Dear Emmie Do not come if it is raining Sunday morning because it would be the same as last time. I will be at the Station wet or fine. Please bring “Nights of Gladness” and “Secrets” from home if you come. Love Will
6th September 1917
Bandsman W Metcalfe 46534, (Band Hut) 100 T.R.B., Albuhera Brks, Stanhope Lines, Aldershot
Dear Emmie Thanks for the letter, P.C. and magazine. I did hear of the air raid and of course wondered how you got on; I am glad to hear no one was hurt. Didn’t you have the warning? Did you write that card directly the “all clear” signal went because I got it quickly. I am glad you are coming Sunday and I hope it is better than when you came before. We had a thunder storm last night but it is fine today. I went sick this morning for some new “instep supports” for my feet which I think I will get. Has Bertie C. been out to France yet: he has been joined up a long time now. What regiment is George Ray in? T.Rs’, or T.C. I should think he would do for Mother Won’t Let Me Batt; I hope there is not an air raid when you go to the baths on Friday, nor a submarine attack either or you might go running home in your little short dress, which would not look so becoming in London as in Bournemouth. We are going to Officer’s Mess tonight so we will be alright for a free supper. I have done no parades today and I am sitting writing this also watching the boys come in after their hard morning’s work. Dear Emmie I hope the time passes quickly between now and Sunday so I now conclude With Best Love Will.
4th September 1917
Bandsman W Metcalfe 46534 Aldershot
Dear Emmie On opening your letters lately they make me disappointed to see so much white paper left. Haven’t you any detail which might fill up a line or haven’t you much time. I am glad you liked the goss; are you shure you wouldn’t have preferred a model boat or a soldier’s cap? I was thinking of you last Sunday as it was such a fine day and I wished you were with me. I am rather doubtful about Sept 14th so I suggest that you come down next Sunday if the weather keeps fine. I hope it is not too much for you. If I do manage to get away it will be the 14th or 15th as hey only allow 48 hours special leave. You see I have been transfered into another company and the captain is rather mean about leave. One boy wants leave to see his brother who is home from the front and he cannot get it till the week-end when his brother might be gone back. How you do some work at the office what did you used to do? Is Mr Black on his holidays or his honeymoon. This officer of C. Company wants the C. Company bandsman to draw rifles so there is some trouble about doing two mens work. Yesterday we went out at 9am with six biscuits and did not get back for dinner till 4 o’clock. For a change I am going out to tea today so will now “pack up” and get washed and cleaned up. Emmie Dear, I am always longing for you, do you always feel the same for me. I cannot think of more to write now so will conclude With Fondest Love Will PS. Please excuse writing as the paper is bad.
2nd September 1917
Bandsman W Metcalfe 46534
Dear Emmie Thanks for letter received this morning. I am answering this directly after seeing Mum and Dad off, hoping that you get it Monday morning. We have had a fine day today I wish it had been like it last week. We went to Blackdown to see Mr Avery but he is away at Torquay. I think nothing of W.L’s words and would not take advantage of them. I thank you very much for tracing my music stand. I have sent home by Ma a piece of Goss for you: I hope you like it. I can think of no more this time so will end With Love From Will P.S. Please excuse scribble: as in haste.
31st August 1917
Bandsman W Metcalfe 46534, (Band Hut) 100 T.R.B., Albuhera Brks, Stanhope Lines, Aldershot
Dear Emmie Thanks for letter which I received this afternoon. I must say it is quite true what Mabel says. The reason why I did not want you to know at the time was because I thought it would hurt your feelings asking W.L. and not you to get it. I hope you understand; I think you will. I did not mean to keep it from you long; you know I don’t keep much from you. I do no remember what W.L. said previous to me joining up. What was it? I am going down town this evening to try to get your china and I hope I succeed. Thank you for Mr Warder’s address once again I don’t know what you must think of me only I found that I hadn’t got it in any of your letters I have with me. It has been very fine weather today: I wish it had been like this last Sunday. A lot of the boys of 18yrs 3 mths are being transferred into the 98th T.R.B’s. None of the Band have got to go. I had a letter from F Champ today and he said “Excuse me if the address is longer than the letter”. Rather funny I thought. I had a game of billiards last night and beat the chap by 40. I am coming on. I got told off by the adjutant this morning for wearing that “fancy belt” as he called it, on parade. We are going to be inspected every morning now so we will have to make up smart. Well my Dear I will close now hoping that this letter sets your mind at ease. With Best Love Will xx
29th August 1917
Bandsman W Metcalfe 46534., (Band Room) 100 T.R.B., Albuhera Barracks, Stanhope Lines, Aldershot
Dear Emmie I thank you very much for my watch. I was surprised at getting it so quickly. The weather is very bad here; the ground has hardly been dry since Sunday. I am sorry I cannot be with you when you are lonely; you know how I would like to. What do you mean about troubling about that goss I don’t quite like that expression. I have not had a chance to go down this week yet but I will have a good try Friday. I have been so stiff after that jumping that I could hardly walk. A little exertion in this life seems to overcome me very quickly. I went to the concert practise last night and they have given me a new song called “King of the Sea” and I think it is as good as any I have. I think we are going to have our photographs taken tonight so I hope it keeps fine. I am at last thinking of writing to Mr Warder but I don’t know if I have his address now. Charlie Gibbs got up about four o’clock this morning and sewed the legs of a boys pants up; the same boy is just sewing Gibb’s towel to his blanket. I hope to make up for lost time when I get out of the Army so please don’t take anybody on hire. I now close With Best Love Will xx
27th August 1917
Bandsman W Metcalfe 46534., (Band Hut) 100 T.R.B., Albuhera Barracks, Stanhope Lines, Aldershot
Dear Emmie I received your letter at 3,o’clock this afternoon; I dare say it got here at the first post but we have been out all day. I am glad to hear you had a good seat going home. I was on the bridge but did not see you this time; I think you must have been looking at the wrong window. I would not have asked you to write if I hadn’t have wanted to know whether you got home alright. This morning the sun was shining brightly and I thought we were going to have a fine day but it turned dull and is now raining. I went into a shop which was open last night to try to get some Goss china but as I expected they did not sell it. I don’t think I have anything to do tonight so I will make another attempt. I am sorry I forgot last time but that does not go to say that I think any the less of you. This morning when we were out we came to a brook, so I said to C. Gibbs “Let’s have a game at jumping across till somebody wins and falls in” so we started the ball roling. Before we had been going at it long one of the boys fell off of the bridge full length in the brook and got soaked through. Some sport! he didn’t laugh though. I don’t think there is any more to say now only that I always want you; so I will conclude With Best Love Will xx
23rd August 1917
Bandsman W. Metcalfe 46534, Aldershot
Dear Emmie Thanks for letter received this afternoon. Have I to wait till 1.p.m. Sunday for to know whether I am to see you or not? I dare say you will be able to let me have a P.C. or something just to set me at ease. Did you see anything of the lightening last night; it lasted from about 9.p.m. last night until after 3 AM. this morning. It was so great that we thought there was a big raid on. Somebody said they had seen a dispatch rider from London and he was supposed to have left London while the raid was in progress. It was quite a relief when we saw by the paper this morning that it was lightning. I shouldn’t think it was very nice being in that cellar, was it? I am glad there was not a raid. They don’t seem to be able to get to London now, but if we go to Felixstowe I reckon we’ll have a lively time. In France we have captured a lot of prisoners and ground and it is supposed to be the best move we have gained out there. I or rather “we” have not taken that theatre stunt on again (excuse my army slang) but I always find pleanty else to do. I should think you would be retireing with that £6,000 but you must be careful not to do the railway company out of too much. I don’t think you need have apologised to the accountant because without mistakes he would not be wanted. Have not had any innoculations lately and also I have not written to Mr Warder but I will do when I get time. I think Craddock must be in the wire-less what I tried to get in, but somehow I feel as if I am as well off here. The band is being replaced by the orchestra at Officer’s Mess so I will be there tonight. Tomorrow all the band start messing together so I do not know how we will be dining or how much we will get. I am still hoping to see you Sunday. You don’t know how much I want you and another thing, your letters are never too long for me to read. Well! I conclude now, Best Love. Will. xx
19th August 1917
Bandsman W. Metcalfe 46534, Aldershot
Dear Emmie I received your letter last night at 7 o’clock and also a card from Brighton this morning. I did the galant last Friday evening and had that tooth out. I didn’t do any work yesterday but I went out with the band to church this morning. You ought to see me now I look twice as fat (in the face) as when you saw me last. I havn’t heard from home for some time now so I know nothing of Mum and Dad coming down. I want you to come next Sunday and if I hear from home about their coming down I will get them to put it off for a week. Upon you alone do I rely for letters which keep my spirits up so I want you first. This time I have nearly an hour and a half for my “own dear self” to write to you so I ought to fill two pages with writing. This afternoon at 3,o’cl we are going to play at the Officer’s club and I think we get a tea so I hope it’s decent. I know a nice quiet place, where there are pleanty of black-berries, to go to next Sunday so I hope the weather keeps fine for us. Last night I went to the pictures and saw a piece called “The slave market” which was very good. I hope you have enjoyed your day at Brighton; I suppose you didn’t go in the sea again but if the weather there is the same as here you will have had a fine time. Last Sunday night we had a very heavy storm, did you get any of it in London. I do not think there is more to write now my “darling” you know how I love you so I will conclude. With Best Love Will .
16th August 1917
Bandsman W. Metcalfe 46534, Aldershot
Dear Emmie I wish my letters reached you as quickly as yours do me; because if I do not catch the 8.45. AM post you do not get it the same day. If you have not already suggested to Mabel or Will anything about coming down I might say that I would sooner have you all to myself. I will see them both when I get my 6 days leave, which I hope will not be long. I have not been to have my tooth out yet as I have really had no time. (The corporal is now having a very heated row with his best friend; it was my turn this morning and I only laughed and said “It will be somebody elses turn this afternoon” and it has come true.) I will not trouble you with our petty differences so I will go back to what I was saying. Last night there was a grand concert given, at which the General and the Brigade Major were present and also a lot of the officers’ wives. By the way I do not feel out of sorts in fact I am really a little better than I was a few weeks ago. I will try to catch the sun for once just to see what I look like. I do not want you to be disappointed in me so I will try to counteract your illusions. Hm? I am glad it was not a real said as I thought it was before I read the sentence. I do not remember a letter from Mabel; only a card but tell her I will answer it when I find it. About dealing with those claims.* (I have been to Officer’s Mess since * and now it is 9.20pm.) I have not time to say much but I would certainly take it on if I were you. I do not see why you should worry; even if you got the sack (I know you wouldn’t) you could easily get another job. Of course you will only take this on if the wages are above the average. Should you refuse I do not see what could happen, only things would go on the same. First of all I would refuse and then only with a little pressure from Mr Painter I would take a week to consider it. It is best to be diplomatic I have no more time now as “lights out” will be going so I will conclude With Very Best Love Will xx
Dear Emmie, Dear Will 