Posted on by leftoverlondoner

20th December 1917

Bandsman W Metcalfe 46534, Band Room No 5, 52nd Royal Sussex Regt, Googerat Barracks, Colchester
Dear Emmie

I have just received your letter and I was wondering what had happened it must have been delayed in the post. I hope you are not troubled again this Christmas with raids. We are having some very stiff frosty weather here and it is almost impossible to march. At last I have seen a nice little sussex brooch and I will try to let you have it before Tuesday next. “A” Coy is having their final leave, half for Christmas and half for the new year. I think I must have heard the aeroplanes over-head Tuesday last evening but perhaps they were our own.

I am still on that job I mentioned before and it is much better than being on drills. I am going to take second violin in our orchestra and I think we are playing at the Officers’ mess next Sunday. We are decorating our barrack rooms and the officers are subscribing towards it. We have four clear days off Sun. Mon. Tues. Wed. but there is some rumour that we are parading on Mon. I think I have told you all of interest in this monotonous life so I will conclude

With Fondest Love

From Will xx

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

17th December 1917

Bandsman W Metcalfe 46534, 52 Royal Sussex Regt, Colchester
Dear Emmie

Thanks for letter received this afternoon. I am glad to hear you enjoyed yourself Sat. evening, did you go by yourself. I did not know that I hadn’t written home for such a long time but I will directly I have finished this. I don’t suppose I will be getting leave for about four weeks after Christmas. We have not heard any more of that four days out but I know it won’t be before Christmas. I am glad to say my cold has worked off thank you, we are having very cold weather lately all our parade ground was covered with ice this morning. It has been snowing today again. I would like to hear M. Gibson preach it would make a great change. Fancy it being in the mag. about me cleaning the stoke hole out, I only lit a fire. We are going to have a good spread double rations I think. We are having roast pork and roast beef for Christmas dinner and we are buying nuts and cigarettes in bulk so as they can be served out to us all at once. I dare say I will spend my Christmas at Mr Bare’s that is the clergyman. I was going to have my photo taken for you but my locks are not quite long enough yet. Those two R.S. boys must be out of my company one of them used to work at Child’s the boot repairer. I have not done any drill today I have been on fatigue making a firing point. I have to be very careful now if I am two minutes late on tea parade they will take my name for a hard fatigue.

I will close now hoping that you enjoy you Christmas as good as poss under the circs

With Best Love From your ever loving boy Will xx

PTO

P.S Please could you get me Harold Way’s address before Christmas.

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

14th December 1917

Bandsman W M 46534, Royal Sussex Regt, Colchester
Dear Emmie

Yours to hand. I am glad to hear that you were not actually right in bed with your finger I come to the conclusion that it must have been your left hand that you damaged. Am I right? I rubbed the eppidermis off my finger the other day and it has been rather painful but I could not get excused duty for it. I do not feel up to the mark myself tonight I think I must have a cold. I am really surprised to hear that Islington went through it so much in the last raid. I thought they weren’t coming over our way at all. Nobody wrote and told me anything about it. I think I shall be able to say that verse by the time I come home I nearly know it off by heart now. I cannot understand what you mean by “a big door key, you and I”. You don’t know how I can take a stern hand when I like I would loose all sense of ticklisment. I have not been tickled for such a long time chat I almost forget what it’s like. I will have to sample some next time I get a chance. We went trench digging this morning and had some fun in throwing the dirt over each other. I never thought I would live to be a navvy. I think this is as long as I can make this billet as there is nothing extraordinary happening lately. What does “billet” mean? I have an idea I know. Does it mean a brief note? Well my dear I will now close wishing you a “good night”.

With Love

From Yours Ever

Will xx

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

12th December 1917

Bandsman W Metcalfe 46534, Band Room No 5, 52nd Royal Sussex Regt, Googerat Barracks, Colchester
Dear Emmie

Yours to hand; did you miss that letter Monday morning? or didn’t you expect one. I am sorry that you are still ill in bed with your finger, it would be no use me getting leave if I could not hold that dainty little hand of yours, would it? I hope it is not poisoned. Thank you very much for those cigg’s I had just run out. It is A Company that is for draught first and now they are going after Christmas. They have not had their leave yet and they think they are going to France. No doubt we will be wanted soon now that the Germans are reinforced from the eastern front. It was Church of England where I went last Sunday but very high church. They have a much more musical service there than at our place. C.G. burnt some insence at his (the clergyman’s) house. I am mess orderly today and tomorrow and I miss a route march so I don’t mind. I don’t suppose a bomb will drop over the granary again and I dare say it is the safest place to go to. I hope W. Sharp, hasn’t been gassed if so I hope he gets over it alright. I have not read of that fund you speak about but the men at the front deserve anything. I read that verse in Ruth and what is the prophecying you are going to do. I hope you enjoy yourself Saturday at the Taming of the Shrew and I wish I was going with you. Does Mr C. look any happier now that he has done the trick I think I would take a stern hand if I was him. How long has he known her not long is it? I have had a hard day today right from 6.30AM to 8p.m. I think I will knock off early tomorrow evening if possible. Well my love the time is getting on so will conclude and get to bed.

Best love, to the light of my life so far away but always in thought

Yours Ever Will xxx (Real ones).

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

10th December 1917

Bandsman W Metcalfe 46534, Colchester
Dear Emmie

Thanks very much for letter; it was a change getting one on Monday. I am sorry to hear you have hurt your finger and I hope that by the time you receive this it will be better. Last night I had a good time at a clergyman’s house. I think I should say yesterday because I had dinner and tea there. We had a very wet day yesterday so there was no church-parade; but I went to another church where C.G. goes and played on the organ there and also went home with the vicar. For all the good times in the army that I am ever likely to get; would give it all for just one evening with you. Whose christmas party are you going to. I hope you will enjoy yourself as good as circumstances will allow. You have guessed right as to what you left out of your last letter. Have you heard any more of Will Sharp. I hope he hasn’t been wounded.

Rathing strange thing: I played the Rosary yesterday evening on an old piano; perhaps it was me you heard playing. I hear that we are going out on a four days stunt some time next week so I suppose my address will be No.1 Open Air and we will have to sleep in the nice green fields. I heard that our first draught goes out on the v23rd inst they might let them see christmas in England. The other day just as I woke up I thought I could hear Dad getting the breakfast ready down stairs but as I opened my eyes I beheld the barrack room. One disappointment. I will now close

With Fondest Love to my darling

Will

xx

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

7th December 1917

Bandsman W Metcalfe 46534, 52 Royal Sussex Regt, Colchester
Dear Emmie

Thanks for the letter; I wondered what could have happened not getting one yesterday. I posted one to you Tuesday evening in the canteen pillar-box and I suppose it was not cleared until the next day. I will not post one there again. That was C.Gibbs’ writing on the envelope; I guessed you would wonder who it was from. You had a very narrow squeak with that bomb; how is it that no one was hurt. I quite remember that cutting now but I did not leave it in the envelope and I forgot it when I wrote you. I thought it was good so I handed it round to the boys. See how you help to keep the spirit of the Army up. I am glad to hear that you are getting on alright with the piano; I am shure you will pass me and I will have to ask you to teach me when I come home. I am also very glad to hear that Bert is getting on well. What hopes are centered in that word! “Someday”; can you remember when you used to play that for my prospective Queen when I was Prince. If you had been Cinderella I might have been able to act my part more naturally. You know that we were supposed to play out last Thursday, well on Wednesday evening Drum major came in and said that there was a special Officers’ Mess night the next night so the orchestra could not turn out. Well we divided it in half and took the best half and were able to give the concert after all. We had to do something because all the programmes and bills had been printed. You left something out of your last letter; can you remember what it was? For a wonder I have taken to cigs: again; I suppose it is because I have nothing else to do. I will close now as I am going to get some soup for supper so Good Night dearest

With Much Love

From Will xx

PS. One original joke.

Schoolmaster. Where do you get glass from?

Pupil. It grows on the tops of walls.

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

4th December 1917

Bandsman W Metcalfe 46534, Band Room No 5, 52nd Royal Sussex Regt, Googerat Barracks, Colchester
Dear Emmie

How long has Mr Owens been dead now; I am glad to hear that the Mission is being so well patronised of late and I hope it continues the same. Have you done any more organ playing at all. I read through your letter of the 29t ult. and failed to see that huge joke which you called me impolite for not recognising. Do you mean “Peace is reigning now though” in your office “until the next time”. I am sorry you do not like my slangy expressions but I will try to reform. I will term you something nice when I see you next time. I have not forgotten anything of you yet; I still consider you are the prettiest and best girl that I have ever met. I shall very soon make you lose your shyness when I come home. Our “Army Council of Instruction” leave (6 days) has not started yet; week ends consist of four days now, from Friday till Tuesday. You don’t know how much I want to see you. When we were having breakfast this morning one of the officers came in and because one of the N.C.Os. did not stand up he started swearing at him at the top of his voice. About the worst flow of “French” I have heard and we get some variety here. This Lance corporal has charged the officer with swearing and has another officer to back him up besides about fifty boys. I hope he gets transferred into another batt. Well my dear I think I will leave you for a cup of Bovril now (one joke).

Fondest Love

From Will

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

2nd December 1917

Bandsman W Metcalfe 46534, 52nd Royal Sussex Regt, Colchester
Dear Emmie

Thanks very much for the letter of the 29th ult. One month nearer the end of the war; I suppose you are thinking of Christmas now. I am sorry to say that we will be drilling Boxing Day just as ordinary days. We only get two days off in the Army they are Good Friday and Christmas day; otherwise I would be dying to see you but as we don’t get Boxing day off I won’t die but I hope to have four days leave soon after. Some scandle on at the office, what! Are you going to be bridesmaid for Mr Clark if so there is a chance for some more scandle somebody might say that you are going to be maid his bride. If I am up when Bertie is home I won’t be able to speak to him without saluting. I don’t suppose it would do any good to take stripes; N.C.Os. are always getting into trouble and they have to do the dirty work. I am getting very impromtuous? Lately, when the time comes, then will I decide. My crop is progressing very well; I was going to get a hair cut yesterday only I didn’t have time.

I am going on a gas course next Tuesday; I saw my name on the order board: I don’t know why they picked me. The railway men seem to be doing very well financially, have you heard anything of your rise yet. I have not heard anything of our increase yet, I still get along on my 3/6d fifty two-times annually. I am learning how to play chess; rather a hard game: it seems to make everybodys’ head ache.

The orchestra is playing at that Baptist church next Thursday and it is a very good programme too. I hope when I come home I will be able to turn those grey hairs black but a few white hairs doesn’t make any difference to the goods.

Well my dearest I will close now with Best and Truest Love

From your affectionate partner

Will

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

28th November 1917

Bandsman W Metcalfe 46534, 52 Royal Sussex Regt, Colchester
Dear Emmie

Received your letter this afternoon and I am answering it before I go on parade this evening. We are on for an hour 5.30 to 6.30 storming trenches in the dark. We fired some rifle grenades or rifle bombs this morning and I have still the ringing in my ears. I am rather surprised at Mr C. getting “spliced” (excuse my slang) I hope he is made happy with his new bride. We were told that we are being fastly trained so that sounds suspicious. I know that I will be in England for Christmas and I am almost sure to have at least two leaves before I start doing my bit in another land. Nothing more has been said concerning the band. I have been in C.Coy. for about two months now; we changed over at Albuhera. All, or most instructors now have been wounded and are unfit for duties abroad so I do not stand much chance at being one. If I am to keep in the company I will try for promotion or that is the way I look at it now. It is ten times harder to get a stripe now that it was or is in a new Batt: “Regina Angelorum” means “Queen of Angels” I cannot understand Nil desperandum unless it means no desperation. I have only another five minutes for to be on parade so I will close

With Fondest Love

From Your Will.xx

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Posted on by leftoverlondoner

26th November 1917

Bandsman W Metcalfe 46534, Colchester
Dearest Sweetheart

Thanks for nice letter; it cheered me up wonderfully as I have been down in the dumps again. I am not sorry to say that 2nd class in firing is not good and it is not bad. I didn’t want to be too good a shot. I heard of the joy bells ringing in London but I don’t uphold with it. I suppose it is really to keep the spirit of the people up. I am glad to hear the service went well. I went to “St Mary’s at the wall” Colchester; it was the best church service I have ever been to. They have a fine choir and a F.F.C.O. organist. I hope you enjoy yourself if you go to Leicester; I wish I could come with you; you don’t know how much I want you. Trust me for liking to get up every week, I am not lucky enough even to dream of it. I love the dear old army like the devil loves holy water. I would love to have your arm round my neck as long as you like but not to exhibit in a shop window. I think the psalms are the hardest part of the service to play but it all becomes easy with practice. I have had rather an eventful weekend; I did play the organ on Sunday morning and it went fairly well. On Saturday afternoon our company officer came over to the band room and said that he wanted us to sleep with the company. This we had to do but we have all refused to play in the band any more. We have always had trouble with this officer but I believe he is leaving us and it’s good luck too. There are thirteen of us in C. Company but I am not superstitious. Of course we did the trick as neatly as possible so we were not put in the Guard room for refusing point blank to go on parade. I think we will still keep in the band; at least I am keeping the same address. I am in the band room writing this letter it seems like heaven after the company room. When I said I was going to church Sunday evening it nearly took their breath away.

I am on a special bombing course this week; we are doing a ten days course in five days and we will have a lot of writing to do this week. I couldn’t write anything this evening as we haven’t any books yet. This course is very interesting, all to do with explosives and the officer handles bombs as if he is a conjuror with balls. Well, my dear I have written a little longer letter and I hope I get time to write again this week; at all events I will write you a short line no matter how much bombing I have to write about. The weather is very cold here today. The puddles in the road are frozen over and it is snowing now. I think we are being given another blanket this week to sleep on at least I hope so. It was only Saturday that the sun was shining bright and giving out a lot of heat for November.

Des: fell out with the cold this morning and got light duty all day and I dare say he will go sick tomorrow. Well my regina angelorum I will close now.

With affect: Love

From Will xx

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