Joe - Monday 20th March 1916

Dear Mother,

I received parcel and thanks for same. 

We are out of the trenches and well behind the firing line, we are near to Billie, well I won't say near, perhaps about 30 miles but we might land nearer to him when we go in the trenches.  I think we will be out another week or two.  We are a lucky division so far, and we have had a grand rest, I got the 7/4d from the patriotic sale all right and I will write and thank them for it.  I don't think it's any good John writing about leave.  I should have had my leave long since when I was drawn, but I will have to wait another month at least because "A" Company goes this week, but with a bit of luck I should manage for the events.  Anyhow I will see what I can do. 

I will write to thank Aunt Eliza and Jennie.  If Thompson has to go tell him not to join an Infantry; the RGA is all right but the Army Pay Corps is much better paid I think.  I had a letter from Billie he seems to be getting on all right.  Our Billie will get a surprise if we land to relieve them.  Please send me some handkerchiefs. 

I will now draw to a close.  Hope you are all well. 

Love to all Joe

Billie - Wednesday 15th March 1916

Dear Sarah,

Very many thanks for lovely parcel which arrived in splendid condition last night.  Also thank Janey for letter which I was pleased to receive last night also. 

We are still in the trenches having a fairly decent time of it these last few days.  The weather for the last three days has been a treat almost like Summer, so you may guess we quite enjoyed it.  This is our last night in of this 8 days and tomorrow we go back for 8 days' rest.  I think the Germans have been changed opposite to us, as these last few days they have been shouting over to us and generally swanking. 

I had to leave this letter and go out of our shelter with the gun, so I will now try to finish it.  Well we are out of the trenches again and back resting, and up to the present we are having a jolly decent time.  The weather these last few days has been scorching hot, and the scenery just around this village is a treat to see.  The fields and orchards are yellow with daffodils - in fact I have never seen so many before.  I have also heard there are heaps of violets but have not come across any yet.  We are playing a football competition here for a cup given by our General.  We have played one match and won 5:0.  I managed to get a couple of goals.  We play again today a very hot team so only hope we are as lucky today.  The football team is excused all parades so you may guess we are having a fairly decent time of it. 

You will no doubt be pleased to hear that leaves have started again but they are only sending 2 a week per company, so if they do not increase them it will be quite 13 weeks before I get home.  We had a glorious bath yesterday and a clean change so you need only send me some socks occasionally now.  Kindly thank Mater for the lovely parcel containing socks &c which arrived in fine order. 

Well I suppose Jess and John will both be busy now with one thing and another.  Tell Mother to draw out some of my money and buy them whatever they want.  I was pleased to hear you had decided to accept the post offered you.  I feel sure you will do well.  I was also pleased to learn that Janey is going to do Thompson's work.  I am sure she will be able to manage it all right.  You might let me know when he is called up and what he is put in.  I think it is a downright shame that the government should not keep their pledge and I think it should be seen into. 

Well I think this is all the news at present so must close.  Hoping all are well at home also at Greenwell House, George St and Catherine St. as it leaves me in the pink.  Oh kindly thank Aunt Eliza for the money in the parcel just received it came in handy. 

Cheer oh, Your loving brother Billie

Joe - Tuesday 14th March 1916

Dear Mother,

You will probably have heard before now that we are on the move.  We are moving to the South of France.  We have had two day's march and we have been staying at a village for three days.  I think we move tomorrow.  We will probably be taking over trenches somewhere near where Billie is.  I would like to come across him. 

You can spend the same amount on John's present as I told you for Jess; please see my orders are carried out, and tell Jess it is not too much.  I have just received a parcel from Sarah, and thank her for same; it was a good parcel.  I got a surprise where I heard Mrs Bewsher was dead; a good number of Whitehaven people have died lately. 

When we first landed in this village the French people at some of the farms would hardly let our chaps sleep in their barns because some of them were half full of unthreshed wheat and corn.  Of course we wouldn't have harmed it much but it appears some troops had left the places dirty.  We go up to a farmhouse where some of our Machine Gun Section are billeted and the old man and woman will do anything for US.  We are getting chips tonight at no cost to us. 

Well I must close if I want to catch the post.  I was glad to hear Sarah had taken that post; it won't be such hard work.  Well I must close. 

I remain, Your loving son Joe

Billie - Monday 13th March 1916

Dear Janey,

Very many thanks for letter received, also for the two home parcels which I received in splendid condition. 

We are back in the trenches again and are having it fairly rough.  We have had some terrible snowstorms these last few days, and the ground is 2 to 3 ft deep all round.  You will no doubt be surprised to hear I have been put on the Machine Gun Section - the Lewis Gun.  Bunny has been on sometime now, so I had a course the last time out and I am now on.  It is much better than the company as you do not have half the work to do and have a much better time all round.  When we are out for our rest the last few days, the guns have done nothing but rest, while the company have to provide working parties, so you see it is much better on the guns.  When we are in the trenches we do not have to do two or three men's work on the guns and up to the present I have had a decent time.  In future my address will be Lewis Gun Section, A Company &c. 

You will no doubt know that all leaves are stopped indefinitely while the German offensive is being carried on.  However I suppose I will get one sooner or later but do not think I will get home for Easter. 

I suppose Sarah will have got back.  You might let me know what she intends doing.  Does Thompson know when he will be called up?  I hope it won't be for some time yet.  Have you decided what you are going to do?  Have you heard if Joe has finished his rest yet - I wrote to him two days ago.  Has John come back from his bombing course, as I must write to him or he will be thinking I have forgotten him?  We have heaps of rumours about being relieved but I suppose one of these days we will be relieved when we least expect it. 

14th March 1916

I had to leave this as we could not have a light where we were.  We have been congratulated by the General of our Corps on the way we have held the line and generally frightened the enemy.  We are transferred now out of the 3rd and into the 4th and seeing they are up in Flanders we may get a rest very soon.  We have just had a glorious supper, one of the chaps in the team had some bacon sent, so we had it fried about 1 this morning - I never enjoyed anything better. 

Well I think this is all the news up to the present.  Hoping Mother, Father, Sarah, Jess, John, Thompson, Joe and not forgetting yourself are all quite well as it leaves me in the pink.  Kindest regards to all the aunts and Mr Ray. 

Your loving brother Billie. 

I am turning in at 12 for 6 hours sleep, a thing we never had in the company. 

Billie - Friday 10th March 1916

Dear Sarah,

Very many thanks for your letter, also thank Mater for the two parcels which I received in splendid condition just before we came into the trenches. 

We are back in our own line again and are having a fairly decent time of it; if only the weather was better, things would be greatly improved.  We have had nothing but snow for a fortnight and the ground is quite thick.  The worst of it is, some days a thaw sets in and the trenches get flooded out, and we have to go up at nights and pump it out, and nearly every night we either have very hard frost or snow, so you may guess it is not very pleasant standing above your knees in water trying to pump water out whilst it is freezing so hard. 

There is a strong rumour that we are being relieved after this spell in, so we only hope it is correct, as we have had quite our share of winter trench warfare.  All leaves have been stopped throughout the British Army and we all think it is a shame.  We all read Tennant's speech in the House of Lords and you should have heard the remarks.  He wants to come out here and do 12 months, and then have his leave stopped, just when he could see it in sight, and then see how he would like that. 

We have been kept fairly busy these last few days so you must excuse my not writing before.  Our John seems to be having a decent time.  I must write to him if I get time tomorrow.  I suppose Jess will be busy now her time is getting so short.  You can draw some of my money out of the Bank and get her just what she would like from me.  I don't suppose there is much chance of me getting home by then, but still there is no saying.  I was pleased to hear Joe is still resting.  He will think I've forgotten him but I will write in a day or two. 

Did you call at Philip Road (Peckham)?  I'm sure they would be pleased to see you. 

I had a letter from the Manager and his wife yesterday, and he told me he is the only one left out of the old staff and he wants to know if I would like some more fags.  You might ask Mother to send me a copying pencil in the next parcel.  Well I think this is all the news.  Hoping all are well as it leaves me in the pink.  Kindest regards to the aunts &c.  Hoping to see you soon. 

Your loving brother Billie. 

Joe - Tuesday 7th March 1916

Dear Jess,

I received parcel and letter and thanks for same. 

We are still back at the rest camp but we might move at any time.  I got a surprise when I knew John was going to be married also.  I wish I could just drop lucky and manage to get on leave and Billie also.  I had a letter from F. Wilkinson, he is near Alexandria and having a fairly decent time; he thinks he will be going to Salonika.  He was resting at Mudron for a month.  Well our leave is still stopped, but it might start anytime again, let's hope so.  I have had no word from Billie; he will not have time for letter writing. 

You will feel a bit strange leaving school.  National will be short of teachers.  I think a few of these single chaps should be called before the married men.  There are too many of these appeals being listened to, a few of the chaps want packing right out here.  I sent Sarah a letter I hope she got it.  Well I have no more news so must close.  Hope this finds all at home well. 

With love to all Joe

Billie - Sunday 5th March 1916

Dear Mater,

Just a line to let you know I am going on all right.  We are out of the trenches and in the village in reserve.  The weather is awful; the last 8 days in we had 2 or 3 ft of snow and then heavy rain, which flooded the trenches.  Yesterday the weather turned very cold again and we had another foot of snow and hard frost.  I had a letter and some fags from the director, and he asked if he could send me anything. 

I was pleased to hear all were well at home.  Jess will no doubt have left school now, and will be having a very busy time.  I was greatly surprised to hear our John is thinking of getting married.  I have no idea when I will be home on leave now, as all leaves are stopped indefinitely, and do not show any signs of starting as yet.  I think we will be going back to our own part of the line next time in, and we will not be sorry.  I am pleased to see by the papers that they have livened the slackers up. 

The weather today is fine but cold.  You need not send me a shirt, but you can send me another pair of socks please as the weather does play havoc with our foot gear.  I had a letter from Sarah and she seems to be having a good time at Letchworth and London.  I hope she called at Peckham, they would be pleased to see here.  I suppose it will not be long before Thompson is called up, and I think it is a great shame that the married men should be called up while there are so many sheltering under their so called stars.  I only hope he is not called up, and then Janey won't have to turn out to work, nevertheless I admire her for her pluck. 

I suppose Pater will still be as busy as ever, and I'm sure he will feel ready for a rest.  Well I think this is all the news so must close.  Hoping all are well as it leaves me in the pink. 

With love to you all, your affectionate son Billie.  Cheer oh.