Dear mother and sister
Just a few lines to let you know I am well. I hope this letter find you well. I rec’d a letter from you a few days ago and believe me I be glad to hear from you. Your letter was dated Mar 30th. I am glad to know you had a visit to Orillia. Give me all the news when you write.
Well this is Sunday again. It has been a pretty quiet day. Lawson Rumney and I am batching at present. I wish you could call in and have a meal with us. Believe me we are some cooks. We mostly have about four meals a day. It has been some little while since I have been in the line. I have been one of the lucky ones to have a little rest. I have been at moving picture shows or concerts every night.
Well I guess seeding is the order of the day around home now. I often wonder how in the world you are managing. But I know you done well last year better then I could do so there is no need of me worrying. But do not work too hard, what you can not get done let go. I must ring off. Do not be worrying dear mother or sister. I am in the best of health and have been ever since I came to France. I will close. Heaps of love from your loving son and brother Bruce xxxx
June 23 - France
Dear mother and sister
Just a few lines to let you know I am well. This has been Sunday and it has been trying to rain too. I have not had any letters from you for a week but I have got a lot of parcels lately. I got another parcel from you today. That is about six I have had from you the last two weeks and I got one from Mrs. Dunlop, one from Myrtle also one from the IODE from Victoria Harbour. So I have done pretty good for parcels lately, and also some magazines from May R.
Well how are you coming along farming. I guess you finds lots of hoeing to do. I hear Moonstone is looking up. Is it right about Tom Sykes purchasing a nice Overland Car. Has any the rest of them bought cars this year. I had a letter from Marjorie Burns a few days ago wanting to know all about Wallace. I wrote her and told her as much about him as I could.
I am sending Lizzie a little brooch tomorrow. I am going to make this letter short. There is church service in the YMCA in about a half a hour. I intend going. I saw a nasty piece in the Jack Canuck paper a few days ago about the YMCA. It was a returned soldier which had put it in. I don’t think he must have ever saw France or if he did he must have had a bomb proof ten miles from the line. He said that he never saw a YMCA any closer than 10 miles of the line. Any of the boys here can tell you they have YMCA’s within one mile of the front line and they serve good hot tea there too free of charge. That is Canadian YMCA. Imperial YMCA mostly charges a penny though.
Well I must soon close. I saw Capt McDonald just passing by the door now. You know his brother is in this Battn.
Say every thing was just dandy in the parcel I rec’d today. The honey and butter were of the best and the candy was dandy. Now do not be worrying dear mother and sister. I am quite well. Bye bye from your loving son and brother Bruce S xxxxxxxxxx
Just a few lines to let you know I am well. This has been Sunday and it has been trying to rain too. I have not had any letters from you for a week but I have got a lot of parcels lately. I got another parcel from you today. That is about six I have had from you the last two weeks and I got one from Mrs. Dunlop, one from Myrtle also one from the IODE from Victoria Harbour. So I have done pretty good for parcels lately, and also some magazines from May R.
Well how are you coming along farming. I guess you finds lots of hoeing to do. I hear Moonstone is looking up. Is it right about Tom Sykes purchasing a nice Overland Car. Has any the rest of them bought cars this year. I had a letter from Marjorie Burns a few days ago wanting to know all about Wallace. I wrote her and told her as much about him as I could.
I am sending Lizzie a little brooch tomorrow. I am going to make this letter short. There is church service in the YMCA in about a half a hour. I intend going. I saw a nasty piece in the Jack Canuck paper a few days ago about the YMCA. It was a returned soldier which had put it in. I don’t think he must have ever saw France or if he did he must have had a bomb proof ten miles from the line. He said that he never saw a YMCA any closer than 10 miles of the line. Any of the boys here can tell you they have YMCA’s within one mile of the front line and they serve good hot tea there too free of charge. That is Canadian YMCA. Imperial YMCA mostly charges a penny though.
Well I must soon close. I saw Capt McDonald just passing by the door now. You know his brother is in this Battn.
Say every thing was just dandy in the parcel I rec’d today. The honey and butter were of the best and the candy was dandy. Now do not be worrying dear mother and sister. I am quite well. Bye bye from your loving son and brother Bruce S xxxxxxxxxx
June 18 - France
Dear mother and sister
Just a few more lines I had to cut my letter pretty short last night and I have a few minutes before the mail goes.
I guess you heard before this about Alex Douglas been wounded. I had a letter from one of my pals of that Battn a few days ago. He said that he had been talking to Will and he had told him Alex’s wound was pretty bad, that he had been hit in the back. Dave Sallows was down at the Base for three weeks he had blood poisoning in the hand but is better now.
Has Alex’s been down lately hope they are well. I had a letter from Mrs. Charlie Russell and she said she had been up to Midland to Joe Cowan’s funeral. Do you ever see Will Cowan’s. You want to take a drive out there believe me you would have a good time for a few hours. How is the Conscripts coming up.
I saw in the Orillia Packet in V.H. news where they had I was knocked down and got a few scratches with the shell the time Wallace was killed. Not that bad I was close enough though that my steel helmet jumped about six inches up off the top of my head. But I received no scratches of any kind.
I didn’t tell what kind of sports we had yesterday. Well there was base ball, indoor ball, football, lacrosse and all kinds of races and jumping. Well I must ring off.
Bye bye with love to all Bruce xxxxxx
Just a few more lines I had to cut my letter pretty short last night and I have a few minutes before the mail goes.
I guess you heard before this about Alex Douglas been wounded. I had a letter from one of my pals of that Battn a few days ago. He said that he had been talking to Will and he had told him Alex’s wound was pretty bad, that he had been hit in the back. Dave Sallows was down at the Base for three weeks he had blood poisoning in the hand but is better now.
Has Alex’s been down lately hope they are well. I had a letter from Mrs. Charlie Russell and she said she had been up to Midland to Joe Cowan’s funeral. Do you ever see Will Cowan’s. You want to take a drive out there believe me you would have a good time for a few hours. How is the Conscripts coming up.
I saw in the Orillia Packet in V.H. news where they had I was knocked down and got a few scratches with the shell the time Wallace was killed. Not that bad I was close enough though that my steel helmet jumped about six inches up off the top of my head. But I received no scratches of any kind.
I didn’t tell what kind of sports we had yesterday. Well there was base ball, indoor ball, football, lacrosse and all kinds of races and jumping. Well I must ring off.
Bye bye with love to all Bruce xxxxxx
June 17 - France
Darling mother and sister
Just a few lines to let you know I am well hoping this letter will find you in the best of health. I was looking for a letter from you yesterday but I did not get it. I got one from Emma D. I am anxious to get a letter hoping to hear that Lizzie is better.
I rec’d four parcels from you this last day or two. They came in good shape. Three of them had butter. The butter came nice and hard and the parcel that had the little white jar was good too. The maple sugar was dandy. I think my self pretty sweet after eating all of it.
I have been at a big sports day today. All the boys are feeling tired tonight. My pals that sleep on both sides of me are in bed so I am going to make my letter short. Will write soon again hoping to hear from you shortly. From your loving son and brother xxxxxxxx Bruce
Ps will you please thank Mrs. George and Art Dunlop for the parcel rec’d from them. I will write them soon. Bye bye B.S.
Just a few lines to let you know I am well hoping this letter will find you in the best of health. I was looking for a letter from you yesterday but I did not get it. I got one from Emma D. I am anxious to get a letter hoping to hear that Lizzie is better.
I rec’d four parcels from you this last day or two. They came in good shape. Three of them had butter. The butter came nice and hard and the parcel that had the little white jar was good too. The maple sugar was dandy. I think my self pretty sweet after eating all of it.
I have been at a big sports day today. All the boys are feeling tired tonight. My pals that sleep on both sides of me are in bed so I am going to make my letter short. Will write soon again hoping to hear from you shortly. From your loving son and brother xxxxxxxx Bruce
Ps will you please thank Mrs. George and Art Dunlop for the parcel rec’d from them. I will write them soon. Bye bye B.S.
June 12 - France
Dear mother & sister
Just a few lines to let you know I am thinking of you. I received a letter from you today. Sorry to hear that Lizzie is sick. I hope she is better by now. I believe it is worrying and work that made Lizzie sick. Now don’t you be worrying about me for I am quite well. I think this war is near over and I will soon be safe home again. I am fatter and stronger now then I have ever been. Quite able to stand again Old Friz’s. I think you work and worry too much. Take things easy. It is all the same price. I must ring off. Waiting for a letter to hear Lizzie is well again and do please take the best of care of your selfs. From your loving son and brother Bruce xxxx
Just a few lines to let you know I am thinking of you. I received a letter from you today. Sorry to hear that Lizzie is sick. I hope she is better by now. I believe it is worrying and work that made Lizzie sick. Now don’t you be worrying about me for I am quite well. I think this war is near over and I will soon be safe home again. I am fatter and stronger now then I have ever been. Quite able to stand again Old Friz’s. I think you work and worry too much. Take things easy. It is all the same price. I must ring off. Waiting for a letter to hear Lizzie is well again and do please take the best of care of your selfs. From your loving son and brother Bruce xxxx
June 9 - France
Dear mother and sister
Just a few lines to let you know I was thinking of you. Hoping that you are well as I am in the best of health. I received a letter from you a few days ago and I sure was glad to hear from you. I have not had any parcels from you for a long time but there has been no body getting any until this last day or two. They were held back for some reason or other and I was thinking if you put any butter in them they would be spoiled. So I think it would be better not to put any more butter in the parcels for the weather is too warm for it.
Well this is Sunday and a dull day it has been. There was a little base ball game this evening, our team got beat.
Well haven’t much news to tell you. The French people are all busy hoeing their gardens and sugar beets. They grow lots of beets in this country. And some of the farmers are cutting hay. A good rain would do oceans of good. You would see the grain pick up a bit.
I often think you be wondering what kind of beds we have to sleep on. Quite often it is wire bunks made of chicken coop wire. There is more spring to it than laying on the floor. And I often think you be wondering what kind of officers we have in charge of us. On the whole they are pretty fair. We have an awfully good officer in charge of our platoon. Now I only hope we can keep him for he is the best I have had any thing to do with.
Well I guess it will be the first of July or more when you get my letter. I hope you have a good time. I hear that the 12th of July is to be held at Coldwater, is it right. Oh say those snaps were pretty good. I have not had my leave yet, I guess you know that the leave had been shut down when Friz’s started his funny work but they have opened again and I hope it does not be too long before I get it.
Oh say was Myrtle and her people out to see you she told me in her letter she was going out. Write me a big long letter and tell me lots of news.
Well I must close do not be worrying dear ones for I am quite well with love from your loving son and brother Bruce xxxx
Just a few lines to let you know I was thinking of you. Hoping that you are well as I am in the best of health. I received a letter from you a few days ago and I sure was glad to hear from you. I have not had any parcels from you for a long time but there has been no body getting any until this last day or two. They were held back for some reason or other and I was thinking if you put any butter in them they would be spoiled. So I think it would be better not to put any more butter in the parcels for the weather is too warm for it.
Well this is Sunday and a dull day it has been. There was a little base ball game this evening, our team got beat.
Well haven’t much news to tell you. The French people are all busy hoeing their gardens and sugar beets. They grow lots of beets in this country. And some of the farmers are cutting hay. A good rain would do oceans of good. You would see the grain pick up a bit.
I often think you be wondering what kind of beds we have to sleep on. Quite often it is wire bunks made of chicken coop wire. There is more spring to it than laying on the floor. And I often think you be wondering what kind of officers we have in charge of us. On the whole they are pretty fair. We have an awfully good officer in charge of our platoon. Now I only hope we can keep him for he is the best I have had any thing to do with.
Well I guess it will be the first of July or more when you get my letter. I hope you have a good time. I hear that the 12th of July is to be held at Coldwater, is it right. Oh say those snaps were pretty good. I have not had my leave yet, I guess you know that the leave had been shut down when Friz’s started his funny work but they have opened again and I hope it does not be too long before I get it.
Oh say was Myrtle and her people out to see you she told me in her letter she was going out. Write me a big long letter and tell me lots of news.
Well I must close do not be worrying dear ones for I am quite well with love from your loving son and brother Bruce xxxx
May 2 - France
Dear mother and sister
Just a few lines hoping they will find you well as it leaves me fine at present. I have not had any letters from you for a few days but hope to hear from you soon. There has been no Can mail for a few days.
Well mother I was wondering what you was doing this nice day. I can just imagine how busy you and Lizzie is this spring. Who did you get to plough the garden and how did you manage to get the rest of the ground in. How is Ada this spring. I suppose she pulls the buggy along pretty smooth. Did you get all the old hair curried out. Well Lawson and I am still holding down our job.
Herb Crooke and Herb Rumney was over to see us a while this evening. How is Alex’s have they been down since the wheeling got good. Write and tell me lots of news. Oh say I heard that there was some body around Moonstone that had been stealing oats. But I did not hear who it was. I hope they were well punished for it. And who was it they stole from.
Did Robert Ferganzie have a sale and where are they living now. Herb Crooke was saying his father had been at some sale around Vasey and the cows sold from 90 to 140 a piece. Some price. Well I must close hoping to hear from you soon. From your loving son and brother Bruce Speerin xxxxxx heaps of love
Just a few lines hoping they will find you well as it leaves me fine at present. I have not had any letters from you for a few days but hope to hear from you soon. There has been no Can mail for a few days.
Well mother I was wondering what you was doing this nice day. I can just imagine how busy you and Lizzie is this spring. Who did you get to plough the garden and how did you manage to get the rest of the ground in. How is Ada this spring. I suppose she pulls the buggy along pretty smooth. Did you get all the old hair curried out. Well Lawson and I am still holding down our job.
Herb Crooke and Herb Rumney was over to see us a while this evening. How is Alex’s have they been down since the wheeling got good. Write and tell me lots of news. Oh say I heard that there was some body around Moonstone that had been stealing oats. But I did not hear who it was. I hope they were well punished for it. And who was it they stole from.
Did Robert Ferganzie have a sale and where are they living now. Herb Crooke was saying his father had been at some sale around Vasey and the cows sold from 90 to 140 a piece. Some price. Well I must close hoping to hear from you soon. From your loving son and brother Bruce Speerin xxxxxx heaps of love
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