Posted on by leftoverlondoner

1st April 1918

No 1 Open Air
Dear Emmie,

You see I have no fixed abode yet; I dare say you have my other letter by now; I was told we were not allowed to write in ink but now I know different. We have done nothing today except eat and sleep and I think we were quite entitled to the rest as we never had any for about 48 hours. It did not seem like Sunday yesterday especially Easter and it doesn’t seem like Bank Holiday Monday today.

We are at a very big base now and expect to move tomorrow, We are about 60 miles from the front but we cannot hear any firing. I have soon used myself to French money. I thought there was more in it than there really is. I sent a card to Harold Day today and I am writing to Mabel at Bowes Park after this. If you do not hear from me for a day or two sometimes you must not worry but of course it will not be my fault. I believe F. Champ’s lot is over here but I have not seen him yet; I have seen one or two boys that I know. I am wanting a letter from you very much so I will try to get some address for you. I don’t think there is much more to write at present so will conclude

With Best Love

From Yours

Will

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

1st April 1918

Somewhere in France
Dear Emmie

We crossed the pond yesterday and I was not seasick, over 50% of the boys were though. I have no address yet but will let you know it as soon as I get one. We are under canvas arrived here about midnight so you can guess what it was like getting in, in the dark. What food we have had has been very good and the bread is whiter than I can ever remember it being. There is not much to write about yet but I dare say there will be soon. I am sorry we moved from Cromer so quickly as I was not able to go to church Sunday morning. We had a train ride yesterday and went about 12 miles in an hour and a half. The weather is just nice not too cold. I will write again soon.

With Best Love

From Yours Ever

Will xx

P.S. I don’t think we are allowed to write in ink.

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

31st March 1918

Rest Camp, Folkestone
Dear Emmie

We arrived in Folkestone about 3.30 o’cl. this morning and were travelling since 8 o’cl last night. We were officially warned for draught yesterday morning. What was left of the band, played us to the station through the rain. The spirit of the boys was very good and they were very orderly. We stopped at Liverpool St station and some of the boys people were there. You will find out where I am when I put W.R.M. on top of my letters with a slight break in of the letters of the following words. Write letter as soon as poss. Love From Will

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

30th March 1918

Cromer
Dear Emmie

Yours to hand of the 28th which I received this morning. I have posted a letter to No.16 for you and also one for your Mother. There is not much to write about only that we have all our equipment ready to move at any time. All I hope is that I am able to take communion tomorrow morning at church. I did not go yesterday morning but heard Stainer’s Crucifiction in the evening which was not bad for a war-time attempt. The P.R.I. Principal of the Regimental Institute wants to pay us 2/6 for playing on the pier one Sun afternoon and as we are not contented we are going to interview him in mass formation this afternoon. I am sending this express hoping that you will get it before you return home. I will conclude now

With Best Love

From Yours Ever

Will

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

25th March 1918

Cromer
Dear Emmie

Thanks for letter + paper. I am glad I did not put you out last week. I hope to get my pass any time this week. There is a lot of “wind up” here about the German offensive; to look at things straight it means us going out soon. I am not pessimistic about it though. I am going to find out about my leave now hoping to see you soon. Love

From Will

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

24th March 1918

Bandsman W Metcalfe
Dear Emmie

I am now sitting in my billit where I might have been at 16 Tiber St in the arm chair with you on my knee. Oh! the thought of it makes me say xyz the army. Never mind my leave is to come and I expect to be home any time next week except Monday. The band is on a tank “stunt” for a week beginning April 1st 18 and I believe the drum major wants to take me. At that rate I should be home Tuesday and return Sunday. There is one thing I have my leave to come and then perhaps one after that for to bring my instrument home. I have heard some bad news from the Front I hope it is not too serious. The band played at the brigade sports yesterday and had a race. As usual the man with the big drum won as he has a start in front of the others.

It is a glorious day today and we are playing on the pier this afternoon. It is such a nice day that it ought to be a record for takings on the pier. I have about 10/- to come for last week so I will be rich when I come home. How long was you away from the office or did you get to work Friday morning. I received your telegram in record time; about 2.30 or rather 14.30 army time. I missed my breakfast this morning through waking up at 7 o’cl summer time. Had it have been ordinary time it would have been 6 o’cl or 06.00 army time. Well my dear I will conclude now hoping to see you soon.

With most affect Love

From Your Will xx

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

22nd March 1918

Cromer
Dear Emmie

I am very sorry to have put you out so, but my leave was stopped this morning. I was quite ready, had had an early breakfast and was feeling as if I was at home when I found that I was unlucky as my pass had not been put in. You can imagine my disappointment. As I am writing this the boys are marching off to the station. I hope you will be able to cancel the week you have got off because next week is holiday week and you will have one or two days given you then. I have a good piece of news and that is, I don’t think that this is my last leave, most likely it is but I am going to try to get another one to bring my cornet home because I will leave it behind. I would write more now only I don’t feel up to it. I will now conclude hoping that I am not disappointed next week.

With most affect. Love

From Your

Will xxxx

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

20th March 1918

Bandsman W Metcalfe 46534, Band Room, Russel House, Jetty St, 52. Graduated Batt, Royal Sussex Regt, Cromer, Norfolk
Dear Emmie

Yours to hand of the 19th. I half expected such an answer, before I sent my letter to you and now I have got it I suppose I must put up with it. If you would rather save your week until the summer by all means do so I would not like to know that I was spoiling your holiday in any way. I will arrive in London about 12 noon on Friday. I think it is Liverpool St where my train gets it. Well I must get on or I will have somebody running me for neglect of duty.

Love From Will x

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

17th March 1918

Cromer
Dear Emmie

Although I did not write to you for two days I fully expected a nice long letter from you yesterday but perhaps you didn’t  have time to write much, as you waited until the last post for one from me. Your letter was very abrupt and didn’t please me as they usually do. Last night I dreamed all about pillar-boxes and letters that wouldn’t go in, because we were talking about a certain pillar-box where the letters get stuck at the top for someone else to pull out. (Dinner time)

I have just received your letter of yesterday so it has not been long coming. What have you been imagining? I don’t think there is much to imagine you seem to write with a suspicious air. I am certain that we are having leave 6 days starting next Friday. I would very much like you to get time off so as we can make the best of our time. I am playing on the pier this afternoon and evening so I will have pounds to draw.

One of our boys has managed to get into a band in France; that is just what your humble WM is going to have a smack at. I thank you for getting that swastika for me, I will always wear it so as to remind me of you. You would be surprised at the way I am writing this; lounging on the floor in a properly eastern fashion. I am sorry to hear that here will be more serious times with food shortage I suppose I will have to bring about a dozen food tickets with me. (I will now have to leave this again to play on the pier.)

Again I write, this time to finish this little “billit”. This afternoon the orchestra went very well but there were not so many people on the pier; three hundred less this week but that was because all our boys were on parade. It is a shame making them parade on a Sunday afternoon; they had to do some entraining drill for when we move in about a months time. I think we are going under canvas or in huts for the summer, I hope it is the latter. I went to the pictures last night; here they have two houses like a theatre and two pictures completed the programme, I hope to see some better ones when I am home. I don’t mind if Friby does make a little excitement when I am home as long as he doesn’t kill anybody. By going down tubes one loses the excitement. Yesterday C.G. and I explored a wreck which is stranded on the beach and we had a fine time climbing the rigging. We had to climb about 60’ to get onto the deck and when I got onto the bridge I imagined i was in the navy. I let C.G. down the hold by a hand crane and when he let me down he stopped me in mid air for about five minutes. You know I want you wear something pretty on this auspicious occasion it will help to make me love you all the more. Well my dear I must conclude now as it will be time for the concert soon. It seems funny concerts on Sunday but there is nothing more to do here and it is the only time Soldiers get for a little recreation.

Best Love

From

Your affect. boy

Will

P.S. Please excuse mistakes and words if they are not there.

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