Letter to Mother from Somewhere in France
January 1, 1918
I am sitting in my bunk in a dugout in supports Breakfast was about eight, then I went to all the men in platoon to gather up wet or dirty socks, to turn in for dry clean ones for the boys.
These letters are organized in chronological order beginning at the start of the year.
January 1, 1918
I am sitting in my bunk in a dugout in supports Breakfast was about eight, then I went to all the men in platoon to gather up wet or dirty socks, to turn in for dry clean ones for the boys.
January 2, 1918
When I went to put down the date I thot of it being my birthday twenty seven years old, well it don't seem long since we first moved into town back in old Dak
January 13, 1918
I should have about three leaves written but have none so now I only have about two minuits to write before going on work party.
January 18, 1918
I left London last night at 950, had until 730 A.M, on the thru train, slept part of the time, then I got breakfast, and done a little shopping, and caught the boat. for here a distance of 42 miles,
January 20, 1918
I have neglected writing for several days but about 4 A.M. a cupple of am's ago I lit at this rest billet. and possibly the most thankfull to have completed the trip of any trip yet.
January 23, 1918
I am on my way to Blighty just the first lap Bill Heron, Duncan, Dan Griffin and I have been sitting in a little steel hut with a candle and good wood fire,
January 26, 1918
My first day in Blighty has been quite a busy one, And it has been real enjoyable it is nice to feel that you can stay up late or role in or do any thing you like,
January 27, 1918
I have done nothing today but walk around and see what Sunday in the big city was like, I don't like it either
January 29, 1918
It is 11 P.M. but I want to write you a few words before I go to bed, I was at a Social evening tonight at the Guild Club with Lilly
January 31, 1918
Mrs Deason and I were down along the beach today where the sea comes in, in big roles that I know you would like to see, then other places it hits the rocks and jumps a good number of feet into the air and sprinkles you with mist a cupple of hundred feet up the rocks
February 2, 1918
I received a parcel some weeks ago that I surely enjoyed. The suspenders, socks, and etc. were fine, All so the eats we all enjoyed. Thank you all for your thoughtfullness and kindness to us boys over here.
February 2, 1918
It is a treat to have such a dandy bed and christian home to call home again for a while.
February 6, 1918
I stopped of here about 8 P.M. last night just to spend the day in a new place and now at 2 P.M. I am starting on to London for my last day and then France the next stop.
February 7, 1918
I am back in old London again. And will not go back to France until a day late, I don't care, they may not say any thing about it,
February 8, 1918
I did not get to France today but will be off in the a.m. at 6.15, I spent the day in the Victoria and Albert museum and out at the zoo we had a real good time most interesting.
February 10, 1918
I am in France again This is a windy and misty Sunday but not cold at all.
February 15, 1918
It is just 11 A.M. I shaved and cleaned up this a.m. so that will do me for a few days again, we don't shave every day in the front line even the weather and conditions are good. but I have washed each day this trip,
February 18, 1918
I received two boxes from you one from Laurie B. one from Annie one Kate, Otto, so I am well fixed for parcels for two months that makes seven in a week, about 19 in the last two months.
February 22, 1918
I started down town right after supper, a motor bus passed me so I thot I will try to catch this and here was Pete Campbell in it so we had a good ride of about a mile he got off at the picture show and I came on down to the Y. I got some candy and sat down to write,
February 22, 1918
I have a little surplus of cash on hand so am sending it to you, you can make use of it before you get your next crop and I have no use for it here in fact I don't want to carry it around with me, it is only a nuisance.
February 27, 1918
We are just sitting around after dinner on a warm cloudy day with spurts of sunshine at times, It is weather you would expect to get rain from it but it don't seem to come.
March 1, 1918
I am sitting around the hut this P.M. and it is a little chilly to, but there is no frost so we won't kick at a lot of this.
March 11, 1918
I have my shoes off and am lying on my bunk. Stretton who sleeps beside me just come in with a tin of cocoa and gave me some it was surely good,
March 16, 1918
I am at the Y. for a while. I watched a pretty interesting game of ball for a while just before I came up.
March 19, 1918
I have a slight business letter to write tonight all tho I realize that you have more than one letter coming to you and by the way,