Author: Sheetar

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.

Well, just when I thought the one letter from Michel Lefebvre in France was a one-off, I found two more, one of them is here.  The postmark on the envelope indicates it was sent from Bourges in Cher, France on 14 March 1951.  Two 15 franc stamps are on the front.

Here’s a transcription of the letter, to the best of my abilities.  Spelling and grammar errors left as they were written.

Dear Clarice,
I remark since your last letter there are many things changed while your patient Jud Westover is died and you have a new job.
Between this time, I leaved Percy Hospital near Paris where I have spent four months, for the Military Hospital of Bourges in the department (district) of Cher.  I am separated of Paris from two hundred kilometers but chiefly I had rather to rest in a special house or at home and I might be glad.  It’s raining since a week that I am arrived and after the people say: the weather will not change afore one or two months.
My illness is not worse, I am spending all day long between rests of two or three hours and small activities such as reading, walking limited by walls of the hospital, inside games and hobneys [?].  I have not any treatment, I like very well this and I feel better.  I do not know how many long I am about to stay here but I wait principally on my boxes a departure in a time so that [this?] possible.
I went in Borgest next Sunday, it is an old town with irregular paving stone streets, the cathedral dating in the Middle Age is in good state what is astonishing with the two international conflicts, you might see it from the card that I like is in the letter.  Borges has a great historic past, it was a royal town with Louis XI’s [crowd?] and Jacques Coeur the famous treasurer.  In spite of this there are more squares and gardens what turn over the aspect of the town.
I hope that your job is liked by you and I wait the pleasure to read you.
Your Sincerely,
Michel

Michel did enclose a postcard of the cathedral which was kept with the letter.  Apparently Clarice told him about Judd Westover, who I believe she cared for after high school and before her career as a nurse.  I remember going through a box of photos with her once and she pointed out the Westovers, and I *think* that photo exists in the collection on my hard drive somewhere.  If I find it, I’ll put together a post and update this post as well.

UPDATE: Information/photos found, and that post will be coming shortly, here – https://www.sheetar.com/2024/02/19/the-westovers/