Posted on by leftoverlondoner

5th November 1917

Bandsman W Metcalfe 46534, 52 Royal Sussex Regt, Colchester
Dear Emmie

In answer to yours received this afternoon. Thanks for Mags. Of course you will not be surprised when I ask you who this “decent sport” is to perhaps take pity on a lonely maid. Two or three times you have said that you would like me to be home for christmas; I hope I am but I think that is as far as I shall get “hoping”. If I do manage it I will be exceedingly lucky. It is not likely that they will let a whole battalion home together and ours is not the only one here. I do remember the first morn of 1917 the year in which everybody thought that the war was going to end. I hope that this thought proves to be true only it is drawing very close. Our Regt. Is an infantry regt. I do not consider it a very foolish question to ask. I did not go on parades this morning but voluntiers were asked for, for signaling, and when C. Gibbs offered himself and they found out he was a bandsman the captain said that he had a better job for us later on than that. I think we will get our badges this week and I have enclosed a sketch of it. I am not sure it will be quite the same that is why I have not bought you one yet. I meant to have my photo taken before I met with this bit of fate but it came too quickly. C.G. had his hair cut very short on Sat last but he had to have it done again by the army barber today. I don’t think there was much in that mobilisation last Sat: it was the same last year “an attempted landing on the east coast”. all rumour. I did enjoy playing the organ again Sun: as I said in my other letter it went very well. I could write more now only I want you to get this tomorrow. The post goes at nine in five minutes time so Good night with

Best Love From Will. xx

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

4th November 1917

Bandsman W Metcalfe 46534, Band Room No 5, 52 Royal Sussex Regt, Goojerat Brks, Colchester
Dear Emmie

Greatly to my surprise I am able to write you this letter this evening. About 10.30. Friday evening we were told to pack our kit bags and be ready to move away by eight o’clock Sat morn. About midnight Fri we were all awakened by the fire-call and had to dress and get on parade. Within the same hour we were all in bed again. I hear that the fire was ten miles away and the call was continuously picked up by buglers until it reached our barracks. When we were in bed again we could still hear it being played so I don’t know how far it got. By eight o’clock the next morn. we had our full pack on and were served out with 100 rounds of live ammunition each. At 9.30. we marched off and we all prepared to be out for three or four days. We were marching towards Clacton and we all thought there was something on, an attempted landing or such like, when we met the Brigadier General (not the one we all disliked; he is in France.) and he told us to make our way back by another road and we arrived back in barracks just on two o’clock. Everybody was surprised to see us return and as we were mostly worn out we did not go out in the evening. All leave was canceled and all on leave were recalled so there were a few dissapointed ones this week. I am glad I had my few hours the week previous. I played the organ for the service this morning and it went well; I will have to see if I can get some practice on it. I wish I could be with you this evening in the arm chair or on the sofa Eh! what! I feel both love sick and home sick. I will be glad when this wicked war is over, it is a beastly bore; disarranges ones plans etc. don’t you find it so. I wish I could wait for you outside the Mish: after G.T.S. or after your evening classes. I don’t mean to have short hair long or I do mean to make my short hair long. I bought a shampoo at Boot’s and did my hair. This with some hair drill (after parade) has made a difference in three days but I don’t suppose it will be normal until I return to civvy life. It is now seven’o’clock and I am going to get some soup for supper. This mixed with some water and a couple of oxo cubes will a good stay until breakfast time tomorrow morning. Well my love I cannot express in words how much I feel towards you so I will close now hoping you understand how sacred I hold your Love

Much Love From Will xx

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

2nd November 1917

Bandsman W Metcalfe 46534, Band Room No 5, 52 Royal Sussex Regt, Goojerat Barracks, Colchester
Dear Emmie

Thanks for P.C. and letter. I am glad you had no trouble with the “war birds”. You stay in the Granary rather a long while; won’t they let you out until the “All Clear” blows? Do they blow bugles in the night. I would sooner be doing a “bit” by supporting you during air raids than playing at soldiers here. I hope the gun-firing did not break any of your Goss. I have thought of you this time; I have a little piece of “goss” in my pocket which I will send you soon. I must get some kind of a box so as it will not break. I suppose all the money E.C. will earn in the army will keep a fine house; we don’t hear any more of our extra money yet. What has G.H’s boy been doing to get a District-Court-Martial, I supposed she is ashamed of him. Do you mean by any chance mean that he has won the Distinguished Conduct Medal. Our Captain told us this morning that we can put in for leave without an excuse every eight weeks, so that will not be bad. I am very glad I had my leave last week because I look like a bald baby now: you guess why. I couldn’t dodge the barber this time; I was marched to him by a lance corporal. Emmie dear! you know I won’t run to get over the “pond” while I have vissions of you before my eyes. I am very sorry to hear of Billy Post going under, it must have been a shock for his mother. You have no need to send me down writing material thank you there is pleanty in Colchester and I know of a place where it is better quality. I now conclude hoping to hear from you by first post Monday morn

With Best Love Will xx

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

31st October 1917

Bandsman W Metcalfe 46534, 256 Infantry Batt, Colchester
Dear Emmie

I think it is my turn to pinch you because you made a mistake saying “it’s the last day of the month” yesterday; there are thirty one days in October. I wish I could have been with you in the granary Monday night, I know you must have been thinking of me. I hear there was an attempted raid on this morning only they did not get through. Were you called up. Nothing further was said about my leave. I did not expect them to go into details. I told C.G. how I got home and I fancy he will be on the same track. (I hope he succeeds) Dear Emmie what was you going to say about that song? I am sorry you do not see all the sweet compliments I pay you. You are a darling girl to me. (one compliment.) Putting all jokes on one side I don’t know how I would go on without you although I see so little of you. I think I will be playing the organ at another church next Sunday morning, if so it will be the biggest one I have ever played. But still I would sooner be with you my first and only love. This is not sarcasm it is only a coincidence. This is the second attempt I have made to write this letter and now I have made a mess up of it. One of the boys says.

Paper is bad

blame the pen

Amen.

I think I will pack up now as the time is getting on

With much Love From Will

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

29th October 1917

Bandsman W Metcalfe 46534, 256 Infantry Battn, Colchester
Dear Emmie

You may depend I did not feel much like drill today although my leave was short. I arrived at Colchester last night at five minutes to ten and I was in barracks by just after lights out. I fixed my equipment together before I turned in so I was all ready for parade this morning. This afternoon we played a draught away to the station who are going to Frinton on Sea. There is a row going on about somebody having somebody else’s blanket and I can’t hear to write. I am enclosing a letter from an old intimate friend of C. Gibbs’ to him and I think it sounds suggestive until it winds up. Please return it as he wishes to keep it. I don’t suppose I can express in this letter how I enjoyed myself yesterday. I would like to thank your Mother for the way she looked after me when I had no mother to go to. etc.etc. I will be writing to Dad and Mum and W.L. this evening. I cannot think what else to write this time but will have more to say next time. I will now conclude.

With Love

From Your Will xx

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

26th October 1917

Bandsman W Metcalfe 46534, Colchester
Dear Emmie

No doubt you wonder why I have not written before. Well, I thought I was sure of seeing you tomorrow, but I am not quite so sure now. I have been trying today but have not got one step forward towards get. leave. If I do get a pass the earliest I will be home will be 5 o’clock.pm. If I do not come home I would like you to tell me that dream in your next letter. I am going to the station tonight to find out the time of the trains in case I need them. I did not go on parade at all this morning I chanced getting caught so I had an easy time. It will be about another two months before we get our six days leave and then:- well, I don’t know what will happen. The Captain said that he wouldn’t grant leaves under eight weeks. It is only five weeks since I was home but it seems like five years. I am going to bring some of Desmond’s compositions home tomorrow (needless to say “if I get my pass”.) As I forgot your badge I will try to recompense you by buying you a piece of Goss. Well my Love I will close now hoping that my luck will serve me at the right moment.

From your sweetheart Will xx

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

23rd October 1917

Bandsman W Metcalfe 46534, Band Room No 5, 256 Infantry Battn, Goojerat Barracks, Colchester
Dear Emmie

I have been out since ten o’clock this morning and it is now 7.30pm. Why do you hope I do not come home? What was your dream. Our captain has told us to keep our best tunics clean as we may want them on leave soon; never-the-less I will try again this week and I think I will be able to “wangle” it. If you sent me all your bills I wouldn’t let you go bare; I have an old bathing costume at home. I have managed to remember one thing concerning home affairs; it is Mabel’s birthday next Saturday: she seems to be getting quite old. You must excuse me closing so soon but you have knocked it out of me mentioning so much about leave. I am going to start that “wangle” now; the only thing I don’t care about is it is not straight. I suppose one cannot be very straight in the army. You see I nearly had to do an hours extra drill the other day for being straight. Never mind. Dear, I hope I do not have a crop (as is promised this week) to greet you with if my dark scheme succeeds.

I will now close

With Love from Will xx

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

21st October 1917

Bandsman W Metcalfe 46534, Band Room No 5, Colchester
Dearest Emmie

I thank you very much for the gloves they “fit like a glove”. I am shure they will keep my hands warm this cold weather. You say it has been raining in London; although we are so near the sea the weather is very dry here. I see by the papers that the Zeps have started their old tricks again; I half expected a card from you this morning, but I dare say you are all spared again. I should think the French have put the “wind up” them by bringing five down. I wish they had been brought down in England. I am sorry I havn’t your last letter to hand so you will excuse me if I fail to answer any question you may have asked. I am sorry to hear you have a cold but please don’t think I “don’t care” because I care for you more every day while I am here and each night I think it is one day nearer peace. I hope you are not troubled with air raids during the period of this moon: I see it has started to show itself. How are you going on at the office; have you put in for that rise yet. How is Mr Clark going on with his girl. On Friday afternoon we were out from two till seven o’clock manoeuvering and when we got back the lights went out because of the air raid warning or I would have written before thanking you for the gloves. I started eating my ration before the order was given and was awarded one hours extra drill Saturday afternoon which I did not do. The other night some boys in A company had a free fight in their mess room over some soup so as punishment they had to go on a route march this afternoon; a thing never heard of before on a Sunday. They had been gone about ten minutes when they came to a hospital of wounded soldiers and shouted out they were doing extra drills. The boys in blue started hooting the officer till he turned back with the “wind up”. They do not have all their own way.

I now conclude

With Very Best Love Will xx

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

18th October 1917

Bandsman W Metcalfe 46534, Band Room No 5, 256 Infantry Battn, Goojerat Barracks, Colchester
Dear Emmie

Thanks for letter received this afternoon. I should think there is going to be some heavy gun-fire on the event of another raid, but still I hope that the weather makes it unfavourable for the “Bing Boys” as you called them once, to visit England. If ever “those” times come again I hope I will be able to make as good, if not a better impression than I made before. Now it is too late I realise the precious minutes I used to loose.* I am glad to hear that you are getting on at Mr Rolfs’, what pieces has he put you on? do I know any of them. I went to the pictures last Saturday [* You once said I was rather slow] and they were not good so I went to another Tuesday to counteract it. Charlie G. Is getting on fairly well but he will persist in reading my library just when I want it. I have a very interesting book, I don’t know whether I told you before but it is “Harry Coverdale’s Courtship”. It has been fairly fine today here. Yesterday we went on a route march in the rain and I didn’t like it much but we all got through it. I with the help of C.G. enticed one boy to fall out as he has weak ankles. He came back and got off all todays parades and in the end I think he will be reduced to B. or C2; I hope he is for his sake. I got a new pair of boots this evening and I think they will be comfortable when they are worn in a bit. We are going on a long route march tomorrow so I will have to wear my old boots or I shall be foot-sore. We are being transferred into another Brigade tomorrow so I suppose we will soon be moving again. I don’t believe soldiers ever stay in the same barracks more than two or three months, I think they get too settled. It is pay day again tomorrow so we will all be expecting our extra money. Have you spoken to E.V. lately and how is Maude going on. I hope you consider this a long letter. I have taken long enough to write it. Please remember me to your Ma and Pa and all the string of them and I will conclude by offering you my most sincere compliments or I will go one further and give you my

Best Love From Your Ever Loving Will xx

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

16th October 1917

Bandsman W.Metcalfe 46534 Colchester
Dear Emmie

In answer to yours of the 13th; I am sorry you had to wait in Saturday evening but you know that I was not certain until 12 o’clock Sat.

I thank you very much for the parcel received this afternoon; I have tried of the rolls and they extreemly satisfy my taste thank you. I don’t suppose I will want to take revenge after anything from the contents of that box. I have been to the pictures tonight and have left it rather late in writing this. I will be able to make some Oxo before going to bed tonight; we have a fire and plenty of water.

Fancy that policeman visiting you at such an early hour: What was you conversation. I guess it turned you a bit didn’t it. It just shows you what muddlers the English are. I bet such a thing wouldn’t occur in Germany. I don’t want you to think that I am a pro-German but you know what I mean. I have just remembered to say that I was not cross with you when I wrote last. What made you think so? I went through (Axphyxiating) poisonous gas last Sat. with a gas mask on and I was not layed out. There were no casualties. I am in the Christian Science place writing this and it is just on closing time.

I will endeavour to write you a much longer letter next time my little dear. How I wish I was with you now! I wouldn’t be thinking of going home now 9 o’clock. See how I am improving. Well I will now conclude

With Best Love

Your Will xx

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