Letters From the Front
Private Harold Johnson
Letter from the field
New Liskeard Speaker Published:
Note: any spelling errors, etc. are as they appear in the original article.
Dated:
Letter from Pte. Harold Johnson
Billets, Dec. 18th, 15.
Dear Mother:-
I dropped a card to Bert last night but I received your letter and The Speaker this morning so I will write a bit more.
I said billets at the top and it is some billet. There are about 20 of us in an empty grain bin in the loft of a brewery. Over here they put you anywhere that there is room to stretch yourself out.
This morning we had a parade down to the baths. We had a good wash and a good clean change of everything except our uniforms. The clothes we left will go through a process of death to the inhabitants, “I guess you get me.” It is absolutely impossible to keep clean in the trenches.
I had quite a surprise Thursday night coming in from the trenches. In the bunch we passed going in to relieve our men I saw Tommy Spencer. He saw me first and yelled hello and I just had time to yell back and he was gone past. It seemed so funny. I had not seen him since the day I joined in Haileybury. I met him in Liskeard station as I was coming home, if you remember, he was on pass from Toronto for 2 or 3 days and then to meet him here nearly at the trenches. I hope I will be able to see him again and have a talk with him.
I was very glad to get the Speaker but don’t put any more of my letters in. I don’t mind much but I am not good enough at putting in big words to satisfy the public. What do you think?
I got a nice long letter from Mildred this morning. She says she hopes the war will be over before I had to go to France, and here I am right in the midst of it, but I rather like it. There is a certain excitement in it all to sit in the door of your “dug out” and listen to the roar and boom of the big shells, and watch the star shells go up and over.
I think you had better change the address I gave you last to No. 407101 Signal section, 1st Batt., 1st Brigade, Canadian Contingent, B.E.F. France. That is the address the fellows here have, and please send the new address to the Speaker.
Well I guess I will close now with heaps of love to all and regards to all the neighbors from
Harold.
Transcribed by: Dion Loach
