Latvian letter translations

[Cippy72]

Hello All,

Is there anybody who can translate Latvian letters (dated between 1933 and 1939) ?

Best regards,
Chris

[Cippy72]

Here's one letter, from Janis Bertelsons to his brother Peter Brant in Sunderland.

Online translator gives me:

Kirbelji 12.10.1939

Mans milais maigais brali !

Manu nobedajies par Tevi kad vairs no Tevis nevaru sagaidit vestules ne zinu ka Tevim iet vai monos zindinvar Tevi atradis pie dzirajiera vai ne esi jau no miris nu tad ari nor nevirna kas man pazino.
Ja vel sanem so vestuli tad iepaziesties ai va dien Latviesiens Sunderland kad ai Tevim kas ni tier kad Tava sievina caur hetrieti vai man pazinot.
Citadi es ne no nezinu.
Nu jau aiz braukšana nekas nesanak jo sakane ai kara darbibu vie apstajos.
Vai Tani deli ai kasa ieraksti ?
Linu ka tu slinirgi ar kugi var but kad ir pralik tinajus un bij ja no mirst.
Man nekas sevi fricis nav ko rakstit dzeraju vel lefiat Kirbelas pie tas gan vel nf jiesas maksa lielas algas bet ka nu vais kad agraki ne camu iegiem mantu tad tayad jau par velu.
Ar mirana un zem udenem jura pelna nar vai nikalola brauzianu vas savienste a lielu siaku.
Milai bralit ja vel esi dzeris abrakti man.
Sirsnigs sveiciens Eleli un vesai Tavai famelijai.
No velu Tev spirgtu vaselibu Tavs Tevi mildams bralis Janis.

Tagad jau velitiels laikam iet caur Lriedryu


Kirbelji 12/10/1939

My beloved gentle brother!

My woeful about you when there on you can not wait for letter to not know that Tevim go or mono zindinvar found you at dzirajiera or not you have already died from either NOR nevirna then also what I did.
Where else received this letter then iepaziesties ai va a day when Sunderland Latviesiens ai ni tier Tevim that when your sievina through hetrieti or notify me.
Otherwise I would not know of.
Now in its driving behind you just can not because she forwarded under the operation of the war vie stopped.
Tani ai deli or scratched records?
Flax that you slinirgi the vessels may be when a pralik tina and had provided the dying.
I have nothing myself not to write jerry drinkers still lefiat Kirbelas at it yet nf jiesas charge high salaries but that either vais time in the past, not the property of camu iegiem tayad too late.
By Miran and below the sea udenem earn NAR or nikalola brauzianu savienste vas a great siaku.
Mila brother if you're still drunk abrakti me.
My sincere congratulations for your cool and Eleli famelijai.
Of late you brisk vaselibu you mildams Your brother John.

Now velitiels time to go through Lriedryu

[copperbeech5]

Hi Cippy72,

I have begged a favour from a friend, and the letter translation is as follows:

Kirbeli 12 - 10- 39


My dear only brother!

I’m saddened about you because I cannot expect letters from you with news of how you are or if this letter finds you alive or dead and there is no wife to inform me.
If you receive this letter, then befriend some Latvians in Sunderland, so if anything should happen to you, then your wife via a Latvian can let me know, otherwise I know nothing. Now with travelling nothing is happening because of the war, everything has stopped. Have your sons also been called into the war? I know you/they (?) were ill with stomach problems, maybe you/they (?) have deteriorated and perhaps died.

I don’t have very much to write, I am still living at Kirbeli. I would like to be by the sea where wages are higher, but what now when it is too late. Submarine wages not what they were.

Dear little brother if you are alive please write to me.
Dearest wishes to Ehbel and all your family, I wish you good health – your brother Janis who is searching for you.

Letters are now probably going via Sweden.

Hope that helps!

Copperbeech5

[Cippy72]

Hello copperbeech5,

This is absolutely amazing!
Thank you and your friend sooooo much!

These letters to my great grandfather are very important to us, as he left Latvia when he was young and we never knew about his real family in Latvia, and maybe there is a chance to find living relatives!

Is there any chance to ask you friend for other translations?
Maybe on a more private basis?

Thanks again!
Best regards,
Chris

[copperbeech5]

Hi Chris,

Thanks for your lovely reply!

I can ask my friend, and see what the reaction is - no harm in asking!!  Er, just for the record, how many letters are we talking about?

Best wishes,
Copperbeech5

[Cippy72]

Hello copperbeech,

Thankyou for asking your friend!
I think there are 3 letters, have to check when I get home.

regarding the first letter:

we thought my gr-grandfather had at least two brothers, but the letter says "only brother".
It could be possible that his other brother had died.
And I believe Janis worked for the Latvian railway, not submarine.


could you please ask your friend if possible to double-check the translation?

Best regards,
chris

[copperbeech5]

Hi Chris,

Well, I have mailed my friend, and will get back to you as soon as I have news.

Best wishes,
Copperbeech5

[Cippy72]

Thankyou very much copperbeech!

Here is a photo of Janis from 1938, who wrote the letter!

Best regards,
Chris

[copperbeech5]

Hi Chris,

I have PM'd you!

Copperbeech5