21 Jan 1918
Mother dear:
Your letter received yesterday and I am
glad to hear you are feeling better.
The weather has been milder but it still
continues to rain frequently. One has to keep on the roads for this is some
muddy country.
I am now located at our forward detachment
camp. Altho not as comfortable as the other, is not too bad.
The boys have dugout to sleep in but I stay
in the canteen and have a bunk which beats the hard floor.
I have charge of the canteen which supplies
the boys with articles of luxury.
Including beer, tobacco, cigarettes and canned goods. Just like a small
store. Kept rather busy evenings. Not a bad job so hope it lasts.
The first few days after returning from
leave were a bit tiresome but it does not take long to get back to the old army
routine. I think it was the most pleasant vacation I ever had.
Expect some papers soon as I have not
received any of a late date.
Well there is very little of interest to
write about so will have to call it quits for this time.
With fondest love to you all. Errol
[These
are just two of the postcard pictures which Errol brought home. It seems he and all the other soldiers were quite popular with the ladies while on leave.]
23 Feb 1918
[Meteren, France]
Dearest mother:
I am sending by registered mail a little
souvenir airplane made from shell casing found in the evacuated territory.
Received several bundles of papers and the
Post. I take the Post every week from the news stand here so get them sooner. The
picture of the house with the new front shows a marked improvement.
I'm getting along fine and enjoying every
day. Will write more in a few days.
With love to you both, I am
Your Errol
[The photo below shows Errol’s twin
nephews, Glen and Will Blackstone wearing the helmet and gas mask Errol sent
home. One of the boys is holding the airplane mentioned above and the twin in
the gas mask is holding a German insignia emblem that came off a helmet.]
25 Feb 1918
My dear mother:
Your letter of Jan. 20th just received and
was glad to hear from you but sorry you have not been feeling well of late.
I am going to send a piece of canvass from
a wing of a German plane brought down near by last week.
I have a fine billet now and can get
everything I want to eat and cooked in good style.
I am kept rather busy at nights pushing out
the stout and beer. Can get a day off whenever I wish to. Sometimes have to go
down to the town to do a little extra buying.
Some days take in up to a thousand francs so you see there is plenty to
do.
I would like a Masonic ring if you get over
to Astoria. Not a very large design.
I think I wrote you
to fix up the dues and get an indentification (sic) card from the secretary of
the lodge.
Will send some badges and a cartridge from
the Turkish front in the early part of the war.
With love to all I am, your son ever, Errol
P.S. Send me a few new five and ten cent pieces for exchanging. EW
Somewhere in France
no date
[cancel on envelope reads -- Mar 1918]
Dear father:
I received your interesting letter
yesterday and was pleased to hear from you. Am having an easy go of it at
present, running a canteen which is considered a "cushy" job. Suits me. Can last for the duration and I'll
not complain. Glad the helmet got thru. Will try and get one with a spike on
it. They are not to be had unless you are in a push or following up one.
It is not possible to send all kinds of
relics home. It would be hard to say what the history of it was. Just picked it
up after one of our glorious advances on the mud plains of F. At that time I was connected with the survey
party and was always pretty well advanced.
Sometimes in laying out proposed lines went up beyond the support
trenches. It was interesting work as I got to see what was going on.
There is nothing that I am in need of as we
get plenty to eat and are kept well clothed. This winter was not as severe as
the last by far. I did not get to see Alex when on pass but I have a good idea
where he is located. Impossible for me to get down there unless there is a
shift. Everyone expects great things from the Yanks when they get started. Good luck to them and here's hoping they will
keep up the old name.
Believe me, I sure had a grand time on
leave in P.
With good luck and the breaks of the game
think I ought to be back for the next Xmas.
I would enjoy to be with you all. The beach would look good to me.
Well, I will have to say good bye for this
time with love to you both, I am
Sincerely, Errol
Comments
Post a Comment