Somewhere in Belgium (near Poperinghe) Saturday 3rd Aug 1915 Dear Dad and Mother I am orderly Sgt today but I am taking the opportunity to write to you before guard mounting and staff parade. You will no doubt be surprised to see the bearer of this letter in England on leave, well I hope to come home on leave myself before very long. I have heaps of news for you when I do arrive and I expect Bill will tell you the latest to be going on with. At present the sun is very hot and I am writing to you from my half blanket and half waterproof bivouac which is situated in a field about 4 miles from the firing line. It’s a treat to get away from the incessant rattle and roar which never ceases night or day. I suppose we shall be here for about twelve days and as many as possible will be granted leave in turn. We are not exactly resting, we have parades and inspections etc but the chief thing is we are resting our men and nerves as much as possible as so many have given way. Personally I am A1 never better. I shall be glad to get back again to you all, also my trade. I hope you won’t be disappointed with this letter because at present I don’t feel a bit like letter writing, it being so uncomfortably hot. I expect by now Lottie will have told you about the Colonel’s congratulations. I have a lot to tell you about what happened that night. The Newark papers have made quite a meal of it. Since then we have been on some of the hardest contested ground on the whole western front. I should have written to you last night only a Sgt of the Northumberland Fusiliers, a relative of the Lc Cpl Easons, who is a friend of mine came to see him in a pony and cart from Poperinghe. Poperinghe is a fairly large town about a mile and a half from here. Nearly all the people have fled as it is under shell fire. The Sgt referred to is in charge of patrols etc who are the only military soldiers in the place. Their duty is to guard the abandoned houses and shops to prevent looting etc. The pony and cart he fetched us in was once the property of a German Spy. He has working with him a detachment of London city police who have formed a very effective and clever secret service. As we were marching from the trenches I saw Pat Fenwich. He is a Cpl in the Somerset Machine Gun Section. They were leaving the trenches the same time as we were. He told me they had lost a good few men and officers. He looked very well. I received your parcel sent off on the 28th last Tue morning in the same condition as the one previous, worse luck. Thanks very much for it, also for the grand box which I have received quite safely today. Tomorrow all being well Harold Coop, Albert Eason and other friends and I will have a tea party on our ownio. We always share out tuck boxes you see when one has not got anything the other has. At present I am in the best of health and condition generally. I don’t think the war will last much longer. I have seen Charles Eggleston today and he wishes to be remembered to you. Please remember me to Bill when you see him. I have been transferred to No. 15 Platoon, nearly all Worksop fellows. Sid Lidster and Jack Freebrough are about the only two Retfordians beside myself. I also received Lottie’s letter, Madge’s letter and p.c. and a small parcel from Miss Bradshaw containing a letter and bottle of thirst quenchers, boot laces, pencil, post cards and handkerchief today. I expect I shall get Gladys’s letter tomorrow also Lottie’s tuck box. It’s time I had a wash and got ready for tea and guard mounting. At present the 6th Batt band is giving us some very nice selections, perhaps that is why I can’t write just now. However I know you aren't very critical. Please remember me to all kind friends. I received a photo from Mr Bond the other day in uniform with pith helmet etc. I must write to him some time. Also Mr Dobson and many other friends. Tell Lottie I will write her a good long letter when I feel in better form than I do today, tomorrow in all probability. I hope I come home with the next batch. Give my best love to Lottie and all at home. I will close now with very best love to you my Dearest and best of parents from your 20 year old soldier Son. Au-Revoir for present. Leslie xxxxx

Somewhere in Belgium Thursday Evening Dear Dad Many thanks for your very welcome and interesting letter which I received quite safely whilst in the trenches. I also received Mother’s parcel in an almost unrecognisable and battered condition. Luckily the jar containing the butter was intact. I have just had a general spruce up all round and feel much better than I did yesterday, with regard to letter writing. Well Dad, our experiences last time in the trenches eclipse all previous ones. I will just try and convey to you a little of what it was like and to make it quite clear I will just give you an outline of what took place the preceding three days as again our misfortune came the last day we were in trenches. On this occasion I was senior NCO in charge of a support trench containing 30 men inclusive of NCOs two Lance Cpls and I. Our trench was situated in dead ground and obscured from the enemy’s view by our own forward trenches. The trench referred to is an old French trench reconstructed and by the number of shell holes in and around it they must have had a very hot time of it. This was a thought which struck me almost as soon as I got settled down in the place. We had very strict orders about preserving the secrecy of the position, 1st not to make any smoke by day, 2nd or any light by night, and to get under cover as soon as an aeroplane is reported by the sentry who at once blows a whistle for the signal. The duty of the men in this trench is considered “cushey”, rest all day with the exception of the sentries, digging and other fatigues at night. We were shelled at intervals each day except the first. Now I will just give you in brief my impressions of the terrible happenings on the night of the 15th. We were all taking it easy, some were packing up ready for the relieve coming, others had already done so and where having a quiet smoke in their dugouts etc etc. My dugout was detached from the fire trench. I was just about to add the Quaker oats to some water just on the boil when without any warning whatever a terrific explosion took place making the ground heave and tremble in a most alarming manner. Almost without a seconds hesitation they opened fire with their artillery and machine guns. All kinds of shells were bursting at the same time creating a deafening din. I knew in an instant what had happened and feared for a time that the enemy had made a successful move. The trench we had to support was about 80 yards from the German trenches so at first I thought it would be one of the unfortunate ones and when I arrived there with my men I was greatly surprised to find it intact. The first explosions were due to mines which luckily had been sapped short of the trenches which they were intended to blow up. We lost several men and two good officers. At the time we had some of the new army in with us for instruction so it was rather a bad start for them. We have again been highly commended for our conduct by (censored). There is quite a lot of news I shall have to reserve until I return. You will no doubt be anxiously waiting for news from me. The reason I have not been able to get a letter off sooner is because I have been rather busy also on the move. At present we are billeted in huts specially made for troops. About 30 yards from here is an encampment of our native Indian troops. At present I shall not be able to get a letter off to Lottie, so please pass on the news etc etc don’t forget the etc. I shall drop her a line first opportunity I get from now. The weather is beautiful at present and I am in the best of health. Old Sid Lidster wishes to be remembered to you. He occupies the hut as myself. Please remember me to Bill and all my friends. I will close Au Revoir for present. Best Love to all from your affectionate Son. Leslie xxxxx

6 Victoria Road Retford April 15th 1915 Dear Leslie I feel rather remiss in not having written to you before, but even if I’ve neglected to write I haven’t forgotten you and your pals for one day in my thoughts and prayers. I have been most interested in your letters— the contents of which your father has generally made known to me. I expect you know that part of one of your letters was published in last month’s parish magazine. Your first experience in the trenches must have been pretty awful, but I suppose fear is forgotten when you are in the thick of the fighting. Poor Ted Walker, his mother is in a sad way about him. I went round the other day to try and cheer her up, but she takes the worst view of it all. Ted Batty has enlisted! (This is the first letter I have written to a member of the BEF so I don’t know whether statements like the foregoing will pass the Censor or not!) I expect you’ve heard but Mr Bond is engaged to be married to a Dorking girl? He hasn’t lost much time has he? He is coming to Retford this weekend. We are still without another curate but we have had temporary help over Easter. The Festival went off well and very happily. Our communicants numbered a few less than last year, but of course one has to make allowances for the men and boys on active service. Most of those who are left turned up at the early services. The Club has come to an early end owing to lack of members, we had only 15 and we were getting into debt, so we have closed until the autumn. Now I should like to go on talking to you for another paper or two, but as the Censor has many letters to read, I will spare him the perusal of one or two sheets. You don’t smoke so I can’t send you cigarettes, but if there is anything you would like, please let me know. Please remember me to any of the boys who know me, and assure them that they are not forgotten in the Churches. May God bless and keep you all. Yours sincerely H.D.

(Post billetts Locre after action in Kemmel sector Belgium) Saturday 9 April 1915 Dear Dad and Mother It is now about 11 o’clock Saturday. I have just returned from orderly room and am writing to you in a little Belgium estaminet or coffee house. Yesterday I wrote just a few lines (about 10 sheets) containing news which required censoring. What I wrote is only a minute fraction of my experiences since Palm Sunday. It would be impossible for me to give you every detail in one letter and if I did I should require a writing pad and no doubt annoy the censor and then he would tear it up as it is he will be kept busy because everybody has written as many letters as they can while they are out of the trenches for their 4 days. Before I continue and before I forget I should like you to send me a small writing pad also some very strong smelling disinfectant which I can carry with me into the trenches as the smell there is worse than anything I have smelt before. It has been the cause of a good deal of sickness up to now a good many complaints have come to my notice where men have lost the use of their left arm temporarily, I take it through inoculation and getting wet through. Bill told me of it first and he occupied the same dugout as myself and at the time of inoculation was greatly in favour of it. I will not say anything more about this subject at present but wait and see. We are not very far across the Belgian frontier but you cannot help but notice the marked difference between the French and Belgique. My first impressions of France were not very great and they haven’t improved one iota since we started to move about. I admit we haven't been anywhere but where the fighting is and where it has been but apart from that it is quite easy for form an opinion from the places we have visited. I hope to be able to tell the names of the places and all about them before very long. The weather is very changeable. There is no comparison between the weather today and the weather we had while we were in the trenches or even yesterday. Yesterday was one of the happiest days I have had since I came out and will also live in my memory as a red letter day. As I have explained in the other letters we were in the trenches from Sat night 3rd inst until Wed night so it was impossible to observe Easter as it should be kept. However we made up for it yesterday. We had a most enjoyable service followed by a celebration of the Holy Communion. The Easter service at home has always been one of joy and gladness to me with its anthems and bright decorations after the gloom of Good Friday and Lent, but it could never compare with yesterday’s service. I believe every man who attended the service must have realised once and for all the fact and reality of Christian religion. I must admit that my faith had become weaker through reading theories on the origins of life etc but apart from that I have always believed in God and his Grace. You would be surprised what a change there is in men when they are face to face with death. They realise with awful suddenness that it is impossible for any earthly power to save them. Consequently they look to that higher power which we call God. I feel sure that this war with all its horrors will bring about a great deal of good especially in the above direction. It is very comforting and strengthening to know that you all at home pray for our safety. There are a lot of things which happen in war which we cannot understand and the average person calls it chance, fate or luck. I am convinced that it is the handwork of God. It has occurred to me at different times that everyone has his or her little cross to bear sometime in ones life. For instance I think Claude’s accident is an example and mine will be my experience in this war. The more sensitive you are the more hideous it all appears. For instance the sight of all the homes, churches and desolation generally which exists in Belgium is enough to make tears come to your eyes. This is leaving out the worse side of it. Personally I have not the slightest fear but yet I am keenly sensitive. The ordinary routine of life when I get back will I am sure be like a bank holiday compared with this life. The worse part about it is when you aren’t risking your life you can’t be happy because there are certain people “no names no pack drill” whose personalities are repulsive and they are never happy themselves unless they are hauling somebody over the coals or arguing. I will tell you more about this when I return. Yesterday I received your parcel and letter quite safely for which I thank you very much. Give my best love to Madge and thank her for the chocolate which I enjoyed. Please don’t send me any more tea as it is a regimental issue and a thing which we are never short of. I am miserly with the ginger as it is a thing I am very fond of and helps to keep me in condition. Up to the present I have kept quite well and never had anything but a slight touch of toothache when we came out last time. I have no doubt the others will be rather disappointed because I have not written to them but I know they will excuse me. It isn’t so much the writing as it is getting them of. You see the officers who censor the letters have it to do along with their other work. Capt Hodgebrison is to be our Capt shortly. Give my thanks and best respects to Mr Lidster, Mr and Mrs Freeman for the letter I have received. Tell Mr Freeman I enjoyed his letters very much and should like another, it was so full of humour that I had a good laugh. Everybody out here is never so happy as when they have received a letter. Lottie always makes reference to your kindness to her. I am very pleased because she adds a joy to my life which helps things along much better out here. There must be lots of things I have missed out that you would like to know so if there is anything particular you might ask me in your next letter. There is no telling how long it will be before you get this letter but I hope in time to wish Claude many happy returns of his birthday. It will be grand to get home again to get our clothes off—we have never had them off since we landed. Please remember me to Mr and Mrs Foster and Mr Dobson, Bill Eggleston and all my friends. I have made one or two friendships out here and I know you will be pleased to make their acquaintance when we get back. I find H Lock the artist a very fine chap. His home is at Lincoln where I shall be a welcome visitor anytime when this job is over. I am afraid I shall have to close as I want to write to Lottie. Really I should be resting now to get ready for tonight. I don’t see Jim Smith very often but last time I saw him he was quite well and happy under the circumstances, so also were Carl Hartman, Lid Lidster and party. You know I am in the same company as Sid and Freeborough new “D” company comprises old “A” and “G” combined. Our late Capt Allen is conked out to use one of the H Corps expressions. The following are articles which I require, a small towel, tooth brush and powder and Mac-Fadden. At present we have only got bare necessities. All the other articles of our kit have gone west since we came up the line. Just lately we have been getting the daily papers dished out. The only paper I should like sending is the Sunday Pictorial as it practically contains all the week’s news. I don’t think the war will last much longer. I shall really have to close now. Give my best and fondest Love to all from your loving and affectionate Son William Leslie For Madge xxx PS We must keep on shuffling along and remember a gem is not polished without rubbing nor is a man perfected without trials. Au Revoir

In France Dec 27th 1915 Dear Dad and Mother Many thanks indeed for most welcome and cheering letter which I received quite safely on Christmas Day. I am writing to you from a cottage about 9 kms from the place where I spent my Christmas. We moved yesterday (Sunday 26 Dec), today we are having a holiday, but unfortunately for those who are going to play football it is raining hard. I sincerely hope you all had as happy and merry Christmas as possible and I know quite well you would be thinking of me and at the same time wondering what sort of a time I should be having. Well under the circumstances I had quite a good time and I thought deeply of you all at different times of the day. Parades were as usual the day before Christmas, but as soon as they were over we set to work scheming and preparing to make our Xmas a good one. In my last letter I think I gave a description of my billet and its occupants namely NCO’s of my platoon and one or two details. The details were A Cookson pioneer, Y Wightman armourers assistant, W Robinson platoon officers servant and two batmen. In all there were 13 of us. As usual at Xmas time our first thoughts were given to the menu of dinner. There was to be an issue of pudding in addition to skilly so we decided to club up and by some fowls. None of us were very flush worse luck but we raised sufficient money to buy three good fowls at four francs and half each. By the way the price of the poorest fowls in the neighbouring town was seven francs so I think we did very well. It would be about seven o’clock on Christmas eve when we set out to purchase. We tried one or two places without success, until we began to think that buying fowls was going to involve a route march and by the way it was raining very hard. We decided to go to the next farm in sight and try out luck and to use an army expression we “clicked”. The little band accompanied the farmer with a storm lantern to the hen roost to carry out the dirty work. We returned to our billet, and killed and plucked them, hung them up on a beam and left the dressing till morning. I have come to the conclusion that if I go on telling you everything we did in detail I shall use all this small writing pad so I shall have to be more brief. The rest of Christmas eve I spent reading “Alton Locke” by Charles Kingsley. The majority of the boys were quite orderly considering. Christmas morn I attended holy communion, held in the Batt. Orderly room. The true circumstances of Christ’s birth was impressed on my mind more strongly than ever before, I slept in a stable with that familiar smell of horses and cows, what a contrast from last year and the year before. Yesterday I picked up a Strand magazine with the life story of Edmund Payne in it. I sat for a moment thinking of the grand time you and I spent on Boxing Day 1913. It’s a funny thing, but while I was on the march yesterday morning the events of the same day two years ago recurred quite naturally. I think the thing which impressed me most on that my first visit to London, was the grandeur of Westminster, or rather the little bit of interior which I saw, namely the poets corner, you’ll remember it quite well, the choir was singing “Gloria in Excelsis”. My word what a glorious future if only I am allowed to return with health and faculties all intact it will be all the reward I desire. After all, the glory of Westminster or a sunset, is as nothing compared with the Love which binds son to Father and Mother and visa versa also to ones affinity. It is facts like these which make me happy in any circumstances. No doubt it will be some time before I see you all face to face again but you will all be ever present in my thoughts to cheer and spur me on in this state of life which it has pleased God to call me. I am convinced that our Sun will shine as assuredly as spring will follow Winter. Well to return on more to where I left off with regard to Xmas, we got the fowls cooked at a cottage and had a jolly good dinner between us we had plenty of cake, smokes, etc. Our platoon officer provided tin fruit for tea so we didn’t do so bad considering. In the afternoon I went for a short walk for (censored) exercise and spent the remainder of the afternoon and evening reading Alton Locke. At night we had a “pow-wow” or “rough house”. The boys returned to the billet “canned to the wide” excuse slang, except for one or two cases they were all out for blood and in best fighting spirits. It’s a funny thing, but drink always makes our chaps full of fight. I had the pleasant duty as senior NCO to soften them a bit and get them down to kip. I had many blows aimed at me but they didn’t get right there of course. I only made use of my wrestling abilities. It’s a good job for them I didn’t make use of my boxing abilities also. As it was next morning there were black eyes and swollen lips but I wasn’t responsible for them. Perhaps you know there is no crime in the army on Christmas Day or else there would be a good many lodgers in the guard room. While I remember will you please send me a sleeping bag made of flannelette or some other suitable material. I don’t require it for warmth but for cleanliness. Of course in this climate keeping warm is an important thing so we have to sleep practically dressed which encourages filth and disease. Disease is largely spread in the army by blankets especially in the tropics so you see the idea of the sleeping bag is to keep my skin from coming into direct contact with blankets etc which as a rule are full of dirt owing to the way they are thrown about. You need not send me any more trade journals but please send me MacFadden.* I received a nice Xmas card from Mable, Mr and Mrs Clark also Ralph etc. Oh! By the way the doctor has been round for a return of uninnoculated and unvaccinated men, my theories on the subject hold good. At present I am in the pink and as enthusiastic on physical culture as ever. Tell Claude to stick at it. It seems ages since I had hold of a spanner or the handle of a lathe, and yet I think I shan’t be left far behind. Tell Lottie I will write again first chance I get, help her to keep smiling until the boys come home. There are still heaps of things I should like to say but time will not allow at present. At present I am acting Coy orderly Sgt for Billy Markham who is Batt. O Sgt today. It is my week for duty after Billy. Please excuse spelling and writing I have Page missing *Bernard MacFadden was a well known physical culturist of the day

In France New Years Day 1916 Dear Mother Many thanks indeed for your very welcome letter just received dated 29 Dec. Also for the parcel which I received quite safely day before yesterday. My word the pie did go down good also the cake. No doubt by now you will have received my letter written in answer to yours and Dads letter. I suppose Lottie will have told you about the way we spent Christmas out here. Thanks very much for dispatching the Xmas cards for me. The photographs of Gladys and Madge are fine. I am highly delighted with them. By Jove I am getting a collection and I think the world of them. Never a day passes without me having a look at you, consequently Lottie’s letter wallet is showing signs of active service. Today I am trying to pay off old debts with regard to letter writing. I have dozens to attend to. Sunday after Christmas day we moved another 7 or 8 kilometres. Poor old Claude tell him I hope it’s the last Christmas he’ll spend without me being present. After all we ought to think ourselves lucky to be alive and out of the trenches for Christmas. I pity those poor chaps in the last trenches we were in. Alban Offord has written to me from hospital in Sheffield and tells me to try and get frostbite so that I might join him. I have just been to CQMS Pritchard to ask his advice about making an allotment. First of all I will explain why I didn’t make one in the first place. It was while we were in training at Harpenden that the allotment scheme was explained. I was the first to approach Sgt Hancock with a view to making an allotment and he told me it was only for those cases where Father, Mother, or family was solely dependant on the soldier before the war. Of course I realised at the time that my small earnings was a part and I suppose an important one in your scheme as it were of clothing and keeping all of us so naturally I was most desirous of keeping up my contribution as it were. Why I haven’t sent any money home from here is this. The rate of exchange of French money in England is 3/8d for 5 francs so you see 5 francs out here is really worth 4/2d. While I was acting CQMS an order came out to the effect that all applications for allotment by the soldiers on active service must be in before the 1 Dec last. I also had to prepare the official proficiency pay rolls. All Sgts by virtue of their rank are entitled to 6d per day extra from July 1st 1914. In order to make the roll I had to refer to the credits and debits roll of the men in the Coy from Lichfield, and I find I am a good few £s in credit. The only course I know of to be taken now is by you writing to the secretary, Territorial Force Association, Territorial Headquarters, Derby Road, Nottingham. No doubt Mills would be able to tell you exactly what course to take. I suppose you would have to state that your son Sgt… was desirous of making an allotment on the grounds that my earnings in civil life was necessary to your maintenance. I hope I made it quite clear as you know I never used to interest myself much were money is concerned. All I know about this business now is what I picked up in the month I was acting CQMS. At the time the allotment came out in England I was silly enough, like a good many more, to believe I would be back again at my own work within 12 months, instead of that I have nearly done 12 months active service. I wish I could get the money I am in credit to send to you as it would be more use to you at present than where it is, as I don’t suppose I shall get it until the war is over or until my time is expired. By the way it should expire on Nov 2nd of this year 1916. We should not leave this country while men are on three days leave of course they are liable to be recalled at a moments notice. George Skellor and those on a month would make no difference as they will if necessary report to headquarters and come to us by the first draft. Well Ma I am afraid I shall have to close as the light is failing fast. I drop Alfie a card tonight. Give my very best love all at home and Lottie. I will close now wishing you all a Happy New Year and good health Au Revior for present from your Loving Son. Leslie xxx (Madge X) PS I will write again first chance I get.

Oudenzeelle, Belgium Sgt W L Green No. 1212 No. Platoon (censored) Expeditionary Force 5 March 1915 Dear Dad, Mother I expect by now you will have begun to wonder what has become of me. Well I am pleased to say I am in the pink of condition and never felt better. I am writing this letter in the kitchen of a farm house. We are billeted in in the barn adjoining. Since we arrived this side of the water we have moved. Yesterday we moved from a certain place to here a distance of about (censored) it was very hard marching the roads being made of large cobbles. The weather is very cold and windy we have got goat skin coats to sleep in etc. We also have a small ration of rum issued out before turning in at night. I was very busy the first four days after we arrived here. We stayed at (censored). I take it you understand that we must not divulge the names of places etc where we go. It was very uncomfortable travelling, the men were packed in cattle trucks between 36 and 40 in each truck. I was in charge of the guard over the store wagon so I was more comfortable. It was a very interesting journey and quite a novel experience sleeping and dining etc in a cattle truck. I shall have a lot of interesting things to tell you when I return. At present I don’t quite know the nature of news we are allowed to write. Our letters are first censored by the platoon commander and afterwards by the censor proper. The people at the farm where I am at present speak English fairly well. They have learnt it from the many English soldiers which have been here before. This village was previously occupied by the Germans. They damaged the church and hospital etc also killed the cattle belonging the people who live at this farm. We are not very far from the firing line, we can hear rifle fire in the evening when it is quiet. Shell fire never seems to cease at all. Aeroplanes are a very common sight here, we have seen several this last day or two. I showed the family at this farm your photo and they say it is very good and send their compliments. Their surname is Schabaillie and they speak Flemish, French and a little English. They like the Anglais soldats very much. Please send me as soon as possible a pair of loose fitting leather gloves almost like Claude's cycling gloves. I have only got those mittens which Doris made me at present. I should also like a paper now and again. Please tell my friends the news as I cannot write to them all. Claude will call and see Charlie. I am longing for a letter from you. Keep smiling and help Lottie to do the same. I am as right as rain. I send my very best love hoping you are all very well. Au revoir for the present. I ever remain your loving son. Leslie xxx