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.

Letter #73, January 2, 1918

Ristow Barracks

Shorncliffe Kent England

Dear Mother

          I received your letter of Nov 22^nd today and the one written on Dec 10^th a few days ago so you see how my mail arrives.  By Jove Mother that was a nice little calling down you gave me I know when I asked you for that money that you were hard up and I said I would give it back to you as soon as I could and not to worry about me being in trouble as I was not but to believe me and some day later I will tell you all about it.

          Now Mother you talk about my nonsense will believe me it’s but very little fun I have had lately or for the last couple of years and when you speak of me troubling and worrying you well Mother it kind of hurts my feelings.  Believe me truly it is not nonsense or craziness Mother I am old enough now to know when to draw the line and since my trip to Winnipeg I have been anything but what was idiotic.  I know I can’t convince you by letters but it won’t be long till you will know for yourself.

          You asked me in your last letter if my friends from Buxton had been writing to me.  Yes they have and I told them it was impossible for me to get up for Christmas. Mother it was simply because I couldn’t afford it and if there had of been any where I would like to have gone it was there.  So you see its but darn little nonsense I am carrying on.  Yes my Christmas, Birthday and News was spent working and working hard.

          Things here are just as usual same old routine day in and day out.  The majority of the civilian population think the war is gong to end this spring at the outside but personally  think if we get home a year from now we will be lucky.  However we can live in hope.  You we speaking about sending me a parcel as mine was blown up.  Mother I know you would like to send me one but really I would much rather you spent the money on yourself or Dad, we get lots to eat and for what it costs to send one over here it is not worth it.  Yes I suppose the Richmond babies are very nice and all that but its men we need over here. Oh well they are enjoying life so let them alone.

Say mother do you ever hear anything about Harry Richmond and his whereabouts.  Well mother I am going to close, tell Dad it will have to be a princess that I marry and a darn good one.  Remember me to VV and Dad and write soon

Love

Chas

Letter #72, December 29, 1917

Ristow Barracks

Shorncliff

Kent England

Dear Mother and Dad

Mother I am going to give you a surprise. I am going back to France if they will let me.  In all probability it will be back dispensing again at least I am going to try and go in that capacity. This time I am going to prove to you that it's not my nonsense that keeps me in the ranks, by Jove if I can't get my old rank back again my name is not Bailey.  Yes Mother there is no use talking, I will be there before you get this letter so don’t worry.  I am not going to stand back and see these married men with kiddies etc go and a young fellow like myself stay behind just because I have been over before.  It’s not right, it’s not fair and I am not going to do it.   If some of those young fellows in Canada will not come then Mother you can tell them, there is some of the old boys that are not afraid to go back and do their share for them and your boy is one of them.

          I have got the old active service equipment again and I feel better, I feel as though I am doing right.  I have volunteered for this mother and I am as happy as a pig in dirt, never let it be said that I was picked.  I was there at the start and if I am spared, I will be there at the finish.  Dad will understand my feeling, and if everything comes out alright, I think he will be proud to say that I was not a quitter, just because some of them are.

          Things in general are just as usual around here, men coming and going every day, Young Faulkner came around to see me and one or two of the Dauphin boys, but they have almost strangers to me now, gee they have altered.    I received your parcel yesterday Mother, and I am sure enjoying the cigarettes but really I would rather you bought some little comforts for yourself and Dad.  I can manage alright, and the expense it takes to send a parcel over here is too much.  VV wrote the other day and by her letters she is getting to be a regular farmer, pigs, dogs, and animals seem to be her hobby.  Well Mother there is no use looking on the dark side of things, Cheer up because by the time you receive this I will be back in France.  I will write just as soon as I get there, don’t think I am foolish Mother, I am only doing what’s right. Remembrance to Dad and V-V

Love Chas

P.S.

I will write the day I land.  Chas.