Dear Emmie I havn’t had a letter from you since Christmas eve but will try to write something. We (the drums) had our Xmas dinner last night and I am pleased to say it was a complete success. I think 27 in all had dinner but there are about 10 away on courses and in hospital etc. We had a comic out of one of the concert parties and he kept things lively. We borrowed a large room (Estaminet) and also a piano for our Brig. orchestra. We had two turkeys, meat and veg, and fruit and custard second course; it was très bon. There were plenty of drinks and cigars and cigarettes so you will guess we had a lively time. I was one of a few who knew what I was doing near the end. I guess some of them felt the power of weak French wine. We had dances and songs and I played most of the time. We finished at 10.30pm and I dare say we won’t have such an evening in the Army again unless we are here for next Xmas. One of the drummers is going home on demobilisation staff as he is an old soldier: not a bad job. It is surprising the number of people that attend church in France they seem to come away in mass formation after nearly every service. I was not able to attend the service this morning as I am on guard but çe ne fait rien (as is on everybody’s lips for everything. (ça le guerre.) I would like you to get me a nib for my pen please as I can make nothing of the one I have now. [crossed out] I would like on a shade finer s’il vous plait. I will close now hoping to hear from you soon. Fondest Love From Will xxx
28th December 1918
Dear Emmie Christmas is over for you now and I hope you enjoyed yourself, of course I wish I had been with you but perhaps I will be with you for Xmas 1919: at least I hope so. We had a fairly good dinner on the 25th but ours (the drums) is coming off tonight. I am looking forward to a good time and will let you know how it went down when I write next. I havn’t had a letter for a few days now but hope to get a short epistle today. I had one other Xmas card besides yours and that was from Chigwell. It’s a good job I sent them one. It hasn’t stopped raining here for two days now so you can guess what its like. All the gutters are like small streams. I will have to leave this letter now as I have volunteered to do “orderly man” for dinner. I have finished reading the “Vow” and also “White Dove” and I think I liked the former better although “White Dove” is a good tale. B.Thorne (I think I have mentioned him before) one of the old band boys went to hospital today with a boil. Everybody goes to hospital for the least thing now rather different than when hostilities were on. I will close now and write again soon. Fondest love From Will xx
24th December 1918
Dear Emmie Just a few lines as it is Christmas Eve and I am on guard (which comes nearly every day now) and havn’t anything to do now until 9 o’cl. I don’t know what kind of a time we will have tomorrow but I will let you know. I am hanging up my largest sock tonight but there is no chimney so I will have to leave the door open. You will be surprised to hear that I have had my watch mended. I gave it to one of the men going on leave as he knew for certain he could get it mended so I am alright again now. I think I told you that Donald went into hospital so he will not be here for tomorrow unless he is very quick now. Ho long holiday have you this Xmas? A fairly long one I should think. The various companies of this Batt are so spread out that three buglars are required. I am billeted in an estaminet for tonight and have actually a proper bed. I have only received one Xmas card so far and that is from you but of course there is plenty of time tomorrow. I didn’t send many this year, only four, I have got into a “don’t care” sort of way and take everything as it comes. Perhaps I will wake up when I get back to work. I don’t really know of any more to write at present so I will close hoping that you all have as good a time as poss. With Fondest Love From Will xx
23rd December 1918
Dearest Emmie Many thanks for such a bon parcel received this evening. I have partaken of some of its contents and find them very agreeable to my palate. It’s only two days to Christmas now so you se it has come just right. Thanks also for the card, it is “très jolie”. I hope you enjoy yourself Christmas. We filled in Army form Z16 this evening concerning civil occupation but of course that does not mean that general demobilisation has started. The name of this place is Tantignies about 8 Kilos from Tournai. I don’t suppose you will find it on a small scale map. I think the Kents are in Tournai and a friend of mine is going to call on C.Gibbs while he is there. I notice the “musical talent” it mentioned in the Mag “some talent”. My new bed-chum is a Salvation Army man juts like one of the boys in our old band, even to the point of stuttering only this one was caused by shell shock. Well I will conclude now as I have a head-ache. Fondest Love From Will PS. Please remember me to all at home.
21st December 1918
Dear Emmie In answer to your four page letter of 16th inst. I was about to go out and have a tune on a piano when I received your letter and it was such a nice one (quite a Christmas-box) and so long that I had to sit down right away and answer it. I guess your old school chum is some flapper not quite what you expected I guess; well I hope it’s not long before I can be your company once again (that is if you will have me.) I might say I am getting tired of France, or to be correct Belgium and am longing to get back to you Emmie. They talk a lot about pretty French girls, etc but I havn’t seen one that would take my fancy and I don’t think I have heard one speak that doesn’t in some way or other resemble a rasp. (Perhaps it is their gabble). So you had forgotten the lucky sixpence, do you remember the “Mizpah” you gave me. Talking about bachelor, who live the longer, married or single men? In these modern times there are all sorts of patent bed-warmers, what do you say to that. You write about men looking “mère”, in Parliament now. Mère is French for mother how can males be females. Now about this “pleasant surprise” I think I can guess what it is. I know it’s nothing to eat but perhaps it is something which by working with the feet and hands food is given to the ears. Please tell me if I am right. What did G.Todd have to get so weak on? I don’t think he starved much, did he? Perhaps he would be surprised to know that I think he came off very lucky. No doubt he could tell very good tails of the raids he has taken part in on the canteen etc. You said he limps a little, was he wounded? If so it alters the complection of the whole act. I have seen the ends of severed arteries sewn up, etc. and would not relish to be treated “com ça”. I am sorry to hear of the break between him and his girl, of course it’s the girls fault, again. I often think I am lucky to have someone like you because you would tell if you were na poo fine and I could get out of the way one way or another. There is plenty of buck-shee ammunition knocking about still. I know Mrs Sh. makes known her opinion thoroughly. I don’t know what she has against poor old Georgie but although he must take credit for what he has done throughout the war I don’t seem to be able to form an opinion on him now. Of course we donlt get too much to read here so are absolutely in the dark. You must remember me to Mrs Sh. as she inquires after me so much. So Bertie has been in the wars has he you will have to keep him in his bedroom locked up when I come home in case he gets pounding into me. I have seen the “Rouge et Noirs” concert party when we were at La Compte [La Comté]. We marched to Houdain about six miles away. I think I will go out for a few minutes now for a tune and will finish this when I come back. It is now nearly 9 o.cl. and I have been out with the cornet. A couple of nights ago we had a musical evening in an estaminet and it went own trés bon. One of the chaps was a comic out of a concert party and he kept things going most of the time (I was on the piano then.) Of course all this is very nice but I would sooner be with you (and perhaps not say a word all the evening) than be all the life and noise here. I hope you don’t get a shock when you see four pages or think it is retaliation for the four I am answering. I am not myself tonight perhaps that is why I have written such a lot; have a bit of a head ache but that didn’t ought to make me write. Well my dear I will now conclude With Fondest Love From Your Will.
20th December 1918
Dear Emmie In answer to yours of 14th inst and thank you for the Christmas Card. I think it is very pretty. By the time you receive this I dare say Christmas will be over and I hope you have a good time. I wish I could be with you, but perhaps I havn’t long to wait. We have had another little move in this village: I don’t know how long we are to stay in this place but I suppose we will be here until demobilisation starts. You must excuse the run of this letter as between nearly every word I am explaining fractions (another stop! light has gone out). We were shown two ways of proving sums this morning (French & Russian) not much use but rather interesting. The billit we were in before these were civvy’s and trois M’lles some billit. I guess you were wild about the parcel. I had one from home two days ago I guess the post office is busy. I have given my pen a clean and it certainly flows better now. Well I have no more to write about this time so will close with fondest love From Yours Ever Will
15th December 1918
Dear Emmie In answer to yours of the 11th inst. It was rather quick in coming but owing to moving I have been delayed in answering it. I wrote an answer two days ago but as it will not go until tomorrow I am writing again. From the place we have just left we were about 1 Kilo from Belgium and of course I took one or two strolls into that country. This morning we moved from Mouchin to this place (I forget the name at present) and we are in better circumstances now. I dare say you notice the diff in colour of the ink. I am now writing actually at a table and using somebody’s writing material. The people here speak French but I don’t suppose they do further into Belgium. Where did you go to with your old school chum Sat. I will be glad when I am able to take you to the Central Hall once more. I haven’t heard any good music since I left England. I think we are going to have a library and writing room here: the thing we really want is a piano – hope you have enclosed one in Xmas parcel. I had a few lines from Charles Gibbs the other day and I think he must be down the base most likely just out of Hospital as I presume he must have gone down when gassed. Donald has gone to hospital and also my other bed-chum, with a touch of the flu’ I think. I hope they are back for Christmas (not many more days now) as I think we will have an extra spread. You must be getting on quite well at singing to be pressed so much. I’ll have to accompany you when I come home. Who plays for you now? I have played the cornet so much tonight that my hand is quite shaky. I don’t think I have any more to write at present but will try again tomorrow if poss. With Best Love From Yours Ever Will xx
14th December 1918
Dearest Emmie Yours to hand of the 9th inst; received this evening. We are still at the same place and it looks as if we are to spend Xmas here. I have got over the hump and have settled down to the inevitable. We have started our classes, about one hour per day 11-12am and it certainly makes things more lively. All we are doing so far is simple fractions and a bit of reading. What I forget about is “square route” could you explain to me by a simple sum how it is done. The rations are certainly a bit better and perhaps in a way we come off better than you. When the canteen has it in we can buy Lyle’s Golden Syrup and I don’t suppose you get much of that. We can also get biscuits and sometimes chocolate and when these things are available they help us out with our rations. I do not [want] you to go without so as to send anything to me. I can guess how hard it is to get things and when I moan it is partly for the censor to read; it has made a difference and always does when we work together, “Oh this Green’n. As for being weary of writing to you I am sorry to think that you suggest it but I try to write something each time if it is only “With Love from Will”. It is impossible for you to imagine what little there is in our daily round to write about. One thing of importance is: the batt has opened a library and anyone with a book to spare gives it in and it is lent out instead of being lost. I would like you to get me a cheap edition of the “elusive pimpernel”. I have never read it but know it is good. I have read the “Scarlet Pimpernel”. I am now wanted to liven things up a bit with cornet so will write a bit more if poss tomorrow (Sunday!). I now have a book entitled “Roads of Destiny” by O.Henry. Have you read it? What do you think of our Regtl Christmas cards? We are able to but them at about ⅓ the cost price: the officers see to the rest. I am doing the duty of an organ at the church service this morning by performing on the cornet. There is a chap who sleeps two beds from me who is an everlasting grumbler he helps to make things dull. I think he is making himself ill through moping about, always thinking of home does it. I am still longing for the time when I can be with you on my leave, if it is to be my ticket first all the better. (ça ne-fait-rien). Well my dear I must close now to get ready for church With Fondest Love From Your Ever Loving Will xxx
12th December 1918
Dear Emmie Yours to hand of 23rd ult another one behind time I wonder if any more are going to roll up. I have only time to write a short letter this morning as we are tres occupè. We had some horse racing here yesterdays but it was raining most of the day so part of the pleasure was spoilt. The Middlesex band played but I was unable to go very near as I was on guard. Is there much of a shortage of potatoes in England now? Hoe is your Pa now. I suppose he is short of work but it will be a rest for him. I guess apples and oranges will be dear this Christmas. I guess my Dad (although he is a lover of oranges) will not have a 750 crate this year. I remember the time when he has scrambled them to children in the street. That struck me as being rather funny when you said you “just coughed and walked out”. I suppose you didn’t want to but the shop. If you go to the Fancy Dress Ball as Cupid, I might lose you so don’t do that. I am glad to know the organ fund is complete. I think the Mission is better off now financially than it was in pre-war days. Did Mable get that form from the Min. Of Labour is it the one they are waiting for. Have you heard any more from me lately. I think I have written more. I didn’t vote this time because I haven’t read sufficient. I might have voted for Elliott but when the ballot paper came there were two more names on it; labour people I suppose. I don’t see why they couldn’t leave the election for another year. Well I will now conclude With Fondest Love From Yours Ever Will xxx
10th December 1918
Dear Emmie In answer to yours of the 20th ult. I have had one or two letters from you dated this month and yet another came yesterday of the 20 ult as you see above. I have still the swastika and also the lucky sixpence you gave me or to be precise, the lucky sixpence which I won of you. I’ll have to wear the [swastika] on my watch chain when I get home it has been through some “stunts”. If I was to become organist at the mish I would find an assist. from somewhere. Mr Ferrow told me of the organ heating device he has to keep the damp out. Do you think I will be under anybody’s thumb even when I get home? What did Mr Howard get for a wedding present I really forget. What is it that you are going to tell me that is going to make me so surprised; I hope it is not a shock. Have you left your office yet or are you still staying on. One of the boys says that if clothes are too dear when he gets back his full dress will be steel hat, bathing drawers and spurs. I dare say I will get one leave before demobilisation but I could do with the latter premiere. Some chaps are going on leave now so as to return one day before Christmas; I think it is putting temptation in their path: of course they are punished for overstaying their pass. Some of the boys of just over 19 have never had a leave since they have been in the Army. They had 9 months training in England and never a leave and some of the poor chaps have been knocked out and their people have never seen them in khaki. What does Mrs Shovell say about the election? I suppose she doesn’t happen to give lectures on women’s suffrage. Well I will close now hoping you all keep free from the flu’. Fondest Love From Will xx P.S. Please remember me to all at home.