Fred 40
7th E. Surrey’s
1st January 1916
My Dear M & F,
Just a line to let you know I am keeping quite well.
Well we have started the new year but it doesn't sound much like peace here. It would be a Happy New Year if only peace was proclaimed. But still I suppose the day must come some time or other.
I saw a chap in the 5th DG the other day who helped to carry poor Charlie down to the dressing station. He was hit in the head and stomach.
Arthur Spooner has left France according [to] what this chap said.
Well I hope you are all keeping well. This is all for the present. Best love to all. Goodbye all and God bless you.
Ever your loving son,
Fred
xxx
Fred 41
7th E. Surrey’s
10th January 1916
My Dear M & F,
Many thanks for your most welcome letter which I have just received.
Thanks very much for the photos. Well speaking the truth, Father has made the best photo. I wish he had been alone. You [Mother] look about 20 as though you might start courting again. The children look alright except for little Percy moving his head. Excuse me making these personal remarks.
You say that you keep looking forward to [me] come home on leave. I am afraid you will have to look for a long time unless they send more at a time. Some of us will never get home until it's all over and we have got to be very lucky to do that.
I heard from Arthur about a fortnight ago. He was alright then.
I don't quite understand why you haven't heard from me lately. I always answer your letters. But I suppose they go astray like a good many more.
Well I haven't much news to tell you. Give my love to Grandmother, Flo and all of them.
Now I must close with best love to all. Hoping you are all quite well. Goodbye all and God bless you.
Ever your loving son,
Fred
xxx
Fred 43
Same address
Somewhere in France
20th January 1916
My Dear M & F,
Many thanks for your most welcome letter which I received yesterday
Well we are now back for a rest from the trenches.
I don't quite know when I heard from Arthur last, but I don't think it has been five weeks since I heard from him. I will write him a line tonight and see if I can get an answer. I hope he is alright.
Well I haven't much to tell you as it's the same old thing over and over again.
Give my love to Grandmother, Flo and all of them down there.
I hope you are all keeping quite well. I am keeping fairly well but shall be glad to see the end of this.
Well now I must close with best love to all. Au revoir and God bless you all.
From ever your loving son,
Fred
xxx
Fred 45
Same address
28th [January 1916]
My Dear M & F,
Many thanks for your most welcome letter received yesterday afternoon.
I am glad that you have heard from Arthur I began to wonder if anything had happened to him.
Tell Aunt Jinnie that I will get her one of those cards the first opportunity I get.
Well I suppose we shall soon be back in the land of trenches again.
Well it's eight months next Tuesday since I left England. How quickly the time flies when one looks back. I expect it does seem to you that all the other soldiers have been home on leave except me. There are heaps more of us to go yet. I think this must be about the worst Batt [Battalion] for leave in the British Army. Regts [regiments] that never see the firing line can go home nearly every three months. It’s quite true nothing is fair in the army.
Well this is nearly all for the present. Hope you are all still keeping well. Closing with best love to all. Au revoir – God bless you all.
Ever your loving son,
Fred
xxx