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

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

Letter #75, February 16, 1918

Feb 16^th, 1918  

37 Forestry Company

Can Expeditionary Force

France

Sgt. CR Baily

Dear Mother,

            At last I have arrived at my destination, as you can see by the address I am attached to a Forestry Company and I must say Mother that I like it much better than Hospital Dispensing.  It is something quite new as far as the sanitary work is concerned, but something that I believe will prove very interesting.

          The unit I am with are a lot of very fine fellows.  The Officers and men are fine so there is no doubt but what I shall like it much better than simply dispensing from morning till night.  You see Mother it is more along the lines of real camp life “Free and Easy” so needless to say it suits me better.

          The words Forestry Company construe a true meaning of the work and duties of the unit.  It is something that I have never came in contact with before, and the change and novelty I like.  I would like to give you the details of the corps at work but as you know this is impossible and strictly against regulations.  I have had no word from any of you since arriving back in France, but of course, me moving around so much; make it very difficult as regards mail.  However in future I hope it will be better.

          I met several of my old unit during my few days at the General Base and it seemed like old times to have a little chat on some of my past experiences.  Some of the first contingent are getting three months leave in Canada, so far they have all been married men so you see Mother, the rest of us, are what you would call “the Unfortunates” Maybe.

Tell VV I received her cigarettes and needless to say how I did appreciate my favourite smoke again.  Dad and yourself I take for granted are in good health.  As for myself mother I am fine and this open air life suits me fine.  I don’t know what I shall do when I have to work inside again.  Still I believe I would take the chance, providing the war would end soon.  Will Mother remembrance to Dad and the Kid.

Lovingly

Chas.

Letter #74, January 10, 1918

37 Company CFC
Can Expeditionary Force

France

Sgt. CR Baily

#34260

Dear Mother,

          Just received a letter from VV, the first I have received from any of you for at least two months.  I have wrote several times but addressed them all to the La Claire so goodness knows if you have received them or not.  Since last writing, we have changed our location again, and are now back in the civilian belt again and believe me it is a treat to see somebody else other than soldiers all the while.  By VV’s letter she seems to have grown tired of teaching and is preparing to go home again.  It’s not for me to say but really I think she is foolish.  To be away from home for a while would be a good experience for her, and one that would do her no harm, but after all she is no more anxious to get home than I am, but there is no use me talking of home for awhile yet.  All the married men of the first contingent are not home yet, so there is very little prospects of the rest of us going for some time yet.

          Have you heard anything about Harry Richmond or any of those fellows joining, or does this conscription bill affect them.  You know Mother that was the reason he got married I believe.  Oh yes have you had any more friends telling you lately that I am married.  That really was the joke of the season.  Mother when I tell you all about it you will certainly have to laugh, but I hardly think it was such a joke to you at the time.  Just wait until I see Newman.  Well Mother I must close now. Tell Dad and VV I am quite well and like France considerable better this time than in 1914 and 15.  I will close now Mother with Love

Chas.