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

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

5th September 1917

16 Tiber St
Dear Will

In answer to yours. In the first place I expect you have heard of the Air Raid last night. We were all asleep and had to get up, the bombs did sound horrible, your people went to the tube but as usual we did not know what to do, and as Mrs Chard and Claude were not prepared we all stayed indoors until it passed over. The all clear signal was not given until about 2 o’clock this morning. Now I suppose this means we shall be sitting up until the early hours of the morning. The damage is very bad in Edgware Rd I hear, Bourne & Hollingsworth’s shop in Oxford St has caught it, and Charing Cross Rd is in a very bad condition. As usual not one air raider was brought down. I shall be pleased to come to Aldershot next Sunday, Sept 9th. I suppose that will be the last time too. Have all the band been removed to another Company and will it make any difference? Mr Clarke is on his holidays I do not think he will have another honeymoon myself. I expect you felt rather hungry by the time you got back that day, with only 6 biscuits. I think I should have contrived somehow to take something else with me.

I think I write much more in one line Will than you, perhaps that is why I have left so much paper clear lately as you say, but otherwise I cannot account for it. Bertie Cranmer is home on leave and is looking trés fit, he has plenty to say to all the neighbours as you may guess. I sent you the magazine so that you could read Mr Newman’s letter about Mr Hickin. George Ray was at church in khaki on Sunday, he looked very smart too especially with his hair cropped short. I am going swimming again on Friday and am looking forward to it ever so much. Mabel is coming too I think. Well I have no more to tell you this time Will, only you know I am always thinking of you and of course I want you more especially as I know I cannot have you near me. Well I will close now, with

Best love from

Emmie.

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

9th July 1917

16 Tiber St
Dear Will

In answer to yours, while I am writing this, there is great consternation going on outside, someone has come along with the rumour, “they are over the coast”, people are so terrified now at every sound, poor things there minds cannot settle on anything but air raids. I said everything was alright at the shop didn’t I, the machines & the young ladies are all safe. Your dad had a piece of the bomb that fell & he took it to the Police Station & they told him he was under a penalty of £150 if he had not handed it over to the police. The guns are going now, I expect it is practice. I think I should like to know what time you will be home on Saturday Will, so tell me. I know you are coming so I shall not be surprised. It would be nice if we could go to see Mrs Flower, but as you say there would not be very much time, we should have to go for the day & it would have to be Sunday, but please yourself I’m game, if you would like to go. I spent my Sat. eve. Not like you, but waiting in a sugar queue in Story St next to some filthy dirty women. I felt as if I could fly from them, & after waiting over an hr. and spending 2/6 I got ½ lb of sugar. I do not know very much about B.G’s affair but personally I think he was influenced. Well, it is time I prepared to go to work once more. I do not know if anything is going to happen, I have just heard, they are sending the people home from the City. I don’t suppose it is true, but I will let you know always as soon as I possibly can, after anything has happened, that we are all safe in York Rd & Tiber St. I will now close

With best and truest Love from Emmie x

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