Billie - Thursday 13th April 1916

Dear Jess,

Very many thanks for letter received a few days ago from Liverpool; also thank Janey for her letter. 

We are in the trenches again, and we are having it jolly rough.  The weather is something cruel pouring with rain and blowing a gale at the same time.  We came in the trenches with our ordinary boots on, but had to go down to the village last night and get our thigh boots.  We had a time going for them, the water was up above our knees in places and today the mud and water is still above our knees, so you may bet we will be jolly thankful when this little spell is up. 

You would no doubt get a great shock when you hear Bunny had been killed.  It was a great blow to all of us.  He was killed the last night in the trenches at the last spell.  He was acting team commander, and was just going out to change the sentries when a minerwerfer burst on the entrance to the dug out, so he stood no chance of escape and was killed instantly.  He was awfully knocked about in fact I would not have known him, only for the fact that he had a special way of his own of doing his puttees.  However we must make the best of it, war is war.  There are no signs of our being relieved, of course we have plenty of rumours, but we are fed up with them, as so many that were supposed to be right have turned out wrong after all. 

I was sorry to hear Mrs Kennaugh had been ill, and sincerely hope that she is better by this.  I suppose you will be very busy.  Mater will hardly know what to do with herself when John and you are married and Sarah goes to take up her appointment.  I suppose Janey will be rather anxious now about Thompson, but hope he will not be called up for sometime as yet. 

I had a letter from Joe and he seems quite cheerful, and he has good reason to be, after having six weeks rest and still out, however I hope they are out for a considerable time yet.  Well I think this is all.  All leaves are stopped again, and I hear that after the 18th of this month they are stopped permanently, so that is nice isn't it? 

Kindly remember me to John and all at Woodside.  Hoping all are well as it leaves me in the pink. 

Your loving brother Billie. 

Billie - Wednesday 12th April 1916

Dear Janey,

Very many thanks for letters also thank Mother for the lovely parcel received on the 10th in grand condition.  We are in the trenches again and up to the present are having it jolly rough.  The weather is absolutely rotten, rain all day, it is getting sickening. 

I was awfully sorry to hear you had been ill, and hope by the time this reaches you that you are feeling better.  I was pleased to hear all are well at home also the aunts and cousins, kindly thank Tom for his letter.  Well I suppose you will be very busy preparing for the great events, and shan't I miss them!  I do not think there is any chance of getting off at all.  If everything goes off all right I might be home in 5 weeks, but of course they keep stopping them now and then just to put them further back. 

You might send me a few shillings out, but do not send postal orders as we have a great deal of trouble to get them cashed, and then we do not get the full value for them.  I am going to return the P.O. from the Gift Committee and you can get it cashed, and please sent the money in hard cash as we get good value for that.  I had a letter from Joe and he is still out of the trenches. 

Well I think this is all now, so must close, hoping all are well as it leaves me in the pink. 

Your loving brother Billie. 

Joe - Wednesay 12th April 1916

Dear Mother,

I received the parcel and letter and thanks for same.  I was pleased to hear you are all A1 at home. 

We are still out of the trenches and having a fairly decent time.  Well about a leave - I will not be able to manage it this time; in another month or so I might strike lucky.  Syd was going to take me up to the Captain, but Syd was told that there were only six going on leave and that five or six were left over from last time, so we didn't go to the Company Commander.  We have been having decent weather although it has been showery today. 

It is not a bit of wonder men can't get a leave, why officers and sergeant majors are going on their second leaves, so that explains why chaps can't get their first leave.  I have plenty of socks, money &c to be going on with so you needn't send any of these.  You can send me some more envelopes, and a pad as well. 

John and Jess will be very busy preparing for the weddings.  Well I'd have liked to be present, still it can't be helped.  Well I must close.  Hope all at home are well. 

With love to all Joe

Billie - Wednesday 5th April 1916

Dear Janey,

Very many thanks for letter received yesterday, also thank Mater for the lovely parcel which I received on the 3rd in splendid condition.  The pork was lovely - quite a treat; we fairly did enjoy it and no mistake. 

We are out of the trenches, but just in the village, in large dug outs, and we are having quite a decent time.  The weather is lovely now, quite like Summer and almost too warm to do anything, but the nights turn very cold.  You will no doubt know now that we have lost poor Bunny; it was a great shock to all of us and must be a terrible blow for his girl and his people.  John will be upset when he gets my letter telling him the bad news. 

Oh, you will no doubt know that all leaves are stopped, I don't know why but it seems as though I will never get a leave at all.  I met the Captain whilst out yesterday, and he told me he'd had a letter from John asking if it would be possible to get me a leave for Easter, but he said he did not see how it could be done, unless I could get some chap to change with me, and I don't see how I am to manage that; in fact I should not have the cheek to ask anyone, as everyone wants to get leave as soon as he can to see his people.  However something may turn up between now and Easter and with a bit of luck I might manage it, but of course we can do nothing if all leaves are stopped. 

I was sorry to her you were not well and sincerely hope you are much better ere this reaches you.  Sarah's time will be short now, and she will be having a very busy time of it.  You might kindly thank Mrs Mayne for the lovely cake; also thank Miss Rooke for the chocolate.  I will drop them a card as soon as I get time.  I suppose Pater will be very busy yet and must feel the strain very much.  Pleased to hear Joe is A1 but I hope his lot are not coming near us as it is rather warm here at present.  You will all be very busy and not have much time to yourselves.  Jess will not have very long and will be quite busy at Liverpool.  Well I think this is all the news at present so must close, hoping all are well, as this leaves me in the pink.  Must close now as we are going to gather flowers for Bunny's grave.  Cheer Oh. 

Your loving brother Billie. 

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