6th September 1917

16 Tiber St
Dear Will

In reply to yours, the weather is very doubtful here. I am half afraid it will be wet for Sunday, but we will hope for the best. I will come if it is not raining, I think I am too much of a burden when it is wet. No, we do not have signals when there is a night raid, that’s the worst part, we are all supposed to be under cover that time of night. I have just heard a piece of bad news. Harry Lawford has been killed in action, not long after the death of his poor mother was it? This war is the cause of some suffering. Well excuse me finishing now, I will tell you the rest on Sunday.

Fondest Love

From

Emmie.

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5th September 1917

16 Tiber St
Dear Will

In answer to yours. In the first place I expect you have heard of the Air Raid last night. We were all asleep and had to get up, the bombs did sound horrible, your people went to the tube but as usual we did not know what to do, and as Mrs Chard and Claude were not prepared we all stayed indoors until it passed over. The all clear signal was not given until about 2 o’clock this morning. Now I suppose this means we shall be sitting up until the early hours of the morning. The damage is very bad in Edgware Rd I hear, Bourne & Hollingsworth’s shop in Oxford St has caught it, and Charing Cross Rd is in a very bad condition. As usual not one air raider was brought down. I shall be pleased to come to Aldershot next Sunday, Sept 9th. I suppose that will be the last time too. Have all the band been removed to another Company and will it make any difference? Mr Clarke is on his holidays I do not think he will have another honeymoon myself. I expect you felt rather hungry by the time you got back that day, with only 6 biscuits. I think I should have contrived somehow to take something else with me.

I think I write much more in one line Will than you, perhaps that is why I have left so much paper clear lately as you say, but otherwise I cannot account for it. Bertie Cranmer is home on leave and is looking trés fit, he has plenty to say to all the neighbours as you may guess. I sent you the magazine so that you could read Mr Newman’s letter about Mr Hickin. George Ray was at church in khaki on Sunday, he looked very smart too especially with his hair cropped short. I am going swimming again on Friday and am looking forward to it ever so much. Mabel is coming too I think. Well I have no more to tell you this time Will, only you know I am always thinking of you and of course I want you more especially as I know I cannot have you near me. Well I will close now, with

Best love from

Emmie.

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3rd September 1917

16 Tiber St
Dear Will

Thanks very much for the china. I like it, it is supposed to be a thistle, very pretty too. So you had it fine after all, I was thinking about you all. Glad you are able to come home Sept.14th, is it going to be a weekend, or only for the day? I went to the Opera House, Sta. evening with Maude, they have pictures there now, and I spent a most enjoyable evening. Mr Warder told me he heard from you on Saturday. I was rather surprised, but I cannot say why I should have been. I am writing this at work. I have another young gentleman for the fortnight in the office with me, we sit all day and say not a word. I’m becoming quite like a mouse, there is more work done as a result though. Well I will conclude now, with

Love from Emmie

PS. My people wish to be remembered.

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1st September 1917

16, Tiber Street
Dear Will

In answer to yours, I understand your idea in getting out of the difficulty, but I do not at all care for that, it does not seem the proper thing somehow to me, however I will not think any more about it although it recalled Will’s words before you joined, to the effect, of confiding in him, if there was anything you did not want me to know. I hope you are not going to take advantage of his offer. It is raining very hard to-day, not promising for Sunday, but I hope it clears over anyhow. I went for your music stand last evening, it was at the Mission after all. Well I can think of no more this time so will end.

With love from Emmie xx

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30th August 1917

16, Tiber Street, Kings Cross
Dear Will

Am pleased you received the watch safely. I thought the promptness would surprise you. Now I have got something on my mind. When I told Mabel Will L. had sent you a pipe, she thought it funny he did not say anything to her about it, so when she mentioned to him, this is what he says: “Oh, I did not say anything to you, as Son did not want Emmie to know” It hurts me very much when I think of this, & I ask you, “is it true?”. I cannot say any more on the subject now, as I want to hear from you first, but it keeps coming into my thoughts, well, & I cannot tell you the rest. Do you remember what W.L. said to you before you joined up?

You seem to be having a very lively time, & that Mr Gibbs rises rather early to perform his jokes, but as long as you enjoy yourselves & forget the bitter side, that is all that matters at present. I am thankful you are able to have a good time. I shall appreciate the china very much if you manage to get it, sorry you did not like the expression but I did not want you to run about too much after it, especially as you say the least bit of exertion now overcomes you, do not grow lazy though. Mr Warder’s address once again, 9, Lysander Grove, Highgate, N. 

Well dear Will I do not feel I can write any more somehow my thoughts keep wandering to what I mentioned before, I feel surprised & yet – well I will not say any more, but will close with love from

Emmie x

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28th August 1917

E. Ash, 16, Tiber Street, York Road, Kings’ Cross, London, N1
Dear Will

In answer to yours received this morning, I do not think I could have looked at the wrong window, in fact I looked at them all but some were so dirty, perhaps that was the reason. It is terrible weather here, raining all day & so cold, it is reminding me of the winter & I am picturing to myself what the long winter evening will be like this year, especially Sats. When I have no one to take me out. I shall have to have someone on hire for the winter I’m afraid. It is very good of you to trouble about the Goss, I am sorry you have had to make two journeys though, however do not bother further if you fail the second time. I feel rather sorry for the boy who had a dipping, but still if he considered it “some sport” as you did, it was alright. I only hope the weather clears up before next Sunday so that you can have a little better time than last Sunday. I worked until 7’oclock last night as Mr C. goes away for a fortnight next week so there has got to be a big push somewhere in the work. Well I will conclude now.

With Best Love Emmie x
PS I gave the photo to your Pa, as instructed, & he guessed right first time, Morris.

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26th August 1917

16, Tiber St
Dear Will

I arrived at 10’o clock, travelled 1st class, & very comfortable too. I looked out at the bridge & waved but I could not see you at all, were you really there? I could discern other people on the bridge, but failed to find you. You did want to hear if I got home alright didn’t you? Well, excuse briefness but the hour is late,

Love from Emmie,

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24th August 1917

16, Tiber St
Dear Will

In answer to yours, I shall be coming on Sunday if the weather is fine. It is very dull here to-day & it rained yesterday but I hope the sun will be shining on Sunday. Mother & Bert come home tomorrow, I shall not be sorry either. Will & I stayed at the door watching that lightening until 10.30, most people were out in our street, they seemed quite concerned about it, some said it was signalling & naturally expected trouble, but the papers settled all doubts next day. Maude is away for a fortnight again at Horsham. I am going swimming tonight with another girl at work a Mabel. “Some splash” there will be when we arrive, Excuse this notepaper, but I am writing this at work & beggars cannot be choosers, it is the best I could find, well I have no more to write this time, so I will close, hoping to see you Sunday.

Best love from Emmie xx

(PS It is raining here now.)

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22nd August 1917

16, Tiber St
Dear Will

In answer to yours received this afternoon. Do not say “I suppose I will have to give in to you” there is no need for that, you know I would like to come this week but you must see what I mean. Besides, one week will not make much difference to wait. I do not know yet what you Pa & Ma are going to do, I have asked Mabel several times but she says she does not know, However some of us will be there Sunday, so be at the station in any case, either to meet me or yore Pa & Ma. I am looking forward to come while the nice weather lasts, and if you are moved especially to Felixstowe I shall not be able to come & see you at all, as it is necessary to obtain a passport, have your photo taken & report to the nearest Police Station, Felixstowe being a military town, rather a rigmarole don’t you think, let us hope you will not be sent there or Harwich. We had an air raid warning this morning; The sirens were sounded & all the girls went to the cellar underneath the railway, we stayed there about 1½ hrs. This cellar holds about 200 but it is a dingy hole, it was rather funny, some individual had conceived the idea that it was the wine cellar we were to shelter in, what a surprise we had, it contained, empty ginger beer bottles, dripping bins, cabbages & anything but wine, the only tendency to that was a beery smell, however it is positively safe. Most of the public went to the tubes, “some” excitement you can guess. They did not reach London, but I hear there were a great number over Felixstowe, I do not know if this is correct. Last night there was a Zepp raid over the Lincolnshire coast, they are getting sprightly again. I have not heard the good news from France, tell it me, it is not often we get good news. I am sorry to hear you had such a hard day yesterday, whatever was happening, you seem to get along alright in the concert line, by the way do you play at that theatre still, you have not said anything about it. I do not know if you remember me telling you about a weekly Traffic statement I have to make out every week, but last week I nearly got my notice to quit, it is rather a difficult concocture (?) & somehow I happened to be £6000 out, the statement was signed and passed to the accountants Dept. before it was noticed too, when it came back for correction, I discovered I had entered that amount in the Increase column instead of the decrease column, & hence the amount to much. However alls well that ends well, the matter is forgotten now, but I had to apologise etc. to the gentleman it inconvenienced as it delayed his summary somewhat. I know what I have been going to ask you, have you had any more innoculations lately, & also have you written to Mr Warder? I am going to the Mish. to night. & I feel somehow he will say something of you, so if you have not written, do not forget when you have a little time to spare. You know Craddock, the boy who lives 2 or 3 doors from you, I saw him last night & he does look a swell. I do not know what he is in, but he had a sort of naval uniform, bespattered with Gold Braid, W. Lowry said he had got a commission so I suppose that would mean he was a naval officer, do you think so? Well I have no more to relate at present; I hope you will not get tired reading all my scribble, but I like to tell you all that happens somehow, whether you consider it interesting or not I do not know. I will close now,

Remaining your Emmie, Till the sands of the desert grow cold xx

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