Posted on by leftoverlondoner

15th January 1918

Colchester
Dear Emmie

I am very sorry my letter made you so sad but I will have to take my chance the same as everybody else does. I know how you must feel, I get very despondent sometimes myself. Cheer up! There’s a good time coming. I went to see East Lynn because there was nothing else to do not to cheer me up. It wasn’t played very well so it did not touch me right to the heart. I hope you get on well with your Esperanto and “Miozot” [?] and I know you will do that. I was told by C.G. to read that Chapter of Prov: and as I thought it was alright I recomended it for you to read; I thought those two verses were the best so I chose them especially. I havn’t time now to explain them because I am playing with the Orchestra this evening. I havn’t even time to get a hair cut. The boys who havn’t had leave for six months are being picked out first and of course that is only fair. I hope this letter makes you feel brighter although it is scribbled. I had not really time to write this but I know I have wronged you in the past by putting you off for other things. I hope you understand my meaning. I nearly got into trouble last night for being out without a late pass but I have one tonight and all the week for we have a long job on again. We are not going to play the band on route marches any more because we have to get used to full pack we are only going out with the band on church parades now. I must conclude now as time presses

With Love

Yours Ever Will xx   real ones

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

13th January 1918

Bandsman W Metcalfe, Colchester
Dearest Emmie

I havn’t your letter to hand so you must excuse me if I forget to answer questions you may have asked. I havn’t settled down again yet after that leave; I am quite home sick. I played the organ at church this morning and had dinner out; I am getting tired of army life and will not be able to express my joy when I come back to you for good. I have one consolation knowing that you pray for me night and day; but if anything was to happen to me you know you must always pray “Thy will be done”. I am going to Mr Behr’s to tea this afternoon; it all helps to while away the time. I hope we get someone at the Mission who will liven things up a bit I don’t think I would like to leave it although it is such a small place. A new system of leave has started so I don’t suppose I will see London for a couple of months. If the weather improves you will have to come down one Sunday because our first draught goes away next Sunday and I dare say my next leave will be final. I have a presentament that I will not be out there very long and I hope I am right. I do not want to depress you with all this talk so i will change the subject. I went to see East Lyn last night and it wasn’t bad for a small town I have never read the book but I think the play must have been cut short. I was on “coal fatigue” yesterday afternoon whereas I generally go to the pictures but half way through it I dodged it with C.G. and I don’t think anyone was wiser. Our Company has been issued with gloves but I havn’t got mine yet. The boys were also issued with identification discs while I was on leave so I have one or two more articles to come to complete my kit. Have you read Proverbs 31, 10th – 31st verse about “Lemuel’s praise of a good wife”. Verses 29 & 30 is my little message to you. Well my love I will now end my epistle.

With Much Love

From Yours Ever Will xxx

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

10th January 1918

Bandsman W M. 46534, Colchester
Dear Emmie

This time last night I was thinking of coming back to Colchester much to my regret. I couldn’t eat much today I didn’t seem to have the appetite. C.G. was very upset on coming back this is his first leave since his four days. All six days leave has been stopped now so I must consider myself lucky. When I have finished writing this letter I will not know what to do with myself. The rumour is, that we are to be shifted to St Albans I hope it is true but I doubt it. Perhaps I could then see you more often. I can not bare to think that you are so lonely in London, but pray that I may have a quick return to you and you will make me feel a little happier. We went on a route march this morning and I have been at orchestra practice this afternoon but I would give up ever playing another note again to be back with you for good. The job that I was coming back to finished up yesterday so I suppose I will have to go on parade tomorrow and do some drill. Well my love I will close hoping to write more next time and hear from you soon.

With Very Best Love

From Your Will xxxx

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

6th January 1918

Bandsman W Metcalfe 46534, Band Room No.5, 52 Royal Sussex Regt, Goojerat Barracks, Colchester
Dearest Emmie

Yours to hand of the 4th inst. I am sorry that I did not answer it yesterday but we had such a hard day that I didn’t feel up to much. We had to fire fifty rounds yesterday and advance about 1,000 yards over very rough ground. When we got back at 7 o’cl pm we had tea and had to clean our rifles through with boiling water. We had a route march this morning and for a wonder no one fell out. I am glad you like the photo’ but I think the fatness is rather exaggerated.

Mr Westfold has been very lucky in getting that job in the canteen. What does Mrs Westfold’s sister’s husband wear I might know him if I was to see him. You speak as if you don’t want to see me but that isn’t the way you want me to take it is it. I am not out of blighty yet and there is still a chance of the war being over before I go out.

I hope you are getting on with your music alright you know I have been down that miserable street a few times but I have no need to regret it. It did nor rain here on Sunday, it tried to but did not succeed. You are lucky in getting a good piece of blue serge as all the best came from Germany before the war. Not long ago I dreamt that you were wearing a wine coloured dress and what I remember of it, it looked ”tres chic magnifique.” The boys who went with the first draught are up the line now; they write home to say that the food is much better out there. On Monday I finished my C.B. the Colonel gave orders to the police to give defaulters second field punishment that is all the dirty and hardest work. Well, needless to say I dodged it alright. I just saw the police corporal and gave him a few cigs: and he made it alright for me.

That was a good joke about the rear and of you knew what part of a rifle that is, you would see the joke much better. Our reveille is at 6 o’cl am. now instead of 6.30. I suppose that means more drill. I think I will get a hair cut this evening to save being caught by the regimental barber. Well my dear I will close now

With Fondest Love

From Yours Ever

Will xxx

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

30th December 1917

Bandsman W Metcalfe 46534, 52 Batt. Royal Sussex Regt, Colchester
Dearest Emmie

Yours to hand of the 27th inst. I have received that parcel Mum sent, it took six days coming. This is not my last leave I am sure to have another before I go abroad. “A” Company has had theirs’. I want you to have Sat morn and Monday off if possible, I know I am asking a lot but I think you will get it. Perhaps I won’t tell you how many pretty girls I kissed under the mistletoe. I don’t think I will “have a surprise one of these days” because I know you won’t be so silly as to join such as the W.A.A.C. Although you are so much older than me I think I saw more of “the world” than you before I joined up and it’s not worth knowing in its present state. I do not know what time I will be home Friday but it will be some time pm. I am going out to the organ blower’s house to tea this evening and I will let you know what its like when I write next time. I have missed something in one or two of your letters lately. I cannot tell you in words what exstacy I feel when I think of coming home to see you. I hope the time goes quickly. I went to the pictures yesterday and saw the “Mystery Man”. It is about a girl being forced to marry a cripple for his money and he has an accident which makes him whole and everybody thinks he is dead. The girls mother tries to get her money but the husband unbeknown to all comes back and helps the girl out of all difficulty and she falls in love with him. After that he makes himself known and I suppose they live happily ever after together. It was a picture out of the common. It is a very miserable day today; the snow is about three inches thick and it is raining so I guess we will have more slosh. I don’t think there is any more to say now only get your strength up to withstand all the Kisses I have in store for you. Well my darling I will conclude now

With Very Best Love

Absolutely Yours

Will xxxx

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

28th December 1917

Bandsman W Metcalfe 46534, Colchester
Dear Emmie

I am dodging parades this morning I am supposed to be on orchestra practice and the Drum major is laughing at the idea. I am counting the days for next Friday to come and I hope you and I are not disappointed by it being postponed. I did not know that Mum was going to Bowe’s Park Christmas (or had been) I had a parcel down on Boxing Day.

I noticed in the Mag. that the Mission had been taken over by All Saints I am rather sorry but yet I think it will be for the best. I wish I had been singing outside your house on Christmas night this year, did any one go out at all. I have been doing rather a lot of work lately. Tuesday night 12 midnight sergeants’ mess. Wednesday night Sergeants’ dance till 1 o’cl the next morning, Thursday night Pantomime (Babes in the Wood) 11pm and I suppose it will be the same tonight, so I think we deserve a little time off.

I know how much you ant me and I want you very much too and I don’t think that you are a selfish girl, I think that I am the selfish one if any. I do not think there is anything to forgive you for, I ought to ask you to forgive me for not asking you down Christmas. I didn’t have much spare time but I think I could have made a bit more if you had come. The snow is still on the ground and it snowed again this morning. How is it in London. A lot of the boys who come back from leave say that we are better off for food in the Army than in London. I hope you manage to get enough. Do you still have to stand in queues for food now. Well my love I will now close

Hoping to be with you soon

Much Love

From Will xx

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

26th December 1917

Bandsman W Metcalfe 46534, Colchester
Dearest Emmie

In answer to yours of the 23rd inst. I wrote an answer to your Sat. morning letter but I forger whether I posted it or not: at least I cannot find it so I suppose by this time you have it. I have been working a lot on the piano this Christmas but I am being paid for it by a week end leave from the 4th Jan to the 8th noon. I played the organ at church yesterday morning, played at a concert from 4 to 6pm. and at sergeant’s mess from 7 till 12 o’cl: I am playing the fiddle tonight at sergeants’ mess at a dance. If I hadn’t have taken up the fiddle in the nick of time I don’t suppose I would have been entitled to this leave. Could you get the Sat. morn and Mon. off and Tuesday iff poss. I know it is rather a lot after Christmas but have you more help at the office now. I am sorry I could not get Christmas leave but now we have it to look forward to. I hope you have had a pleasant time under the circs and I would like to hear detailed how you spent your time. I went to early communion with C.G. yesterday morn and was invited to a clergyman’s house to tea but could not accept it. I have not had even a card from home only a card via home from Mr Newman but I suppose I must write them a line and thank them for the parcel they didn’t send me which must have been lost in the post. I am glad you like the brooch thank you very much for the pouch; if you received that other letter I think that I thanked you before. I don’t suppose you will suffer many tears or any more than you would have done without pearls. It is very Christmasified here with the snow about four inches thick on the ground.

I hope you had no trouble with air raids last night but the boys say that they heard the coast defence guns firing. Well my love I have no more to write in this letter hoping to see you soon

I remain

Yours Ever

Love Will xxx

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

24th December 1917

Bandsman W Metcalfe, Band Room No 5, 52 Royal Sussex, Googerat Brrks, Colchester
Dearest Emmie

In answer to yours of the 22nd inst. I am sorry to have such a letter from you, I did not know I had kept you waiting so long for a letter but I know I was wondering when I was going to get one from you after the raid: I could not understand it. It hurts me very much to think that you doubt my love for you and as for not being anxious to see you I’d give all I have (8½d in coppers) to get leave.

Putting jokes on one side, in my next letter I may be able to tell you when I am getting a weekend and if I am getting one I dare say it will be next Friday week. I don’t want you to build high hopes on this but it is possible that it may happen. Please will you thank your mother for the pudding, I have sampled it and it is very nice. Thank you also for the Christmas card. I liked the words of that piece of poetry but I wish you had put “I’ve” instead of “We’ve” still the same warm heart-.

You are the only one who has written to me this Christmas and I have not heard a word from home for about a week; they are always keeping me without news; if it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t know if they were alive after the raids. Please tell them I am stull waiting to hear if they are alright after the last raid. I might be writing myself but it makes me feel as if I would give up writing at all. I am playing the organ tomorrow morn, Christmas day and the band is playing the hymns in Church. Thank you very much for the tobacco pouch I like it very much. I do wish you knew how much I love you I cannot help thinking of that question. Never mind when the war is over perhaps I will always be able to be with you.

Best Love

From Will

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

21st December 1917

Bandsman W Metcalfe, Colchester
Dear Emmie

I am sorry to say that I have another disappointment for you. I went all round Colchester tonight but could not get a Sussex brooch badge anywhere. There were plenty of a sort but not the kind you would have liked.

I have bought you this little brooch for a Xmas present and when I can get the badge you shall have it with all haste. I would like your real opinion of it (this brooch) and I hope you like it. I would like you to wear it on Christmas day for the first time. Write and tell me if you are very disappointed; I tried to get the other at my first opportunity but everywhere was sold out.

I am sorry to hear so much damage has been caused. Do you think it is safe down the tube; do many people go there now as they used to. I always like to hear the news detailed especially about air raids; you don’t know how I feel after a raid if you letter happens to be a post late. You are the only one I rely on for news and it seems to formal to say “thank you” every time you let me know special news.

I would most certainly like to read that book. I don’t suppose there is much chance of me seeing it, the play. I do not think that you are a grumbler but I do think that you misjudge me sometimes. I think that Mabel is very lucky winning that money but I don’t suppose she will win anymore for years it is mearly luck. If I think of you every minute of Christmas day I don’t think it would be very much out of the ordinary. I am more often than not thinking of you while I am awake but worse luck I don’t very often dream of you while I am asleep. I put in while “I am asleep” because I do dream of you while I am awake, understand? I know that my eight weeks is up this week but I think it will be quite another four weeks before my turn comes next. I think it impossible to let you have a letter on Xmas morn but nevertheless I will try. I now conclude

With Best Love

From Will xx

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