Posted on by leftoverlondoner

20th August 1917

16, Tiber St
Dear Will

In answer to your most welcome etc I am pleased to hear you’ve had your tooth out. one good thing that peg will not trouble you again. Now Will, if your ma & pa say they will be coming next Sunday, they must not be put off. I shall not come if they want to, it would not be right and besides I could not enjoy myself if I knew they were stopping at home for me, and I have seen you since they have, so if you would like to please me, I ask you not to say anything about my coming, I will come the Sunday after that, Sept. 2nd. do not forget now. I shall not like it if you put them off, of course if nothing more is said, I will come next Sunday. I had a very nice time at Brighton, the weather was lovely, young Bertram is enjoying himself, he goes bathing morning & afternoon. I hope you had a nice tea at the officers club after all. Do you go to Communion every Sunday morning now? Keep in mind the nice spot you have discovered where the black-berries are, if I come Sund. Fortnight, they will be blacker still. I expect the reason you have not heard from home , is that your pa has been busy, he only came home last Tuesday & your Mother being away, she has not had too much time to share, but cheer up they think none the less about you I am certain. I am writing this letter at business so that it will catch the 12.30 post, so let me know if you get it today, last time you got it the same evening. I will now close with Best Love from your sweetheart Emmie x

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

19th August 1917

Bandsman W. Metcalfe 46534, Aldershot
Dear Emmie

I received your letter last night at 7 o’clock and also a card from Brighton this morning. I did the galant last Friday evening and had that tooth out. I didn’t do any work yesterday but I went out with the band to church this morning. You ought to see me now I look twice as fat (in the face) as when you saw me last. I havn’t heard from home for some time now so I know nothing of Mum and Dad coming down. I want you to come next Sunday and if I hear from home about their coming down I will get them to put it off for a week. Upon you alone do I rely for letters which keep my spirits up so I want you first. This time I have nearly an hour and a half for my “own dear self” to write to you so I ought to fill two pages with writing. This afternoon at 3,o’cl we are going to play at the Officer’s club and I think we get a tea so I hope it’s decent. I know a nice quiet place, where there are pleanty of black-berries, to go to next Sunday so I hope the weather keeps fine for us. Last night I went to the pictures and saw a piece called “The slave market” which was very good. I hope you have enjoyed your day at Brighton; I suppose you didn’t go in the sea again but if the weather there is the same as here you will have had a fine time. Last Sunday night we had a very heavy storm, did you get any of it in London. I do not think there is more to write now my “darling” you know how I love you so I will conclude.

With Best Love Will .

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

16th August 1917

Bandsman W. Metcalfe 46534, Aldershot
Dear Emmie

I wish my letters reached you as quickly as yours do me; because if I do not catch the 8.45. AM post you do not get it the same day. If you have not already suggested to Mabel or Will anything about coming down I might say that I would sooner have you all to myself. I will see them both when I get my 6 days leave, which I hope will not be long. I have not been to have my tooth out yet as I have really had no time. (The corporal is now having a very heated row with his best friend; it was my turn this morning and I only laughed and said “It will be somebody elses turn this afternoon” and it has come true.) I will not trouble you with our petty differences so I will go back to what I was saying. Last night there was a grand concert given, at which the General and the Brigade Major were present and also a lot of the officers’ wives. By the way I do not feel out of sorts in fact I am really a little better than I was a few weeks ago. I will try to catch the sun for once just to see what I look like. I do not want you to be disappointed in me so I will try to counteract your illusions. Hm? I am glad it was not a real said as I thought it was before I read the sentence. I do not remember a letter from Mabel; only a card but tell her I will answer it when I find it. About dealing with those claims.* (I have been to Officer’s Mess since * and now it is 9.20pm.) I have not time to say much but I would certainly take it on if I were you. I do not see why you should worry; even if you got the sack (I know you wouldn’t) you could easily get another job. Of course you will only take this on if the wages are above the average. Should you refuse I do not see what could happen, only things would go on the same. First of all I would refuse and then only with a little pressure from Mr Painter I would take a week to consider it. It is best to be diplomatic I have no more time now as “lights out” will be going so I will conclude

With Very Best Love Will xx

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

14th August 1917

Bandsman W. Metcalfe 46534, (Band Hut) 100 T.R.Batt, Albuhera Barracks, Stanhope Lines, Aldershot
Dear Emmie

I received your letter this evening so I thought I would answer it before I turned in. It is now nine o’clock. What with the bad light and everybody dancing around you must excuse writing. etc. I hope you enjoy yourself at Brighton Sunday but I am looking forward to next Sunday week. I have not had my tooth out yet as both yesterday and tonight we have had practice. I liked the cake very much thank you and my tooth has not ached since I partook of it. We are not at the theatre yet but we are full up otherwise. I do not remember the “Oh much about the same I suppose” because I was really thinking I liked you better if there is any difference at all. I suppose it is because I do not see so much of you. We went out this morning and played about five marches and got back to barracks at 10 A M and we did nothing all day until this evening: the worst of it is that we are not allowed to go out in the day time. We had a very heavy storm this morning and all the boys got wet through. The boys are turning the lights out and doing gymnastics on the roof supports so I think it is about time I came to a close

From Your Ever Loving Will xx

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

14th August 1917

16, Tiber St
Dear Will

In answer to yours. Work went down very funny yesterday, it seemed as though work & I had quarrelled, but of course we have got to be friends again or I shall starve. On Sunday I may be at Brighton I thought about going Sat. aft. And coming home Sund night, as Mother is going for the week. I have not lost all my brown yet, it seems to be more of a red hue though now, Gipsy tint, it is described. But this is all about “I” so will change le sujet. I was imagining you feeling not up to much after having your tooth out, but I hear you have not been, however I hope you will feel better than I did. How do you like the cake Will, have you had your teeth in that yet, you had better try it before going to the dentist in case, (enough said.) Are you at the theatre again playing then, if so, mind how you go on. I did not think you ‘felt less’ because you told me Sunday when I asked what you thought of me, “oh much about the same I suppose” it did not sound altogether tender, but I am satisfied if you did think the same, I know I expect a lot as you said before, but still, that is my, or one of my, many faults. Well I have no more to write this time, (Charles Hill is on leave I hear, looking quite fat & well). I will now conclude

With best Love, Emmie xx
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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

13th August 1917

Bandsman W. Metcalfe 46534, (Band Hut) 100 T.R.B., Albuhera Barracks, Stanhope Lines, Aldershot
Dearest Emmie

Thanks for letter so soon I received directly I came off parade this morning.

I saw you getting into the train from the bridge and you looked up but did not see me. I know you had some difficulty in getting in but I did not go till I knew you were safe.

I don’t suppose I will visit the dentist tonight as I have to go to orchestral practise at 6 o’cl.I am going as a cornet player but tonight I will be on the piano. There is no need for you to worry and think That I feel less for you because, (as you said) “I have known you long enough” to know your saucey pretty little ways. Well my Dear it is about 5.55. now so I will close.

With Best Love Will. Xx

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

12th August 1917

16, Tiber St
Dearest

I got home quite safe, the carriage was very crowded though. I looked for you on the bridge but could not see you, did you go on the bridge? I am writing this as soon as I got in so that you should have it some time on Monday. I hope you feel alright after your visit to the Dentist, & dear Will, forget if you can, what I said to tease you, I am sorry, I could not keep thinking of it all the way home. I thought you knew me better, however I feel sure you could not have really believed it. Well I have to run out & post this before Midnight so cannot say anymore, Good night & God bless you, my one & only Love.

Emmie x

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

9th August 1917

Bandsman W. Metcalfe 46534, (Band Hut) 100 T.R.B., Albuhera Barracks, Stanhope Lines, Aldershot
Dear Emmie

Thanks for P.C. and letter; you do not know how thankful I am for all you write to me. I am not sorry I did not join in that game while I know that you are true to me. I am not afraid of that chap cutting me out, but you must not let him “come it” too much. Does Mabel try to flirt much. How is it that this chap is not in the Army? does he say why. I am glad to hear that you went rowing but you must be careful in the sea; can’t you remember when you was half afraid to go on the Thames. I hope you don’t get your feet wet when you go bathing; I havn’t “dreamt” of your costumes yet. In the middle of writing this I have had tea and a game of billiards and beat the other chap by 104-79.Have you had any lively nights at all? Has Harry Heap joined up yet? We are playing at Officer’s Mess tonight so I will have to make haste and get ready. I also hope the weather is fine Sunday; of course this will be the last letter to Bournemouth, so I can only say that I hope you have enjoyed yourself. The other morning when we we were out we saw some bombing and smoke attacks; I suppose it will be on the pictures as “action in France”. Our boys were out practising bombing yesterday and eight got wounded and four are now in hospital.

Please excuse writing Yours for Ever With Love Will xx One for Mabel x

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