21 Apr 1917 to 4 May 1917 CEF France and Poperinghe, Belgium WWI

POSTCARD

On Active Service

Somewhere in France 

21 Apr 1917

Dear mother:

Well and happy.  Warmer here.  Received money order of Feb. 26th from Astoria.  Will write letter later.

                      Love to all, Errol

[The battalion was divided into four companies and dispersed to different areas all heading NE towards Belgium. Errol usually put “Somewhere in France” in the heading of his letters despite serving most of his time in Belgium.

On April 23^rd the Canadians were loaded into side-door Pullman's, each of which had a stenciled sign:

     CHEVAUX (en long)      8

     HOMMES                       40

As the study of French in youth had been neglected by most Canadians, it was interpreted by the "wise ones" as meaning, "this car would hold 8 horses length-wise, or 40 men end-wise.

On the 25^th the troops detrained at the Poperinghe, Belgium stock-yards. During the process of unloading, they heard their first gun-fire. The enemy was then a good 10 miles away. At this time preparations were being made for the Messines push, and a man living there would not be classed "preferred risk" by any first class insurance company. They were supposed to be under canvass, but the first few nights green fields, two or three miles back was their resting place.]

[The above map shows many of the areas where the 8th Btn. would be located during the war.]

Active Service

Somewhere in France [Seule, Flanders, Belgium]

4 May 1917

My dear mother:

I received both of your money orders sent in February. The papers have not come through for some time. Be sure and put full address on mail.

Have been working every day on railroad work. Am not in the trenches but not entirely out of the danger zone. The weather continues to be good and warm. Now, don't worry too much. This war will not last forever and believe me I am going to get home as quick as possible.

The warm weather ought to benefit father's rheumatism.

Is Billy still with you? Have not had any later letter than Feb. 20^th from Lelia and that I received yesterday. It was delayed in route some way.

From all accounts the States appear to have the internal situation with the Germans under control.

I am well and happy but anxious to get back to Oregon.

With love to you both I remain

                                                 Lovingly,      Errol

       258265 G.E. Winterbotham

       2nd Coy 8th Battn. C.R.F.

       B.E.F. France

       Army Post Office

       London, England

[Errol brought home five maps showing the railroad lines or trenches in France and Belgium. The photo above is from an undated map titled Light Railways Second Army and shows Poperinghe, Belgium. The green lines are railroad lines that were added to the map.]