Joe - Thursday 24th August 1916

Dear Mother,

I received your parcel thanks for same, also thank Mrs Mayne for the cake.  You need not send any more melons, I'm not struck on them. 

We were very near to the Division Billie was in.  I enquired about the 8th but I think they were in the trenches.  I cut Billie's photo out of the Sketch but I must have lost it, you might send me another if you have one.  I had a letter from Thompson, also a parcel from our John - you must thank him for it.  I don't care so very much for tinned fowl. 

Frank Wilkinson is very lucky.  You might tell him, I wrote to him to his Battery.  You want to live in hopes of Billie turning up.  We just heard today that one of our chaps - reported killed - has turned up as a prisoner of war.  Of course don't build up too much, but there's every chance.  Syd is all right.  Jack Brewster said he was talking to Janey.  Well I've no more news, hoping all are well. 

Love to all Joe. 

Joe - Monday 21st August 1916

Dear Mother,

I received your parcel safely and thanks for same.  It got rather a squashing but the melon was all right and also the cake.  I received about 6 papers yesterday, the photo of Billie is a good one, anyone knowing him will easily recognise it.  I heard F. Wilkinson had been down on leave, he will probably be back now.  Jack Brewster got a four days' leave - two at home.  Janey will probably have seen him.  I am expecting you hearing anytime that Billie is a prisoner.  Syd is all right.  Yes, you can send me another pair of socks and then I will be set up again. 

Well I must close, Hoping this finds all well. 

Your loving son Joe. 

Joe - Wednesday 16th August 1916

Dear Mother,

I received your parcel all right and also one from Ghyll Bank - it's jolly good of Mrs Nixon sending me parcels. 

I am expecting you are getting word any time now that Billie is a prisoner of war - if he is, he will be all right.  We are out for a rest and I think we will be out for a good while.  I had a letter from F. Wilkinson, he seems to be having a fairly decent time of it in France.  We are having grand weather - about the same as in England by all accounts.  John Bewster (DCM) came out in a draft to our Battalion and H. Ferguson as well.  I heard that A. Brocklebank and Bob Bannon are in France - they fairly rush troops out now.  Please thank Aunt Sallie for the ???  I will write to her when I get time.  Well I must close, keep on hoping for the best about Billie. 

Hoping this finds you all well at Home. 

I remain, your loving son Joe. 

Syd is A1.  Just received Janey's parcel. 

Joe - Sunday 6th August 1916

Dear Mother,

I received two parcels from home on 27th July and I had one from Jess the day before.  I had a letter from Janey written on 31st. 

If I come across any of the 8th Warwicks I won't forget to enquire after Billie.  There is every possible chance of Billie being a prisoner of war, but it takes a long while for news to come through, so don't look on the black side, keep on hoping for the best. 

You can send me another pair of socks now.  I am not in need of anything else at present.  John will be busy training likely.  I don't know whether I have had a letter from Mr Nelson lately, I fancy I had one a good while since but sometimes I have not much time to write.  I haven't heard anything more about any of the Lewthwaites.  Well I've no more news.  Hope this finds you well.  I've just had a letter from Sarah. 

With Best Love Joe. 

Joe - Tuesday 1st August 1916

Dear Janey,

I received your letter also a parcel from Liverpool from Jess. 

I can't tell you how sorry I was to hear about Billie, but you mustn't think he will not turn up.  It's far better to know that Billie was wounded and missing than just missing in this advance.  A good number of our wounded would be taken by the Germans - so you must hope for the best.  That pal of Billie's was right when we said the Warwicks Brigade had been in action on 1st July.  He just said Billie was wounded, but he knew no particulars, so there is every chance. 

We are in the trenches again, but it is fairly quiet this time in.  I sent a field card to Mother that should have been sent to Jess.  I don't know what happened to W. Lewthwaite off York Terrace and I know nothing about Jim Lewthwaite.  No one seems to know; some say they were wounded, but it's best to say nothing until the official news is heard.  Jack Wightman was in the same village as where we are stationed for one night and Hugh Baillie was talking with Jack but I didn't see him. 

Well I've no more news at present.  Tell Mother not to worry - I think good news will come soon.  With love to all. 

Your loving brother Joe. 

Joe - Saturday 29th July 1916

Dear Mother,

I received your parcel dated 20th and thanks for same.  We are behind the lines at present, but very close to the trenches.  We might go in anytime but I think we will be going back for a good rest in a week or so.  We are having very fine weather, I think Summer is only starting.  I've written to our John and to Father, in fact I've sent quite a few letters off, but they seem to take a long while to get through. 

Have you heard anything about Billie?  Is he in the 4th Division.  The Division he used to be in relieved us in the last trenches but I told you about that.  Father will likely be as busy as ever.  There was a chap called Andrew Douglas, Janey was talking to him when he was down on leave, he was on our Gun Section and was killed on 3rd July.  He was a decent chap and I was going to write to his wife, but I was under the impression that our Sergeant was writing.  Well Sergeant Graham had a letter from Mrs Douglas and she didn't know her husband was killed, and she is in a terrible way, and I can tell you I miss Andrew very much.  He lived in Ginns.  Have you any idea where Frank Wilkinson is?  He thought he was coming to France.  Syd is all right, he showed me a letter in which Mrs Graham said you had telephoned to Warwick about Billie and that he was all right up to the date of enquiry. 

Well I must close, hoping all are well.  Best love to all,

I remain your loving son Joe. 

Wednesday 26th July 1916

Letter from War Office stating poor Billie as

WOUNDED AND MISSING SINCE 1st JULY.