Dearest Emmie

The batt is now up the line and we are at what is known as “details” that is where all the surplus men stay and if required up the line through casualties occurring they are sent up. I think I have got rid of my influenza now; I have just a cough left that is all. It don’t seem to be flying about now like it was, hundreds of men went in hospital with it and I could have done if I had liked but for one thing I didn’t want to and our Major didn’t want me to either. We have lost our Colonel I think he’s got a staff job in Blighty at any rate nobody will mourn the loss. What do you do with yourself of an evening now you must feel lonely. I think I would play the piano to pass the time away. I don’t have anything to do of an evening here so the time drags to me now at any rate its better than being up the line. I dare say I will see Charlie Gibbs in a few days time and then I will be “thumbs up”. My friend Bert Thorne has not come out of hospital yet with the “flue” he has been away about eight days quite a long time. I had a letter from Mum at Battle today but of course she is in London by now. This is too late to send today so I thing I will wait until tomorrow and I might have a letter from you by then.

It is now tomorrow morning or rather the day after yesterday and we have had our usual practice. I haven’t received a letter from you today because the post is not up yet but I hope to have one when it comes.

Is Mr C. back to work yet. I suppose his better half has returned to duty now. Old Jerries’ airmen dropped some leaflets over our line I think they were meant for his own men, printed in German and saying how we have utterly lost etc. etc. I think old Fritz will have to wait a long time before he wins. Well my dear I will now conclude

With Fondest Love

From Yours Ever Will

Dearest Emmie

Yours to hand of the 21st & 22nd inst. I have just got over a second dose of influenza and I hope I am quite free from it now. I did not [censored] doctored myself on hot bread and milk which I think is about the last thing to bring a high temperature down with. Well I don’t think I will stay any longer on the subject of the “Flue”: or I might develope it upon myself again. It is strange that you should send that rose the same day as I sent one to you, twin though what? I will get my photo taken if I find a decent place but I havn’t seen many good examples yet. I heard from F. Champ the other day and he says a lot of his chums have the “Flue” “Yours [ ] F.” and that’s about all he wrote. You know he had secret designs on E.V. once upon a time if that’s the girl you allude to, at any rate she’s a straight forward object literally speaking for one to make “designs” upon. Hard luck on Mr C. having the general complaint especially under the circs. I suppose that book is by the same man I forget his name now. It might not appeal to you as it did to me but I found it interesting. Well my dear I must perforce close now

With Best Love

From Yours Ever Will xx

Dearest Emmie

In answer to yours of the 14th,17th & 18th inst and thank you very much for parcel received yesterday. The contents were tres bon as usual; please thank your Ma for making the cake for me. I am much better now than I felt the other day. Bert Thorne my chum has gone to hospital with same complaint but it generally only lasts about four days so I hope to see him again soon. I received the drums from Dad this afternoon. Dad told me Mr Westfold was a prisoner in Germany and I am sorry to know that he is wounded and hope it is not serious. Tell Mrs Todd to write to the “Officer Commanding” George’s company and he might be able to give her some information; I hope he is alright. I wrote Mr Warder about a week ago as I dare say you know by now. You said nothing to me of motoring in any previous letter to 17th and I would sooner that you stayed where you are but as I know that you have been wanting to get away from the office for some time for some reason or other I don’t suppose my advice would hold much sway. The weather has turned cold here last week and we could do with blankets especially with stone floors. Do you know how much the organ fund has risen to at all. Well I must now conclude

With Best Love from Will xxx

Dearest Emmie

Just a few lines to let you know that I am still going along fairly well. I havn’t heard from you for four days but I suppose I will get two or three together perhaps this afternoon. I don’t feel like writing much as I have a touch of the “flue” but I will be alright in a few days. Perhaps you have heard about it, it only lasts about three days. It tried to rain this morning but the sun prevailed and is now shining strong. I have seen C.G. two or three times since he has been down; he is a stretcher-bearer and his chum is also who was in the 52nd band. I went to the pictures last night and they were alright.(3d) I have seen much worse in London. Well my dear I must now close to catch the post

With Best Love from Will xxx

P.S. Please remember me to your Ma & Pa and also the boys.

Dear Emmie

Yours to hand of the 7th & 11th inst; the former went up the line therefore I got it late. I saw some Ryl.W.Kents, this morning so I hope to see C.G. this afternoon. I am sorry but I havn’t a photograph of myself or I would let you have it. The only thing I could suggest is for you to get a reduction of the head and shoulders of that one of me in my sports jacket, at the “M.S.A.” they could easily do it. So sorry to hear you couldn’t be spared for a few hours on the R.B.F.D. What was it in aid of you didn’t say or I might have known why the soldiers refused to buy a flag. I hope that Mrs Todd has heard from George by now I don’t know where he was. I believe leave has started but not in our battalion yet. No doubt it will start soon if old Jerry doesn’t push too much. I did not find Mag: enclosed and I did not expect to but of course you meant that you were sending it along, yes no? I will write to Mr Warder soon perhaps tomorrow. It doesn’t seem a year ago that I was at Aldershot, can you remember the time I had to do the gallant and carry you through all that water? well I wouldn’t mind doing it again. I dare say the evenings do seem long for you, it doesn’t get dark till about 9.30p.m here I suppose it is the same at home. I hear Mabel has returned home again I suppose it meant her getting up too early or else she was too far away from Will. Has he joined up yet. I saw C Giles this afternoon and also a lot of other boys out of the 52nd Charles is a stretcher bearer but hasn’t had much of that work to do yet. I seem to be writing this letter in bits; we have just had tea, bread and marmalade. You know before I joined up I didn’t like jam or marmalade on bread but I have changed my taste now. I have just found out what has been the matter with my nib lately, it has been too far away from the ink feeder to allow what is known as “capillary attraction” to take place, which makes the ink flow; got me? I think I will pack up now as I am going to write a letter to Mr Warder so bon nuit

with Fondest Love From Will xx