A.A. Laporte Payne letter 28 January 1917

B.E.F.

France

January 28^th 1917

Darling,

Thank you so very much for your letters and the box of cigarettes. You are much too good.  I am afraid I am failing horribly in writing.  We have had another move much to our surprise – and all at a moments notice.  It was an awful rush but at last we are getting a bit straight.  I had a large number (this shews how mad I am getting) of lines to take over – telephone ones I mean, and headquarters to move into.  To-day I have spent arranging for rations and forage for the brigade which has been a horrible nuisance and my temper has suffered sadly.

Now I am trying to write in the mess, but others are here and talking at great length, so I am, not like you, able to get away and think quietly what I shall write. My bedroom is much too cold to sit in.

I suppose you are having hard frosts as we are here. It is brilliantly fine but oh! So cold.  Everything is as hard as iron and shells and shrapnel instead of burying themselves nicely, bounce about in an alarming fashion.

This is perfectly horrible note paper to white on. I got it from the Doctor who delights in such stuff.  I have mislaid all my writing materials such as they are.

At present we have got a fairly comfortable mess but the bedrooms are not nice. It was the other way round in the place we have just left.  I hope they leave us alone for a bit now.  I am tired of moving about.

So you think I have been ‘good’ lately in not ‘answering back’. Well you see I am only waiting until I see you and then I shall have a field day.  So I don’t think I deserve anything; but I should probably take what I wanted all the same.  You know what that would be don’t you, dearest.

You really must not behave badly in public. Especially with Maude and Kathleen Gattergood who are usually very rowdy I know.  You must look after them better.

By Jove, how I wish I could have been in that room then – you know – the room with the red lamp and fire etc. the pigtails are easily remidied – but I did not think you went in for such atrocities!  It is funny but I do remember pulling your hair once or twice, but I thought better of it.  I remembered in time how trim and smart young ladies hate to be ruffled in any way.  I can even remember the cushion fight and can quite imagine myself under certain circumstances indulging in such a fight.  I suppose it was an unfair advantage to protect myself with my boot – but that is nothing to what I am capable of, in the way of taking mean advantages.  Wait and see.

I do hope you and all are keeping fairly well – no colds or any such thing. How is Mrs. Cross?  Please give her my kindest regards.  I am keeping fairly fit my head has ached a bit once or twice but I am much better now.

This letter I know is a miserable failure; but I have been trying to write it on and off since 9.o’clock and now it is 11.30 p.m. It has been nothing else than a series of interuptions – and I do so want to write something special for you – but this existance, Muriel, is very soul deadening.  You will have to take me in hand after it is all over.

Leave is quite out of the question at present. However you never know your luck in this life.

You seem to be having quite a gay time. London is still living then.  Do you still go to the Strolling Players every week?  What an age it seems since that night!  Does it seem a long time to you?

Well! I must close now and say good night as I have to be up early in the morning – and closing my letter does not prohibit me thinking of you.

With my love

And kisses

Ever yours

Archie.

Postcard addressed to T. Smith Esq., 24, Palmerstone Rd., Bowes Park, London N Postmarked Southend on Sea 5.45 AM 27 JA 17

152 High Street

Southend on Sea

26.1.17

Dear Father

Arrived home 7 P.M. had a good time.  Just returned from the pictures.

With best wishes from all.

Alf

A.A. Laporte Payne letter 22 January 1917

B.E.F.

France.

January 22^nd 1917

Darling,

We have just completed a move which has unfortunately upset things among them the post. We are now in another part of the line,but not a great distance away from where we were before.  We have not got such a good billet as the mess was an empty room when we went into it but we have managed to steal some furniture so we are not so badly off.  The doctor’s and my bedrooms are in another house and are well furnished.

I suppose you are having very cold weather as well as ourselves. It is extraordinarily cold at present and it seems likely to continue.  The mud certainly does not trouble now but I think I prefer the warmer weather and mud.  I hope you are keeping well.  I know this weather suits you.  Thank you so much dearest for your letter and parcel of chocolate which arrived safely and came just when it was wanted.  We were chewing it in the office when we felt hungry and cold.

I am very sorry you had the misfortune to upset the salt, but why trouble? You have nothing else than good luck, do you?

You must certainly not sit up too late at night. It is very bad for you.  And certainly not in order to write letters to me however much I may want them.  I am afraid we here are getting into the bad habit of doing that.  We sit round the fire talking at night.  Going to bed is so cold.  Everything gets frozen even the sponge.

What a lot you are reading! You quite frighten me.  Now it’s Marcus Aurelius!  You will grow into a ‘blue stocking’.  I don’t like blue ones.  I like black and silk at that.  Pardon the verb ‘grow’.  What have you been doing in England?  Blowing up our ammunition.  Did you hear the explosion?  I suppose it would be heard all over the London area.  The papers seem full of it, although there is not much news as yet.

Leave for me does not seem likely yet I am afraid. I want it badly and yet for somethings I don’t want it.  It will be so awful having to return after it when I have seen you again in such different circumstances.  I wonder what you will be like this time.  I shall be very shy I know – perhaps I shall run away and hide!

It has been most annoying not having the post regularly but I hope now it will be better. Your letters are all I wait for now.  You have been most good in writing.  I do hope you don’t find it difficult to write now as you used to do.  How awful existence would be without your letters!  When I get home how on earth are we going to continue to meet alone sometimes.  Shall I ever be able to have you all alone to myself once or twice.  I shall then be able to bear seeing you when there are others about.  Do you remember how you tried to evade taking a taxi with me in town last time.  I thought perhaps you did not want to be alone with me anywhere – even in a taxi.  That made me determined to get a taxi.  But I shewed you, I think, how good I would be however great the temptation was.  But what opportunities I lost!  Shall I be able to make up for them in the future?  You will have to be very strict I am afraid.  As I have promised to dine our tonight at another Brigade Headquarters I shall have to stop writing.  I don’t want to go but I am afraid I shall have to now.  I would much rather stay in by the fire and write to you and dream day dreams – the latter very unprofitable but very nice.

With all my love, darling and kisses

Ever yours

Archie.

Broom Hill

Pownall Crescent

Colchester

21.1.17

My dear F & M & Gladys

I received your letter OK and after a little study managed to translate it, I had a letter from Hilda saying you had written to her & expressing much delight.  I have duly noted all the details of your letter & will show my appreciation by complying.  I think your exam results are simply splendid.  I had a letter from Elsie saying how pleased she was & that you are sure to do well now.  I am so glad you managed to beat the other girl.  From the number of times you seem to be running into old Gill I think you had better give the hospital a miss.  We have been very busy this last week practicing the attack.  It was rather interesting and some of us were made casualties.  You would have screamed to have seen the perspiring stretcher bearers carrying me on a stretcher to the advanced dressing station.  After they had juggled with me on their knees for about 5 minutes whilst they were changing the stretcher I was finally carried away by two more orderlies who said I was the heaviest they had carried and started to do a little betting about my weight.  From there I was taken across a river on a raft and finally finished up in an inn.  I was supposed to have been wounded in the left ankle joint.  Well there is nothing much fresh just yet.  We may be leaving here sometime next week to make room for a provisional Battalion.  I don’t know whether you have had much snow, but it has done a fair amount here.  Enclosed you will find a cheque for 30/1, i.e. 10/- each as promised.  Don’t make beasts of yourselves.  I expect Pa will want to buy gramophone records with his.  Had a letter from Willis the other day

Well this is all at present

Fondest love  George

Written on 2/7^th Battn Manchester Regt letterhead with matching envelope.  Addressed to E. Hammond, Esq., 9 Countess Street, Davenport, Stockport.  Postmarked COLCHESTER 10 PM 21 JAN 17.

152 High Street

Southend on Sea

Jan 21^st 17

Dear Father

Just a few lines to let you know that I am home for a few days at last.  I could not let you know before as it has been postponed so many times but my patience has been rewarded at last.

I shall be coming to Wood Green on Wednesday morning & probably stay until about Friday.

I mean to have a good time while I am home.

Please excuse more news now.

Glad to say I am quite well & hope you are all in the best of health.

Well Au revoir for the present.

With much love

From your devoted

Son

WAR DIARY of AA Laporte Payne 17 January 1917

Extracted from

Brigade Diary, Personal Diary, Operation Orders, Note Books, Memoranda

Correspondence

—————–

M.F.L.P. January 17.1917.

It is fearfully cold here. It is snowing hard now, and it lies thick on the ground.  Thank you very much for the parcel of books for the men.

No 27521

Pte. A. Smith

3^rd Essex Regt

Att 27^th Training Reserve

“G” Company

Parkeston Harwich

Jan 17^th 16 Year should be 1917

Dear Father

Many thanks for your welcome letter received to-day.

How do you like this snowy weather?  It is very dirty here marching about, but one gets used to it & it is not so bad if you have got a good pair of boots.  Roll on when the summer comes.

It is ages since I have seen Miss Upton.  I am glad they are all well.

Thank you for the parcel, but I don’t think you will be able to send any more to Parkston. I am leaving here on Sunday unless there is any alteration.  I shall go to Southend first as I shall have to bring all my kit with me & I don’t want to cart it about.  I want to have a run round town to see Pat & Ciss if there is time so I shall probably come to Wood Green on Monday; but I will try & let you know more definite when I know for certain when I shall be leaving & how many days I have got.

We finished on the range last Monday. I am a 2^nd Class shot & I believe a 1^st but have not seen the scores yet.  I am not sorry we have finished it was terribly cold.

Please excuse more news now.

Glad you are all well.

Am looking forward to seeing you soon.

Au revoir

With much love from

Your devoted

Son

WAR DIARY of AA Laporte Payne 16 January 1917

Extracted from

Brigade Diary, Personal Diary, Operation Orders, Note Books, Memoranda

Correspondence

—————–

January 16, 1917.

We are getting along alright. The Colonel has been fairly sweet tempered, I am glad to say.  In this comparative comfort existence is not so bad, but I feel rather a brute when our fellows are having such a rotten time in the trenches.  But I suppose this will not last long for me.

A.A. Laporte Payne letter 16 January 1917

France.

January 16^th 19167

You perfect little darling! So that was the secret.  Thank you so very very much for it.  it is beautiful.  I was more than delighted to get it as you may guess.  I like the colouring very much indeed.  Your lips look very kissable in the picture.  I wish I could have the original all to myself.  I am afraid though you would have a very rotten time.  I am sure you would hate to be made untidy and ruffled.  Wouldn’t you?  I shall have to be careful.  But an intoxicated person is hardly responsible for his actions.

I am so very sorry to hear about Mrs. Cross’ accident. I do hope it did not upset her very much.  Thank heaven you weren’t there.  You seem to be very lucky in getting out of these accidents.  I am glad I was not in the carriage for it would have been doubtful whether I was not the sort of person to bring bad luck.  I hope Mrs. Cross has recovered from the effects.

So you are staying the night with the Gardners – oh!  I hope they are well and that you enjoyed your visit.  Thank you for finding time to write to me from there.  (That is unkind isn’t it.  well I can’t help it sometimes).  You don’t mention Humphrey but I suppose he was there.  I am getting on quite alright.  The Colonel has been behaving himself very nicely, I am glad to say.  In this comparative comfort existance is not so bad, but I feel a brute when our fellows are having such a rotten time in the trenches – but I suppose this won’t last very long.

Please forgive this short note but I must get one off by this post to thank you for what you have sent.

Au revoir,darling.

With love and kisses

Yours

Archie.

A.A. Laporte Payne letter 14 January 1917

France.

January 14^th 1917

Darling,

How the time goes and nothing to shew for it except piles of papers. There has been plenty going on to keep one busy but I am afraid my thoughts and my interest are elsewhere – with a girl who has been ‘silly’ enough to thinks she is in love with me.  Don’t you think she is very silly, but I love her all the more – if that is possible –for being silly in that way.  Heaven only knows why she did it for I am sure I never made love to her – simply because I thought it an impossibility and there was no reason why I should not love her without her knowing it – and apparently she did not – until I was weak enough to tell her so.  Don’t you think it was very weak of me?  But then you see I had spent a delightful week, seeing her every day and on the last night when I had to come back to this and its many possibilities she looked so infinitely adorable and kissable and not being other than human I – well you know the rest.  She really was a witch that night.  What do you think were my thoughts on that taxi ride home from town that evening?  I am afraid it was then that I made up my mind – wasn’t I wicked?  Given the least chance I determined then.  She lay back in the taxi with her hat on the floor and her hair delightfully ruffled, looking flushed and disconcerted I thought.  I wonder if she were.  It was a good thing for her that she had a chaperone then.

I wonder if she remembers the morning she went to Waterloo and was left alone in the house with me by her ‘unwise’ mother (bless her) and how reluctant I was to leave.  I was very near misbehaving myself then; but you see it was daylight – and after all one’s first kiss should be in the evening; preferably in a cosy room by a fire after dinner,but a beggar can’t be a choser.  There were many other occasions – some perhaps she can’t remember but others no doubt she can – among them the halfpenny incident.  I often wonder what would have happened if there had been no war.  Would she have been the same?

I am so sorry that you have had the hump lately.  I do hope you are better.  Do you often get that complaint?  I hope not.  I suffer very badly.

So my note smelt of scent. I certainly do not use any unless the beastly barber puts some on me – but that is only in England.  It did not leave here smelling of anything except perhaps tobacco.  I can only put it down to your lady postman.  Was it very strong and cheap?  I rather like a faint suspicion as long as it is good.

Are you keeping alright dear? No colds I hope.  The weather is truly awful.

With my best love and a long long kiss

Always yours

Archie.