Billie - Thursday 15th June 1916

Dear Janey,

Very many thanks for letter received a few days ago.  You will no doubt be pleased to know we are once more out of the trenches and back behind the line again for a rest, or should I say training.  You will also be surprised to hear out Battalion is no longer in the Warwicks Brigade as we have been transferred to the 11th Brigade.  We were inspected by the General yesterday and he told us it was a position of honour as this Brigade is commonly known as the "Stone Wallers" and had never lost a trench, and it was this Brigade that carried out the retreat from Mons.  He also told us we were given a position of honour in the great advance that will come off shortly around here and he felt sure we would uphold the Brigade that we are now in.  So in future do not put any address except the 8th Warwick or else we shall not get any letter &c.  Do not put any Division as we are moved from the 48th to the 4th.  This is what comes of being mentioned in despatches.  I thought I'd let you know all particulars but you need not tell Mater about it. 

You will be sorry to hear our leaves are stopped but I think this is only while we are being changed into the new division at least I hope so, and then I shall not be long until I'm home.  Kindly thank Mater for parcel received a few days ago, also thank Jess and John for their lovely parcel and Sarah for her jolly fine parcel received yesterday.  The weather these last few days has been awful; talk about rain, it has been more like Winter.  I was very pleased to hear Mother and Father had such a nice time in Liverpool and feel sure the change will have done Mother a lot of good.  I am writing this in a French house and they are quite decent people and will do anything for us.  We have been issued with blue ribbons' for our shoulders, the division colours, and we got the girls here to sew ours on for us.  Oh the General told us if anyone asked us which Division we were in we had to hit ourselves on the chest and say "11th Brigade of the 4th Division".  Our John knows who they are, so you will see we are Some Battalion now.  I wonder what Joe will say to this!  Well I've no more news hoping you are well as this leaves me in the pink. 

Your loving brother Billie. 

Joe - Sunday 11th June 1916

Dear Janey,

I received your letter and thanks for same.  We lost a good number of men this last time in the trenches but Syd would give you all the news.  We are having a hard time of it out of the trenches this time - we are on the go from morning till night.  We had not been three days out of the trenches till we were hard at it. 

I had a letter from John.  Pleased to hear Thompson has got exemption until September, there might be  possible chance of war being over.  I've just written to Jess.  You might tell Mother I wouldn't mind a roasted cock chicken in my next parcel.  Well I've no more news at present so must close.  With love to all. 

Hoping all are well Joe. 

Joe - Sunday 11th June 1916

Dear Jessie,

I received your parcel all right and thanks for same.  I am sorry I have not answered before, but I really have not had the time as we are kept hard at training from morning until night.  I expect Mother and Father have a nice time in Liverpool.  You wouldn't see Syd, he will be back anytime now. 

You would be sorry to hear about Bob Skinner and Alec Johnson being killed; Whitehaven has been hit hard lately.  I had a letter from John yesterday; he thinks he may be a month or two yet in England.  We are having very changeable weather, plenty of rain and we've been out route marching and training rain or fine.  I think Billie is having a better time on his rest than we are, I'd just as soon be in the trenches. 

I wrote to Jennie and May and enclosed a pansy in each, but it appears Jennie hasn't got hers and I sent it off first.  I am pleased to her that Thompson has got exemption till September.  I suppose John is as busy as ever, he does not seem to get much time to himself.  The photograph is a very good one.  I've just received the paper from Jennie and she has received my letter.  Well I must close, remember me to John. 

I remain your affectionate brother Joe. 

Billie - Thursday 8th June 1916

Dear Janey,

Very many thanks for letter also thank Mater for her parcel received in splendid condition three days ago.  You will no doubt be surprised to hear we are back in the line again, but only for a few days, but we are having it pretty rough what with the weather being so bad and practically no rations so you may bet we will not be sorry when we are out of this again, and back behind somewhere training again. 

I was very pleased to hear Mater was down at Liverpool, also that Father had managed to get a few days in Liverpool so I am sure the change will do him good after the way he is having to work.  I was pleased to hear Sarah was getting on all right, and I feel sure she will do well at her new work.  I cannot tell you how pleased I was to hear Thompson had got an extension so it will give you more time to get used to the business and you might be feeling much better by that time, as least I hope so. 

I had a letter from John tonight and he seems to be in the pink and still having a good time of it.  You say in your letter that he expects to come out again this week, but in his letter he says he will be a few weeks, and I only hope he is right as I will be able to see him before he goes out.  I was pleased to hear Syd was down on leave as he would be able to give you all particulars regarding Joe. 

I had a letter from Miller and he says they are in a very rough part of the line, but thinks they will be out of it by now; he also says what a fine big chap Joe is making so he cannot be taking much harm and this life must suit him.  Well you will no doubt be wondering when I am coming on leave, and as near as I can tell you, it will be in about three weeks, as they only seem to send two a week; but they may increase any time.  However I will let you know as soon as I know definitely. 

Well I think this is all the news up to the present, hoping Thompson and yourself are well, also Sarah and all at Liverpool as this leaves me in the pink.  I was very sorry to hear Alex Johnson had gone under and it must be a terrible shock to his people.  Sorry to hear Mater had not been so well, and hoping to hear she is better.  Kindly remember me to Mr Ray.  Oh you might ask Mater to send me some more money as I'm short and we're not getting any for a few weeks, also some Harrison's pomade and some leather bootlaces and a pair of shorter socks.  Cheer oh, hope to see you soon. 

Love to all Billie. 

Billie - Saturday 3rd June 1916

Dear Janey,

Very many thanks for the letter received last week also for the ripping parcel which we quite enjoyed. 

You will no doubt be wondering why I have not written just lately, but the fact of the matter is, we have been on the move, and have tramped miles all over the place and have finished up just behind the line again.  We have been here 2 or 3 days now and have had to do a lot of heavy digging all night up in the line and carry on our day parades &c as usual so you will see we have caught it pretty rough.  We go in the line again in 2 days time and then after that spell, we move back again for training.  You see they have so many troops out here now that they can give us spells out now. 

The weather up to last night has been glorious, almost too hot, but changed last night with a lot of rain and very cold.  You would no doubt see in the papers that our Regiment, in fact our Battalion has been mentioned in despatches for good work during the Winter, so we are coming on "What"! 

I was very pleased to hear Thompson has appealed and I feel sure they must give him a month or two, to get you in the way of things.  Oh before I forget you might tell Mater to send me some writing paper and a pair of thinner socks than usual as the thick ones are too heavy now the weather in warm.  \I suppose Mater is having a decent time at Liverpool, and I feel sure the change will do her good, besides being good company for Jess.  You will hardly know what to do with yourself. 

Well you will be, pleased to know I am 9th on the leave list so I.should not be long now.  How are you all keeping now?  I suppose Father is still working as hard as ever, and will no doubt feel ready for a rest, a good holiday is what would do him good.  I am glad to know that you are feeling better also that Thompson and his Pater are well.  Kindly thank Jess for her photo, I think it's splendid; also thank my cousins for their photos.  I've not had one from John yet. 

Is Joe out of the line again?  I suppose he will be as they seem too be working at the same rate as we are all along the line.  Well I think this is all the news up to the present.  I wrote to Sarah this morning so I hope she receives it.  Well I think this is all the news, hoping all are well as this leaves me in the pink. 

Your loving brother Billie. 

Joe - Saturday 3rd June 1916

Dear Janey,

I received letter and parcel all right and thanks for same.  I should have written earlier but I sent you a field card. 

Well we have moved back again for another rest, we are very lucky, although I must admit the place where we were was a bit rough.  We re having splendid weather and the village we are in is not a bad place.  You might just add "A" Company on my letters as we are back with our Companies.  Thompson will likely soon be called up.  Well, I think we wont have much longer to wait for peace. 

Syd Park will be home on leave now, I gave him my watch, it wants the pointers doing up with that illumination stuff.  I see there has been a big naval battle, it has been expected a long while now.  You might send me one of those small writing pads please that is if you have not sent one in the parcel.  John will not have much longer in England, he has had a nice stay.  I had a letter from Billie he is going on all right.  Well I must close.  With best love to all, hoping this finds all well at Home. 

I remain, your loving brother Joe. 

Billie - Thursday 1st June 1916

Dear Mater and Jess,

Very many thanks for letter and parcels received during the last few days.  I was very pleased to hear Mother is down staying with you for a time, as I'm sure the change will do her good. 

Well we are out of the trenches, but doing a lot of marching and yesterday we marched nearer the line and bivouacked out all night and today we go a little nearer to do some digging, but with a bit of luck we shall go right back again in a few days.  You will be pleased to hear we won the football cup with 17 goals for and none against us.  The officers gave us a fine time.  The weather is glorious, it is too hot for words when we are on the march.  However, lately we have got over the worst of the marching before dinner so it has been much better. 

I was pleased to hear that Janey and all at home are well and hope it will not be long before I am home to see you.  Kindly remember me to John and all at Woodside, also thank Janey for her lovely parcel and Thompson for the fags and chocolate.  I wrote to Joe the other day.  I was sorry to hear he is having such a rough time.  I hope it will not be long before they move from that quarter.  Oh if you like Jess, you can send me the New Magazine monthly instead of a weekly paper.  Sarah seems to be having a busy time but I should think she enjoys that sort of work.  I must write to her as soon as I've time. 

Well I think this is all the news so must close.  Hoping all are well as it leaves me in the pink.  Cheer oh. 

Your loving brother Billie.