Posted on by leftoverlondoner

24th December 1917

Bandsman W Metcalfe, Band Room No 5, 52 Royal Sussex, Googerat Brrks, Colchester
Dearest Emmie

In answer to yours of the 22nd inst. I am sorry to have such a letter from you, I did not know I had kept you waiting so long for a letter but I know I was wondering when I was going to get one from you after the raid: I could not understand it. It hurts me very much to think that you doubt my love for you and as for not being anxious to see you I’d give all I have (8½d in coppers) to get leave.

Putting jokes on one side, in my next letter I may be able to tell you when I am getting a weekend and if I am getting one I dare say it will be next Friday week. I don’t want you to build high hopes on this but it is possible that it may happen. Please will you thank your mother for the pudding, I have sampled it and it is very nice. Thank you also for the Christmas card. I liked the words of that piece of poetry but I wish you had put “I’ve” instead of “We’ve” still the same warm heart-.

You are the only one who has written to me this Christmas and I have not heard a word from home for about a week; they are always keeping me without news; if it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t know if they were alive after the raids. Please tell them I am stull waiting to hear if they are alright after the last raid. I might be writing myself but it makes me feel as if I would give up writing at all. I am playing the organ tomorrow morn, Christmas day and the band is playing the hymns in Church. Thank you very much for the tobacco pouch I like it very much. I do wish you knew how much I love you I cannot help thinking of that question. Never mind when the war is over perhaps I will always be able to be with you.

Best Love

From Will

Scan_20171222_101018Scan_20171222_101018_001Scan_20171222_101018_002Scan_20171222_101018_003Scan_20171222_101018_004

Posted on by leftoverlondoner

21st December 1917

Bandsman W Metcalfe, Colchester
Dear Emmie

I am sorry to say that I have another disappointment for you. I went all round Colchester tonight but could not get a Sussex brooch badge anywhere. There were plenty of a sort but not the kind you would have liked.

I have bought you this little brooch for a Xmas present and when I can get the badge you shall have it with all haste. I would like your real opinion of it (this brooch) and I hope you like it. I would like you to wear it on Christmas day for the first time. Write and tell me if you are very disappointed; I tried to get the other at my first opportunity but everywhere was sold out.

I am sorry to hear so much damage has been caused. Do you think it is safe down the tube; do many people go there now as they used to. I always like to hear the news detailed especially about air raids; you don’t know how I feel after a raid if you letter happens to be a post late. You are the only one I rely on for news and it seems to formal to say “thank you” every time you let me know special news.

I would most certainly like to read that book. I don’t suppose there is much chance of me seeing it, the play. I do not think that you are a grumbler but I do think that you misjudge me sometimes. I think that Mabel is very lucky winning that money but I don’t suppose she will win anymore for years it is mearly luck. If I think of you every minute of Christmas day I don’t think it would be very much out of the ordinary. I am more often than not thinking of you while I am awake but worse luck I don’t very often dream of you while I am asleep. I put in while “I am asleep” because I do dream of you while I am awake, understand? I know that my eight weeks is up this week but I think it will be quite another four weeks before my turn comes next. I think it impossible to let you have a letter on Xmas morn but nevertheless I will try. I now conclude

With Best Love

From Will xx

Scan_20171217_175511_005Scan_20171217_175511_006Scan_20171217_175511Scan_20171217_175511_001Scan_20171217_175511_002Scan_20171217_175511_003Scan_20171217_175511_004Scan_20171217_175511_007

Posted on by leftoverlondoner

20th December 1917

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

I have just received your letter and I was wondering what had happened it must have been delayed in the post. I hope you are not troubled again this Christmas with raids. We are having some very stiff frosty weather here and it is almost impossible to march. At last I have seen a nice little sussex brooch and I will try to let you have it before Tuesday next. “A” Coy is having their final leave, half for Christmas and half for the new year. I think I must have heard the aeroplanes over-head Tuesday last evening but perhaps they were our own.

I am still on that job I mentioned before and it is much better than being on drills. I am going to take second violin in our orchestra and I think we are playing at the Officers’ mess next Sunday. We are decorating our barrack rooms and the officers are subscribing towards it. We have four clear days off Sun. Mon. Tues. Wed. but there is some rumour that we are parading on Mon. I think I have told you all of interest in this monotonous life so I will conclude

With Fondest Love

From Will xx

Scan_20171216_223645Scan_20171216_223645_001Scan_20171216_223645_002

Posted on by leftoverlondoner

17th December 1917

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

Thanks for letter received this afternoon. I am glad to hear you enjoyed yourself Sat. evening, did you go by yourself. I did not know that I hadn’t written home for such a long time but I will directly I have finished this. I don’t suppose I will be getting leave for about four weeks after Christmas. We have not heard any more of that four days out but I know it won’t be before Christmas. I am glad to say my cold has worked off thank you, we are having very cold weather lately all our parade ground was covered with ice this morning. It has been snowing today again. I would like to hear M. Gibson preach it would make a great change. Fancy it being in the mag. about me cleaning the stoke hole out, I only lit a fire. We are going to have a good spread double rations I think. We are having roast pork and roast beef for Christmas dinner and we are buying nuts and cigarettes in bulk so as they can be served out to us all at once. I dare say I will spend my Christmas at Mr Bare’s that is the clergyman. I was going to have my photo taken for you but my locks are not quite long enough yet. Those two R.S. boys must be out of my company one of them used to work at Child’s the boot repairer. I have not done any drill today I have been on fatigue making a firing point. I have to be very careful now if I am two minutes late on tea parade they will take my name for a hard fatigue.

I will close now hoping that you enjoy you Christmas as good as poss under the circs

With Best Love From your ever loving boy Will xx

PTO

P.S Please could you get me Harold Way’s address before Christmas.

Scan_20171216_223819Scan_20171216_223819_001Scan_20171216_223819_002Scan_20171216_223819_003

Posted on by leftoverlondoner

14th December 1917

Bandsman W M 46534, Royal Sussex Regt, Colchester
Dear Emmie

Yours to hand. I am glad to hear that you were not actually right in bed with your finger I come to the conclusion that it must have been your left hand that you damaged. Am I right? I rubbed the eppidermis off my finger the other day and it has been rather painful but I could not get excused duty for it. I do not feel up to the mark myself tonight I think I must have a cold. I am really surprised to hear that Islington went through it so much in the last raid. I thought they weren’t coming over our way at all. Nobody wrote and told me anything about it. I think I shall be able to say that verse by the time I come home I nearly know it off by heart now. I cannot understand what you mean by “a big door key, you and I”. You don’t know how I can take a stern hand when I like I would loose all sense of ticklisment. I have not been tickled for such a long time chat I almost forget what it’s like. I will have to sample some next time I get a chance. We went trench digging this morning and had some fun in throwing the dirt over each other. I never thought I would live to be a navvy. I think this is as long as I can make this billet as there is nothing extraordinary happening lately. What does “billet” mean? I have an idea I know. Does it mean a brief note? Well my dear I will now close wishing you a “good night”.

With Love

From Yours Ever

Will xx

Scan_20171211_215933Scan_20171211_215933_001Scan_20171211_215933_002Scan_20171211_215933_003Scan_20171211_215933_004

Posted on by leftoverlondoner

12th December 1917

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

Yours to hand; did you miss that letter Monday morning? or didn’t you expect one. I am sorry that you are still ill in bed with your finger, it would be no use me getting leave if I could not hold that dainty little hand of yours, would it? I hope it is not poisoned. Thank you very much for those cigg’s I had just run out. It is A Company that is for draught first and now they are going after Christmas. They have not had their leave yet and they think they are going to France. No doubt we will be wanted soon now that the Germans are reinforced from the eastern front. It was Church of England where I went last Sunday but very high church. They have a much more musical service there than at our place. C.G. burnt some insence at his (the clergyman’s) house. I am mess orderly today and tomorrow and I miss a route march so I don’t mind. I don’t suppose a bomb will drop over the granary again and I dare say it is the safest place to go to. I hope W. Sharp, hasn’t been gassed if so I hope he gets over it alright. I have not read of that fund you speak about but the men at the front deserve anything. I read that verse in Ruth and what is the prophecying you are going to do. I hope you enjoy yourself Saturday at the Taming of the Shrew and I wish I was going with you. Does Mr C. look any happier now that he has done the trick I think I would take a stern hand if I was him. How long has he known her not long is it? I have had a hard day today right from 6.30AM to 8p.m. I think I will knock off early tomorrow evening if possible. Well my love the time is getting on so will conclude and get to bed.

Best love, to the light of my life so far away but always in thought

Yours Ever Will xxx (Real ones).

Scan_20171211_215910Scan_20171211_215910_001Scan_20171211_215910_002Scan_20171211_215910_003

Posted on by leftoverlondoner

10th December 1917

Bandsman W Metcalfe 46534, Colchester
Dear Emmie

Thanks very much for letter; it was a change getting one on Monday. I am sorry to hear you have hurt your finger and I hope that by the time you receive this it will be better. Last night I had a good time at a clergyman’s house. I think I should say yesterday because I had dinner and tea there. We had a very wet day yesterday so there was no church-parade; but I went to another church where C.G. goes and played on the organ there and also went home with the vicar. For all the good times in the army that I am ever likely to get; would give it all for just one evening with you. Whose christmas party are you going to. I hope you will enjoy yourself as good as circumstances will allow. You have guessed right as to what you left out of your last letter. Have you heard any more of Will Sharp. I hope he hasn’t been wounded.

Rathing strange thing: I played the Rosary yesterday evening on an old piano; perhaps it was me you heard playing. I hear that we are going out on a four days stunt some time next week so I suppose my address will be No.1 Open Air and we will have to sleep in the nice green fields. I heard that our first draught goes out on the v23rd inst they might let them see christmas in England. The other day just as I woke up I thought I could hear Dad getting the breakfast ready down stairs but as I opened my eyes I beheld the barrack room. One disappointment. I will now close

With Fondest Love to my darling

Will

xx

Scan_20171202_134446Scan_20171202_134446_001Scan_20171202_134446_002

Posted on by leftoverlondoner

7th December 1917

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

Thanks for the letter; I wondered what could have happened not getting one yesterday. I posted one to you Tuesday evening in the canteen pillar-box and I suppose it was not cleared until the next day. I will not post one there again. That was C.Gibbs’ writing on the envelope; I guessed you would wonder who it was from. You had a very narrow squeak with that bomb; how is it that no one was hurt. I quite remember that cutting now but I did not leave it in the envelope and I forgot it when I wrote you. I thought it was good so I handed it round to the boys. See how you help to keep the spirit of the Army up. I am glad to hear that you are getting on alright with the piano; I am shure you will pass me and I will have to ask you to teach me when I come home. I am also very glad to hear that Bert is getting on well. What hopes are centered in that word! “Someday”; can you remember when you used to play that for my prospective Queen when I was Prince. If you had been Cinderella I might have been able to act my part more naturally. You know that we were supposed to play out last Thursday, well on Wednesday evening Drum major came in and said that there was a special Officers’ Mess night the next night so the orchestra could not turn out. Well we divided it in half and took the best half and were able to give the concert after all. We had to do something because all the programmes and bills had been printed. You left something out of your last letter; can you remember what it was? For a wonder I have taken to cigs: again; I suppose it is because I have nothing else to do. I will close now as I am going to get some soup for supper so Good Night dearest

With Much Love

From Will xx

PS. One original joke.

Schoolmaster. Where do you get glass from?

Pupil. It grows on the tops of walls.

Scan_20171202_134426Scan_20171202_134426_001Scan_20171202_134426_002Scan_20171202_134426_003

Posted on by leftoverlondoner

4th December 1917

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

How long has Mr Owens been dead now; I am glad to hear that the Mission is being so well patronised of late and I hope it continues the same. Have you done any more organ playing at all. I read through your letter of the 29t ult. and failed to see that huge joke which you called me impolite for not recognising. Do you mean “Peace is reigning now though” in your office “until the next time”. I am sorry you do not like my slangy expressions but I will try to reform. I will term you something nice when I see you next time. I have not forgotten anything of you yet; I still consider you are the prettiest and best girl that I have ever met. I shall very soon make you lose your shyness when I come home. Our “Army Council of Instruction” leave (6 days) has not started yet; week ends consist of four days now, from Friday till Tuesday. You don’t know how much I want to see you. When we were having breakfast this morning one of the officers came in and because one of the N.C.Os. did not stand up he started swearing at him at the top of his voice. About the worst flow of “French” I have heard and we get some variety here. This Lance corporal has charged the officer with swearing and has another officer to back him up besides about fifty boys. I hope he gets transferred into another batt. Well my dear I think I will leave you for a cup of Bovril now (one joke).

Fondest Love

From Will

Scan_20171202_134345Scan_20171202_134345_001Scan_20171202_134345_002

Posted on by leftoverlondoner

2nd December 1917

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

Thanks very much for the letter of the 29th ult. One month nearer the end of the war; I suppose you are thinking of Christmas now. I am sorry to say that we will be drilling Boxing Day just as ordinary days. We only get two days off in the Army they are Good Friday and Christmas day; otherwise I would be dying to see you but as we don’t get Boxing day off I won’t die but I hope to have four days leave soon after. Some scandle on at the office, what! Are you going to be bridesmaid for Mr Clark if so there is a chance for some more scandle somebody might say that you are going to be maid his bride. If I am up when Bertie is home I won’t be able to speak to him without saluting. I don’t suppose it would do any good to take stripes; N.C.Os. are always getting into trouble and they have to do the dirty work. I am getting very impromtuous? Lately, when the time comes, then will I decide. My crop is progressing very well; I was going to get a hair cut yesterday only I didn’t have time.

I am going on a gas course next Tuesday; I saw my name on the order board: I don’t know why they picked me. The railway men seem to be doing very well financially, have you heard anything of your rise yet. I have not heard anything of our increase yet, I still get along on my 3/6d fifty two-times annually. I am learning how to play chess; rather a hard game: it seems to make everybodys’ head ache.

The orchestra is playing at that Baptist church next Thursday and it is a very good programme too. I hope when I come home I will be able to turn those grey hairs black but a few white hairs doesn’t make any difference to the goods.

Well my dearest I will close now with Best and Truest Love

From your affectionate partner

Will

Scan_20171124_102024Scan_20171124_102024_001Scan_20171124_102024_002Scan_20171124_102024_003