Letters and Poetry
Letters written during the war
This letter’s from home written from one of the wives of the soldiers at World War I.
187th Battalion
December 3, 1917
My love, Lloyd,
I’ve received your letter five days after it was sent to us. We are extremely happy, especially your children, to hear that you are well and safe. The children and I have been waiting excitedly for your arrival back home. The weather has been good because the sun has been shinning for a couple of days straight and the snow have been falling lightly onto the pavement. The children are enjoying themselves playing with the little snow we have by making snowmen. They’ve made one in front of the house so you can see it when you get back.
The children are all doing well in school except little Mathew. He can’t really concentrate at school because you are not here, he says. We tried everything to get his mind off the fact that you are gone to war to protect us all. The children are soon to be off school for their Christmas break, which is about two weeks long. They can hardly wait for Christmas day to come, just so they could open all the presents they are going to get. I’ve got them each five toys, big ones, and two other things, accessories. Your cousin, David, is going to be coming over for Christmas this year to celebrate good times because I think that the children are sad that there isn’t a man in the house to do manly things, so he’s coming over to play with them. He can hardly wait to see you if you will be coming back from the war. I want to know if they would let you come home for Christmas if the war is practically over.
The children and I went to church on Sunday to pray for you. That day the church decided to a Christmas dinner for everyone, even the poor who can’t afford to have a Christmas dinner. It took place at night in the church’s hall. There were a lot of decorations set up in the hall. Everyone was astonished to see the surroundings. The dinner, itself, was well prepared because they had turkeys, potatoes, stuffing, etc. It all came out on little trays and it was served to us. Even though it wasn’t Christmas yet, everyone was in the Christmas spirit.
Yesterday, we all went over to see how your mother and father are holding up with you gone to war. They are well and taken care for. Your father is still working on the farm, taking care of the animals, and your mother still at home making things, knitted blankets, and cook. They really want you to come home soon because they miss you greatly. Your mother cooked home made Christmas cookies and the children helped her cook them. She has already bought her turkey and accessories for Christmas. We stayed over night at her house that day because it was late by the time the children wanted to leave. In case you will not be coming home for Christmas, we are sending you some of your mother’s home made Christmas cookies and a little gift from the kids. They were bugging me to send it to you for a long time so I decided to send it to you for Christmas.
Merry Christmas and lots of love from the family!
Your love,
Mary
This letter’s from World War I written from one of the soldiers to their wives.
135 Dunlope
Kansas
November 26, 1917
My Dearest Mary,
We are in the Army now. I am sitting inside our little old tent listening to the gentle patter of the raindrops on the canvas. It began raining here this morning and it is still at it. No drill today, so I will have time to write a letter or two. We got into the city all OK, marched up to the armoury and had dinner. They have mess in the armoury. We have to march back and forth to eat. Eats are pretty good so far as they have some women helping with the cooking.
Set up camp in the afternoon. Shoemaker has been Acting Corporal in our squad. We got the tent up all right under the direction of one of the old heads have seen service on the border. Some equipment was issued in the afternoon. As my name is down well in the list, I have not received anything yet in my own name.
Corporal Hilton is staying in town so he let me have his stuff. Got pack, gun, poncho, and numerous other things I don't know what are used for. Slept on the ground last night in a tent with just an even dozen in it. Some of the fellows are staying in town at hotels, rooming houses, and private houses. Taken altogether, things are in rather poor shape as yet, but I suppose it takes a little time to get around. A few of the bunch act like a bunch of bums instead of soldiers, but they will get that taken out of them when they get to a real camp.
They got Parker Melliush for kitchen duty the first thing. Walter Anthony was stuck for guard duty last night. It must be fine walking up and down in front of a row of tents watching the other fellows sleep. One thing they did do, everybody had to quiet down at ten-thirty last night. We had a good entertainment before lights out. (We had a light, too, as some of the bunch got hold of a lantern.) A fellow in our squad by the name of Donald gets off some pretty good comedy -- original stuff, too. He is a rather rough nut, but not as bad as some of the crowd.
There was some crowd at the station yesterday, wasn't there? I think I shook hands with everybody in town three or four times. Not a very pleasant task under the circumstances, either. Well, I got so much company in here that I can't think straight. This is rather a poor excuse of a letter, but I will write again soon.
With love to my own little girl,
Lloyd
A School Link Article. Courtesy of Jessica Neilson, LCCHS, March 17, 1999 .
