you all again and to see the children. It is awful how I have lost contact with them and they with me. You both must talk a lot to them of me, so that they won’t forget me altogether. – I am drawing quite a bit now, as the Anthropologist here wants me to make drawings of special types. – A whole heartful of love and kisses to you all, Thinking of you all the time. Your Ekke.

Letter 23.

Tatura, 5^th September 1941.

My beloved one! This week has been a happy one as I received your two letters of the 27^th August and 1^st September with the nice photos of the children. And your last letter was so sweet. I don’t remember what I wrote in my letter No.20 to which you refer. But pleas don’t think that I am letting my head droop, even if I do sometimes write that I have a great longing for you all. That longing will never go, but whatever happens, I’ll always keep my tail up and you can always find me active and merry and with spirits up. What worries me most is that you have all the work, worry and responsibility on your hands and that I can’t help you in any way. – Although I do think that it would have been better to come down here, I can understand your reasons for going to the Blue Mountains, and it is O.K. with me. I am so pleased that you have found a place that suits and I think it will do the children good. Before you come and see me, take a good rest and recover first from all the work, as you seem to be very run down. – We have been informed that our play has been sent off about a week ago. Have you received it? I have such a lot to tell you when you come, things I have been thinking of but which would take too many lines in this limited space. But everything can wait. You say that the owner of the house in Wentworth Falls wants to sell the place. Would it be a proposition to buy as an investment? If so, I would like you to discuss the matter with Hamilton. – I loved the photos, mainly those of Silke. – I have almost finished translating the first Act. It is really fun. I am feeling very well and energetic lately and only wish I could use some of that energy to help you, - Am writing to your mother today. Will confirm her Red Cross message. – Are the children well again? And you? – Love and kisses to you all, darling. Yours, Ekke.

Letter 24.

Tatura, 9^th September, 1941.

My dear Haseken! Since my last letter I have received no news from you, but expect to have a letter tonight. – On Sunday Dr. Haslinger's birthday was celebrated with a very witty and clever parody of Faust. It was very amusing but not always fit for ladies’ ears. I seldom laughed so much during my internment. It was written by Dr. Gruber to fit the conditions of the camp and everybody's leg was very cleverly pulled. Must tell you about it when you come. - We had a terrific sandstorm yesterday, which luckily passed over us in deep red clouds. Only a few big drops of rain, as red as blood, came down, just enough to dirty windows and everything. It was a great sight and was like the smoke from a volcano. – We’ll have to expect more of that during the summer. – How are you getting on with your packing? At what price do you intend to let the house? The season is a bit early yet for the seaside, but later we will have no difficulty to let the place at a good price. You can ask more for the holiday weeks in December. – Has Hamilton sent money? – Somehow I have the feeling that I may soon join you in Wentworth Falls. There are persistent rumors in the Camp that the Australian born and naturalized may be released. But it might be, and very likely is, wishful thinking. But wouldn’t it be marvelous! – I have been feeling very alive and energetic lately. Brose and I are still great pals and we have had some very stimulating talks together and with others lately. Am proceeding with the translation, did some writing and drawing as well as sports. Tennis courts not ready yet. – I so enjoyed your last letter. It was so warm and sincere, and I felt so strongly how much you love me. Do you want me to address my letters to Wentworth Falls directly or shall I send them via Hamilton? Let me know. – Love and kisses to you, my dear, and the whole happy family. Are you all well again? Yours Ekke

To be continued.