10th November 1918
10th November 1918
Dear Emmie Yours to hand of the 4th inst. Thanks very much for the cigs. Merci aussi pour le powdre. I am not troubled very much as you suspect but we are occupying old German billits and they are not all très bon. Sorry to hear of the bad luck of your cousin it must be hard on his girl. I did not know Harold Day was wounded but it is not so bad in the knee, he might call it a cushy one. I read the extract from the paper and also similar from another paper and I think something will be done for apprentices. Please excuse me if I have not answered all your questions but I must perforce close. Fondest Love From Will xx P.S. Please excuse writing as nib is going wrong. P.S.S. I am moving on my own to a job down the base: It might be for two days or two months will let you know later.
7th November 1918
Dearest Emmie Just a few lines to thank you for the parcel. The choc was très bon and please will you thank your Mother for me for the cigs. Please remember me to all and I hope that you all keep free from the ‘flu. I am sending my watch home when I get the chance as it has gone wrong. I don’t think it will take long to be mended so when we get settled down for a few days I will send it home. I will now close hoping to receive that letter as promised, today. Fondest Love From Will xxx
2nd & 5th November 1918
Dear Emmie I havn’t heard from you lately and the last letter was the first for six days. I suppose there must be something wrong with the post. The latest good news is that Turky and Austria have packed up it is only rumour so far but I think it is true this time. There was another bump on yesterday and I think the line has gone forward a bit. It is very strange but when we came to this place there was a lot of gas about and old Jerry has gone back so far that we don’t need our respirators with us now. I had a fine time the other morning out riding. I was the Brig. Gens buglar and had to follow him all over the place. I and another chap (or visa versa?) were the only ones who would chance being thrown off a horse so we had a good ride although I must admit that I am a bit saddle sore. I am glad to say that we are having jolly fine weather for the 2nd of Nov. I wonder if there will be any fireworks on the fifth; I guess there will out here. How is Will L. going on. Does Mable say. The civilians here say that the Germans have no music and no pleasure for the troops such as we have: concert parties etc. They seem delighted with our band although it is only drum and fife. We have a tea party to the children last night the first they have had for some time I guess. The mail is up again but there is no letter for me. I hope you are alright and havn’t got the flu: I don’t think I go up the line next time at least I hope not. We had a fairly good time last time up and the least casualties of any batt in the brigade. Dearest Emmie It is the 5th Nov today: I have been unable to post this letter so that is why it is delayed. I have received no letter from you for quite a long time now but I am looking forward to an extra-special one for the next, if not, a bundle. I am in a nice house now but don’t suppose it will be for long. At any rate I hope we stop here tonight. This place used to be an Estaminet and there is a barrel of cider or something in the cellar but of course we don’t drink it in case old “jerry” has tampered with it. I think this place has been occupied by a German Major from one or two envelopes laying about. Our Batt has captured some guns and prisoners this time in (I don’t think it is against the rules to say so) so the Colonel will be pleased. He always likes taking guns although they are not always available. I am quite ignorant of the latest news but I dare say it is good. We all hope the war is over this month and I think it is possible. Some Germans captured by us did not know that Austria and Turky had given in and were quite surprised when we told them. It is surprising the number of Germans who speak English. There are not many of us who can gabble their “broag”. Well my dear I will conclude now hoping you are quite well From Your Ever Loving Will xxx P.S. Could not do cat and dog puzzle please show me the way
2nd November 1918
1st November 1918
29th October 1918
Dear Emmie Yours to hand of the 23rd inst received yesterday. I am glad to hear that the organ is finished, they have been a long time with it but I suppose they can’t get the labour. I hear from a chap back off leave that it is hard to get cigarettes in London even, so it does not matter about sending me any unless you have already bought some. I am sorry to hear that the flu’ is so bad in London and hope that you all keep free of it. Mum sent me a cutting out of the paper of someone playing a piano in a big town out here: that was a nearer guess than yours in fact it was white hot. Thinking of peace has a bad effect on the troops and makes them “windy” or that is what official circulars state. I must say that K.T. is unlucky and she didn’t ought to have any more to do with her nice young man. You say “if he was my boy” well if ifs and ands etc. We have seen more civilians lately who have been set free by us and they are thankful and can’t show their gratitude enough. I don’t think they have been too lightly handled by what they say especially some of the girls. It is evident that they have not been overfed and for the time being are sharing our rations until better arrangements can be made. I have been practicing on a clarinette this last week and didn’t make a bad fist of it either. Well Emmie dear I must close now so as to write a letter home. With Fondest Love From Yours Always Will xxx
28th October 1918
Dear Emmie I received a letter yesterday from you the first one for seven days. I have not got it to hand now so please excuse not answering questions. I did read that book “Rainbow Island” and did you know that two and a half chapters were missing: about 48 pages. It happened to read on fairly well so I presume you did not notice it. One section of the book was left out; a mistake in “making up”. We are having fairly warm weather for the time of year but perhaps it is usual here. We had a whist drive the other evening and it went off very well. I was not a prize winner of the 1st class, nor did I get the Booby prize. I will not write more now but will write a longer letter tomorrow (if I get the chance). With Best Love From Yours Ever Will xxx
26th October 1918
Dear Emmie It is now five days since I have heard from you so I am just writing a few lines to let you know that I am still going strong. We have had a quiet time this last week although we (the drums) have had plenty of playing to do. We are supposed to have a canteen but they have [had] nothing to sell for some time so please send me some cigarettes as soon as poss. We are still going forward fairly quickly but Johny is going back equally as fast. We are now in the 3rd army: I don’t know if I told you before. Mabel will be 21 tomorrow I sent her a letter the other day wishing her “many happy returns” and I dare say she has had it by now. By the time you receive this I will have been out here seven months. It does seem a long time and I am longing to see you but I suppose it will be about another three months before I start thinking of leave unless they send more a month than they are sending now. I saw some civilians today as we passed through some captured villages and they are all round the troops. As we passed through one place we struck up a French march and one lady burst into tears and went indoors. About a fortnight ago I think I told you we were in private-houses; well we went straight from there into a stable and it was the worst place I have ever been in but we soon cleared it out and made it inhabitable. Well my dear I must close now but will write again as soon as poss. With Fondest Love From Yours Ever Will xxx
23rd October 1918
Dear Emmie, Dear Will 