I *think* this is the last of the three letters I have from this French soldier. To recap, I randomly found a letter from a French soldier sent to grandma just after the end of WWII. I’m not sure if they were penpals set up through school or a letter writing program, but they’ve been interesting to read through! This letter is addressed to grandma, postmarked on 28 May 1951, sent from Cabrai, France. Two 15 franc stamps are on the envelope. The address of the sender on the back is 6 Rue de Noyelles in Cambrai which doesn’t seem to exist at this point, or the street numbers changed because it resolves to a cemetery on Google maps.
Michel numbered his pages here – this was one sheet of paper folded in half, so it’s handy to have the numbers to identify the order that he wrote! A transcription follows, keeping any spelling and grammar errors as written.
Cambrai, May 28, 1951
Dear Clarice,
I have leaved my last hospital there is a fortnight so as to reach my home for three months. I am better and take again a normal activity.
I used to work about practical instruments or study the aerials realization like radar or television aerials.
Last Sunday I have visited the International Textile Exhibition in Lille where twenty four nations were represented such as: England, Germany, U.S.A., France, Japan and so on. I have remarked horizontal and circular looms. It was very interesting by the demonstrations given by the clerks. One hand this exhibition was really successful chiefly if we examine the amount of commercial profits and the orders asked, the other hand this manifestation has showed the realizations of different countries and make us in knowing them best.
Yesterday the Harlem Globe Trotters matched in Lille against a French basket team and on American university teams but unhappily tonight not go there.
I am about to go and see an aerial rallye in Bondues airfield near Lille where the Letempes [??] Patrol with its vampires and Belgian, Dutch, British squadrons will evolve.
I enter into partnership with your hopes about driving liscences and I wish you good luck. When your building will be ended up you will be happy in living inside some delicious and quiet hours, this will be with a great pleasure I shall learn it.
It seems in your last letter, you lose heart yourself about war and international events! Be not so pessimist or as we say in France, literally. See not the life is black. Many people see also the danger and also they are affrighted but fear begets wisdom and prudence. Let us remember the horrors of precedent war.
What this word reach you in good health and good wishes granted.
Yours Sincerely,
Michel
It’s always interesting to get a glimpse of the letter this one is responding to. I think every time I’ve found any kind of letters in a collection found when someone has passed away, it’s always just the one side of the conversation, but sometimes there are responses to questions or comments on the content of the prior letter written to the sender. If I find more, I’ll definitely update this post with links to the rest, and the Michel Lefebvre tag will lead you to all of them.