Dear Emmie, Dear Will

Dear Emmie

I am just writing to let you know that I am alright but there is nothing at all of any importance to tell you. I hope you are getting my letters; I haven’t received one from you yet. I will let you have my address a little fuller this time: It is “Pte W.M. 19073, 3 Platoon A Coy, 9th Royal Sussex Regt, 24 Div, B.E.F. France”. Do you feel any older now? It sounds a lot doesn’t it, 20 and never been k-d. We had a bath today: No! not an annual, a monthly! It was a warm shower. 21/4/18 I went to a service in a barn this morning and H.C. at 12 o’cl: there were about 20 there very good I think. We never hardly get any field post-cards and I haven’t had a green envelopes yet or I would write oftener. Please will you send me a little paper & envelopes as this is the sample of it out here.

There is a roumer that a big mail has come in so I hope there are some letters for me. This letter will not go until tomorrow evening so I hope you get it some time next week. I have just bought a couple of eggs that is how we live out here it takes us about an hour to get a drop of water to boiling point. I must close now and will write again as soon as possible.

With Fondest Love

From Will xx

PS. Please remember me to your Ma & Pa.

Dear Emmie

Just a few lines while I have time hoping you are quite well at home and free from air raids. I am now in another barn miles away from the first one and we have taken the ground floor this time; saves climbing ladders. I do miss your letters I haven’t had one yet since I left England; I don’t dout that you have written me but your letters like everybody elses must have got delayed in the post. One man who hadn’t had a letter for a month received 23 by this evenings post. I sent you a silk card this morning I hadn’t time to write anything more as the post was just going. I wish you a happy birthday and sincerely hope that I spend the next with you. We are able to buy eggs at 3½d each here and that is all. The canteen has cigarettes only and there are no Y.M.C.As’ or any other huts here. The only consolation we have is that every day is one nearer the end of the war which eventually must come. We know no news here, only that the Germans have made a push. Please send me the Mission Mag when it comes out I would like to know something that is going on. Well my dear I will have to close now as I can hardly see

With Much Love

From Yours Ever

Will xx

[Transcriber’s note: This letter is incorrectly dated 18^th May 1918]

Dear Emmie

I sent you my address the other day but as it was at the head of the letter perhaps it did not pass the censor. It is “Pte W Metcalfe 19013, 9th Royal Sussex Regt, “A” Coy, 3 Platoon, B.E.F. France. I did not have time to write yesterday only a P.C. We are now in a loft and have to get up and down a ladder every time we go in or out. The first night here we slept in a field and every night so far we have been in a different place.

I have had my name taken to go on a stretcher bearing course and I think it might just suit me. The little French that I know comes in very handy, and I can easily make myself understood. I thought at first that I would find the money difficult to use but it soon became easy. We had a ciggarett issue yesterday; they are unobtainable in any shops here. I hope you are quite well at home and please remember me to your Ma & Pa. Perhaps you have read of the good work that our div: has done we are now at a base and will be for some little time yet.

Well my dear I will have to conclude now

With my very best Love

From Yours Ever

Will xxx

Dear Emmie

We are still at the same place and expect to be shifted tomorrow but I don’t know how many times this will reccur, we should have moved yesterday by the general rumour. I find the Canadians both men and officers very fine fellows; there is not that distinction in rank in their army that there is in ours and therefore I think the men work much better. There are some darkies working here and they do move, there are also some Chinese and the move also, like tortoises. We get the Daily Mail here, the continental edition one day old for 20 centimes. I think there is every reason to be optimistic over this German push there seem to be plenty of men here. I will let you know when we go up the line but you must not worry. I have a presentiment that I will be alright. I don’t really know what to write about as we are restricted so much but mainly because we haven’t been doing anything of any importance. I will fill another line by saying again that there is no address but I hope to have one tomorrow. Well my dear I will now conclude hoping that you are all keeping well and free from air raids.

With Fondest Love

From Yours

Will xx