May 31st 17

Dear Father

I thought I would send you a few lines as I have plenty of time to spare at present. There is not very much news to tell you, but no doubt you are always pleased to hear from me.
First of all I am wondering what the news is; did you send last week’s Pictorial as I have not heard from you lately?
We are still in the same camp, & I don’t mind how much longer we stay here; there are no inhabitants living near so we do not get to hear much what is going on I expect you know more than we do.
I am going to ask you if you would mind sending me some money as I am broke at present. I could manage alright if we were paid regularly, but sometimes it goes over a week & as there are several canteens here & I am very fond of chocolate, biscuits, &c that accounts for the milk in the cocoanut; so if you would not mind sending me a 10/- note it will come through quite safe if it is registered it will be very welcome for emergencies.
How is Wood Green looking I suppose everything in the garden is coming on lovely? Are the streets lit up as of old I suppose you often go to the Empire &c?
Do you ever see anything of young Ramsey I have not written to him for a long time now.
Well I think I must finish now.
Hoping you are all enjoying the best of health glad to say I am tres bien

With much love from
Your devoted
Son

A.A. Laporte Payne letter to Muriel 30 May 1917

B.E.F.

May 30^th 1917

Darlingest,

Terrible isn’t it? I have been thinking of you a lot but have only just got a moment to send a line.  Thank you for your letter of May 21.  We have had no mail again for four days.  It is most annoying.  Darling, did I ever thank you for the two delightful cakes which arrived.  I hope I did – but at this time I might forget anything.  How do you like the work?  And how are you keeping?  Fit and well I do hope.  I am sure you felt horribly tired at first.  I hope you have been having as fine weather as we have.

We are in the line – and “staying at a farmhouse”. It consists of two fairly whole rooms and a most useful cellar.  The Boche has taken it into his head to shell us with gas shell at night and we sit down in the cellar with gas masks on, hot and annoyed – but it is very amusing seeing (as far as one can through goggles) the others puffing and blowing through their mouth pieces.  The Colonel gets into a furious temper with his.

Last night there was great excitement. We lost some very important secret maps and the Colonel was cursing everyone for it and said we should all be shot or something.  After two hours feverish search we found them rolled up in another bundle!  Where the Colonel himself had left them!

I have a large working party here hurriedly making some sort of a dug-out. There is a new system of telephonic communication to get into working order.  It is enormous – the biggest I have had yet to do.  And hundreds of other things.  So the time goes very quickly as you can imagine – but through it all I am simply longing to have you alone once again and you could hold me tight again.

I should like to give you a lot of news; but I can’t. It must be sufficient to say we are working like mad.

Give my love to Maude. You must please give her some news of me.  I have no time to write to her at present.

How are Mr & Mrs Cross – all well I hope – and enjoying their holiday. Give Mrs Cross my love when you write.

With all my love dearest

And many kisses

Ever your

Archie.

May 26^th 17

Dear Father

I thought I would just send you a few lines to let you know I am quite well; & having a very good time at present.

We came out of the trenches last Monday & at present we are camping in the open it is very nice this weather.

It was very uncomfortable when we first came here; started to rain during the night & continued nearly all day on Tuesday soaked through but still I am no worse for it.

Did you go to Southend last week it must be very nice there this weather?

How is everybody that I know Darvills, Miss Dimond, also Mr. & Mrs. Warman & Lilian remember me to them all.

I suppose Mr. Fillary & you have not joined up yet, I believe the war would end if you did you ought to go in the guards.

Well I expect you will think this is a very short letter; but there is not very much news to tell you. The war is still on but I expect you know that.

I hope you are still smiling & all in the best of health.

With much love from

Your devoted

Son

Saturday

26.5.17

My darling Sis

Cheer oh!  I received your letter last night and was delighted with its length.  Poor old Dad, I feel so sorry for him, but he can rely on my support both physically and what will interest him more financially “I don’t think” which reminds me what became of that 2 quid he is looking after for me.  I hope he hasn’t spent it on oil for the tools.  Bow wow.  Sorry my last letter was a bit late but I am in front this time. You won’t know me when I come home I am getting so brown and my moustache, oh the moustache, it’s a darling you are sure to like it.  I don’t know what Hilda will have to say though.  What’s all this about me ****ing after eating one of Hilda’s cakes.  They are simply splendid.  Do you remember those pies you used to make in a little round tin when ever so much better than that.  I should just think it is time you sent me another parcel.  I don’t know what you are doing, the last was just great but it had got a bit dry on the way so do something to keep the cake moist, a bit of butter and comes in useful too.  Give my kind regards to P. Charley, he seems to be done for poor chap.  I wrote to Burgey the other day so am expecting to hear from him shortly.  No wonder he wanted to get back to France with a soft job like his.  It’s a good thing one of us have a cushee time.  Old Bill seems to be forging ahead, I bet he’s an awful dog now.  I would love to see him with Bessie.  I think I would make myself a bit scarcer than last time.  Now don’t for one moment think this is a tip for you are you wanting any more gloves?  I like the way you rushed me last time.  Really Glad I don’t know how you had the nerve.

I can’t imagine “Stuff” as a tailors model with that kink in his neck. I bet old Burgy has the time of his life kidding Bill & myself.  I wouldn’t be at all surprised to hear he had married some French girl, although from what I have seen they aren’t very attractive.  We would find old James a good job here as gamekeeper looking after the rats unless he was very care his sporting suit would soon be chewed up.  I would love to have seen Dad working on the clock.  He will have quite a lot to play with now, in fact all his spare time will be occupied mending bicycles, taps, clocks and the garden.  I bet Ma was a bit fed up when Dad started on the clock.  I suppose the usual “That’s right smash it” but if Pa only thought he could get his own back by asking the price of photo enlargements that’s where Ma’s absolutely best.  I hope to be back in time for the “Earlies”, I hanged if I know what that means how I can’t for the life of me understand why I never hear anything about the Sewell fiasco.  I expect Pa has made such a mess of it with his detective ****** that he is lying low.  For when the “Lads”- Guss & myself come home.  Well Glad old girl I am quite OK, Hilda has gone to Southport, you want to get it “69” if you can, you would have the time of your life.  There is nothing much to report on the Western Front sorry I can’t find any flowers in our bit of trench to send, but how would a decent Boche shell do.  I found one today, it only weighs about umpteen pounds it fairly put the “wind up” me.  Well I hope Ma will crash into that cake but be careful not to put rice flour in instead of sugar, I am not saying anything but make a note of it.  Fondest love to all, tell Ma to be a little more sedate.  The idea of taking part in a play

Well bye bye Sis

George

6649 Pte F.W. Springett

D Company 1^ST Platoon

22^nd Training Reserve

St. Albans

Herts

May 24^th 1917

My Dear Brother Sid,

I received your welcome letter on Tuesday very pleased to hear you were quite well as I am quite well at present.  Yes Dad told me in his letter of today that there had been a strike, but he never said you had been in it.  Fancy you coming out on strike you ought to be ashamed of yourself Ha Ha.  Still I don’t suppose you would have done it, only I expect you were forced too.

Strikes are very serious and no mistake.  Fancy us working for a 1/- a day while others can go and earn £1 every week and then are not satisfied.  “It is not right”.  Yes we did have an awful storm Sunday night.  It was alright under canvas I can tell you.  We were lucky to get a good tent so the water did not come in, but in some it was awful they were washed out.  It did rain and no mistake, and it lasted about three hours.

I am sorry to say I shan’t be home for Whitsun.  What a shame, and I was looking to go home ever so much.  Still I suppose I shall get a leave before I go across the pond.  I am afraid I shall be wanted across there, even if the fighting finishes soon.  It will be a long job I am afraid.

It is a grand day here today. We are still very busy with bayonet fighting and gas helmets and plenty of Company Drill.  I am used to canvas life now, but it is not so nice as billets.  We have to parade at 6.30 in the morning.  The grub we get is a trifle better now, but of course I have to spend all my money I get on cleaning stuff and food.  We are having some sports for Whitsun so perhaps it won’t be so bad a holiday.  I don’t think I have any more to say this time so I will close

From your

Affec Brother

Frank

I am writing this in the tent at 9 o’clock, so I post it in the morning.

Excuse writing.

Letter to Muriel 24 May 1917 with cover to Miss Muriel Cross, C/O Post Office, Eardiston, Tenby Wells Worcester. Army Post Office R.W.3. postmark dated My 24 17.  Passed Field Censor 2232 stamp and signed A.A. Laporte Payne.

B.E.F.

May 24^th 1917

There are a few minutes spare before I go to another Court-Martial this morning so I am writing to let you know I am still thinking of you and to thank you so much for your letter from Paddington and the box of cigarettes which I am now smoking – one of the cigarettes I mean. You are a very naughty girl you know to send another large box of cigarettes – but it is very nice to have a naughty little girl all to oneself.

This court martial is a horrid nuisance just when I am in the middle of superintending the construction of dug-outs and a telephone system.  It is not pleasant work to do either but they have got to be done.

How do you like your work and surroundings? You are having perfect weather judging by what we are getting here.  To-day is perfectly lovely.

What lots we could do if we were together – we could go to the sea and bathe all day long and eat ices and go for a sail and doze on the beach and all sorts of things. Don’t you think I am ridiculous imagining all these impossibilities.

I know all the places you mention well from Henley days – Maidenhead, Reading, etc.

I should love to see you & Maude all on your own.

Vyvyan Pearse has just written a letter to congratulate me. He says “You are a lucky devil; I must say I admire your choice.”

Give my love to Maude.

Tell her I will write sometime.

Frightfully busy – so please forgive short note.

With all my love dearest & kisses

Ever yours

Archie.

Letter to Muriel 23 May 1917

B.E.F.

May 23^rd 1917

Please forgive a hurried scrawl, darling, as I want to rush a letter off to you this evening. Thank you very much for your two letters.  Our post is very disorganised – your letter of the 17^th arrived before one dated the 14^th.  There was no mail for 4 days, and then 41 bags of mail arrived here for the Brigade, and I know some more are missing.  I have just received a letter from Maude.

It has been wet again the last two days, but it is fine to-day and very hot indeed. It is hard and warm work making dug-outs and burying telephone cable in this weather – for that is what is now fully occupying my days.

Let me know how you are getting on and how you like your work. And please also send me a photograph of yourself in working clothes and don’t forget the clay pipe and a stick I think it is very good of you to go working in this weather.  Don’t get too brown and strong.  I hope you will like your stable companions.

I have no news to tell you at present. We are all trying to work hard.

There is going to be some difficulty in watering our horses soon in spite of the rain we have had recently, and rations have been cut down slightly, but the men still get enough to eat. I hope food problems at home are not worse.

It will be quite a new experience for you, working away from home won’t it? I should love to come down and see you – but I don’t suppose you would want me to get in the way.

If only there was nothing to do now and no war on wouldn’t it be lovely to go off into the country by ourselves with nothing to worry us. The country is looking just lovely now.  I suppose if it were always May we should not appreciate it.

The month has or rather is going very quickly – only another week to the end of the month – and then June. I wonder where we shall be at the end of summer.  I hope the old Boche will be out of Belgium and France.

The Colonel has come back and is in quite a good temper I am glad to say – and he is now working hard. The horses are very fit and I hope they will fulfil expectations.

Are you still thinking of me and waiting for me to come and kiss you again – you have been rather sparing of your paper kisses recently; the last consignment was only two or three.

Has Mrs Cross returned home yet? She wrote me a letter a few days ago.  It was very good of her as I had neglected to write so long, but I am sure she will forgive me.  Mr Cross is going away again too – how empty Benchfield will be!

I must close now.

Hoping you are quite well and enjoying your work.

With all my love, darling and many kisses

Ever     Yours

Archie.

A.A. Laporte Payne letter to Muriel 19 May 1917.

B.E.F.

May 19^th 1917.

M.O.D.D.L.W.

Guess what that means. Only your last delightful letter of the 12^th has kept me from going quite mad.  There has been no mail for 3 days.  I have had no time to write.  It is extraordinarily hot – and there is too much to do – and I have hardly been to bed.  Further the Colonel returns to-day and he is sure to come back in a bad temper to the enormous amount of work he will have to get through – so you can imagine how your last really lovely letter has helped.

Why shouldn’t you call me what you like – are you still shy with me – as you say in you used to be? It is about time you were not, young lady.

We are now where I said I should be going back to after my leave. You may remember it.  Keep your eye on it.

Thank you for drinking my health on Saturday night last. It is Saturday night or rather evening again – and my thoughts are with you darling.

It is a perfect evening – just lovely for you and me alone. Instead of that I am in a tent near a main road – the traffic and the consequent dust is continuous.  Overhead are Boche aeroplanes and the A.A. guns are going all out.  Quite near is one of our captive kite balloons up with two officers in it observing from a great height.  If the Boche send over large long distance shells or an aeroplane to bring it down the unhappy observers have to throw themselves out and hang on to a parachute.  I should not like their job at all.

I wonder where you are now. Have you left to work on the land?  I do hope it will be fine weather for you – it is so awful when it is wet.  At any rate it will be warm and that is something.  Look after Maude if you are with her.

I am glad Mrs Cross is having such a good holiday. Please give her my love and also Mrs Lowe and thank her for the delightful present of ‘heaps’!!

The mare is rather tired. She was out until 5.30 a.m. yesterday morning and has not had much rest poor thing.

Everything is a bit upside down at present so you will forgive scrappier and scrappier letters won’t you darling?

And so the war goes on. Suppose it never ends – But it must one day mustn’t it?

The trees are full out now and the country is looking just lovely, except up in the scarred and torn front line and along the dusty traffic routes.

The officers are in a terrible way. It is getting difficult to get whisky and other drinks now.  I don’t mind at all as I never cared very much for whisky and hardly ever touch it – and the wines the French are selling now are pretty bad – so I drink tonic juice when I can get it.  it is much better don’t you think so?

Your cakes were lovely, darling. We thoroughly enjoyed them.  One fellow came in to tea promptly to have some – and the doctor wants me to send his love & thanks – but I told him certainly not.  They are all married on Headquarters except the Colonel who is still unattached – at least he was before he left – and myself.

Nothing but interruptions – phone going all day long. Please do this, please do that – why wasn’t this done – please explain that &  so on.

Well I must close now.

With all my love my own darling

And many many kisses

Ever your own

Archie.

Message from Army commander to 51 Div 19 May 1917

MESSAGE AND SIGNALS

To 51^st Division

Day of month 19

Third Army wire of last night begins aaa Convey to 51^st Division my congratulations on their great gallantry at ROEUX and CHEMICAL WORKS on 16^th May aaa GENERAL ALLENBY aaa

17^th Corps

May 19^th 17

Dear Father

At last I am going to try to write a few lines; we have been in the trenches for nearly three weeks, & now in reserve expect to go out on Monday for a rest so have not had a chance before.

First of all I must thank you very much for your parcel received yesterday.  I never had one come out at a better time we were short of food & no smokes so you can guess I soon reduced it in size; we finished the cigarettes, chocolate, cake, biscuits, & paste you could not have sent a nicer assortment.  I will let you know how I like the jelly next time I bet it is jolly good.  I only used the Harrisons once as we left for the line & I forgot to bring it with me so I am well supplied at present.

I have not had a shave for a week, & about a fortnight since I had a wash so you can bet we look bright articles but I hope to have a good scrub soon; that was very nice soap you sent in your previous parcel.

Well Dad I was very pleased to receive your letter & paper also one from Jess.

I am glad Albert Taylor is well I suppose he was home for a few days leave. What does he think of the war; fed up I expect.

I hope you will have a good time at Southend should just like to be coming along with you.

How did Ethel enjoy her holiday in Yorkshire I expect she is looking quite sun-burnt.

Well I think I must finish now just going out to do a bit of digging.

Glad you are all in the best of health.

Au revoir

With much love from

Your devoted Son