Dear Emmie

I sent you my address the other day but as it was at the head of the letter perhaps it did not pass the censor. It is “Pte W Metcalfe 19013, 9th Royal Sussex Regt, “A” Coy, 3 Platoon, B.E.F. France. I did not have time to write yesterday only a P.C. We are now in a loft and have to get up and down a ladder every time we go in or out. The first night here we slept in a field and every night so far we have been in a different place.

I have had my name taken to go on a stretcher bearing course and I think it might just suit me. The little French that I know comes in very handy, and I can easily make myself understood. I thought at first that I would find the money difficult to use but it soon became easy. We had a ciggarett issue yesterday; they are unobtainable in any shops here. I hope you are quite well at home and please remember me to your Ma & Pa. Perhaps you have read of the good work that our div: has done we are now at a base and will be for some little time yet.

Well my dear I will have to conclude now

With my very best Love

From Yours Ever

Will xxx

Dear Emmie

We are still at the same place and expect to be shifted tomorrow but I don’t know how many times this will reccur, we should have moved yesterday by the general rumour. I find the Canadians both men and officers very fine fellows; there is not that distinction in rank in their army that there is in ours and therefore I think the men work much better. There are some darkies working here and they do move, there are also some Chinese and the move also, like tortoises. We get the Daily Mail here, the continental edition one day old for 20 centimes. I think there is every reason to be optimistic over this German push there seem to be plenty of men here. I will let you know when we go up the line but you must not worry. I have a presentiment that I will be alright. I don’t really know what to write about as we are restricted so much but mainly because we haven’t been doing anything of any importance. I will fill another line by saying again that there is no address but I hope to have one tomorrow. Well my dear I will now conclude hoping that you are all keeping well and free from air raids.

With Fondest Love

From Yours

Will xx

Dear Emmie

We are still at the same place; I think we are moving tomorrow. We have no address yet. This afternoon we had a Russian Steam bath. It’s like an abbreviated Turkish bath. The sun is shining brightly and we are doing the same as yesterday. We are with a lot of Canadians and they are very fine chaps. There are a lot of Chinese men here in the labour corps. Cigarets are very cheap here. Will write a letter tomorrow if I have time.

Much Love

From Yours

Will xx

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

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.