In the Field

August 31^st 1918

From Commanding Officer

58^th Canadian Battalion

To   G.O.C

9^th Canadian Artillery Brigade

Sir:-

I would appreciate it very much if you would accept the thanks of the 58^th Canadian Battalion for the assistance rendered us by your Artillery on August 28^th 1918.

In this connection I would especially like to draw your notice to the good work done by your forward Observer Lieut R. ADAMS.  Under the most trying circumstances and at great personal risk, he maintained communication and was at all times ready to help the Infantry.

I have the honour to be

Sir

Your Obedient servant

(sgd) P.L. SMYTHE,

Captain

Acting C.O. 58^th Canadian Battalion

Royal Hotel

Ramsgate

Saturday

Dear Mrs. Springett,

At last a few more lines which I hope will find you all keeping well. I was very pleased to receive the nice letter which Alice wrote.  I wonder if she has heard of another place yet.  I kept my eyes open down here but nothing doing.  The shop assistant places are so quickly caught after by the Local girls.

I am glad Edie likes her present home it is very nice her being so near you all isn’t it?

Pleased to say I am still getting on fine here.  It is simply lovely by the sea now we have some jolly times bathing etc. We are packed out every room here in Hotel with holiday people & the town is full of visitors likewise Broadstairs & Margate.  One would hardly think there is a war on.  It seems as if people meant to have a good time this year in spite of everything.  I suppose they have waited long enough for the war to end with no result.

I wonder if you have heard from poor old Frank yet.  I had such a turn the other week when I saw his photograph & the nice account of him in the Ashford paper.  It brought poor ole Walter all back again & Frank looked so like him.  Fancy it is nearly two years since Walter was taken.  How time flies.  His memory is as green to me as ever.  He was one of the best in every way to me & I shall never forget him.  This is a wicked war & fancy it has been going on now for over 4 years.  When is the end really coming.

My two soldier brothers are getting on alright Tom went home this holiday for 4 days also my sister & her hubby were home for over a week.  I am so glad because it must have cheered dear old mum & dad up a bit to have them.  I wish I could have ran home while they were there but nothing doing as we were so busy.

I have got a weeks holiday to come as soon as the rush is over.  So then I must go round visiting it seems sometime I am down here right away from everybody but we have to drift away don’t we to earn a ”crust”.

I hope Mr. S & Ted & Sid are well.  You see them otherwhile I suppose.  How you must look forward to see them for a few hours.

What lovely weather we have been having but there is a change today.  Here it has been raining fast.  You will soon be looking forward to ‘hoppicking’ won’t you but I hear the hops look awful this year worse luck.

Now dear Mrs S I must ring off cheerio & look for the best.

With lots of love to you all

From Mary

I suppose Winnie has grown a fine girl now. Shall be very pleased to hear from you again anytime.

Cover to Mrs. Springett, “Tabors Cottages”, Horsmonden, Kent.

Postmarked Ramsgate but rest unreadable.

Postcard

To Mr. Smith, 100 Arcadian Gardens Bowes Park N22

From The Anchor, 1 Bankside Southwark SE 1

Dear Uncle,

The Parcel went away alright, and I did not forget the Coupon, trusting it will get there quite safe. With love to all Your Affec Niece Ciss.

POSTKARTE

Kriegsgefangenensendung

Senders address

Name Smith Christian name Alfred

Rank Private Camp No. E.K. 6

Regiment 53^rd M.G.C.  Regtl No 27521

Camp of Friedrichsfeld near Wesel.

Postmarked FRIEDRICHSFELD bei WESEL.  17.9.18 and London Oct 16. 18.

Mr. T. Smith, 100 Arcadian Gardens, Wood Green. London North England.

Sept 2^nd 18                              Friedrichsfeld My Dear Father,

I am delighted to tell you that I have just received Jessies welcome letter. It was a great pleasure to know you are all well & that you got my letter before you went away I hope you all had a good time & benefited by the change.  I had already written a card to you but your letter arrived just in time I will answer it next time as I have written to Albert in answer to one received from him I have had three letters now but you can see they take a long time to get through.  Love to all Alf.

Tabors Cottage

Horsmonden

Kent

England

Aug 26^th 1918

To No 205166 Rifleman F.W. Springett

16^th Batt King’s Royal Rifles

*** Kriegsgefangenen- Stammlagers

Limberg A.A. Lahn

My Dear Son Frank,

We have received two cards from you & we were all so pleased to know you was well, I am happy to say we are all very well at present.  I have been trying to get your address so that I can send you something useful to you & when you write please tell me of anything I can send you.  You are ever in our minds & will be to the end, I am still at the same place. Alice has left the shop & is doing well. Edith is still at the King’s Arms & my word you will not know your big sisters when you come home.  What a day it will be, Little Win & Jim are growing & Jim is fair little member.  Ted & Sid are still alright, Mother joins with me & your Sisters & Brothers in sending our fondest love to you trusting that we shall hear from you soon I remain

Your Ever Loving Father

S.J. Springett

25/8/18

My dear dad,

I hope you have had a most successful week up north. If you have been having the same sort of weather we have had here it must have been delightful on the moors.  Many a time have I wished I could be with you.  Still it looks very much as though I shall be there next year if things go on as they are at present.  The old Boche has got to take a lot in the ribs yet.  The coup de grace has yet to come, though we seem to be able to do pretty much what we like with him at present.

I have absolutely no news to tell you from here. Things are going smoothly, but are dull on the whole.

The air is alive with rumours, the latest being that leave is extended to 20 days. There is nothing official about it, but things like that get round pretty quickly & there may be something in it.  it would be futile to say I hope it is so.  I had an amusing letter from Mr. Sayers the other day.

Did you have the saloon to bring you back? I wonder you haven’t borrowed it before.  I bet Mr. Preston thought it was A1, & of course it is the only way to do it really.  It saves all the bother of sweating after baggage – your job I gather as a rule.

Well old man I am sorry I have nothing to tell you.

Hope you are fit & well.

With very best love

Your loving son

Geoff.

25.8.18

BEF

Dear F & M

Sorry I am rather late in writing to you but we have been rather busy just lately.  Glad to say I am having a cushy time now.  The weather is tres Bien just the sort of weather for a holiday.  Had a letter from Gladys she seems to be having a nice time.  Suppose she will be back again with you by this.  Tell her the rose bud had a prominent place in the office but I would sooner have seen it on her best blouse.  I was engaged on a tin of Bully Beef the other day when I was told an officer wished to see me.  I thought it might be Jack but was rather surprised to see Jim Hopkinson in all his war paint he looked very well and wished to be remembered to you all.  Finally I saw him speed away on a motorcycle.  The war news is very extra it makes one think the war will soon be over.  Still we have a long journey yet unless the people of Germany have a revolution still we are on the way and in any case it won’t last much above a twelve month.  How are you all keeping it’s about time you took your holidays.  I’m thinking where has Geo got to.  It’s some time since I troubled you to send me any Bradbury’s but would very much like a couple just now.

Cheerho Ma cheries Gussie

With cover addressed to Mr. T. Smith, 100, Arcadian Gardens, Wood Green, London North England.  Postmark unreadable. London postmark 22 Aug 18.  Censor stamp 83.  Back endorsed Kriegsgefangenensendung Englischen Kriegsgefangenen Private Alfred A. Smith, 53^rd Machine Gun Coy.  Nommer 27521.  Stammlager Friedrichsfeld.  Deutchschland.

Kriegsgefangenensendung

Englischen Kriegsgefangenen

Private Alfred A. Smith

53^rd Machine Gun Coy:

Nummer 27521

Stammlager Friedrichsfeld

Deutschland

June 9^th 18

My Dear Father,

I think it is your turn for a letter this time; there is not very much news to tell you but still it is a very great pleasure to be able to write & I know you will be glad to hear from me.

Well Dad how are you all getting on I hope you are quite well & enjoying yourselves as much as possible.  What sort of garden have you got to your new house, I expect it is looking very nice now?  I am only longing for the time when I shall be home with you all again but you can bet it will not be yet although we do not hear any news now that there is nothing to do but wait so the best thing is to keep smiling what do you say?

What we are all longing for is to hear from home but I am hoping it will not be long now as we have been captured nearly three months.  No doubt when we receive the first letter they will come farely regular after that, also parcels which you may guess we are all very anxious for I believe the best way to send them is through the Red Cross Fund but I expect you have been able to find out by now as I am hoping there are some on the way.

The weather is grand & being Sunday I am enjoying myself cooking in the sun. I am glad to say I am quite well.  How is Jess, Ethel & Winnie please wish Ethel & Joy many happy returns of the 10^th as I shall not be able to write again for about two weeks.

Have you been to Southend lately I hope Albert, Affie & Joy are in the best of health give them my love & tell them I am always thinking about them & are they quite comfortable in their new house it must be grand in the garden there now having tea on the lawn &c eh! But never mind we will make up for all these times later on what do you say.

Well I think I am nearly exhausted for news now. How is Ciss, Charley & Peter give them all my best love & tell them I hope to soon have some good times with them again have you been to stay with them lately don’t forget to enjoy yourself as much as you can & don’t worry as I am getting along very well all we want is letters & parcels & we shall be well away then.

Remember me to Miss Dimond, Darvills, & all other friends. We are waiting for diner to come up now.

Please write soon & tell me all the news. Have just had a jolly good feed of muscles & potatoes expect you would think it a funny Sunday’s dinner but it is a jolly fine feed after vegetable stews all the week should just like a good suet pudding now.  Well Cheerio.  Hoping you are in the best of health.

With much love from

Your devoted

Son

P.S.      Please send plenty of cigarettes.

To:- The German Flying Corps.

Can you give us any information regarding the fate of :-

Lieut. C.F. Drabble and 2/Lieut (!on!) R.W. Rawley, missing on 13/8.1918 on machine Nr A. 7907.

Lieut T.E. Kearney and No. 121816 Sergt. H. Hammond missing on 14/8.1918 on machine Nr A. 7856.

Captain H.R. Gould and 2/Lieut (on!) E.W.F. Jinman, missing on 14/8.1918 on machine Nr. A 7902.

From: The British Royal Air Force.

In Manshinenschrift

Engl Fliegermeldung gefunden am 23/8.18 in den alten engl. Drahthindernissen vor Metz en Ponture.

In brown envelope marked On His Majesty’s Service, To German Flying Corps.   K.

————————————–

English fliers found on 23/8/18 in the old English ***** for Metz en Ponture.

On embossed Admiralty notepaper

c/o British Embassy,

Rome

19^th August 1918

My dearest Lillie,

I was awfully pleased to get your letter posted on the 12^th, this evening on my return from Inmana.  I am so glad you have made friends with the Wilcockers and that you like them.  I think you are wise to stay on at Lee Grove Park, as you seem to be so happy there!  I had a glorious time at Numana, but I felt just a wee bit homesick for Rome although I was only three whole days away.  I had the nicest bathing I ever had.  There was only one other English officer there, but I met several delightful Italians who were most friendly.  In the train back from Ancona to-day I met an Italian attaché from the Italian Embassy in Paris we had travelled out together from Paris to Rome last May.  Of course we fell on each others necks.  It was the funniest coincidence.  He was spending a few days with his family in Central Italy before returning to Paris via Rome.  I took leave of him at the station, and would you believe it?! We met again in the same restaurant for dinner!  He told me there was a British officer on the train who asked him if my name was Dillon when he saw us speaking.  He told me the said British officer told him he was at college with me and tried to see me afterwards, but missed me in the crowd.  So I went off to the station and found a T.C.D. [Trinity College Dublin]chap, whose name I cannot remember but whom I knew fairly well.  It was very funny “entirely”?  He was on his way to France around via Rome, so we just had a chat for a quarter of an hour at the station all about our lost youth.  It was grand to have a breath of old Ireland even for a few minutes.  His train left at 8.40 p.m. and then I went back to the station at 9.30 p.m. to see off the Italian attaché to Paris.  Of course we are great friends now after our three chance meetings so we have arranged to meet again in Rome, Paris or London.  I am taking a day off tomorrow and going for a drive with Lord Monk-Breton on the Appian Way.  He is going to England soon I am very sorry to say, and I do not know if he will come back.  I am always afraid that the Naval Mission may come to an end, and in that case I shall try to be transferred to the Military Mission, which by the way comes under Major Haldane.  In that case Lord Monk-Breton might be of more use to me in London.  So you see it is impossible to think of leave at present, although I am always longing to see my dear folks in London town.  Lord Monk-Breton will settle the question of my *** in London.  My Bank has received nothing yet and they are beginning to get crotchety.  I am awfully happy.

Best of love to you & Anna

From Willie

Many thanks for the Bystander and the other papers which I have received all right now. Of course I noticed and appreciated the funny thing in Punch to which you allude.

Many thanks to Anna for letter & book on Tabs which arrived this morning 20.8.18

18/8/18
My dear dad,

Many thanks for your letter. Tomorrow you will be starting north & I hope you have a real good time & good weather. On previous visits you have had bad luck for weather & I am afraid the weather has changed again. Here today it has taken it all its time to keep fine but possibly it is only local.

With regard to the grouse you offer me, the postal arrangements here are pretty bad, & I should prefer to have them cooked at home & sent out. Dyer, Bennet & myself are forming a little dinner club & we propose to dine out once a week & invite a few pals to feed with us, so a brace would come in top hole for one of these little festivities.

Things are looking very bright out here aren’t they? It was a bit of a surprise to see us hit back so soon & to such good purpose & it must have startled you at home a bit. There is no doubt about it that man Foch is a marvel. We always thought he had a good bit up his sleeve, but he has changed the whole outlook of the war in the space of a month.

We got a new crowd of fellows in yesterday & we start off work tomorrow, so shall be pretty well occupied for the next 5 weeks. It will be 5 weeks nearer leave.

The old lady in my billet has just come in & brought me a species of French pancake you eat with butter & sugar. It is blazing hot & beautiful. It is like nothing I have ever seen before.

I hear mother was robbed of some car tools the other day. Jolly bad luck I must say. Will you get anything out of the insurance.

Have you heard anything of Win lately? I have written to her several times but I expect she hasn’t had much time or felt like writing yet. She is pretty hard at it just now I guess. The people here are, 4.30 a.m. till 10 p.m. Sunday s included. They have got a little girl in at this farm to help – 13 years old & she has to do it. She is a strong little thing but I’m dashed if I should like her job.

Well dad keep fit, have a good time & don’t get a chill.

With very best love & best respects to the party
Your loving son
Geoff.