Dear Emmie Thanks for paper and letter received this evening; it has taken two days to come. I have had a very hard day today and do not feel like writing a letter so will answer yours tomorrow. Hope you are quite well, Best Love From Will x
Dearest Emmie Yours to hand of the 5th inst it takes two days for a letter to reach me from you now because of the changing at Cromer. We have had one bit of hard luck here, one of the boys has been taken to hospital with stomach trouble. About six months ago he was poisoned with rabit and he has never been right since. Is the organ at the Mission playable at all because I want a tune when I come home. I would like you to take me to the pictures no doubt it is a nice place. Is W.S. quite alright now or does he still feel the effects of the gass. If I was to get measles I might get a few days leave but I have got to get ‘em first. Where do they sell it? I am sorry that you lost the brooch but these things will happen and its no use crying over “spilt milk”, as long as you don’t lose yourself I don’t mind. I have seen one or two damsels in my travels, (hm sounds good) there was one in this house when we came here but she has been found out and is in a safe place now. No wonder murders are commited. (I hope you like mysterys). I sent you the “goss” this morning let me know if it was broken won’t you. I couldn’t register it because I hadn’t any wax. I am not blowing my teeth out on the contrary, I have four more just cutting. There has been a good exhibition of flying today and of dropping bombs and also artillery action. One airman stood right out on the front of his machine and waved his hand, it is a wonder some of them did not have an accident through their great daring. The figure reached now is £17,000 and I think it is excellent for such a small place. Well my dear I will have to “pack” now as the light is fading. It is just the kind of light I like when you are with me but you like such a bright glow don’t you. I am playing the piano in the orchestra tonight at 7.ocl. so au revoir my sweet damsel. Fondest Love From Will .xxxxxxxxxx PS. I feel all over alike, you know; ever been like it?
Dear Emmie This is a photograph of North Walsham parish Church Tower. I did not have a chance to look at the organ as expected. Love From Will. xx
Dearest Emmie Yours to hand; thanks for the Mag: and paper. I feel sure I wrote you more than once last week, of course you have received one from me by now; written Monday. I am glad to hear Will Sharp is home, will you ask him to write to me so that I may know his address. I heard from F Champ today and he is still the same as usual. I am not surprised to hear of H. Chapman’s promotion for I fully expected him to get on well. Once he said he would like to take me as his servant only I wasn’t old enough then. I wish I was coming with you to Emanuel can you remember last time, it doesn’t seem so long ago and yet it seems ages. (Compre). On Friday we were told to do a “stunt” and that it would take a week but of course it sounded too good to be true. As usual there was a lot of “red tape” as to whether we should go or not as we were supposed to be firing a refresher course Monday and Tuesday. Time kept on rolling and at length we found ourselves getting out of the train at N.Walsham (Monday afternoon) to act as a source of attraction for War Bonds this Boom Week. The figure aimed at was £10,000 for the purpose of building four aeroplanes, and on the second day a sum of £13,000 is reached much to everybodys satisfaction and with a new objective £20,000. I think it is very good for a small town with the population of about 6,000. Monday evening there was a free concert (which was no good apart from the orchestra) at which there were two 15/6d vouchers given away. I picked up No73 and one of the winners was 78 but a miss is as good as a mile. By the way, have you heard that a “waac” on the knee is better than a smack on the face. But still that is nothing to do with horse racing so I will proceed. Yesterday there was a Grand Military Procession in which were Boy Scouts, the Fire Brigade, Grammar School boys, the Voluntiers and also some real soldiers. – Break for Tea – This afternoon there has been a foot ball match in aid of the same cause at which we played. On the whole we are having an easy time here and the food is better than we generally get. I told you that we were in private billits didn’t I! and they are “tres bon” with bed-steads too. We generally get up about a quarter to eight in the morn. and we have hot cocoa before we go to bed. Oh! we are enjoying ourselves. I don’t know whether to go to the sergeants’ mess or to church this evening. I had a look round the church this morning, it was built in the 1300ds and its tower has fallen down and the verger has promised to show me the organ. I am becoming quite an explorer of Churches. I hear that we are getting our final leave very soon and I will let you know as soon as poss: so as you can get some time off. I don’t like the final business about it though. I won’t know how to handle you when I come home I am getting quite out of practice. Well my dear I will now conclude with heaps of Love From Your Most Affectionate Will xxxxxx
Dear Emmie I am now at North Walsham about 15mls south of Cromer. I have a piece of Goss for you of the former place and will get you a piece from Cromer. I have nit heard from you yet but expect to by tomorrow morn; letters are forwarded on. I am in a private billet with a nice bed to sleep in. Will write a letter perhaps tomorrow. Love From Will xx
Dearest Emmie Perhaps by now you have received my card; I would have written a letter last night only I did not feel well. I think I had a touch of influenza but now it has worked off and I am my old self again. We are going to a place called North Walsham to play in front of a Tank while the money rolls in the Bank; it is lasting till next Sunday so we will have might be called a weeks holiday. I played on that four manueled organ yesterday morning and with a little practice on it I will be alright. It has about 70-80 stops which come out by pressing respective buttons. It has a fine group of solo stops and is blown by electricity. I haven’t met the organist but will have to get an intro to her. We are going this afternoon about 3 o’cl. (15.00 as the army terms it) and it is about an hours ride. (nearly twenty mls.) I do want you so much, you don’t know how I miss you, but I hope this war would end soon and then perhaps my wishes would come true. Well my dear I will have to conclude as cookhouse call. Much Love From Will. xxx PS. Please remember me to your Ms & Pa and the little branches. PSS. Have just received 5/- for last Sundays orchestra playing, it comes very acceptable nowadays.
Dear Emmie Just a line to let you know that I am going away for a week with the band for a “Tank” banking affair. Letters will be forwarded on to me. Much Love From Will. x
Dearest Emmie I hope you have received my last letter by now. I posted it as usual the same night as I received yours. We played at a Scotch concert last night and it is Officers’ Mess tonight. It is much nicer being with the band because we can have quiet feeds of a night whereas no food is allowed in the billets in the boy’s. One of our first violinists went as a first-aid man with some bombers and he was hit in the eye with a piece of bomb and it is feared he will lose the sight of it. He has done his bit in France without being hit so is very unlucky. He had to instruct the other men how to bandage him up; it must have wanted some “grit”. I would get as much practice on the piano as I could if I were you, I often wish I could play much better, as I hope to “some day”. I was told off last night for being late for the orchestra so I do not lose my old style much. I was told by the sergeant major that I would never make a soldier; well he is an old hand and I wouldn’t like to serve the years he has. I am in No.2 Com’y. C Coy. 6 platoon. recognised as very smart of course. I would very much like you to send me a weekly paper as they are almost imposs to obtain here; I haven’t heard any news for a fortnight. It was so windy this morning that it blew me over and I want some capsizing. Well my Dear I will now conclude With Love From Yours Ever Will. xxx
Dear Emmie, Dear Will 