Dear mother and sister
Just a line to let you know I am now in London on sick leave. I think I will go to the reserve about Thursday. But my leave is not up unitl the 6th Feb but I think I will go back before I should be on my way home by that time.
Well old London is quite a lively spot now. It is very crowded here. You would wonder where all the people came from. This letter is going to be short. One of the boys are waiting on me to go to the Strand Theater with him. I do not want you to think it is a girl for I do not look at them. I am too anxious to get back home. Say I will put in the picture I cut out of the paper see if you know any body in it. It is just L/Cp and Corpls in it. Well bye bye I will write on the Thursday again. From your loving son and brother Bruce xxxx
Jan 19 – Basingstoke, England
Dear mother and sister
Just a few lines to let you know my ankle is better. I am just waiting to go to the Reserve any day now. I can have 12 days leave if I want it but I don’t think I will take it. It would cost me about 50 dollars. I have got that much coming to me but I don’t think I will take it. I could have a better time around home on that money than here.
I hope this letter will find you well. I guess you are looking for me coming home every day. Ok it will not be long now until I get there. Of course you will get word a few days before I get there. I will not take you on a bit of a surprise.
It will soon be two years since I came away. I will be back before the first of April. It has seemed about like five years to me. The boys that has put in over four years out here must think it is a long time since they left home. But believe me I have saw some great sights on this side of the pond. I will have a lot to tell you of what I saw when I get back.
I saw one of the Eady boys this morning. He is in this hospital just come from France too. Herb Spence I guess you mind him. He is not at all sick he is able to walk around too.
I was at a good concert in the dining hall last night. I will put a list of the program in the letter.
Has Alexs been down lately. Hope they are all well. I guess they find it pretty hard to get down very often to see you when the snow is so deep in the winter.
Have you still got the same teacher. I thought Tom or Alf Cowan would have been married to her before this.
Say there has been a lot of the boys got married over here. But not Bruce ha ha. They don’t catch me like some of the poor simps. You know the girls all think that the Canadians are so rich and they are all just crazy on going to Canada. They think it is so easy to make money there. Well I think I had better ring off. Bye bye from your loving son and brother Bruce xxxx
Just a few lines to let you know my ankle is better. I am just waiting to go to the Reserve any day now. I can have 12 days leave if I want it but I don’t think I will take it. It would cost me about 50 dollars. I have got that much coming to me but I don’t think I will take it. I could have a better time around home on that money than here.
I hope this letter will find you well. I guess you are looking for me coming home every day. Ok it will not be long now until I get there. Of course you will get word a few days before I get there. I will not take you on a bit of a surprise.
It will soon be two years since I came away. I will be back before the first of April. It has seemed about like five years to me. The boys that has put in over four years out here must think it is a long time since they left home. But believe me I have saw some great sights on this side of the pond. I will have a lot to tell you of what I saw when I get back.
I saw one of the Eady boys this morning. He is in this hospital just come from France too. Herb Spence I guess you mind him. He is not at all sick he is able to walk around too.
I was at a good concert in the dining hall last night. I will put a list of the program in the letter.
Has Alexs been down lately. Hope they are all well. I guess they find it pretty hard to get down very often to see you when the snow is so deep in the winter.
Have you still got the same teacher. I thought Tom or Alf Cowan would have been married to her before this.
Say there has been a lot of the boys got married over here. But not Bruce ha ha. They don’t catch me like some of the poor simps. You know the girls all think that the Canadians are so rich and they are all just crazy on going to Canada. They think it is so easy to make money there. Well I think I had better ring off. Bye bye from your loving son and brother Bruce xxxx
Jan 11 – Basingstoke, England
Dear mother and sister
Just a line to let you know I am now in England. I am in No. 4 Canadian Gen. Hosp. My ankle is not healed up yet so I have to stay here to it does.
I hope this letter finds you well as it leaves me quite well, only waiting for my ankle to heal so I can wear a boot on it. And then I will be on my way home. Just the matter of a week or two. I came to 3rd Can Hosp at Boulogne on the 9th and stayed one night there and came over on the boat yesterday. It was a little rough, it made me sick for about a hour. I don’t think it would have bothered me only for seeing the other fellows sick. That is four times for me across the Channel and I was never sick before neither I was sick coming from Canada.
Well when I got here the Sister brought me a couple good slices of toast and a cup of good tea. It was about two o’clock in the morning when I got here.
But is a lovely place to be (incomplete)
Just a line to let you know I am now in England. I am in No. 4 Canadian Gen. Hosp. My ankle is not healed up yet so I have to stay here to it does.
I hope this letter finds you well as it leaves me quite well, only waiting for my ankle to heal so I can wear a boot on it. And then I will be on my way home. Just the matter of a week or two. I came to 3rd Can Hosp at Boulogne on the 9th and stayed one night there and came over on the boat yesterday. It was a little rough, it made me sick for about a hour. I don’t think it would have bothered me only for seeing the other fellows sick. That is four times for me across the Channel and I was never sick before neither I was sick coming from Canada.
Well when I got here the Sister brought me a couple good slices of toast and a cup of good tea. It was about two o’clock in the morning when I got here.
But is a lovely place to be (incomplete)
1919
Jan 2 – France, South African General Hospital, Ward 32, Abbeville
Dear mother and sister
Just a few lines to let you know where I am. I am not at all sick but have got another one of those nasty old boils on my ankle. I came from #5 Convalescent Depot Cayeux up here.
I was just going to go to the Base the next day.
But am not in a bad place here. I expect to go to England in a few days. They lanced the boil the Tuesday morning and it is doing nicely. Of course I don’t think they will let me walk on it for a few days for it would be hap to make it worse again. But it will soon be better.
(incomplete)
Jan 5 – France, South African General Hospital
Dear mother and sister
Just a line to let you know I am coming along fine. My ankle is almost better. I am up walking a round on it now, there is no soreness in it now at all. But they will not let me go out until where he lanced it is healed right up again.
I hope this letter finds you well. I know it must be quite a job for you to get along now. I know just about how deep the snow is around home. I can just see mountains of it. It worries me to think of you trying to get wood and stuff in the snow. And me out here doing nothing at all.
But if I get home soon I will make up for it. I will get right down to work this spring.
Well this is the first Sunday in the new year and it seems a dull day in here. But I guess by next Sunday I will be back at my Base or in England. The sooner I get there the sooner I get home.
I just had a good laugh a few minutes ago. We have a stove in the ward and it is trying its best to smoke us out today. And the Sister came along and she thought she would stop it. And when she was poking at it, the stove pipes came down and we all started to laugh. That got her angry. So we had a good laugh then. She is an old maid and cannot stand much teasing and I guess you have an idea how much a bunch of boys can tease.
How is Allies. I hope they are keeping well. I wrote them a letter a few days ago. How is Cowans getting along. Alf or Tom not married yet. How is the old people keeping well.
I have never had any mail since I left the Battn. You see how moving around a little bit put a fellow’s mail out badly. I will be getting letters that you sent after I get home.
Well I must ring off. Do not be worrying for I am quite well. Will likely be on my way home by the time you get this letter.
Bye bye from your loving son and brother Bruce xxxx
Dear mother and sister
Just a few lines to let you know where I am. I am not at all sick but have got another one of those nasty old boils on my ankle. I came from #5 Convalescent Depot Cayeux up here.
I was just going to go to the Base the next day.
But am not in a bad place here. I expect to go to England in a few days. They lanced the boil the Tuesday morning and it is doing nicely. Of course I don’t think they will let me walk on it for a few days for it would be hap to make it worse again. But it will soon be better.
(incomplete)
Jan 5 – France, South African General Hospital
Dear mother and sister
Just a line to let you know I am coming along fine. My ankle is almost better. I am up walking a round on it now, there is no soreness in it now at all. But they will not let me go out until where he lanced it is healed right up again.
I hope this letter finds you well. I know it must be quite a job for you to get along now. I know just about how deep the snow is around home. I can just see mountains of it. It worries me to think of you trying to get wood and stuff in the snow. And me out here doing nothing at all.
But if I get home soon I will make up for it. I will get right down to work this spring.
Well this is the first Sunday in the new year and it seems a dull day in here. But I guess by next Sunday I will be back at my Base or in England. The sooner I get there the sooner I get home.
I just had a good laugh a few minutes ago. We have a stove in the ward and it is trying its best to smoke us out today. And the Sister came along and she thought she would stop it. And when she was poking at it, the stove pipes came down and we all started to laugh. That got her angry. So we had a good laugh then. She is an old maid and cannot stand much teasing and I guess you have an idea how much a bunch of boys can tease.
How is Allies. I hope they are keeping well. I wrote them a letter a few days ago. How is Cowans getting along. Alf or Tom not married yet. How is the old people keeping well.
I have never had any mail since I left the Battn. You see how moving around a little bit put a fellow’s mail out badly. I will be getting letters that you sent after I get home.
Well I must ring off. Do not be worrying for I am quite well. Will likely be on my way home by the time you get this letter.
Bye bye from your loving son and brother Bruce xxxx
Christmas Morning - #5 Convalescent Depot France
Dear mother and sister
Just a few lines to let you know I am well hoping that you are well and spending a real merry Xmas. I know it would be a much better one if we were all at home together. But when we can not be we have got to make the best of it and I hope that next Christmas we will all be at home together and it be one of the best we ever spent. We will make up for those two I have been away.
Well this is a peach of a day here. I was to church service in the YMCA this morning. Just got back and thought it was my best chance to write you a few lines because there is concerts on and picture shows all afternoon and evening.
And I would feel mad at myself if I did not write you a few lines today. You will have to accept this letter as a Christmas present from me for there is nothing out here that I see fit to send as a present. Well in about a half a hour we are having our great dinner and we are having tea in the different huts this evening. There is the YMCA hut, Scottish hut, Salvation Army hut, Church Army hut and Catholic hut. I do not know which one I am going to yet. I will tell you in my next letter which one I was at and what all we had to eat.
Last Christmas I had in a little town called Divine. We were out for a little rest just then. We used to call Divine our home in France. The people were good to us there the two or three little rests we spent. We had turkey and chicken last year but I do not expect it this year.
I am looking for to go to the base. I believe they have got to send us there before we are sent to England to our demobilising camp. I expect to go from here some day this week. I think they will start demobilisation up in the beginning of the new year.
I did not tell you what groups I was classed in. 28 for service group, 1 for occupation group. I know my occupation group means a lot. They want to get us back so we will be ready to start work on the farms in the spring.
I do not know but I have a good idea that I will be home about the first of Feb. I have not got any mail from you since I left the Battn. But am sure watching for it now. I got a letter two days ago from Myrtle. It had followed me to the hospital from #6 Con Camp from there here.
How is Allies I hope they were down to have Christmas with you. For I know it would be lonely for you two at home alone.
Cheer up. We will all be at home for Christmas 1919. How is Ada as gay as ever. Have you had many cutter drives this winter. I will be home to have a few before the snow is gone.
Myrtle told me Lizzie was over and stay a night with her and that you enjoyed the show you were at. I wish that you could have come to some of the shows with me that I was at in London when I was on leave. Well mother get the hens laying and just see how well I like hen fruit when I get back.
Well I must ring off. Happy new year to you and heaps of love from your loving son and brother Bruce xxxx
Just a few lines to let you know I am well hoping that you are well and spending a real merry Xmas. I know it would be a much better one if we were all at home together. But when we can not be we have got to make the best of it and I hope that next Christmas we will all be at home together and it be one of the best we ever spent. We will make up for those two I have been away.
Well this is a peach of a day here. I was to church service in the YMCA this morning. Just got back and thought it was my best chance to write you a few lines because there is concerts on and picture shows all afternoon and evening.
And I would feel mad at myself if I did not write you a few lines today. You will have to accept this letter as a Christmas present from me for there is nothing out here that I see fit to send as a present. Well in about a half a hour we are having our great dinner and we are having tea in the different huts this evening. There is the YMCA hut, Scottish hut, Salvation Army hut, Church Army hut and Catholic hut. I do not know which one I am going to yet. I will tell you in my next letter which one I was at and what all we had to eat.
Last Christmas I had in a little town called Divine. We were out for a little rest just then. We used to call Divine our home in France. The people were good to us there the two or three little rests we spent. We had turkey and chicken last year but I do not expect it this year.
I am looking for to go to the base. I believe they have got to send us there before we are sent to England to our demobilising camp. I expect to go from here some day this week. I think they will start demobilisation up in the beginning of the new year.
I did not tell you what groups I was classed in. 28 for service group, 1 for occupation group. I know my occupation group means a lot. They want to get us back so we will be ready to start work on the farms in the spring.
I do not know but I have a good idea that I will be home about the first of Feb. I have not got any mail from you since I left the Battn. But am sure watching for it now. I got a letter two days ago from Myrtle. It had followed me to the hospital from #6 Con Camp from there here.
How is Allies I hope they were down to have Christmas with you. For I know it would be lonely for you two at home alone.
Cheer up. We will all be at home for Christmas 1919. How is Ada as gay as ever. Have you had many cutter drives this winter. I will be home to have a few before the snow is gone.
Myrtle told me Lizzie was over and stay a night with her and that you enjoyed the show you were at. I wish that you could have come to some of the shows with me that I was at in London when I was on leave. Well mother get the hens laying and just see how well I like hen fruit when I get back.
Well I must ring off. Happy new year to you and heaps of love from your loving son and brother Bruce xxxx
Dec 15 – France
Dear mother and sister
Just a few lines to say I am well hoping this letter finds you well. I am at No 5 Convalescent Camp. It is about all Canadians that is here. I will tell you the place we are at, Cayeux, right near the coast. I just come here last night. The boil I had on my little finger is not quite better yet but is coming along as good as I can expect it. I get it dressed twice a day with good hot dressings.
Well I think I will soon be on my way home. They are grouping us here by whatever trade you are. I will know tomorrow what group I am in. I know I will be in one of the first groups to get home. I will let you know in my next letter what group I get and I think I will be able to tell you when I will be sailing for home. Of course I guess it wouldn’t be much use telling you for I expect I will be on my way home by the time you get this letter. So cheer up your son will soon be back to stay.
So get the hens laying mother and Lizzie you can get Ada well brushed up. So we can do some driving when I get home. Well I must close I am going to put a few lines in for Allies. You can give it to him and tell them to look for a letter from me. Bye bye from your loving son and brother Bruce xxxx
Just a few lines to say I am well hoping this letter finds you well. I am at No 5 Convalescent Camp. It is about all Canadians that is here. I will tell you the place we are at, Cayeux, right near the coast. I just come here last night. The boil I had on my little finger is not quite better yet but is coming along as good as I can expect it. I get it dressed twice a day with good hot dressings.
Well I think I will soon be on my way home. They are grouping us here by whatever trade you are. I will know tomorrow what group I am in. I know I will be in one of the first groups to get home. I will let you know in my next letter what group I get and I think I will be able to tell you when I will be sailing for home. Of course I guess it wouldn’t be much use telling you for I expect I will be on my way home by the time you get this letter. So cheer up your son will soon be back to stay.
So get the hens laying mother and Lizzie you can get Ada well brushed up. So we can do some driving when I get home. Well I must close I am going to put a few lines in for Allies. You can give it to him and tell them to look for a letter from me. Bye bye from your loving son and brother Bruce xxxx
Dec 15 – France
Dear mother and sister
Just a few lines to say I am well hoping this letter finds you well. I am at No 5 Convalescent Camp. It is about all Canadians that is here. I will tell you the place we are at, Cayeux, right near the coast. I just come here last night. The boil I had on my little finger is not quite better yet but is coming along as good as I can expect it. I get it dressed twice a day with good hot dressings.
Well I think I will soon be on my way home. They are grouping us here by whatever trade you are. I will know tomorrow what group I am in. I know I will be in one of the first groups to get home. I will let you know in my next letter what group I get and I think I will be able to tell you when I will be sailing for home. Of course I guess it wouldn’t be much use telling you for I expect I will be on my way home by the time you get this letter. So cheer up your son will soon be back to stay.
So get the hens laying mother and Lizzie you can get Ada well brushed up. So we can do some driving when I get home. Well I must close I am going to put a few lines in for Allies. You can give it to him and tell them to look for a letter from me. Bye bye from your loving son and brother Bruce xxxx
Just a few lines to say I am well hoping this letter finds you well. I am at No 5 Convalescent Camp. It is about all Canadians that is here. I will tell you the place we are at, Cayeux, right near the coast. I just come here last night. The boil I had on my little finger is not quite better yet but is coming along as good as I can expect it. I get it dressed twice a day with good hot dressings.
Well I think I will soon be on my way home. They are grouping us here by whatever trade you are. I will know tomorrow what group I am in. I know I will be in one of the first groups to get home. I will let you know in my next letter what group I get and I think I will be able to tell you when I will be sailing for home. Of course I guess it wouldn’t be much use telling you for I expect I will be on my way home by the time you get this letter. So cheer up your son will soon be back to stay.
So get the hens laying mother and Lizzie you can get Ada well brushed up. So we can do some driving when I get home. Well I must close I am going to put a few lines in for Allies. You can give it to him and tell them to look for a letter from me. Bye bye from your loving son and brother Bruce xxxx
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