Joe - Tuesday 29th February 1916

Dear Sarah,

I was pleased to receive your letter. I had a parcel from Janey so you can thank her for it as I wrote to her last week. 

I think we will be leaving here shortly as everything points to a move.  We are having fairly decent weather now, all the snow is clearing away and the weather is much warmer. 

You can draw some of my money from the bank and get Jess a decent present from me, just get what you think best.  I would like some good toffee andsome more chutney please.  I had a parcel from the Mayoress; it contained socks, muffler, mitts and helmet.  I have a lot of this sort of stuff now.  I suppose I can thank Miss Mulcaster for these.  You can tell Janey the parcel was a very nice one, all the cakes were lovely, quite a few remarked how nice the mince pies were, you can send me some often. 

I haven't had a letter from Billie for sometime, but I may get one soon.  I heard there were about 9 divisions came out this last few days and there are 25,000 men in a division, so you can see there are a good number of troops out, so Billie shouldn't be long in being relived now.  I hope you had a nice time at Letchworth; it would be a nice outing. 

Well I have no more news at present so must close.  Hope this finds all well at home. 

With love to all Joe

Billie - Sunday 27th February 1916

Dear Janey,

Just a line to let you know I am all right.  Very many thanks for the lovely home parcel which I received last night.  It was quite a treat and I quite enjoyed it especially the meat and brown loaf.  The milk tablets are also great; you might send me some more of those as they are good to have on sentry at nights. 

We go in the line for our last night this spell tomorrow, and we will not half be pleased when we get this little spell over.  We have had the worst time this spell we have ever had.  It has snowed practically the whole of the seven days we have been in and it has been so cold that half our rifles would not fire, so we would have been in a nice state if the Germans had only come.  It is a downright shame that half of the rifles in our Battalion have been condemned long ago and yet they will not issue us new ones.  I have got a fine rifle.  I got it when I was in dry dock, and I mean to take care of it. 

We have just had a draft up and they a lot and no mistake.  We all think it is not right to send chaps who have just been in the army three months and had such little training.  They have only been up a few days and they have wounded three of our Battalion already so you can guess we do not place much confidence in them.  On sentry one night I don't think there was one who could get his rifle to fire, and the rifles they have were obsolete in the army for the last six years, and yet when Kitchener's men came out they all had brand new rifles and bayonets.  It is quite time this matter was seen into.  We either must be short of trained men and decent rifles or else the heads are not playing fair.  The rations also have been awful lately, and yet they tell us we are playing a winning game.  Well I suppose these things will be seen into when we do waken up. 

Well I must close as they are calling for letters, hoping all are well as it leaves me in the pink. 

Cheer oh.  Billie. 

All leaves are stopped. 

Joe - Friday 25th February 1916

Dear Janey,

I received your letter and the parcel from home and I think it is your turn for a letter. 

We are still back resting, but I heard today that all leaves have been stopped.  This will likely be on account of the German threat to sink all ships on 1st March; the channel will likely be cleared.  We are having very cold weather, hard frost and snow, but a chap who just came off leave last night said it was colder in England.  I would say we had 12 or 13o of frost the other night. 

I am expecting a letter from Billie anytime now.  You can please send me some more chutney and rum butter.  I have plenty of tobacco but you might send me some good cigarettes.  John will likely be having a good time at Barrow although I think it will be a very bleak place, but still he can stick the cold.  I had a letter from Miss Muncaster and she mentioned the socks.  I was talking with Miller Irven and he told me he didn't get over to see Mother, but was talking with you.  I was also talking with L. Hodgson; it was the first time I have met him since we came out. 

Well I have no more news at present.  Hope all at home are well. 

With love to all, Joe

Billie - Wednesday 23rd February 1916

Dear Jess,

Just a line to let you know I am all right. 

We are back in the trenches again and up to the present we are having a rotten time.  We have moved about 100 yards to the left where some of Kitchener's men have been, and if that is a sample of the new army's work I am sorry for the army.  It seems as though they have let everything go to wreck and ruin and, instead of keeping the dug outs in repair, they have let them all fall in and have put a piece of corrugated iron across the trench and we have to sit on the firing platform with this for cover.  We had the first dose of this last night and I think it is the worst we have ever had.  Of course we cannot do all the 8 days in but do 1 day in support when we spend the whole night doing sentries, and when resting under the glorious new army style of dugouts.  Then the next day we are in the front line and spend all day and night in these and after that we move into the village and have one night's sleep perhaps.  So you will see we are always on the move. 

Last night it was hard frost, and then turned to snow, and it has snowed the whole day, so you may bet we were very pleased when we moved into the village tonight.  However we have done it once so can do it again.  In spite of the rotten time we are having I am in the pink, and I am only looking forward now to my leave which will be in about 6 week's time, as they have cut the leaves to 4 a week.  Well I think this is all the news for the present so must close, hoping all are well at home as it leaves me in the pink.  Tell the boys I will write to them as soon as I get time. 

Your loving brother Billie. 

Billie - Sunday 20th February 1916

Dear Sarah,

Just a line to let you know I am going on all right and having a fairly decent time of it this time out.  We have been working nearly every day, but they have built a concert room here now and we have had a troop of entertainers from the RAMC and pictures every night, and I can tell you we all fairly enjoyed it and no mistake.  It was quite like old times. 

We were in the pictures last night and we were just interested in a picture when we were all ordered to stand to.  When we got outside there was a terrific bombardment going on, and we had to pack our kit up, roll our blankets in bundles and don fighting order.  We stood to for about an hour when we were ordered to stand down but no man had to leave his billet, but nothing came of it.  The line has been fairly active around here just at present, and I can tell you it has been fairly warm, however I think that before long we will be relived, and after we have had our rest the winter will be over.  We go in the trenches again tomorrow and we only hope the weather will keep up the same as it is today.  The whole time we have been out of the trenches it has poured, until today and it is just like Spring. 

We had a Zeppelin and some aeroplanes over here last night dropping bombs but they did not do much damage.  I was pleased to hear all are well at home.  Thank Jennie for her papers.  Well I think this is all the news at present. 

With love to you all. 

Your affectionate brother Billie. 

Joe - Friday 18th February 1916

Dear Mother,

I received the parcel all right and thanks for same.  Thank Aunt Eliza for the cake.  I will write to her sometime soon. 

Well, we are still back at the rest camp and having a fairly decent time of it.  I had a field card from Billie; he has got my letter and is writing soon.  John seems to be still having a good time.  I hear a few of our chaps have got commissions; Tom Ramsey has put in for one. 

Father will still be as busy as ever; I will write to him soon. I haven't much to write about, I hardly know what to put down.  I have plenty of money and socks &c.  Well I must close.  Hope all at home are well. 

With love to all Joe

Billie - Monday 14th February 1916

Dear Janey,

Very many thanks for home parcel which I received last night.  I was pleased to hear all fare well.

You will no doubt be pleased to know we are out of the trenches again and back in the village for 8 days.  I do not think it will be very long before we have our relief here, as all along the line they seem to be relieving troops who have been in the line any time.  Just on our left some of Kitchener's were relieved and they have not been in the trenches as long as we have.  However I do not think it will be long until we get a rest. 

I was quite surprised to hear Joe was so far back resting.  I hope they are being moved to Africa as the fighting there will not be anything like what it will be out here in the Spring.  I was surprised to hear Miller had been at home.  It does not half seem rotten that chaps who have only been out three months should have their leave before chaps who have been out twelve.  However as long as I have not had it I have it to look forward to. 

I had a letter from John and he seems to be having a nice time.  Mr Hoskens often asks after John and says John owes him a letter so tell him when you write.  The enemy opposite us have been relived and they are a spiteful lot of bounders we have got against us now.  The weather is jolly rotten still, we have had snow and frost, and now it is blowing a gale and pouring with rain.  However we have one consolation, we are not in the trenches. 

I had a large parcel again last night from the Director containing a large cake, cocoa du lait, soap, chocolate sweets and a lot of other little things, it is jolly decent of him.  I suppose Thompson is as busy as ever.  Fancy our John being made a Mason. 

Well I think I've no more news so must close.  Hoping all at home are well as it leaves me in the pink.  Love to all. 

Your affectionate brother Billie. 

Joe - Saturday 12th February 1916

Dear Mother,

I received the parcel safe on Tuesday.  I sent you a field card yesterday.  I had a letter from John yesterday and I wrote to Billie a few days since. 

We are having very cold weather and I am glad we are out of the trenches.  We had an inspection on Tuesday by General Plummer our Army Corps General, and on Wednesday we were inspected by Lord Kitchener.  We just had to march past in both instances.  I didn't tell you that we had Colonel Winston Churchill in our trenches.  He was Colonel of the Royal Scots who took the trenches over from us.  I didn't see him but he was in our trenches a few times. 

John seems to be having a nice time; he will be quite handy for a weekend at home.  I was sorry to hear about Joe Wilson's Mother dying.  It was not a nice leave for Joe and Bob.  There have been a few Whitehaven chaps killed lately.  I knew Joe Cowan and Holloway very well; they were two nice boys.  I received the Whitehaven News from Jennie and the Sunday Pictorial and London Opinion that you sent me.  Have Bob Christian and Sid Husthwaite enlisted yet?  Syd Park is getting on fine.  I haven't seen Miller Irven since we came back on our rest. 

Well I must close.  Hope all are well. 

With love to all, Joe

Billie - Friday 11th February 1916

Dear Jess,

Very many thanks for your letter received two days ago, also for the parcel which I received from Mother. 

We are in the trenches again but thank God we have only two more days of this before we go out 8 days in the village.  The enemy is very active here as you will no doubt have seen by the papers, about the heavy bombardments round (censored).  They have brought an awful lot of new guns up big and little, also a patent bomb thrower which is very effective, and they fairly do give us something to go on with.  However we have the satisfaction of seeing our artillery pumping it into them also.  The enemy's air service is also very active here both aeroplanes and captive balloons.  Just in front of our lines the enemy has (censored) of these balloons watching our lines and roads. 

Tell John, old Chick Cooper got a nasty wound in the thick part of the leg last night by one of the German bombs.  I did hear it had chipped a bit off the bone, so he will get to England.  We keep getting drafts up, but we are still very short of men and have to do a lot of extra work with practically no sleep since we came, so you will see we do not get much time for letter writing. 

I was pleased to get a letter from Joe two days ago, and to know he is out of the trenches resting.  They are very lucky to get a rest so soon.  We are all beginning to wonder if we are ever going to get a rest at all.  There are still no signs of a rest here.  and I might add if they do not hurry up and relieve us, there will be none of the old Battalion left.  There is one thing and that is the nights have started to shorten a bit.  I think we must be very hard up for trained troops r we would have been relieved sooner as the army authorities like to give about three months in the trenches and then a rest.  This is the only solution we can come to, unless like everything else connected with the army, they are in such a muddle that they think we have been relived.  However when we do get a rest it will take all the chaps some time before they are fit for fighting again, and after we do get it, winter should be practically over. 

I was pleased to hear you liked your new house.  By the description it must be jolly fine, and I hope it will not be long before I have the pleasure of seeing it for myself.  I was pleased to hear all are well at home also at Greenwell House George St. and Catherine St.  I intended writing to each of them in turn so you can tell them how it is I've not written just lately.  I will also write to John K. while out of the trenches, as I really have had no spare time.  Oh I remembered his address the other morning so I put it down in my diary.  Let me have our John's full address as soon as you can and I will put it down.  It is surprising out here you have no memory for anything. 

Well I think this is all the news up to the present, hoping all at home are well also Janey and Thompson, as it leaves me in the pink only very tired, but tell them not to worry about me. 

Your loving brother Billie. 

I suppose Pater is as busy as ever.  I will write to him also to Janey and Sarah or they will be thinking I've forgotten them.  Remember me to Mr Ray.  You might send me some Horlicks Malted Mild tablets and some more Boots vermin powder.  We have a huge success every morning on our hunting expeditions.  Kindly remember me to all at Ghyll Bank and at the school.  It snowed and hailed all night last night and it was not half cold on sentry.  I find I've written this on the wrong side of the paper; this is the fault of the small piece of candle. 

Well.  Cheer oh.  Billie. 

Billie - Friday 4th February 1916

Dear Mother,

Just a line to let you know we are still all right.  We are still out of the trenches but go into the front line tomorrow.  We are going up at 11 today to do a bit of digging.  Many thanks for the parcel which was in fine condition.  I think the pocket diary is a beauty and I mean to take great care of it.  The weather has turned jolly rotten - there is a gale blowing and rain with it. 

Janey should go to Barrow for a weekend it would do her, good.  Have you heard from Joe?  I suppose if they have been moved that will be the reason for not hearing.  Enclosed you will find a silk card "Home Sweet Home".  It took my eye; nearly all our chaps took one.  I suppose Father is as busy as ever.  Ask him to remember me to Mrs Mayne and the boys.  Well I've not much news.  Hoping all are well as it leaves me in the pink. 

Your loving son Billie. 

Billie - Wednesday 2nd February 1916

Dear Mother,

Very many thanks for the parcel received last night in splendid condition.  I was pleased with the diary, it is a beauty - also the pocket knife. 

We are out of the trenches again and the weather is quite a treat now, but expect it will break down by the time we go in on Sunday.  There is a very strong rumour that we are being relieved after the next 8 days in, so we are all hoping it is correct.  We had a football match yesterday with the Lancashire Fusiliers, which ended in a draw 2 each.  They had an international playing for them.  This crack regiment has been attached to us for about 6 weeks as an entrenching Battalion but they are going back to their own division tomorrow.  I was pleased to hear the Patriotic Sale was such a success, some must have given pretty liberally but I expect all would help. 

Pleased to hear all are well at home, also all the aunts, uncles and cousins.  Jess seems to be having a busy time - her time is short now.  Kindly thank John K. for his cigars Just received as they are a treat and we ain't half enjoying them.  Please send some more candles as they never seem to have any in the canteens now.  Pleased to hear Sarah had a good time at Barrow.  I've not had a letter from Joe lately but I expect he is busy.  There are heaps of bulbs all coming out in flower around these dug outs.  We had some fags sent to the regiment by Vickers Ltd and a card in each.  It is jolly decent of them.  I'm enclosing you the card. 

Hoping all are well as it leaves me in the pink. 

Your loving son Billie.