Posted on by leftoverlondoner

29th July 1917

Bandsman W. Metcalfe 46534, 100 T.R.Batt, Band Hut, Albuhera Bks, Stanhope Lines, Aldershot
Dear Emmie

In answers to yours of the 27th Our’s was the band which played before “Geogie”, and also the drum and fife band of the 99th T.R.Batt. I hope you have no trouble in finding your friends on Monday. I do not know whether to write you once, or twice. I think I will write a P.C. for you to get Tuesday and a letter for Wednesday. I nearly forgot x Herbert Bertie is getting a dabster; I don’t know what he suspects between you and me. Two years ago I never thought I would get the chance to want you so much as at present. I cannot settle down to anything because I cannot get you out of my mind for one minute. What did the trays have on them that fell on the Gentleman’s head. I hope you didn’t drink too much tea. (It is now dinner time. 1 ocl.) We had cold meat & salad for dinner. The salad consisted of lettuce, about 4 pieces of cucumber about 1/16 of an inch thick, and a bit of the skin of a tomato between the 6 of us. We had tabioca afterwards and I thought it was stew when I looked at it at first. I am going to church this evening and I am sure to think of you: sitting in the front row at the Mish: perhaps. Well my Dear I have no more to write now so will conclude.

With Best Love Your Ever true sweetheart Will xx

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

27th July 1917

16, Tiber St
Dear Will

I recd your letter this evening 8 o’clock, it was rather a surprise. Was your band the one which played before His Royal Highness? I am not looking forward with very great eagerness for Monday somehow. I shall the following week though, for Bournemouth, I shall write you a few words every day that week. I have been to tea with your ma this aft. We had it all on our own. Bert told me to tell you he has been swimming in the ponds at Hampstead this afternoon where you went one Sat. I did not think he remembered that, he is getting a dabster. This time last week I had received a post card to say you were coming home, I suppose you will not be knocking at my door early tomorrow morning by any chance, if you were Will, would not it be joyful, I never thought about 2 yrs. ago I should want you as much as I do now.

I have not stayed late any evenings yet to get a bit clear before my holiday, my tale has altered, when you were here, I felt as though I would be quite willing to work hard after, but now, I simply must leave at 5, it is too dull. I went to help Mabel 2 evenings, the first night, I let 2 trays fall off the rack on a gentleman’s head, he said he had got heart disease & wanted to know why I was laughing at what I had done, it was so funny though, Mabel said something was bound to happen when I came, however, alls well that ends well. If you write to me Sunday, I shall get the letter perhaps on Monday morning & you will address it to Tiber St, as I shall not be leaving until 11.45, then I will write you from the country. Well I have no more to say, only that I hope you are in the best of condition still as when I left you, so will close with Best Love, Emmie xxx

Glad you liked the gateau.

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

26th July 1917

Bandsman W. Metcalfe 46534, 100 T.R.B., Band Hut, Albuhera Bks, Stanhope Lines, Aldershot
Dear Emmie

I received your letter at 7.30 this evening: very quick work, war time; I am sorry there is not another post tonight so as you could get this in the morning. I couldn’t settle down to work yesterday and I havn’t done properly yet. I must say your cake goes down very nicely thank you. I hope you like your unseen relations and you will be certain to get a letter from me; you know I would not like to disappoint you. I understand you little bit of French and can only answer in the same words.

Dearest! had Monday been oppressive I dare say I would have made it bright for you.

Today the TRs were reviewed by the King and the band played before him.

I hope you get this early tomorrow so as I might get one Saturday.

Will now close With Best Love Will xxx

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

26th July 1917

16, Tiber St
Dearest Will

Thanks for P.c & letter. you did get home late, did you have a very tiring journey? I feel much happier to-day, I couldn’t put my mind on the work yesterday, my thoughts were with you the whole of the time, it is too good to be true about another leave in 6 wks. time I am afraid. Dear Will I am going to Lincolnshire on Monday, at 12, o clock, and then I shall be 150 miles away from you, I do not like to think of that. I come home on Wednesday, so I am only stopping 3 days, notice the address, when you write to me, I must hear from you, or I shall feel absolutely lost, not having met these relations for over 10 yrs, it will be, c/o Mrs Cousins, Church Lane, Thurlby, W. Bourne, Lincs. I also noticed “Desmond”s eye in my direction once or twice, I could not help looking at him though, because he is so very much like that other chap, P. Harwood, He would have to try hard as you say, to cut you out, mon amour est toujours pour vous, you know that well enough don’t you Will. I suppose you have settled down again to the general routine, I hope you will never “forget” Will – I shall always look for the cross so “Dinna forget.” You were lucky as regards the weather, for to-day it is very dull & so oppressive. Well I have no more this time, I expect I shall hear from you Saturday, so I will close with best & truest love from your sweetheart Emmie xx

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

25th July 1917

Bandsman W. Metcalfe 46534, 100 T.R.B., Band Hut, Albuhera Bks, Stanhope Lines, Aldershot
Dear Emmie

I dare say you have received my card which I wrote this morning and it is now 4.30.pm. We did no work this morning but did a little this afternoon for about two hours. By the way; That boy “Desmond” had his eye on you and I didn’t notice him. He said he is going to cut me out: he will have to try hard, won’t he? I have some good news again. I hope it is not all bluff. The boys say that this leave what we have just had is “special leave” and that we get our “recruits leave” in about 6 weeks time. I will not write any more of this in case I hear no more about it. I did not “forget” last night and if I do I will not put “x” up in the left hand corner. I think I could have done with two more days just to get over the other four. Well, Dearest I have no more to write now but hope to have next time. How I wish I was with you now. What were we doing at 4.30pm yesterday.

I conclude With all my Love Will xxx

P.S. Please let my mother know you have heard from me. We have practice tonight so I don’t suppose I shall get another chance to write tonight.

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

20th July 1917

Bandsman W. Metcalfe 46534, 100 T.R.Batt, Band Hut Coy, Albuhera Bks, Stanhope Lines, Aldershot
Dear Emmie

I received your letter this morning but have not had time today to answer it. Although this is only a P.C. and you may get it rather late, it brings good news. I am coming home Saturday. Perhaps about 12.30. Please let my Mother know. 

Till we meet again 

Love Will.

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

17th July 1917

Bandsman W. Metcalfe 46534, 19 Platoon, E Coy 100 T.R.B., Talavera Bks, Wellington Lines, Aldershot
Dear Emmie

I received your letter this evening about 6 o’clock; it was the first distribution today so I do not know what time it got down here. Directly I opened your letter I said “Hello! I’ve got a new name” aloud. Sorry I did not read the next two words “No remarks”, first. Glad to hear that you enjoyed yourself at Caterham; am very surprised at Eva. Am glad to hear that Maud is so much better but she cannot be cured. I expect my leave this week. The Adjutant was going to speak to the Colonel this afternoon about it and I hope I am not disappointed. I am sorry I can’t write more as I want to catch the 7.30. post. This is the last one from here tonight. The last post from the main P.O. goes about 8.45.

With Very Best Love Will xxx

P.S. I do like your “crested” notepaper. Sorry I omitted to answer this question before.

P.S.S. We are moving tomorrow but I do not know the new address. The old one will find me.

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

15th July 1917

Bandsman W. Metcalfe 46534, 19 Platoon, E Coy 100 T.R.B., Talavera Bks, Wellington Lines, Aldershot
Dear Emmie

I received your most welcome letter yesterday morning; I seem to know when they are coming and look forward to them as if I had not heard from you for a month. I was very disappointed at not being able to come home but I hope to see you next week. That is all I seem to live on now “hope”. This morning I went to Church Parade and just as we were finished we had a storm. It lasted for about three hours but has cleared off now. I went to the pictures last night; how did you enjoy yourself at Caterham? Did they cater for you as good as last time I went? Is Maud home for good now or only for a few days. What has she been doing as regard work? I hope you do not think I am asking too much about her only she is really to be pitied. If only the ceiling fell down and only a few windows broken at the shop, things must be dear, for Dad told me there was about forty pounds worth of damage done. I am interested enough to ask you, “What damage has been done on the G.N.R. by bombs from hostile aircraft? Were there any casualties? I do not think our new barracks are more than ten minutes quick walking from Talavera. I am not getting thin and I didn’t know I was fat and I don’t think I have grown much; in fact I think I am very much about the same. I would not spring up too much in case it took too much energy. I am not taking it as easy as I can here. If I get the hump I generally think of you. I mean it makes me feel brighter. I have also a lot to say (and do) when I see you. I have not forgotten what you look like as I often have a look at your photograph (which I have in my (“left hand”) pocket you know.) I always think of you when I am lying in bed of a night time and I close my eyes and fancy I can see you.

I will now close with Fondest Love Your Will xxx

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

12th July 1917

Bandsman W. Metcalfe 46534, 19 Platoon, E Coy 100 T.R.B., Talavera Bks, Wellington Lines, Aldershot
Dear Emmie

I received your letter this evening and you know what unhappy news this conveys. I am sorry that we are moving but I suppose this all comes in my “Bit”; I do not want it to be too big. Am hoping to see you soon but I had better not state any date or I suppose it will be altered again.

I would sooner be in the “hubbub” of the shop in Dean St than in this monotonous place, I am getting the hump here and will not feel better until I have seen you. Fancy you falling in love with that “wooly heady chap” you should have asked one of the girls what he was like and you might have been surprised. Was there a hole in the roof at the shop or did only part of the ceiling fall through. I speculated in a 1/2d paper that evening to see if there had been a raid and it said that the rumour had brought certain places down to the ground but there had been no raid. I am sorry I have to dissappoint you and I do not know what to say to ease your feelings. If I cannot be with you in reality on Saturday I shall be with you in thoughts.

I did get plenty of tea that day and have had plenty since as we have twelve rations between nine the other boys are on leave. I wish I could hear the mission’s old bell now or even the old mission bell. I hope to be in the choir next Sunday week as I did, next Sunday. Literally speaking the war will end when it finishes. The boys are being drilled by officers in training every morning and it is to last for ten weeks so we will not be shifting out of Aldershot for some time yet.

I now conclude

With Best Love Will xx

(I count almost every hour)

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