Posted on by leftoverlondoner

23rd September 1917

Bandsman W Metcalfe 46534, Band Room No 5, 256 Infantry Batt., Googerat Barracks, Colchester
Dear Emmie

I am now in a Christian Science room writing to you. St Botolphs adjoins Colchester which are both fairly busy places. You ask me if the band “is still in existence” Well I don’t think it will be after today. I think we have all got to parade with our companies tomorrow; some bandsmen who are unfit have been attached to us, so we will not be needed. The Brigadeer General here is very strict and he see’s that every-body who is A1 goes abroad. I am going to be less than A1 if I can manage it. I don’t exactly know what 256th IB. means but we are in that instead of the T.R.Bs. We still wear “hat buttons”. You speak of going to this Christadelphian meeting with Mabel; well I hope you are not prevented from our Church. I have not heard from Will yet. Do you mean W.L. Our barracks are about two miles from the station (Colchester) and one from the trams, which we can ride on anywhere for 1d. I have not written Mr Chapman yet but if the band does not stand, I will get leave to bring my cornet home. I would like all your letters headed with a Swastika: as you say it “might” end the war. I hope Mrs Shovell’s conclusions are right about the war not lasting much longer. I did not get your letter till late Saturday or else I would have answered it before. I hope you get on well at evening classes and I also wish I could come and meet you as last year. I keep my spirits up enough to keep me from a break down. I cannot be what I call happy hear and we get a fair amount to eat but not so much as Aldershot.

Please remember me to your people and also to my own as I do not get much time to write. I always like writing to to though.

Well my dear I will now conclude

Best Love Will xxxx

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

20th September 1917

Bandsman W. Metcalfe 46534, Band Room No 5., 256 Infantry Batt., Googerat Barracks, Colchester
Dear Emmie

We are at last in our new barracks as you can see by the address. I don’t know if you can pronounce “Googerat” or not it sound rather funny. If you have received my card you will know how near I was to you this morning and you can imagine my feelings seeing Ye Olde York Rd, Caledonian Rd ect. We have to be very careful with the lights and all the boys are all in bed so I will have to be closing but will write more in my next letter. We got up at 2.30 this morning so I feel tired.

Will now close. With Best Love

To my Darling

Will

P.S. Please excuse paper as I wanted to write to you. Please write soon.

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

20th September 1917

Dear Emmie

We have just arrived at St Botolphs one station past Colchester. I do not know the name of our barracks yet. At 7.15.o’cl. this morning I passed York Road over Maden Lane bridge. I did feel wild. so near and yet so far. A lot of boys were in the same position. Will write letter as soon as poss

Best Love Will.

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

18th September 1917

Bandsman W. Metcalfe 46534, Band Room, 100 T.R.B., Albuhera Brks, Stanhope L’ns, Aldershot
Dear Emmie

Thanks for letter received this morning. I thought myself that my cap was too much over my eyes in photos. If I have time I will send large photo home to Mum this evening. Charlie Gibbs is second from the left of photo in third row. I will try to get a week-end at Harvest Festival but I will have to get a letter from Mr Chapman with a good excuse. I will write to him and ask him to write and ask me up to be at the service etc. We are shifting tomorrow night so I don’t suppose a letter in answer to this will reach me. I will let you know my new address as soon a possible. If you have seen Mr Rolfe I hope you are satisfied enough with his terms so as to start lessons and make a real success. I fully expect to be beaten and I hope I am in this case. Our football team played the unbeatable team last night and beat them two goals to nil. They were never so more surprised in their lives. As we were going on the field they said “Where’s the band” “We’ll put it up the band”. but they were sadly mistaken. I will close now as the light is failing

With Best Love Will xxx

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

16th September 1917

Bandsman W Metcalfe 46534 Aldershot
Dear Emmie

I got back to barracks at 12.30 last night and this morning I was told by one of the boys that my leave had been extended and that they had sent the telegram at 8 o’clock last night. I wish I had prepaid it and then I should have had an answer much quicker. I am sending photograph of the band. It’s not bad. I will be sending the large one home tomorrow. I am wondering now what I should have been doing if I had received the answer quicker. It is 3 o’clock now. We have got to play at Officers’ Club this evening from 4 till 6 o’clock and then if there is time I think I will go to church.

Please will you let me know when the Harvest Festival is: how many more Sundays and I will try to work another week-end. There is nothing like trying. Well my Dear there is nothing more to say now so I will close with

Love for ever

Will xxx

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

12th September 1917

Bandsman W Metcalfe 46534 Aldershot
Dear Emmie

In answer to yours, I hardly know where to begin first. Of course when I saw the thick letter I got the “wind up” and when I opened it, it took my breath away. You might have let me have a postcard first just to get me prepared. Never mind! I thank you very much for such a long epistle; you know it cheers me up wonderfully every time I hear from you. If I hadn’t you to write to me I think I would get the DTs if you know what this means. I am glad to hear that everybody has been enlightened as to the true reason of Mr Hicken’s resignation. I am sorry to hear of the burglary at his house but he must feel relieved “some” what!

Mt Warder must be a very businesslike man at the rate in which he answers letters. Just fancy you having the pluck to go for a walk after what occurred at Euston; but perhaps you didn’t go that way did you? When I went to give my pass in I was told they were all stopped this weekend as we are moving next Thursday or Wednesday. You never said anything about having Friday afternoon off in your letter. I think we are going to Colchester. I won’t keep you in suspense too long but I am almost certain to get Friday and Saturday off. You know I just mentioned your name and the trick was done. No! the drum-major is seeing about it for me so it will be a very extra special leave this time.

Last night we went out to play at a fairwell dinner given by some senior officers who are soon going to France. We went there by brake, about two miles, or rather in an old red cross cart such as were used in the “Boer War”. We had a fine time, a cold meat supper and plenty of drinks and we did not get back to barracks until 12.30 am this morning. The orchestra is playing at a lecture tonight in the officers’ mess tomorrow night so we have something to do. As a matter of fact I didn’t do anything except eat and drink last night, the piano was the wrong pitch with the instruments so I could not play it. About Mr C. I was just wondering wether he was a Mormon or not. We happen to play both of those pieces in the orchestra and we have no piano parts so by having them down I would be able to play them. The concert practices are not proceeding much because the orchestra takes as much time. I did not notice that you asked me that before or I should have taken the first opportunity to answer it. About the GFs concert I hope that the “fun” lasts only for the night and no longer. I suppose I must own that I have a little yellow streak especially where you are concerned. How much can you swim by now; you will soon become a mermaid if you take to the water so much. I am never sarcastic but how many letters did you refer to to write your last letter; I guessed that you didn’t write that letter at 3 o’clock in the morning. I have not got the instep supports yet but there is plenty of time between now and when I come out of the army. All we do at Officers’ mess is play about eight pieces while they are dining. I am sorry I cannot stop to write more as I have not answered all your letter yet but I will tell you when I come home.

I do not think this notepaper is any better to write on but it is the only stuff we can get here. I am quite sure I could write another four pages if I had time so please excuse this short note.

I now conclude

With Best Love

Will xxx

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

10th September 1917

Bandsman W Metcalfe 46534 Aldershot
Dear Emmie

I received yours this afternoon; we have had a double day today and we have also played a hard game of football this evening so I guess I will be a bit stiff tomorrow.

You know I was sorry you could not come as I said in my last letter but I hope to get leave on the 14th. I could not get an “application form” for a pass today so I will write it on a plain piece of paper. It was rather exiting for you at the Euston on Sunday: you are never safe anywhere in any way now there is a war on; what with the raid signals etc. There have been quite a lot of aeroplanes up this evening so I hope you are not having a lively time in London.

I have no more to say now so will conclude

With all my love

Will

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

9th September 1917

Bandsman W Metcalfe 46534, (Band Hut) 100 T.R.B., Albuhera Barracks, Stanhope Lines, Aldershot
Dear Emmie

Thanks for yours of the 6th inst; I think it was a good thing you didn’t come down today as it has been raining again. When you didn’t turn up as I half expected, I was disappointed a little although in a way I had been hoping that you wouldn’t come. Yesterday and Friday were both fine days so I was looking forward to something. These things can’t be helped so I hope to see you next Friday if I get a pass. I am starting tomorrow to see if my cause is sufficiently important that I should get the said pass and if so it would give me so much pleasure if you would be so kind as to obtain permission to be absent from your office for an afternoon on the said Friday so as by your sweet company my leave would be made more enjoyable than if you could not etc etc etc. (all in one breath) I hope I have made my meaning quite plain to you. I am very sorry to hear of Harry Lawford’s death; one trouble always seems to be succeeded by another as in the case of the Fowlers. We all went to church this morning on church parade; you know we generally have a service in a field. I am going to night at 6.30 it is six o’clock now. It seems quite a long time since I went to a Sunday evening service. This afternoon I have been to orchestra practice trying over some new pieces.

I will now conclude

With Finest Love

Will xx

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