January 1918

France, Jan 3rd, 1918

Mrs W.A. Williams
Arkona, Ont. Can.

My dear Wife,

Your letter of Dec 2nd arrived last night. I was just going to bed when an orderly came in with it and believe me no child could of been more pleased than I.

Well after two months to hear again from you was surely great and that you are so well and happy. Your letter was simply grand and the tone of it showed my dear wife seems pleased with the baby. Madeline, by your letter there are others written by you some days before this one, perhaps they will come later. I also had a letter from Lola dated Dec 3rd and all were well. I think the time will go faster now since getting the letters.

You said the baby was beginning to look like me more every day. Well the more she cry of course and gets her temper up will be like her daddy. You wondered where she gets the temper. It comes all the way from France. Now Dear all babies are cross when young and anyone who has a baby who is not is stretching the truth. When the baby is cross you just tell the people it’s just like its daddy. I won’t mind one bit. I like the honor of a little spunk. 

You say everybody thinks our girl is about right and Lola says the same. I know she will be spoiled if everybody keeps making a fuss over our baby. About the name, any name was alright if you said so. But as you want my opinion now. I will tell you. Dorothy Eileen is very pretty and go together the best of any names I know of. Yes, you register at once and no one will be more pleased than myself. This is an order from France and must be obeyed.

I cannot imagine you starting up town pushing a carriage, but I guess what will take place alright. What kind of wagon did you get? You seem to get many gifts for the baby, and so many of Arkona’s society call on you. Well Dear i am sure proud and shows what people think of my grand wife. I must tell you I dreamt about you last night and you surely got some kisses which no one appreciated more than I did. I could not speak for yourself. I guess it was in reading the letter where you spoke of watching the baby and thought of all our days together. I just pictured it and know what a Mother’s love must be. I know you are happy and what about me, do you think of the joy it means to one so far away? Madeline, distance has no effect whatever. My love is in Canada and if should be spared to return will be one great joy to me 

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707 Lorne Ave
Jan 8, 1918

Mrw W. Williams
Arkona, Ontario

Dear Madeline & all — 

Rec’d a letter from Mother and Arnold tonight and was please to hear from them and also one from Genevieve and I answered it tonight and said I would be there with bells on March 1st. How is your baby getting along. Arnold said I ought to hurry home and see it, it was so cute now.

I’m sure it will be hard times having to stay in so long, even worse than before Eileen was born. Well Madeline I am kind of lonesome tonight — I just go toward my girl friend Miss McCurdy was seriously ill and not expected to get better. She is the sweetest girl I ever met & works in the store with me. She is from Exeter & chums with me all the time. I just really love her, she is so sweet & she is just boarding with her friends here.

I do hope she soon gets better. She has pleural pneumonia, there is so much sickness around now. I have had an awful cold myself & thought — I had pneumonia too & I have coughed for two nights steady. I don’t know how I get cold because I stay right in at nights — I have only been out one night — this week. I guess it is the changeable weather or I need a change of climate — either one.

I like it real well at Mrs Weirs, only she will not let Mr Nesbitt call that is the only draw back but that doesn’t affect me. I meet him down at Jeans. He called me up tonight 8 wanted em to go to the show on Thursday night to see “Youth”.1 I think it will be good. He is awfully nice to me Madeline and doesn’t want me to go to Ann Arbor. He is getting a swell car too but not even the best man in the world cold keep me from Ann Arbor. Rhoda and I are going together & it will be nice. Don’t you think? I am just starting to get acquainted now & have some fun but still I will have to leave it all. I will be so lonesome for a while I won’t know what to do with myself.

I got my brown shoes all fixed up & they cost me $1, isn’t that awful? but they look like new now. 

How is Arnold? I wish he & Charlie would write oftener. I just enjoy reading their letters. How is Pa standing the cold weather. Mrs Weir got a card from some person today the funniest card you ever saw, on the picture was “Has anybody here seen Kelly” & on the other side was “Would you kindly help to locate your friend Kelly with the green neck tie” wasn’t that funny I think Nesbitt sent it to her. She is quite a joke around here. 

Well Madeline I will finish for tonight. 

Love to all. Goodbye from Lida

I hope Will is all better now & send me his address will you right away.


  1. “Youth” was a play written by Miles Malleson and had a run on Broadway from February 20th to March 9th, 1918.

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France, Jan 12th, 1918

Mrs W.A. Williams
Arkona, Ont. Can.

My dear Wife,

Sunday 3 P.M.
I am quite well and getting along alright. I am not sure of the day, but think it’s the 12th. Today is rather a nice day and not very cold, some of the snow has melted away. Have been on parade and the afternoon we have a rest. One never knows when Sunday comes anymore. Well we will be soon through with our training and back to work again. I hope we get it easy for sometime. I think will not mind the cold so much from now on.

I wonder how my wife and the baby are today. I do hope they are both well and happy. Madeline the baby will be great company for us and a help to you someday. How I wish could see her only if it was a minute. My wife is pictured before me all the time, but cannot one have never seen. Tell me all when you write, and how you are getting along. I wrote Mr Lucas the other day, and hope he always writes me when has time. I bet your mother looks after the baby more than you. I believe she would be good as her eldest daughter was not spoiled anyway. I only hope my baby girl is pretty as her mother and as good.

Madeline remember no one an think anymore of his wife than this very boy. We might of had love spats but soon as Dorothy Eileen come into our home she settled all the trouble. We just thought too much of each other. We will share it with the baby now. What do you think? Am I right or not? I hope the day will come when I go back to you both. Please dont worry over me, and if anything should happen, take it all for the best.

Just recd a card today from my old friends and send it on to you to keep. I have no more news. Tell Lyda to write me sometime if she can spare a minute. I will write Charlie and Arnold very soon. The winter will be on in earnest but spring will soon come. Keep the babys feet well tucked in these nights and a few kisses for me wont cause any trouble.

Remember me to all the folks. Love and kisses to my wife and baby.

Your loving husband, Will xx

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France, Jan. 15, 1918



Mrs W.A. Williams
Arkona, Ont. Can.

My dear Wife,

Yours of Dec 17th record last night. Sorry to hear of our baby not being well, suppose they have their little sick spells. You spoke of being nervous and so uneasy over the baby, soon as you gain your strength this trouble will leave. I hope the next letter brings good news.

I am quite well and getting along alright. Busy every day and my cold is getting better. Will be going into real work very soon. The weather is terrible today, raining in torrents. The snow has all melted and nothing but ice and water everywhere. The boys in the trenches will have a rough time these days.

You mentioned about your mother being away for a few days in London. You are good stuff to stay alone with the baby. Lyda still in London, but thinking serious of moving again. Really Madeline she is ruining herself changing so much. I only wish this damn war was over. Everybody seems unsettled and everything getting worse and worse. Thank God you are happy for one anyway.

The elections are over and you voted and won out. I had a letter from Gene and he told me all about the election. Also had a letter from Mrs Smith and she spoke of sending me a parcel. Well Madeline when the next mail comes hope to hear good  news. That baby is great company but also a lot of care.

I have little news to tell. What kind of a carriage did you buy? hope it’s a good one. Grandmother seems proud of Dorothy Eileen and has her well togged up. I hope Lida writes sometime. Madeline? Remember me to all the folks, excuse my bad writing. Write me often as you can.

Love and kisses to baby and yourself.

Your loving husband, Will xx

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France Jan. 16, 1918

Mrs W.A Williams,

Your parcel received today and was much pleased. I am unable to express my feelings in words, so you just believe me was highly delighted. Those papers were interesting and enjoyed so much reading them. The cake will be consumed for dinner and will report later on quality which I know will be No. 1. Those handkerchiefs were too good for here and anytime you send a parcel, throw in a few cheap ones, as I need them always. The nuts are already out of sight.

I am so glad to know Arkona gave Armstrong a majority, but these surely must be some germans in town as he should have had 50 majority, 20 anyway. Kitchener sure is working for trouble. Why don’t they boycott such a place. I see in the paper Nellie Leggat is over here. In the U.S. Service. So Mary Lucas is married to a Parker boy. I remember him I believe. I hope he is doing his bit. “ha ha.” Clarence Luckham will be well looked after in London Convalescent. I suppose he will keep in London as long as possibly can.

Well, so much for the news. I wrote yesterday and told all the news. I should love to see Dorothy Eileen in her carriage all togged up and your pushing the carriage. I know it’s not possible but seems funny. Is she getting better looking and does she really look like her daddy or not? Tell the truth and don’t fool a fellow. 

I must close and with all kinds of love and kisses to yourself and baby.

Your loving husband, Will xx 

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In the Field, France
January 24th, 1918

My dear Wife,

All’s well and hope this letter finds you all the same. No word from you for sometime, perhaps the mail will soon come again.

The weather is mild and plenty mud everywhere. I was coming down the road today and passed Lt. Stokes going in to join the unit. I have nearly 4 months in now, and gain on 12 days leave in a few days. It was surely a surprise to me, and will gladly take. I will go to England this time because Alf is over there. I will try and see Lorne Lucas when in London. I figured on going to Paris, but think this the best for this time. I never expected leave so soon but guess well deserve it.

I believe some of the boys who cam over first will be going soon. When I get over in London will buy my little girl something very nice, and also my little wife. I often wonder how you are getting along. Dorothy will soon be quite a girl some three months. Madeline you noticed called the baby by name. How would you like Eileen for her name. I think it would be more swank to just call her only the one, and not a whole mouth full. 

Well Dear, I hope you are a happy wife, and that our girl is good. How I would love to see you both, send me a snap soon as possible. I don’t like to ask, but really it would please me. 

How are all the folks in town? Does your Father and Mother get tired of the music? The kind the baby plays sometimes? Where is Lida and does she like the baby or not? Now I have not news so much close.

Keep Eileen cuddled up these cold days, and don’t let her get cold. Yourself no doubt won’t need any advice, but take no chances until the warm weather come again.

Give my best regards to all at home. Plenty of love to yourself and baby.

Kisses are just imaginary so you give the baby lots for me.

Your loving husband, XX


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