Dear mother and sister
Just a few lines in answer to your welcome letters I rec’d last night. Their dates was Jan 30th, Feb 2nd and believe me I sure be glad to hear from you. I hope these few lines will find you well as it leaves me fine at present.
Well I guess you have had a cold old winter at home. I know we have had it cool out here at times. But we are having dandy weather here now. The old French men are all busy digging and planting their gardens.
Well I have seen a lot of the boys lately. I see Will Douglas and Alex quite often. Also Melville Belfry and Jimmy and believe me Dave was sure glad to see me. And Douglas McNaff is with them too. I also was speaking to Capt McDonald on Monday. He was wanting to know how you were keeping. Will Rayfield is in Clarences Battn. I had a letter from him today. He said that Clarence was not very well the time he wrote. Well news is scarce out here so I will have to close. I am your loving son and brother Bruce Speerin xxxx
March 10 – France
Dear mother and sister
I hope these few lines will find you well. I am fine at present. I have just brought my blanket out to lay on the grass and write letters and sun myself. It is a peach of a day here. I see the farmers working in a field close by. It don’t make any difference to them. Suppose it is Sunday and I can hear the old guns roaring away as usual. Burns is laying a long side of me writing too. The rest of the boys are all quite well.
Say I have had a little sleep since I wrote the first page. I fell to sleep in the sun and sleep until Burns called me for supper. And when I got in a found a letter and parcel waiting for me from you. Your letter was dated Feb 11th and the box was the one Lizzie sent me with the writing pad in it. And now you have no idea how glad I be to hear from you and know that you are well. I believe that you have had awfully cold stormy winter. I know it must have been hard for you to manage getting wood and doing chores. But I hope the snow will soon be all gone and you will be able to get out around a bit.
I saw in the Orillia Times tonight where the Hearlys (sp) boys and Lumree and Morrisson was exempted. Some of them must have a pitiful tale. I didn’t think there was so many around home with cold feet. But never mind, wait until the boys get home. Believe me then they will have to take a back seat.
Well I sure enjoyed your box. Not me alone but my whole section and the boys say ‘Well Bruce your mother seems to know just what to send.’ How good it is to get some good home made butter. Some change to margarine. I do not think there is anything better to send then what you dear ones send me.
I have not seen Douglas or Melville Belfry or Dave for a long time but expect to see them tomorrow. I will let you know if I do. I got two or three more snaps sent me that we had taken in England. Herb Rumball sent them to me, he is in France too. Well I must close do not be worrying dear mother and sister I am quite well and trust in God to take care of me and bring me safe home again. I am your loving son and brother Bruce Speerin xxxx
Ps give Allies my love.
I hope these few lines will find you well. I am fine at present. I have just brought my blanket out to lay on the grass and write letters and sun myself. It is a peach of a day here. I see the farmers working in a field close by. It don’t make any difference to them. Suppose it is Sunday and I can hear the old guns roaring away as usual. Burns is laying a long side of me writing too. The rest of the boys are all quite well.
Say I have had a little sleep since I wrote the first page. I fell to sleep in the sun and sleep until Burns called me for supper. And when I got in a found a letter and parcel waiting for me from you. Your letter was dated Feb 11th and the box was the one Lizzie sent me with the writing pad in it. And now you have no idea how glad I be to hear from you and know that you are well. I believe that you have had awfully cold stormy winter. I know it must have been hard for you to manage getting wood and doing chores. But I hope the snow will soon be all gone and you will be able to get out around a bit.
I saw in the Orillia Times tonight where the Hearlys (sp) boys and Lumree and Morrisson was exempted. Some of them must have a pitiful tale. I didn’t think there was so many around home with cold feet. But never mind, wait until the boys get home. Believe me then they will have to take a back seat.
Well I sure enjoyed your box. Not me alone but my whole section and the boys say ‘Well Bruce your mother seems to know just what to send.’ How good it is to get some good home made butter. Some change to margarine. I do not think there is anything better to send then what you dear ones send me.
I have not seen Douglas or Melville Belfry or Dave for a long time but expect to see them tomorrow. I will let you know if I do. I got two or three more snaps sent me that we had taken in England. Herb Rumball sent them to me, he is in France too. Well I must close do not be worrying dear mother and sister I am quite well and trust in God to take care of me and bring me safe home again. I am your loving son and brother Bruce Speerin xxxx
Ps give Allies my love.
March 8 – France
Dear mother and sister
I hope these few lines will find you well as it leaves me fine at present. I have had the best of health out here. It has been some time since I have heard from you. But expect a letter any time.
I am sorry that I do not get a chance to write to you oftener but I think you know that we can not write every day. We are having splendid weather here now. Every thing is so much like spring you could not imagine the difference between this country and Canada. I guess you have mountains of snow around home.
I guess it will be about the first of April by the time you get this letter. Well a year has went pretty fast to me. I have sure seen some sights. But I know it has been a long year to you. But it shall not be long until I be home again, in about two or three months time. We will show Friz’s where they get off at. I have been in France better than six months now.
Well how is you and Ada coming up. Is she feeling as gay as she did last spring. How is the hens laying. You asked me if I thought eggs would keep coming this far. No they wouldn’t be very good and besides I have all the eggs to eat that is good for me. I think I have eaten more eggs this last two months then I ate in a whole year at home.
How is Allies have you seen them lately. I suppose he is butchering. Tell Alf Cowan and Tom Sykes I will answer their letters right away.
I will have to ring off. Remember dear mother and sister I love you all ways. And be wondering how you are for you are so dear to me. Well bye bye from your loving son and brother Bruce Speerin xxxx
I hope these few lines will find you well as it leaves me fine at present. I have had the best of health out here. It has been some time since I have heard from you. But expect a letter any time.
I am sorry that I do not get a chance to write to you oftener but I think you know that we can not write every day. We are having splendid weather here now. Every thing is so much like spring you could not imagine the difference between this country and Canada. I guess you have mountains of snow around home.
I guess it will be about the first of April by the time you get this letter. Well a year has went pretty fast to me. I have sure seen some sights. But I know it has been a long year to you. But it shall not be long until I be home again, in about two or three months time. We will show Friz’s where they get off at. I have been in France better than six months now.
Well how is you and Ada coming up. Is she feeling as gay as she did last spring. How is the hens laying. You asked me if I thought eggs would keep coming this far. No they wouldn’t be very good and besides I have all the eggs to eat that is good for me. I think I have eaten more eggs this last two months then I ate in a whole year at home.
How is Allies have you seen them lately. I suppose he is butchering. Tell Alf Cowan and Tom Sykes I will answer their letters right away.
I will have to ring off. Remember dear mother and sister I love you all ways. And be wondering how you are for you are so dear to me. Well bye bye from your loving son and brother Bruce Speerin xxxx
Feb 18 – France
Dear mother and sister
I hope these few lines will find you well. I am just fine at present. I rec’d the box you sent last night. You have no idea how good the eats went. Just imagine having peaches to eat in the trenches. I just finished eating my breakfast. I toasted some bread over a little fire and I put lots of the good butter on you sent me and had some of the peaches. Believe me it was the best breakfast I have had for some time, and the cake my pals and I had for lunch last night. A parcel sure comes in good in the line.
Well mother I guess you and Lizzie is having a big time doing chores through the stormy winter. Has Allies been down lately. I hope they are well. I guess they don’t be down very often for it is a quite a ways to fetch little Grace in the cold. But I bet it would not bother Roy.
How is Cowan’s. Alf told me in his letter that he was turned down.
Well we are having dandy weather here at present. I bet it is different to the stormy weather you will be having around home. Well I must ring off. Hoping to hear from you soon again and do not be worrying I am quite well. From your loving son and brother Bruce Speerin xxxx
I hope these few lines will find you well. I am just fine at present. I rec’d the box you sent last night. You have no idea how good the eats went. Just imagine having peaches to eat in the trenches. I just finished eating my breakfast. I toasted some bread over a little fire and I put lots of the good butter on you sent me and had some of the peaches. Believe me it was the best breakfast I have had for some time, and the cake my pals and I had for lunch last night. A parcel sure comes in good in the line.
Well mother I guess you and Lizzie is having a big time doing chores through the stormy winter. Has Allies been down lately. I hope they are well. I guess they don’t be down very often for it is a quite a ways to fetch little Grace in the cold. But I bet it would not bother Roy.
How is Cowan’s. Alf told me in his letter that he was turned down.
Well we are having dandy weather here at present. I bet it is different to the stormy weather you will be having around home. Well I must ring off. Hoping to hear from you soon again and do not be worrying I am quite well. From your loving son and brother Bruce Speerin xxxx
Feb 14 – France
Dear mother and sister
I hope these few lines will find you well as it leaves me fine at present. I am just ready to get into bed, I have my blankets already laid down. My bed mate is sleeping. I thought I had better write a few lines tonight in case that it might be a few days before I could get another chance to write. We are having nice weather here at present. I rec’d a letter from you the other night, glad to know that you are well and over your cold. I had a letter from Alf Cowan and Tom Sykes the same night. Tom sent me a picture of young Murra it was just dandy of him. He sure has grown a lot since I saw him last.
Did you get any Valentines today. I forgot all about it. I intend on sending you some but never thought about it until this evening. I heard the boys speak about it.
You sure must have had some snow storm, how did you manage with the chores then.
I rec’d an Ontario parcel the other night. There was a dandy pair of leather mitts in it.
Well I must close I will write soon again. Don’t be worrying I am quite well and trust in God I will soon be home again. I remain your loving son and brother Bruce Speerin
I hope these few lines will find you well as it leaves me fine at present. I am just ready to get into bed, I have my blankets already laid down. My bed mate is sleeping. I thought I had better write a few lines tonight in case that it might be a few days before I could get another chance to write. We are having nice weather here at present. I rec’d a letter from you the other night, glad to know that you are well and over your cold. I had a letter from Alf Cowan and Tom Sykes the same night. Tom sent me a picture of young Murra it was just dandy of him. He sure has grown a lot since I saw him last.
Did you get any Valentines today. I forgot all about it. I intend on sending you some but never thought about it until this evening. I heard the boys speak about it.
You sure must have had some snow storm, how did you manage with the chores then.
I rec’d an Ontario parcel the other night. There was a dandy pair of leather mitts in it.
Well I must close I will write soon again. Don’t be worrying I am quite well and trust in God I will soon be home again. I remain your loving son and brother Bruce Speerin
Feb 9 – France
Dear mother and sister
I hope these few lines will find you well as I am fine. I am just ready for bed but thought I had better write you a few lines tonight for I might not get time to write before the mail is collected in the morning. And I know that you be worrying and wondering why you are not getting mail from me. I try and write just as often as I can. But you know how it is sometimes it be’s quite a few days before we get a chance to write.
Well we are having regular spring weather here now the farmers are plowing and harrowing. It is hard to imagine there being snow and frost around home now. This letter is going to be short this time. I will write soon again from your loving son and brother Bruce Speerin xxxx
I hope these few lines will find you well as I am fine. I am just ready for bed but thought I had better write you a few lines tonight for I might not get time to write before the mail is collected in the morning. And I know that you be worrying and wondering why you are not getting mail from me. I try and write just as often as I can. But you know how it is sometimes it be’s quite a few days before we get a chance to write.
Well we are having regular spring weather here now the farmers are plowing and harrowing. It is hard to imagine there being snow and frost around home now. This letter is going to be short this time. I will write soon again from your loving son and brother Bruce Speerin xxxx
Feb 7 – France
Dear mother and sister
I have now got a chance to write you a few lines. I know that you will be worrying about not getting any mail from me. But I guess you will know how it is, we cannot get a chance to write every day. I hope these few lines will find you well as I am just fine at present.
I was just thinking this is my birthday. I am spending it in the trenches. But I hope to spend it at home next year. I rec’d two parcels from you the other night and believe me they sure went good. There is sure some difference between the cake and the hard tack biscuit we have. The butter was dandy. Everything was just fine. The boys said, ‘Bruce your mother just knows the right things to send a fellow out here.’
The fruit was OK. I believe it was the best I ever tasted. I see I am going to have lots of good fruit to eat when I get home. Was it you that made the candy, Lizzie that was in the one box. It was a round cake. I know you cannot buy candy like it. My mouth is just watering for more of it. The salmon and sardines went good. It is sure some better than bully beef.
And the sugar came fine. We had some cocoa we brought in the line with us so the Corps of my section would make up a mess tin of good hot cocoa and fetch it out to us on our post about 12 o’clock at night and believe me it makes the rest of the cold wet night pass quicker. So don’t worry about me. Our section Corp will have the best for his section that can be got.
I received a card from May Robinson the other night. Tell her I will write to her right away. I guess you will have bushels of snow around home now. How long did Aunt Hattie stay at Christmas, I often have a letter from cousin Hattie. How is all Allies. I suppose Alf and Tom Cowan is busy doing chores. Do you ever hear from Will or Alex Douglas. I haven’t for a long time. Who have they got for a minister at Moonstone now. Have you ever been down to Dunlops lately. I think they feel bad over Jack having to go. I think it was pretty near time for one out of a big bunch of them to go.
Well I must close hoping to hear from you soon again and do not be worrying I am quite alright. It will not be long until I be home again.
Bye bye from your loving son and brother Bruce Speerin xxxx
Dear mother and sister
I have now got a chance to write you a few lines. I know that you will be worrying about not getting any mail from me. But I guess you will know how it is, we cannot get a chance to write every day. I hope these few lines will find you well as I am just fine at present.
I was just thinking this is my birthday. I am spending it in the trenches. But I hope to spend it at home next year. I rec’d two parcels from you the other night and believe me they sure went good. There is sure some difference between the cake and the hard tack biscuit we have. The butter was dandy. Everything was just fine. The boys said, ‘Bruce your mother just knows the right things to send a fellow out here.’
The fruit was OK. I believe it was the best I ever tasted. I see I am going to have lots of good fruit to eat when I get home. Was it you that made the candy, Lizzie that was in the one box. It was a round cake. I know you cannot buy candy like it. My mouth is just watering for more of it. The salmon and sardines went good. It is sure some better than bully beef.
And the sugar came fine. We had some cocoa we brought in the line with us so the Corps of my section would make up a mess tin of good hot cocoa and fetch it out to us on our post about 12 o’clock at night and believe me it makes the rest of the cold wet night pass quicker. So don’t worry about me. Our section Corp will have the best for his section that can be got.
I received a card from May Robinson the other night. Tell her I will write to her right away. I guess you will have bushels of snow around home now. How long did Aunt Hattie stay at Christmas, I often have a letter from cousin Hattie. How is all Allies. I suppose Alf and Tom Cowan is busy doing chores. Do you ever hear from Will or Alex Douglas. I haven’t for a long time. Who have they got for a minister at Moonstone now. Have you ever been down to Dunlops lately. I think they feel bad over Jack having to go. I think it was pretty near time for one out of a big bunch of them to go.
Well I must close hoping to hear from you soon again and do not be worrying I am quite alright. It will not be long until I be home again.
Bye bye from your loving son and brother Bruce Speerin xxxx
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