Letter #81 September 25th, 1918

September 25, 1918

Dear Mother,

          It’s a long while Mother since I last had any word from you, but I suppose you are busy now that it is harvest time.  It has been miserable weather here for the last few days nothing but rain all the time. Still, I have nothing to quibble about, my hut here is nice and as comfortable as one can expect on active service.

          Have you heard anything of the Richmond outfit joining up?  It’s a darn shame Mother that those fellows get off, if it was me, I should be ashamed to look a soldier in the face. Still, I suppose if the war lasts much longer they will have to come.  You know Mother the people of England seem to think that it won't be long before it is finished.  Just imagine I am going on my fifth year of soldiering.  Well, there is one thing comforting to know that is our little family have done their share.  But you know that Richmond crowd kind of makes me sore when I stop to think of the boys out here.

          How has Dad been feeling lately, I got a letter from VV not long ago, enclosed was a snapshot of herself, well I sent the photo over to England and in a few days had a reply saying that they never thought I had a Gladys Cooper for a sister.  Some compliment to VV “Eh What” Gladys Cooper is considered one of England’s foremost beauties.

          I expect to go on leave shortly, and as before expect to spend it in Buxton.  Gee Mother but those people are good to me.  A big majority of our boys are taking home English wives.  In future, the Canadian girls won't be so stuck up.  There will surely be some surprised people when the fellows get back.  It is hard to tell who is married and who isn’t nowadays.  Like an English woman once said to me “How many wives did you fellows leave in Canada” I told her we didn’t leave any more than we could handle and one or two extra never did anyone any harm.

          We went down to the District Sports a few days ago and were lucky enough to win the championship of all the forestry Corps in this part of France in Baseball.  Oh yes, we have got a good team here. 

          Say Mother you don’t know what outfit Albert Lloyd is in do you.  How does VV like her new school?  It being so near home will help to break the monotony for her.  Gee, she writes a funny letter, nothing but kids and pigs in them.

          Well, Mother, you know its hard to write a letter from this side so please don’t think its brief.  Tell Dad I hope he is feeling well and tell VV she don’t waste much paper on her brother.  I’ll close mother for this time.

Love

Chas

Just for fun, here is a 1910's photo of Gladys Cooper (on the left below) - Dame Gladys Constance Cooper (1888-1971) was an English actress whose career spanned seven decades on stage, in films and on television. The photograph of VV  (on the right) is the only one I have from her younger years.

Letter #80, August 8th, 1918

August 8^th, 1918

Sgt CR Bailey

#34260

Dear Mother

          Just imagine Mother, three more days and I will have completed four years Army Life.  Hardly seems possible to have had four years of it and goodness knows how much longer.  Oh well I have no complaints to make, life with a Forestry Company is heaven to what some of the fellows have got to go through.

         Well Mother things in general are going along OK it has been rather nasty weather for the past week or so but after three months of perfect weather we more or less must expect a change.  Has VV left for Sask yet, someway I hardly think she will like it out there.  You know how I liked it and I believe it will strike her about the same.  It’s too lonesome, not enough young people.

Say Mother will you send me Ireland's address.  I should like to drop him a line or two, just to hear how all the boys are going on.  I am enclosing the photograph of the kiddies, so you can send it to them and say it has been over to France.  Just for fun Mother, say that part of the family reached France if it was only the kiddies photo.  But really Mother it is a nice looking little boy and I would have liked very much to keep the picture.

          What has Richmond gone back to Dawson for?  Is it that he had to finish his law examinations there?  I was under the impression he was through, and VV was saying that Karl has gone in for dentistry or was it chemistry.  Well if he had to put in the long hours I had to put in the drug line, he won't stay with pharmacy very long.  I am awfully sorry to hear Dad is getting so poor in health, but perhaps by the time you receive this he will be feeling well again. 

          Tell VV that Miss Whitesides; her old supervisor in Brandon College has taken over a ladies college in Ontario.

          Well Mother I seldom go anywhere so you can tell how hard letter writing is, absolutely no news of any interest.  Remember me to Dad and VV and write soon.  Mother I must close with fondest love.

Chas

NOTE "The Battle of Amiens, also known as the Third Battle of Picardy, was the opening phase of the Allied offensive which began on 8 August 1918, later known as the Hundred Days Offensive, that ultimately led to the end of the First World War."

This is not Charley's Corp but a good example of what he would have been doing. "Bush scene, Canadian Forestry Corps, Gerardmer [France] February, 1919"  Canadian Forestry Corp 

Letter #79 July 4th, 1918

July 4^th 1918

37 Can For Corps

Can Exped Forces

France

Dear Mother

          As you see I am still with the 37^th CFC I have been under the weather for the past few days but I am quite alright again.  It was nothing serious, just simply a touch of La Grippe just enough to make a fellow feel miserable.  Have had several letters from VV the other day and I think one from every kid in her school.  I don’t know if they're cousins of mine or just simply some of VV’s class.  There was one from a Howie and I was wondering if it was one of the Howie’s from that family at High Bluff. 

Yes mother you are of the same opinion as myself.  When are they going to get some of that Richmond crowd over here? The cold footed apron string bunch, if it wasn’t for such kind as those people, Canada would never have had to have conscription.

          Has VV decided to go to Sask for certain yet.  If she does I hope she gets a good place, but believe me she will find it a great deal different than around Portage.  The people are alright out there, but there are so very few of them, that I am afraid she would get awfully lonesome.  You were asking me about what I would like you to send me in your parcels.  Mother I appreciate a parcel but really I don’t need them.  A few smokes is worth more than a ton of cake etc.  You see Mother I have been in the Army so long now that I have long since grown accustomed to Army rations.

          So far nobody has left this unit on leave since the push took place in March, so I guess leave for me is a thing of the past for some time to come.  Things in general are just as usual around here.  The first of July we had a field day running and racing and a Ball game.  It all helps to break the monotony of the everyday army life.

          How has dad been feeling lately.  VV was saying he had got awfully thin lately.  I hope he feels well even if he is losing weight.  Well Mother remember me to Dad and VV and write when you can

Love

Chas