Mrs W.A. Williams
Arkona, Ont, Can.
My dear Wife,
Wed 9 A.M.
I am well and getting along alright. I hope you are getting along alright and enjoying health and happiness. Today is very damp & foggy. Mud almost impossible to describe how bad it is.
Well Madeline am now up in Belgium and doing my little bit to help end the war. Our boys are giving the Huns some real scrapping these days and the noise is most terrible, everything shaking. I met Mr Kress on the road yesterday and he looks well. He is not in the line and expects to leave to England. I really think he is a poor soldier.
The unit Ethan Bates is in is camped about 6 kilos from where I am and just came out of the line. I intend to go over if get a chance and hunt him up. Passed several officers coming out of the line who I knew.
Madeline I am unable to tell any more news so you must excuse. I sincerely trust you are in good health and that you are blessed with happiness. You must not worry over me as I am in the best of health and spirits. should you hear of me being in the hospital anytime, don’t worry because I will cable you the truth and worry will never do you any good. Now I hope you will not be anxious as the truth I will be alright. I must close with best wishes to all and love and kisses to my dear wife.
Bye. Bye. Your loving husband, Will xx
Will write tomorrow.
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Mrs W.A. Williams
Arkona, Ont. Can.
My dear Wife,
I am well and getting along alright. Sincerely hope you are in good health and enjoying happiness. Today is very cool, dull, and threatening rain. Today was out all day looking for Ethan Bates and found out he has not joined his unit since last spring, was very much disappointed in not finding him. Mighty glad he wasn’t with his unit as it has several losses lately. I was going up the line the other day and passed Norman Rivers coming down the road. I shouted as he passed and was recognized. While coming out passed our boys going up to work. They all were surprised to see me in France, and had a talk with some of them. They have not lost anyone yet.
Our boys are doing good work and the Colonel spoke well of them. The Canadians are sure giving the Germans heaps of worry these days as you are no doubt aware by reading the papers. I see the whole doings and it’s sure the best fighting since the war began.
Madeline it’s terrible of course but do you know it’s surprising the little effect it had on me. Now I will not tell anything until I get home. I have a job which is rather interesting going all over the front looking after working parties. I will not join my unit for some few days yet. Well my dear wife soon as the cable comes the Colonel will send a runner down to where I stay. You must not worry and take the very best care of yourself.
Best wishes to all. Love and kisses to you
Your loving husband, Will xx
Remember me to my folks.
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Mrs W.A. Williams
Arkona, Ont. Can.
My dear Wife,
Wednesday eve. 7 P.M. and all’s well. I sure have not complaints to make and getting along alright. I do hope you are well and enjoying the best of health and happiness. Today has been very wet, and the mud is terrible. The winter is coming on and everything is so dreary looking. The leaves are all off the trees and will see no more nice shade trees until next spring. The people are getting al the work done up and generally prepared for next spring. We will have a long winter to put in and everybody dreads it.
Well Madeline, one thing that is a comfort to me is that you are so far from this awful war, and enjoying warmth and plenty of good food to eat. I enjoy plenty to eat but the life we lead is quite uncomfortable. Was in a town Sunday and had a nice bath which was surely a treat. The boys get baths when ever it is possible to do so.
Now Madeline seen one of the best battles of the war pulled off the other day, which you will have heard all about before this letter arrives [battle of Passchendaele, 26 Oct - 10 Nov 1917]. The Canadians are doing good work and this show I seen was one of the best. It will be talked about by every one and will tell you all when I get home. The experience was surely one long to be remembered. After staying all night in a dug out came down to my unit, and seen all the boys. There have been wounded, but only slight. Brooks is well and looks the picture of health. Now this is all I dare speak about, and will try and do better very soon.
I must close and with the very best wishes to you all. Lots of love and kisses to yourself. Bye. Bye. Your loving husband, Will xx
Well Madeline, one thing that is a comfort to me is that you are so far from this awful war, and enjoying warmth and plenty of good food to eat. I enjoy plenty to eat but the life we lead is quite uncomfortable. Was in a town Sunday and had a nice bath which was surely a treat. The boys get baths when ever it is possible to do so.
Now Madeline seen one of the best battles of the war pulled off the other day, which you will have heard all about before this letter arrives [battle of Passchendaele, 26 Oct - 10 Nov 1917]. The Canadians are doing good work and this show I seen was one of the best. It will be talked about by every one and will tell you all when I get home. The experience was surely one long to be remembered. After staying all night in a dug out came down to my unit, and seen all the boys. There have been wounded, but only slight. Brooks is well and looks the picture of health. Now this is all I dare speak about, and will try and do better very soon.
I must close and with the very best wishes to you all. Lots of love and kisses to yourself. Bye. Bye. Your loving husband, Will xx
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Mrs W.A. Williams
Arkona, Ont, Can.
My dear Wife,
Sunday 2 P.M. I am well and getting along the very best.
I do hope you are well and also enjoying every happiness. No doubt by this time you will be feeling anything but well, but do hope the joy will be so great, the other will be forgotten.
Today is cool, cloudy, and squalls with rain. The weather is very disagreeable and the mud most terrible. At present I am inside looking out of a Belgium shack. I sleep in a hut some short distance away. I seem quite comfortable most of the time, but oh you rain and mud.
Yesterday was coming down from the line, and run on to Will Torrington. We chatted a few minutes only as both were in a hurry. He told me he had just come from leave in England. This being his second leave, since in this country. The other day while on my tour went around and found Beaumy Fleck. he looks very well and was surprised to see me so fit. He also called my way and spent couple of hours talking about home. I believe passed Geo. Northwood on the road but was not sure. You will wonder how I see so many in such a short time but I am on a dandy job and go all over. I suppose will soon join my unit as this is only a temporary job.
Well Madeline I would love to tell some of my experiences. Yesterday went up to the line to bring back about a hundred men, talk about drownded rat. Well I changed my clothes soon as back to my shack. Your should just see the mess they are in. The orderly will be busy for some time believe me. The boots are not long enough and the next pair will be longer.
While I am writing the big guns are going to it, and the house shakes all the time. Our boys are giving Fritz lots of punishment. I suppose the papers are wild with news of the Canadians. the whole world can set up and take notice if they like. They are the best fighters in the world. Don’t worry over Russia and Italy as we can trim them ourselves.
Madeline I am in good cheer always and always look for the cloud with silver lining. I only wish everybody was so optimist and the war would be easy. Remember I have reasons for feeling such. We are right and God will not allow such people to rule the world as are fighting against us. That is my faith in this war, and the time will soon come now, when the enemy will quit. The morale of all other breeds cause them to quit, but there is not quit in God’s people. Every Briton is determined to fight to the last. That alone will win for us.
Now my Dearie you must not be anxious about me, as I feel God is with me and makes everything so easy and bright. I wonder today how everything is with you. The last mail was dated Sept 16th. Well I have plenty of patience and it will come someday surely. I have been counting the days an dour baby should be born about Nov. 15th. Some guess. I do hope the cablegram finds me alright. No time have I felt more anxious for news than at present time. I must close very soon. Tell Lida I hope she enjoys the new job and takes on herself the responsibility of looking after Ronald Beecher. Remember me to all. Best wishes. Love and kisses to yourself.
Bye. Bye.
Your loving husband,
Will xx
One of these are for yourself and the other for someone else. Billie
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Mrs W.A. Williams
Arkona, Ont, Can.
My dear Wife,
Yours of Sept 28th and 30th received today also one of Sept 28th from Father and one of Oct 8th from Lola. Well needless to say I surely was pleased with them all. I am well and getting along very best. Do hope you are well and enjoying happiness. I surely was pleased when you spoke so cheerful of the near future. Glad all are well, sorry to hear your Father is so used up with rheumatism.
Today is fine and cool, such a wonder in this land. Our airmen are very active and the guns are steady going. The boys have had very bad going in the mud, but poor Fritz has it much worse. Well we are very cheerful and everything is going the best. I do hope fine weather continues a few days longer. How we will make use of it.
So Lida quit the store at last. Really she done well, but sorry to hear of her coming home. I know she won’t stay very long, and mark my word will be sorry for her next move. Well Madeline we all seem to be discontented, but we always have our way and satisfied with something worse in the end.
I tell you Fuller Bros couldn’t be beat and I should know. Yes Lida will be pleased with her furs and so glad too. Now I should not say anything about your people’s business, but I do hope if your Father ever quits the farm, he will not sell his farm to any stranger. I never expect to go on the farm, but would not refuse the farm if had to do other hard labour. My wife is not going to be a slave in this world for a few dollars. I do hope my experience will always be able to keep both you and I (and a good big family) (ha ha).
Now I am so glad you and baby are going to be so comfortable in your nice warm room. Your Mother will be so good to you, and all the folks. I do think there is some mail lost and no parcel rec’d lately. Donna spoke of a parcel which I have never rec’d. However the mails do well considering the times. I met Henry Thorpe format home the other day and rode up in his lorry to ————. I think this is all the news and will write you very soon. Yes Lida will be your secretary. I hope she doesn’t make any mistakes and put in the wrong letters. Tell your Mother it looks like two Billies for son-in-laws.
Now my dear Madeline you have my sympathy while sick. Remember love it’s hard to write at this critical time.
Best wishes with love and kisses.
Your loving husband, Will xx
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Mrs W.A. Williams
Arkona, Ont. Can.
My dear Wife,
Received you letters of Sept 23rd, 28 and 30th. I was so pleased with them and glad to hear of you being so well. I am well and getting along alright. I hope you are well and happy. Really Madeline these days are uneasy ones for me but hope when the news come from Canada they will be the very best.
I had a letter from Alf. Mr Fyffe, Ethan and Millie Bates, and was so glad to hear from them. Alf is well, getting along very best. He said Geo. Watts is poorly and being sent back to Canada. Mr Fyffe in his letter mentioned about Trainor having a son. Ethan is well and not in the line. Millie is the very best, and wishes to be remembered to you. She said to tell you she would look after me while in France. What do you think of that? Well Madeline it’s awful kind of her, but there is nothing much she can do for me.
Today is fine and such a treat after so much rain. I passed Rivers on the road today, also met so many officers I once had met before. The Canadians are doing well but the fighting is desperate. I hope none of the Arkona boys ever get across here as they will surely see hardships. You spoke in your letters of me using so much blarney. Well Madeline I suppose mum is the word. However, don’t worry over a little praise because when I get home the baby will get it all. I know our baby will be the best in the world and if not spoiled will be good. Also spoke of Lida and going to be a nurse. I wish her luck but no sister of mine would I ever let go. The work is the very hardest and takes so long. Really I hate to see her try such a hard job.
In your letter so much was said regards the preparations for the coming event. Lou Moore will be a good nurse and glad you were able to get her. I think you are fortunate in having such a nice home and so many to look after you. I pray every night for you and the baby and always will. I am sure the baby will be strong and everything alright. I will not blame you for anything should it happen. I am now in France sometime and so you will need not worry over me blaming you for keeping me away. Madeline I never blame you for anything yet was worried because I could not use you better. Now please forget the past and let me tell you my wife is no girl but a brave woman and will show the people what good stuff you are. I must close. Love and kisses to you.
Your loving husband, Will xx
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Mrs W.A. Williams
Arkona, Ont, Can.
My dear Wife,
Sunday 11:30 A.M.
Your letter of Oct 4 and 7th rec’d yesterday and was pleased to hear such welcome news. I am well and getting along alright. I do hope you are well and everything happiness. I also had a letter from Will Wyatt and he is well and said wished to be remembered to you.
Today is cool and cloudy. The weather is mild for this time of year but the dampness is awful. Don’t you think I stand it well considering the rheumatism which always used to get me. I might tell you it keeps away wonderfully, and do hope to stand it out until the end of the war. Remember it pays to keep busy and keep everything off the mind. I don’t wish to ever have it again.
Well Madeline Xmas will soon be here and this year will be spent in France no doubt. I sent a small parcel to you, also in this was a little gift to your Mother and Lida. You can let them have their choice. The large fancy work is where I have spent my time lately and will be quite wonderful. I sent a handkerchief to Lola, Rosa and Donna Tanner, also a few cards to our people. Now I must tell you I only hope they understand it’s impossible for me to send anything valuable. You spoke of sending me another parcel which will be thankfully rec’d, but wish you would keep everything for yourself. Madeline I am awful stingy because after this war there will be one awful time, and I never want to be hard up for anything. I only wish I could be well off so you could want for nothing I am so glad you are satisfied with what I left for you. I do hope will be able to save some of what I get. I hope you like the present sent from England, sorry could not of sent something better. So Lida intends to leave home, really she must be awfully discontented. I should love to help her out of this awful mood. Tell her if she trusts in God she will not be lead astray, but if she is simply going her own pace will make a horrible mistake. Don’t discourage her, but wish her luck. When I get home she will come and work for me I know.
You spoke of some names. I do not care what it is or the name. Lyda seems to be hurt because of our being dippy over this baby. Tell her I will write soon and hope she writes soon. Well Dear, I must close. Wishing you both health and Happiness.
Love and kisses,
Your loving husband, Will xx
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21 November 1917
Mrs W.A. Williams
Arkona, Ont. Can.
My dear Wife,
Arkona, Ont. Can.
My dear Wife,
Just a few lines this morning. I am well, and getting along alright. I do hope you are alright and enjoying the very best health and happiness. Have had no letters lately and getting anxious for cablegrams.
Today is very dreary and wet and I am staying inside for the forenoon. No news and the same old story of roaring guns.
Well Madeline i sent all my Yankee cousins a Xmas card and hope they are pleased with them. Christmas will soon be here and so hurried them along. Must write Alf soon and also many of the boys. I have been waiting for something to write about. It is very hard to tell anything about here and so you will understand the cause of my news being brief.
I don’t expect a cablegram will find me easily as this time of writing things are unsettled. However will have patience and trust all will be well. Madeline I don’t suppose if you and I had been single at present time wold make things any more pleasant I seem bound to be thinking of you always. The only relief is lots of work.
Now I must say, hope Lida gets over her uneasiness and takes things patiently. Maybe the baby will make things different around your home. I pray for the day when everything will be happiness in your home. I know the cause of it all and am to blame.
Today is very dreary and wet and I am staying inside for the forenoon. No news and the same old story of roaring guns.
Well Madeline i sent all my Yankee cousins a Xmas card and hope they are pleased with them. Christmas will soon be here and so hurried them along. Must write Alf soon and also many of the boys. I have been waiting for something to write about. It is very hard to tell anything about here and so you will understand the cause of my news being brief.
I don’t expect a cablegram will find me easily as this time of writing things are unsettled. However will have patience and trust all will be well. Madeline I don’t suppose if you and I had been single at present time wold make things any more pleasant I seem bound to be thinking of you always. The only relief is lots of work.
Now I must say, hope Lida gets over her uneasiness and takes things patiently. Maybe the baby will make things different around your home. I pray for the day when everything will be happiness in your home. I know the cause of it all and am to blame.
Remember me to all the folks and wishing all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
With love and kisses to yourself. Bye Bye.
Your loving husband,
Will
Will
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23 November 1917
Mrs W.A Williams
Arkona, Ont. Can.
My dear Wife,
Arkona, Ont. Can.
My dear Wife,
Friday 6 P.M. I am well and hope this letter find you well also. Today has been cool and cloudy. Clearing off this evening. The moon is shining bright and will be an ideal night for raids. The planes were very active towards evening and would be good for observation.
Well Madeline have no news of any kind. Everybody is busy and we are winning. I have been up tearing around all day and mighty tired tonight. My heavy boots are some load to carry around and when loaded with mud are not light. I seem quite comfortable regards clothes, only my trench coat is one awful mess. The weather I understand is mild compared with last year at this time. I hope it keeps this way.
I have no mail today and know there is some in this country somewhere for me. How anxious to get that cablegram. I pray you are well and everything is alright by the time this letter arrives. Madeline we have a big job censoring letters these evenings. The boys all send Xmas presents home just now. We have hundreds to read and sign each night. It’s real funny reading other people’s letters but so tiresome. I must tell you no one reads mine as I just ask some other officer to sign it.
Well Madeline have no news of any kind. Everybody is busy and we are winning. I have been up tearing around all day and mighty tired tonight. My heavy boots are some load to carry around and when loaded with mud are not light. I seem quite comfortable regards clothes, only my trench coat is one awful mess. The weather I understand is mild compared with last year at this time. I hope it keeps this way.
I have no mail today and know there is some in this country somewhere for me. How anxious to get that cablegram. I pray you are well and everything is alright by the time this letter arrives. Madeline we have a big job censoring letters these evenings. The boys all send Xmas presents home just now. We have hundreds to read and sign each night. It’s real funny reading other people’s letters but so tiresome. I must tell you no one reads mine as I just ask some other officer to sign it.
Now I must close as lunch is soon ready and this is all the news. You pardon me for this brief letter.
Wishing all best wishes.
Love and kisses to yourself. Bye Bye
Your loving husband,
Will x x
P.S. Madeline my last letter had no kisses to you. I must surely of forgotten them. I always send two as they are the only things I can send.
[This is the last letter Will writes until December 9th, due to him becoming ill with a high fever which lays him up in bed for 2 weeks.]
Will x x
P.S. Madeline my last letter had no kisses to you. I must surely of forgotten them. I always send two as they are the only things I can send.
[This is the last letter Will writes until December 9th, due to him becoming ill with a high fever which lays him up in bed for 2 weeks.]
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