Brief van Brigadier John Hackett aan Major Geoffrey Powell.
Na zijn verwonding en ontsnapping uit het St. Elisabeths Gasthuis te Arnhem verbleef Hackett, commandant van 4th Parachute Brigade, in Ede ten huize van de familie De Nooij. Vandaar schreef hij deze brief aan Powell, commandant van C Company, 156 Parachute Battalion.
De inhoud van het schrijven is als volgt.
Dear Geoffrey,
I hope you’re all right. This is just the merest (?) note to wish you and what remains of the battalion the very best of luck until I see you again, which should not be long now, I hope. I was very sorry not to have seen more of you & your splendid chaps during those few days before I got hit, but believe me I had my hands full moving round the rest of the brigade sector, where things were sometimes not so firm as you managed to keep them (though with practically nothing, I know, and the more credit to you) in your bit. I am not a prisoner anymore, recovering fast (a doctor 16 days ago told me my chances of living were evens, which was a bloody ridiculous thing to say, as I told him, and am in good hands. German soldiers are strolling in the street outside, but it's safe enough. Give my regards to everyone. Tom Wainwright & Adams are with about 30 odd men of the Bn at large. I exchanged messages with one Cpl? Conlon (?) which I was in hospital; he is well & had four more men with him in good heart. A man called Foster came in with a bad head injury just before I left. He will live, they say. Please put in at once, if you haven’t done so, recommendations for awards, particularly other ranks. Don’t forget St Aubyn. Good luck & see you soon.
Yours ever
JWH