(note new APO nbr)

July 31 1944

Dear Aunt Harriet,

I received your letter of 7/18 two days ago.  You and Dad (Her brother) would have enjoyed the experiences I had recently.  I doubt that you have ever heard of Abergavenny (Wales,)  It is a small but old town, having existed since the Roman occupation.  Remains of its Norman castle are standing.  Recently, I was conducted about the old church, by the Vicar. For an hour I soaked up antiquity. The church was originally a priory church, first stones laid 1130AD. The sturdy stone +lantern tower dates from the thirteenth century.  The remainder of the church is of much more recent date.  When Henry VIII took over the churches the church was given to the people of the town.  I saw the box like coffins with stone effigies on top of many of the lords of Abergavenny going back to the Norman conquest.  One such coffin had the figure of a young woman on top.  The figure had what appears to be a squirrel in hands. According to legend she met her death by falling from castle wall while running after her pet squirrel- her name Eva de Braosey, daughter of a one time lord of Abergavenny. She obviously descended from the Normans.  Other lords of the region were named Herbert  & Pembrok. On second thought the latter is a title. After the talk with the vicar we went outside. He smoked his pipe with tobacco I offered him, bid me farewell, and then sped off on his bicycle.  I walked thru the narrow streets and around the castle wall. – Rest assured I am well and doing all right.  lots of love to all – Carl