Letter #78, March 26, 1918

(postmark) March 26, 1918

37 Can Forest Comp

Can Exped Force

France

Sgt Bailey CR

#34260

Dear Mother,

Well Mother I received the first letter from you yesterday that I have got since coming back to France.  It was not a very big surprise to hear that you had moved, but I hope by now you are all settled again, as for myself, well Mother the longer I stay here, and the better acquainted I get with the men and officers the more I like this unit.  A person can only guess the nature of the work a unit of this kind carry on by the name of it.  To Canadians and people that come from timbered countries this kind of work is most interesting and I think I can quite safely say that I like it here far better than being in one of those hospitals in England. 

          Is Dad thinking of taking another Hotel or is he going to the farm for this year.  There must be big money in farming these days according to prices of food stuff.  I had a letter from VV but she is very reserved with news, she didn’t say if she intended to take another school stay at home or anything about herself at all. 

Now in regards to this leave for first contingent men, don’t be to anxious Mother, I know you would like to have us all together, once more, but after the three months is over its harder to come away again then ever and if the war is going to end soon, it would be better to stay with a good unit than go home and take a chance on getting with some outfit that you did not like. 

However there is plenty of time, and we can decide later, Mother don’t think I am neglecting my letters, as you know, in France we are only allowed to write a certain amount.  Remember me to Dad and VV and take this note as an apology for a letter Mother, to say I am quite fit and well.

Love Chas

Letter #77, March 18th, 1918

Estimated date of letter; March 18th, 1918

Dear Mother

I received three letters from you and two from VV today, no mail for a couple of months and then five in one day, is sure some change.  No doubt you were surprised to hear that I was back in France again, but really I got absolutely fed up with England, and even now I am glad I have made the change.

          You want to know if I do the same work as the Forestry men.  No my work is to supervise the sanitation of the camp and administrate medical aid to all those I think need it.  I have a hut to myself.  The front part is just a small drug store, or a dispensary on a miniature scale, it is partitioned in half.  The other part I use for my sleeping quarters and so on.  Every morning a chinaman from the Chinese Labour Co comes and cleans up for me.  The village we are in has no doctor so I am obliged to look after all of them as well as five hundred chinamen.  So you see Mother I have all I can manage. 

          You seem to think that Hessie Montgomery’s’ marriage would kind of hurt my feelings.  Well don’t be foolish Mother, you only know what you hear from other people, I know what I have learnt for myself.  Take it from me, that your son had a few brains left, when it comes to this marrying proposition.  And between you and I mother -------- scratched out -------.

Now don’t go telling the Richmond crowd all this because it only tends to make hard feelings.  And the less they know of my affairs, the better I like them.  Comprend.

Poor old Ireland. As I sit here by myself writing this letter I have to smile.  Oh well, it's none of my business I suppose I will do the same thing someday myself.    But VV makes me laugh when she says she would like to see her brother boss of his own house.  Just tell her I will be boss alright, or there will be no house.

          Well Mother is the farm any better, I do wish you and Dad could get at some little business where you could make a good living without all the worry and trouble.  Well Mother I must close Remember me to Dad and VV

Love Chas

The Chinese Labour Corps on the Western Front 1916-1918
Chinese Labour Corps labourers drawing rations at a forestry camp in Crecy Forest, 27 January 1918.  Date 27 January 1918 (First World War)

https://goo.gl/EULD5p

https://goo.gl/gxvL2a

Letter #76, March 15th 1918 From France

37 Company CFC

Ca Exped Force

France

Sgt. CRT Bailey #39260

(Estimated date of letter; March 15, 1918)

Dear Mother

          Seems ages since last I had a letter from any of you at home, of course I know Mother it is not your fault.  When a person moves around so much we should be grateful to the army methods of postal service that I get any at all.  Yes Mother I am still with the Canadian Forest Corps and like it just as well as ever.  And will be indeed sorry if I ever have to leave them before the end of the war. 

We are still doing the same kind of work as I described to you in my last letter.  My duties do not call for a great lot of dispensing, it consists more of medical aid work and I think I prefer it, after being used to so much dispensing in the hospitals.  The mess here is splendid, it is good plain food and plenty of it, quite a contrast to the mess in England, and the open air life makes a fellow eat so hearty.

I had a letter from my friends in England yesterday and by all accounts we are having much nicer weather here than in England in fact this spring in France has been most favourable I tell you Mother it’s a great difference to the spring of 1915. 

Mother I thought of you and wondered what you were doing on the 8^th.  No I did not forget that it was your Birthday, in fact I started a letter to you but could not find time to finish it. 

So mother if it’s not too late allow me to congratulate and hope that before you have another, we will all be together again.  You know dear, on active service we are only allowed to write a certain amount and I think I am beyond my limit now.  So remember me to Dad and VV and don’t worry about me as I am as safe as can be I will come to a close Mother with

Love

Chas

On the back of Charley's letter is his mom's simple note; Answered.  Jennie often sent Charley's letters on to his sister, V.V. and vice versa.  

Charley's Mom with her second husband; Marmaduke Thomas Lorenzo Lloyd.

Jane (Jennie) Howie

Born: March 8, 1872 in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada