February 1918

In the Field, France

Feb 1st, 1918

My dear Mother,

Your welcome letter was received by me, and was greatly pleased. Glad you are all well, but sorry to hear of getting C.B. I am real well, busy most of the time and enjoying my experiences out here. The weather is mild and hazy with heavy frosts at night. Really the days are wonderful for this season of the year. The mud is bad and the trenches are sliding in filling up faster than we can clear them up. I work mostly in the day time. Fritz is quiet these days and hope he keeps that way. The war will soon be over soon as he trys another smash and fails.

Well I hope it soon comes as I am anxious to see my wife and baby. Eileen seems quite a wonderful baby and Madeline is just as wonderful a mother. I feel pretty proud you may believe. I only wished the baby looked like its mother. I think people exaggerate things as to its good looks. Glad the baby is good and not restless. I think the baby very fortunate to receive so many presents. Madeline must think the baby about right as she is so careful and seems to think of it all the time. How pleased I am to know she is happy and also in good health. I hope you all feel pleased with our little babe.

I must close and will write again soon. With Best Wishes.

Your loving son,

Will

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In the Field, France

Feb. 6th, 1918

My dear Wife,

Hope this letter finds you all well, as it leaves me in the best of health. I am busy everyday, and like the life very much. The days are mild, some sunshine and plenty of mud. Really the days are wonderful for this season.

I have little news. Sgt Barnes of 18th Bn called on me the other day. His home is in Warwick village, and was well acquainted while living on the farm. I meet many people whom I once knew. I have been most fortunate.

How is Eileen getting along? She will soon be three mos. old, and lots of company for you. I bet she is getting some baby now. I know she is one sweet babe, and can picture you and the babe amusing yourselves looking at daddy’s picture. Do you think she will be proud of her daddy?

Madeline I hope you send me some pictures soon, as I am getting anxious. I had a parcel from Ont. Gov. and am sending the card to you. It was a small parcel and some dainties and pair gloves.

Will be going on leave in two or three days. I hope will have a fine trip. Capt Parker is going too, and is a good fellow. Glad of company.

I must close and hope to get a letter from you soon. I only wish I could see the baby and yourself, but it’s not use wishing. I am happy but you know. I am curious about yourself and Eileen. 

Best wishes to all.

Love and kisses to yourself and Eileen.

Your loving husband, Will xx

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Feb. 15th, 1918 [written on Hotel Royal, Rome stationery]

Mrs W.A. Williams

Arkona, Ont. Canada

My dear Wife, 

I take the pleasure of writing you this morning, and hope these lines find you all well. I am feeling about alright only the reaction seems to nearly kill one. I am so tired and my nerves are work out. My cold is not serious, only I prefer feeling well again. When I join my unit may feel alright again. I prefer the line any old time to this.

Really Madeline this war is a nerve wrecker, and one never know it until he lets himself unwind. I do hope your self and baby are enjoying good health. I expect a long list of letters when I join my unit. That baby will be such a pretty one by now if she is what people said she was.

The trip was long and tiresome but very interesting. When I get home will tell you what sights have seen. I must close.

Best wishes,

Love and kIsses to yourself and baby.

Your loving husband, Will xx 

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[card from “Hazel” to Madeline]

New Liskeard

Feb 18/18

Dear Madeline,

Please excuse this card in answer to your letter, but I’m just recovering from La Grippe, and don’t feel like writing a long letter. I was delighted to hear you have a little baby. Of course she’s the sweetest ever, and she’ll be a great comfort to you with Will away. Thank you for the pictures, Yours doesn’t flatter you at all. I like Will’s picture, he has a splendid face. Make McCallum knew about your baby before I did. Classner [?] is in Toronto with the 69th Battery. He’s too light for Artillery but the Major took him to play hockey for them and if you read the Star you’re sure to read about his good playing. They expect to be at Petawawa for the summer.

I hope you are all well. I’d love to see the baby. Send me her picture soon.

We had a letter from Fern Poole after Xmas, and you’re so sorry to hear of Mr [?] death. 

Bye-bye for now,

Lovingly, Hazel 

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Aldershot Camp

Mytchett Ranges

Feb 23/18

Dear Sister,

Just a few lines in answer to your very welcome letter which I received a few days ago. I was very pleased to hear from you and I also received the box you sent. It arrived in first-class condition and I wish to thank you very much for it.

It makes life in the army when you know the people at home haven’t forgotten you so you see I am not downhearted in the least. I am in the very best of health and enjoying myself as best one can under the circumstances. I have had a good time since I came to England. i got some very hard training while I was in the schools but then I was in a very nice part of the country and I had the evenings to myself so I think I have been used pretty well.

I am at the ranges now firing my G.M.C. I qualified as first class and I will be going back to camp on Monday. I like this place very well but there is too many soldiers about. i would rather be where I could get out of the sight of soldiers for a while. I used to like the sight of them but am getting my fill of them now.

I am very lucky to be in England yet but for my part I would like to get across to see what it is like. It is all sunshine and roses over there “I don’t think”. The last letter I got from Will he seems to like it very well, he was getting 14 days leave. I hope he has got it by this time. 

We are having lovely weather over here just now. It is chilly at nights but it is nice and warm in the daytime. I have saw no snow since Christmas and there it only lasted a day or so. We get a lot of wet weather a couple of weeks ago it rained every day but that spell is over now. I suppose you are having real cold weather over there at this time of the year. This country may be a lot warmer than ours but give me Canada every time. 

How are you getting along? I hope you are well and about that little niece of mine I should very much like to see her. I think by the description you gave she must be like her mother, well if she is she is certainly alright.

Oh say, Will is so proud I don’t think he touches earth when he walks. How is your sister and the rest of the folks getting along? I hope they are all well, give them my best regards. I don’t know how much longer I will be in England but I expect to be able to get across this spring. I am going to have a very hard try for it at any rate. It doesn’t seem fair to be left here so long when all the other boys have gone over but then you can’t go until they are ready to send you. It seems to always be my luck to be away somewhere when there is a draft picked out. While I was at Seaford there was a draft went and there wasn’t another went until I came down here and now there is another going and I am not on it. I will be getting another four days leave soon and I suppose they will send another then while I am away. I am not in the same reserve now, our reserve has been broken up and we are all transferred to the fourth. There is seven companies in the reserve and I am in the sixth one so you see I am quite a way back when the reserve is on a route march. I would rather be nearer the front end but you can’t have everything you want in the army.

I am escort for a man under arrest so I have nothing to do but stay with him and take him wherever he wants to go.

I must close now as it is near dinner time. I hope this finds you and the baby well. If you find time to write I will be very pleased to hear from you again. Bye. Bye.

Your loving brother,

Alf

L/cpl A.C. Williams

No 845559 F Co. 4th Res

Bramshott Camp, Hants

Excuse poor writing.

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[Written on stationery from Hotel St James, 211 Rue St Honore, Paris, France]

Paris, Feb 23, 1918

Mrs W.A. Williams

Arkona, Ont. Can.

My dear Wife,

Will try and write a brief account of my trip. I hope this finds you all well, and enjoying happiness. I am feeling rather fatigued after the long journey, and am resting up for my return to the front. The trip was very tiresome, and my health not being the best, played very hard. I am still full of determination to not go out for the rest required. It takes two days and nights to go from Paris to Rome, and the return took somewhat longer. I spent 5 days in Rome, 2 in Naples and Pompei, and 4 days in Paris. The time was short, but really seen so much was glad to get back. Everything was interesting and long to be remembered. I will tell all when I get back to Canada. Was up to see Vesuvius and all through Pompei. The weather was remarkably good, snow on the mountains and spring everywhere else. Only two showers of rain during the stay in the south. The oranges and lemons were very plentiful, and the real treat of having them off the tree fresh caught me right.

Now Madeline there is only one thing spoilt the whole trip and you were not with me. I have made a promise, if ever could be fulfilled Yourself and Eileen must see Naples (National Museum). Soon as Eileen gets her education it will never be complete until she has spent some time in this wonderful city. See Naples and die is an old saying and is true.

Madeline I must tell you of my shopping today in Paris. I bought you a nice dress goods, also Eileen and a small coat for her too. I am quite satisfied with them, and think they will please you. The lace sent from me will make quite a nice trimming. The large piece of lace and goods is for the big baby and the remainder for the wee baby. I hope you are agreeable and fix them up to suit yourselves. I only sent the most useful things as they will be most appreciated. I will no doubt get plenty of mail on my return and have lots to talk about.

The baby is the whole talk I hope as I am so anxious over her. Madeline don’t spoil her with little things as we want to make a great woman of her. My whole ambition is that she shall be educated in the best, and not allowed to waste her time in everyday little affairs. I suppose you will laugh at me for such wise talk, but Madeline if I had only a chance like some people would surely be a greater man. However we will do our best and make life comfortable for all. The next trip in the line spells something for me. I am getting rather restless and am afraid will have to take things as they come. I am very optimistic and never become discouraged in the life we are leading. Don’t take things too serious fro now on, as other people are starting to. The people are waking up and my turn comes to take things more calm. This is a funny world and these wise heads of the whole universe are like an empty Church. Well so much for news.

Where is Lida by now and is she ever going to write me again? Poor girl will maybe be sorry she ever had such a brother. Maybe she ha written before now. I will forgive her for leaving you now because our baby is alright and you get along very well. You never told me of your sickness or complained in the least. Madeline don’t worry over me in the least.  I am in need of nothing. I must close and write you soon as possible.

Love and kisses to Yourself and Eileen. 

Your loving husband, Will xx

P.S. You can have these kisses and pass them on to baby.

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