Dear Emmie

Yours received of the 2nd inst. And also parcel of the 3rd for which I thank you very much. I think your make is “très bon” and cannot find any fault with it although made with war-time material. I will tell you something rather interesting about that parcel perhaps another time. Please thank your mother for me for the gingerbread and tell her it was just right and not too hot. I have written an answer to yours of the 2nd inst but am waiting for a green envelope to post it in; perhaps it would be too touching for the officer to read or he might even feel envious. I have just discovered that I have a relation in this Batt. I heard from Battle yesterday and they say that I have a cousin in the 9th R.SxRgt. but he is “sick” in hospital now so when he is discharged and rejoins the Batt. I will introduce myself to him. To my knowledge I have never met him but I have seen some of his people who live at Ninfield which is near Battle. I noticed that you posted that parcel on the anniversary of my joining up. I do not want too many 3rds of May to pass me in the army because I think it is an absolute waste of time. Of course wars will come but this one has stayed too long; if I remember correctly this war should only have lasted six months but one or two “heads” must have become so attached to the game that they don’t like leaving it. I have answered your little bit of French in the other letter. I think I have made a mess in the spelling but you will understand it. I also understood that other piece of writing which I have answered in a similar way. I would like to know how Will Arnold goes on. I shouldn’t think he will stick the army long for although he will get perhaps more medical advice I think it is of a rather different nature compared with the late Dr.B.

Well my dear I must be closing now to catch this post.

With Best Love

From Yours Will xx

Dear Emmie

I noticed that writing on the cover of book and at first thought it was some scribble until I held it up to a light and then I was able to read it. My answer is [written backwards] I love you more than I used to if that is possible “I love you with all my heart” far more than I can describe on paper. I am always thinking of you and those thoughts help to keep me cheerful. I am longing for the time when I can take you in my arms and give you that birthday kiss. If the censor reads this he will feel envious. I found out my mistake about Mr Rolfe soon after I posted that letter and I corrected myself in the next. I am just as bright as when I first came out here. I do feel depressed sometimes but your letters always cheer me up. If we hadn’t have moved I might have got into the orchestra but perhaps it is for the best where I am now. Music generally cheers me up if I can partake in the making of it. Thanks very much for those two books they will help pass a few idle moments away. I have a little suggestion to make. When you write me will you put in some paper and an envelope for the answer: it is impossible to get any here and this is my last piece. One of the other chaps suggested it to me and I think it is a very good idea.

We had some rain last night and now the mud is 3-6 inches thick outside. Yours to hand of the 2nd inst. It is very strange that you should write that in French which I have written on the first page of this letter. My answer is J’avez aime vous de tout mon cour mon Cherie. Je penser cett il la correct response, il n’a pas. Can you understand this. Perhaps you will not call it French. I am glad you enjoyed the social I thought of when I used to wait for you. It does not seem a whole year that I have been in the army time flies so. I wish I could come to the Albert Hall with you you was with me the last time I went I think. If you were able to write twice a day it will give me something to write about as there is nothing doing here. I don’t want you to debar yourself of anything by sending me anything that is rationed. I am not bored at anything you write. Emmie dear it is more likely that you should get bored with these scraps of paper. Now that I have come to the end of your letter I am at a loss to know what to write about. Please will you send me some sulphur tablets as my blood is out of order. We have been working lately and I haven’t had any sleep for about 36 hours and yet I don’t feel extra tired so I think I will get 20 winks before and 40 winks after dinner. I might tell you I have been having a very cosy time compared with the others. I am waiting for a green envelope to put this in that is why it is in so many “bits”. Well my love I will now conclude with all my thoughts and love for you.

From Your (Soldier boy) Will xxx

Dearest Emmie

In answer to yours of April 30th, you couldn’t have followed that letter of W.R.M’s close enough I would have another shot if I were you. I am glad to hear that you haven’t had any air-raids for a long time now; perhaps they have stopped them thinking that we will finish making reprisals. It is the only thing you at home can do is to Watch & Pray for us and while I know that you pray night and day for me it helps me to bear all the trials out here. When I first read your letter I wondered how the dickings you knew Mr Taylor’s name. I forgot that he signs the letters. No! he does not censor yours so you may put in exactly what you please. He might be a nice man in civil life but the army has spoilt him. He tries to be a soldier and can’t. Thank Bert very much for his photo: it is very good of him.

I know how you look forward to my letters the same as I look for news from you and I will write as often as I can. It seems funny when I read your letters you speak of things which I have forgotten nearly all about and I dare say my letters seem the same to you don’t they? I hope your social eveing at G.F.S. went well. I remember once when the boys from the “Lads Club” were invited we had a fine time. Girls do do things now-a-days. I know that they used to push trucks along on the platforms but I didn’t think it would come to pushing trains along. I have not done any practical first aid and stretcher bearing yet but I dare say I will have to do some soon. Well my dear I will close now hoping I receive a letter from you tonight.

With Fondest Love

From Your

Will xx

Dear Emmie

Yours received of 27th ult; thanks very much for cigs and ink tablets. The cigs are the ones I like best. It is now 3 o’cl Sunday afternoon and I am – well I won’t say where this time. I think I described the place before for you to draw your own conclusions. We went to the baths this morning and had a clean change; we are being looked after lately. As luck would have it I managed to get a tune on an old “Joe” (excuse my slang). I dreamt that I was playing the organ at the Mish and that I sounded much better than usual perhaps that is when it is repaired “Après la gare”. How would you like Mr W’s little boy to be named Winslow; he is a lucky man in war time too. The news seems a little better now, we get more here. I saw three newspapers yesterday (Friday’s) so I am well stocked with news. As I look round my cosy dug-out furnished with beds and a fire I often wonder how the boys in the trenches go on. Can you tell me what this represents [symbols] something reminded me of it just now. I wonder what I would be doing were I in “Rue d’tibre” now weakening that spring in the arm chain what! Next time I have leave I hope it is longer than two days and we will have a good time then. Does it seem long since I came out here or does the time go quickly to you.

Everybody out here is under the impression that the war will soon be over and I hope that they are right. You don’t say wether you have had any air raids lately have you? Well my dear I cannot think of any more to write so will conclude

With Fondest Love

From Your Ever

Will xx

Dear Emmie

I think today is Thursday but I do not know the date if it is; rather an awkward position what! Yours to hand of the 25th ult. I hope you are hearing from me more often now. I write as often as possible but have not much to write about. I wish I had been with you over Hampstead we might have had a good time. Do you remember that time you tore your silk stocking without knowing it over there. I hope the concert goes off well at the Mission. I don’t suppose a ticket would be of much use but I would like to see a programme. Funny think I dreamed of you last night and I wasn’t at all nice. I dreamt that food was very scarce and that bread was rationed. I hope you don’t feel the pinch too much. I am living with Plat. headquarters for a short while now and we are in a strange but comfortable little hole in the ground. We have a fire down here and when we got here we found a big pot of good dripping, a lot of biscuits, some rice and two or three other things which make this life fairly comfortable.

I am glad to say I did receive a letter by that mail I thought had come in but that was about a fortnight ago now. I don’t think it will come to conscripting girls at least if it does you keep on the G.N.R. if poss. You will either have to do that or get married. I haven’t heard anything more of Reg. I have answered yours of the 25th and 26th ult and now I am stuck and know of nothing to write about.

I hear that the Germans admit that their offensive was a failure oweing to the men they lost. We do meet with some funny characters in the army, there is a full corporal here who can neither read nor write even his name and he is about 25. I suppose the only thing he is able to send home is a field post-card and then I don’t know how he writes his address. We had to sign a paper yesterday and he asked me how to write a letter “Y”. You know a lot I write in my letters is partly for the officer to know and it does good just complaining a little. I will now conclude trusting that you are all well.

With Fondest Love

From Yours Ever

Will xx

PS. Please remember me to your Pa & Ma and also the boys.

PSS. Please find enclosed letter for Mum.

Dear Emmie

I am just writing a few lines while I have time. We boarded motors yesterday and did have a ride not as the day before. When we arrived here yesterday there was a canteen here with a good piano in it but it closed down last night which I call hard luck. I think we will be busy for a few days but I will try to make time to drop you a line. The weather is just about right to work in, not too hot or cold. There is one thing I don’t like about French houses and that is all the ground floors are made of stone. Please excuse this short epistle will write again as soon as poss.

With Love From Yours Will x

Dear Emmie

Another month more and another month less and another month nearer the end of the war. (That is all about one month.) I am sorry I made that mistake in my last letter with regards to Mr Rolfe. I am glad you are able to carry on still with your lessons. We were as near to moving this morning as to get into motors all ready for a joy ride and the drivers had taken their seats when the word came and cancelled the move. Our dinner was well on the way and had to be caught up and returned about three o’cl this afternoon. I can’t think how I made that mistake in your birthday especially only one day. It must have been that I was in such a hurry to catch the post corporal that I ran one short. The card I sent you did not strike me as being extra pretty but it was the best I could find and I knew violets would please you.

Have you yet discovered who “Reg” is, if so you had better refer him to me; at any rate I would like you tell me all about him. I hope he doesn’t cut me out, of course he may or rather might try but I don’t think he will succeed. By the way you didn’t say what it said on that card I suppose I may know, mayn’t I? Desmond and one of the other band boys have been in the line. Bert (Not Humbert Bertie) heard from them the other day. I think we have been very lucky for you know we just missed it today. I am sorry that I waste so much paper by leaving it blank but you know the officer has about 100 every afternoon to read in his spare time and men in some Regts are only allowed to write two letters apiece per week. I will now close hoping all are well at home.

With Fondest Love

From Will xxx

PS. 1/5/18 We are on the move today will write again as soon as poss.