Joe - Tuesday 4th April 1916

Dear Mother,

I received parcel and letter on Sunday, a day earlier than I have been receiving it these last few weeks.  The handkerchiefs arrived and also a letter from Janey yesterday.  I hope Janey keeps better. 

If you have weather like we are having these last few days you will be able to knock about a bit.  We have had it very hot although it does not look too bright today.  You can please send me some more of that toffee as we can't get any decent out here.  The place Janey mentioned at first is the place where we are (St Pol).  You might let me know where Billie is, as Janey forgot to put it in her letter.  I got a surprise when I heard Alpin had been called up; I thought he would have been over military age.  I received the Sunday Pictorial and John Bull from Jennie, it's jolly good of her to send papers every week and I will write to her soon.  Well I must close.  Hope this finds all at home well. 

With best love to all Joe

Billie - Monday 3rd April 1916

Dear Sarah,

Just a line to let you know I am going on all right and out of the trenches. 

You will no doubt be sorry to hear poor old Bunny was killed on his birthday, 31st March, and buried in the village here on 1st April.  I cannot tell you how I felt when I knew, and I would not believe it till I went and saw him.  As you know Bunny was my most intimate chum ever since I joined the army, and we always got on so well, that I can hardly realise he is gone forever.  I wrote to his Father last night and broke the news very gently to him and told him all particulars and asked him if there was any little thing I could do for him out here, as I would be only too pleased to do it.  We went to his grave yesterday and put one or two things tidy, and then covered the grave with daffodils and as soon as the pioneers are finished we are going to make it as nice as possible.  I can hardly think of the state his people and his finacée will be in, when they hear and it must be a terribly sad time for them.  You might ask Janey if you have got time, to write to his girl and to his people.  I enclose the addresses. 

The weather here is lovely again almost like Summer and it is a treat to get outside it is so warm.  You might send me another writing pad in the next week's parcel.  Well I must close now, hoping all are well as it leaves me in the pink. 

Your loving brother Billie. 

I've written to John today and broke the sad news to him. 

Joe - Sunday 2nd April 1916

Dear Janey,

I received your letter and was sorry to hear you had been bad.  I think you work too hard. 

Well, we are still out of the trenches, and I don't know when we will go back.  I was talking to Hugh Bailey and he gave me your message.  I don't know whether I will be able to go down on leave next time our Company draws; I doubt it.  What dates are John's and Jessie's weddings?  I think you told me John's was the day before Jessie's. 

We are having grand weather now, it's just like Summer and I hope it continues to be fine for a few months.  There has been a heavy bombardment going on somewhere up the line; it has been on a few days now. 

You needn't send me any ham or bacon, and we can get eggs out here cheap enough, but you can always put one or two oranges and apples in my parcels, as we can't get any out here.  Father will likely be as busy as ever, I will write to him this week sometime.  I have written to Billie today; I think it is time he had a rest - over 12 months in the trenches and never a rest - I can't understand it. 

We were inspected by Sir Douglas Haig last Friday, we have had plenty of inspections lately.  John will likely still be having a good time, it will be a nice change after being out here.  Well I must close.  Hope all at home are well. 

With love to all Joe

Billie - Friday 31st March 1916

Dear Janey,

Many thanks for Mother's lovely parcel received on 29th in good condition, also for letters and papers received last night.  I am sorry to say the eggs were not a success as all were broken, so I don't think I'd risk any more, excepting hard boiled ones. 

We are in the trenches again but we are being relieved tomorrow by our 7th Battalion and there is a strong rumour that this is our last time in, but we do not think so, as we have had too many of these rumours.  The weather has been very cold the last few days and we have had a lot more snow, but I'm pleased to say it is much warmer today, and nearly all the snow has cleared away - for good we hope. 

I was very pleased to know my Diary arrived all right.  The chap I sent it with is on the guns, and got married while on leave.  He arranged the wedding some weeks ago, and was on his way when they were turned back as all leaves were stopped.  Jolly hard luck was it not?  But still he has had it now s it does not matter. 

I had a letter from Jess from Liverpool she seems to be busy.  I wrote John a long letter, so he will no doubt give you all the news.  Have you heard from Joe and do you know if he received my letter I sent a few days ago?  I was pleased to hear you are going to do Thompson's work.  I feel sure you will manage all right.  I guess you will all be very busy knitting for Thompson but I trust he will not be called up yet. 

I had a very close shave yesterday whilst filling some sand bags in the doorway of a dug out when the Germans dropped a 5.9 shell on the dug out and knocked part of it in.  I got hit on the knee with a piece of wood from the dug out but that was all.  Only one chap was hit, and only slightly so we were all very lucky. 

You might thank Miss Rook for the chocolate, it is awfully good of her.  Well I suppose that Sarah will be up to the eyes in work, also Father will be kept very busy.  Well I think this is all at present so I must close.  Hoping all at home are well also the aunts, as it leaves me in the pink. 

Your loving brother Billie. 

It is a glorious day today and feels a treat to be alive. 

Joe - Tuesday 28th March 1916

Dear Mother,

I received the parcel and many thanks for same, also the 1/6 from Aunt Eliza. We are still resting and probably will be out of the trenches for a fortnight or so.  We are having very changeable weather the last few days were like Summer, and now we are having snow and rain, but no doubt we will have some fine weather soon.  A few of the chaps out of our Battalion have got back to England to work on Munitions and our leaves have started again. 

I will write to Aunt Eliza to thank her for the 1/6d.  I was pleased to hear Billie has got on the Machine Gun Section, he will have a better time than with the Company. 

I don't think our John replied to my last letter but I lose count sometimes.  Well I have no more news at present.  Hoping all at home are well. 

Your loving son Joe

Billie - Sunday 26th March 1916

Dear John,

Very many thanks for the letters received some days ago.  I was pleased to hear you are having such a good time.  Well all I say is, make the most of it. 

We are in the trenches again and having a fairly rough time of it.  I think I told you that the Germans made an attack on us some weeks ago but did not meet with much success at all.  Well we had our revenge the other night and no mistake.  We arranged to make a bombing raid on the enemy's front line some days ago, but on account of heavy snow it was abandoned so while we were out resting last time we carried it out, and met with a huge success.  Our chaps got in the trenches and Brigade orders say we accounted for 60 Germans killed without what were knocked about by the bombardment afterwards.  Our chaps went in their trenches and gave them something to remember us by.  The chaps who had not bombs had hatchets and clubs and revolvers, and you should have seen these things when it was all over.  They were going to bring 3 prisoners alive and 2 did not want to come so one got a revolver bullet and someone knocked the other's head off, so they only brought one alive - quite a youngster.  It did not last long, our chaps were only in the German trenches 81 minutes, but they must have gone mad whilst in.  However it has let them see that we can scrap with the next.  We had only 4 chaps wounded and none dangerous. 

You will be surprised to hear that Corbett stopped me through the arm while between lines.  Two of our guns went over as covering party but we were not allowed to go as only the chaps who have been on the guns since we first got them were allowed to go and then they cut one gun out at the last minute.  Of course the Germans sent the S.O.S. up, but our chaps were clear then and they started bombarding. 

You would no doubt be surprised to hear I am on the Lewis Gun, but we have a better time than the Company.  You will no doubt be surprised to hear Mr Hoskins is transport officer now, and he has made some improvements there, all have their badges and buttons polished now.  They have got a Brigade Pioneer Company now formed of chaps who have been sick a lot.  What do you think - Nipper Frear is in with his knee, and goodness knows how he managed to get in them, as he plays football for our Company's team!  They are attached to us and are back at the village where we go every 24 days for a rest. 

While we were there this last time the General put a cup up for football - best Company in the Brigade and we are going very strong.  First of all the Battalions all play inter-Company matches league, and the top of the league represents the Battalion and A Company is top of our Battalion so we are going very strong.  The top of the league represents the Battalion and we are top - 11 goals for and 0 against as we have not lost a match as yet and we are supposed to be hot favourites.  We beat the crack team 3:0.  I play centre. 

I was surprised to hear that you were getting married but perhaps you are right and I only hope I will be able to be home to be best man, but I do not know how it is to be managed.  I am pleased to say everything points to use being relieved and we will not be sorry. 

This is all the news I have at present, hoping you are well also Billie and all at home.  So cheer oh! 

Your loving brother Billie. 

Old Bunny wishes to be remembered to you, he is still plodding along trying to get his papers signed.  Let me know how you are getting on when you've time.  They say Tich is in an asylum but I'm not certain if it's true.  All your pals wish to be remembered to you.  Sergeant Wilkinson was shot by a sniper this morning. 

Billie - Sunday 26th March 1916

Dear Mater,

Very many thanks for the parcel received in splendid condition a few days ago.  We are back in the trenches again; they do say for our last 8 days but do not know how true it is, but things do look like a move at present.  The weather here is about the funniest I have ever experienced.  While out we had jolly fine weather up to the last night and then it turned very cold and the day we came in it snowed something awful and settled on the ground quite 7 inches thick.  But it is nearly all cleared away now as we have had some more rain and it has cleared it all away but it has left the trenches in a nice mess.  However we are quite used to the wet by now. 

I received a P.O. from the committee of the Gift Sale and I want you to thank them very much for their kindness in not forgetting me in spite of the fact that I was in the Warwicks not the Borders. 

Well things are pretty much the same as usual and I have not much news this time so must close.  Is Joe on his way down here or are they settled in some new trenches?  I am writing to John tonight so he can give you all the news I have missed out.  I had a letter from Jess from Liverpool and she seems to be having a busy time of it.  Oh all leaves are stopped again.  I think they don't intend giving some of us a leave at all.  Hoping all are well as it leaves me in the pink so cheer oh. 

Your loving son Billie.