Transcript. Letters from Alexander James Greig, , A A (01) Letter. England, Oct. 29, Mrs. A.

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Transcript. Letters from Alexander James Greig, , A A (01) Letter. England, Oct. 29, Mrs. A."

Alannah Kellie Hensley
5 years ago
Views:

Transcript Letters from Alexander James Greig, 1916-1918, A2015.121.057 A2015.121.057 (01) Letter England, Oct. 29, 1916 Mrs. A. Grieg Dear mother, Well we arrived safe but it was a long trip.

1 Transcript Letters from Alexander James Greig, , A A (01) Letter England, Oct. 29, 1916 Mrs. A. Grieg Dear mother, Well we arrived safe but it was a long trip. We were two weeks since we left London until we got to camp. My, the towns are different here. Between each row of buildings there is only room for a person, except the main street, and the buildings are all the same. It was awful rough on Thursday night on the ocean. We were nine days coming across. It is raining today. I have got a bad cold, but most of us have. Babe Symons is pretty sick. They carried him on a stretcher off the boat. We are sleeping a platoon in each shack. How is my colt getting along? Don t let them drive her. Send me some money. I signed twenty a month over to you. Everyone is writing this morning. You folks right [sic] as soon as possible. Say, lay my sheepskin coat and overcoat away. It is hanging in the hall at the farm. Tell Nettie I will right [sic] to her again. I have to right [sic] to Ella yet. We expect to get a [?] going to London. If we do [?] getting along with the ploughing, but you tell him not to work that colt. The war will be over as soon as we get over there. Well, I will finish this letter. We had to fall in. We are quite a distance from a town. All the better. When we were coming on the train, in a swamp there was a mouse laying just at the edge of the bush, but on the boat saw four or five sharks and quite a few fling [flying] fish, but never seen a whale, what I was looking for. Well, I will close for this time. Be sure and send some money. They have funny money here. My address is: A.J. Greig 160 BT Witley North No. 1 Platoon, C Co. Surrey County, England

2 A (02) Letter Bramshot Camp Dec. 19, 1916 Gordon Greig Dear brother: Well, I suppose you will be having a good time this winter, [there] being so many dances. And you folks sold half of the farm. What did they get for it? Say, we are hard up for tobacco. There is no Canadian tobacco over here at all, so send me a bunch of McDonald chewing. Have not been able to buy only one plug since we landed in England. I had a dozen plugs with me. Please send me some. You know how it goes without it. How is my colt? Do not drive her. I believe the war will soon be over that s all the talk over here. We will be getting up some morning when they will tell us no more perade [sic]. Have you folks got that song? There is [sic] about eighty of us taking a musketry course about thirty miles from camp, so we don t get the mail very often. But are going up on Christmas they are giving the 160th a big dinner that day will be going in busses. My, this is a foggy country, have not seen the sky for about two weeks. Well, I must close for this time. Just before dinner there was [sic] about a dozen airplains went over. Right [sic] soon and send me some tobacco and don t drive my colt. I have let my mustache grow so look like the ass in of a coon. A (03) Letter Brampshot, Jan. 7, 1917 Got your card today and was glad to hear all are well. This is Sunday and is a dull day. We are in quarantine, yet there was a lot of tobacco came from Wiarton that Ead Reckine sent today. There was a squabble in my hut everybody was in before it ended but nobody hurt very bad. It started over Norman McDonald catching skin Eldridge. Have you got that book that I sent? I am sending Aunt Emma one too. I have rote [sic] to May but never got an answer yet. I got a dandy box from Aunt Mary. I got my picture taken. I saw one of them and it dandy, but I can t get them now until after we get out. This camp is condemned so we will be moving soon for some other place. How is Gordon getting along with the wood? Did he get my letter? Well I will finish this letter tonight. Well, I had supper. We just get one slice of bread and a piece of bully beef and a cup of strong tea. Those boxes came in handy. As soon as a box entered the hut it was divided. Well, I must close for this time. The colt is all right so you said. Say have you got any of the signed pay yet? I should right [sic] a card to Mrs. Chapman from A. Greig. I see Orville s name in the paper. Tell him to right [sic] a line. Right [sic] soon. (turn over) Tell Mittie to make 2

3 some more of that candy. Tell the rest to right [sic]. We had a busy time this afternoon taking down the deckerations [sic]. There is all kinds of holly grows over here and they certainly look nice with the red berries. Well, I will say good night. If you have any loose change why you no [sic] what to do. A (04) Letter Brampshot, Jan. 8, 1917 Well, mother, I just got done of my dinner. It is pretty cold today. I am still in the hospital. I did not have them [mumps] very bad, not like some of them. The watter [sic] came in to wash the dishes so I had to stop righting [sic] but all ready again. You were asking about sock but I think I can make out till spring. I had some things ready to send Orville but can t now until I get out. Wiarton allways [sic] got a bad name but it is nothing compaired [sic] with this country. I don t think there is a woman or girl that don t drink or go around nearly naked and swar [sic] worce [sic] than a man. The Doctor was just in and he is sending some of the fellows to a larger hospital that the mumps went down. Tell Mittie to right [sic]. I have not got a letter for a long while and did Gordon get my letter? I suppose the colt is all right. I want her for a driver if I ever go back. I got a nice letter from Aunt Emma. This seems to be a big page to fill and I haven t much to say. There is a funeral going past and it look nice. Well, I will close for this time, from A. Greig A (05) Letter Brampshot, Feb. 4, 1917 Well mother, this is Sunday. I am well and out of the hospital, hoping you folks are the same. We were at church the first time for a long time because we were taking musketry and then I was in the hospital. I got a letter from Tina Greig the other day and she said that May sent me a box but I have not heard from her yet. Maybe she don t no [sic] the right address but I have rote [sic] about a dozen. We were over and got our web harness. I wish I had waited and got my picture taken with the web belt. I am getting them next Saturday. I won t have a chance until then. The most of the fellows got paid the other day and it was a wild house last night. But nothing like one of the huts that the Indians are in. They got fighting and the empies [MPs] came in but the Indians fired bayonets and chased them out. Well is everybody and how is the colt? Has she been worked yet? Is Gordon still drawing logs? I rote [sic] to him but he never answered. Well, I am going up to London next week. I have not got paid for a month and a half, 3

4 so I think I will have enough. We expect to move to Whitley but don t know [sic] how soon. Well I will finish this letter after dinner if I have anything else to say. (turn over) Well all I have to say is that Wesley Moore is here tonight and we are going out. I will have to soon close. Well I will be looking for that box you were telling me about. Hope there is some chewing tobacco in it. Well must close for this time, from A.J. Greig. Right [sic] soon as you can or a little sooner. A (06) Post Card March 1, 1917 Dear mother Well, mother this is the first day of March. The time seems to have went fast. I am up out of bed and expect to get out on Monday. I have been in the hospital twenty-seven days. We cannot send letters and I hate sending post cards and I have not a pen with me. The Battalion has moved to Whitley since I came to the hospital my address will be Whitley Camp, Surrey County, England. Well, must close for this time. Hoping all are well, from Alex Greig A (08) Letter Whitley Camp, April 22, 1917 Well mother, I have not heard from you this week. Well we did not get much this week. How is everybody at home? We are getting splendid weather now. May sent me another box but have not got it either. The most of us got our hair clipped. It looks funny to see the balled [sic] heads. Well mother we are ready to go any minute now. They call us out at nights. We went out last night with all our kit. We were some tired boys when we got home. Well we can t kick if we go tomorrow. We have been over here over six months. I guess I told you that I was up to London. We had a good time. I can t think of anything to right [sic] about. Has Gordon started to plough? How is my colt? This is the first Sunday that we have not no parades outside of Church Parade since we came back to Whitley. Well I must soon close for this time, hoping to here [sic] from you soon. From A. Greig A (09) Letter Whitley Camp, June 5,

5 Well mother I have not got any Canadian mail for three weeks, so we will be getting a big mail some of these days. I did not right [sic] last week. I was up to London on a weekend. Hope you are well as I am at present. The 160th is serantly [sic] lucky. All the other battalions that was in the [?] brigade with us are split up and sent to France, but we are all right yet. Well I had a good time in London. Did you get my photo yet? It is not very good. I guess Gordon will be all through seeding by now. How is my colt? Gordon promist [sic] not to drive her when I left but broke his promise. I no [sic] how he will drive her. I rote [sic] to him but he never ans[wer] it. I guess he don t think it is worth while. How is Gordon working the farm? I want to take a [?] at it alone when I go back. That s if you will rent it or sell it to me. We were out as usual on field maneuvers with our packs and it was fearful hot. Well I must right [sic] to May tonight. I have not heard from her for a long time. She said she sent me a box but I did not get it. Did you send the tobacco yet and some money? Well must close till the rest to right. From A.J. Greig A (10) Letter Whitley Camp, June 6, 1917 Just a few lines to let you no [sic] the we are all well over here at present. But it is fearful hot today. We were camping out last night. I like it fine. We went out to a lake and we had a swim, officers and all. You were saying that I righting [sic] oftener to May than home. Well I don t. I right [sic] home once a week. How is the young colt? I suppose Gordon is driving Joss all the time. I herd [sic] that he had her up to Mar and he was seeing how fast she can go. I imagine what she will look like if he drives her long. There was an air-raid in London today. That s the third one since we came over here. Well one of the fellows has got a box. I will have to help him empty it. Well I will finish this letter tomorrow when it is colder. Well this is Monday evening. I have been on phataing today. The 150th Bt. Is moving out. They are along side of us. Well I must soon close for this time, hoping to hear from some of you soon, from A.J. Greig A (11) Letter Whitley Camp, June 9, 1917 Dear mother: Just a few lines to let you no [sic] I am well, hoping you folks are the same. I am on guard tonight. They are sure stricked [sic] on main guard. They just put us good-looking soldiers on it. The 160th is sending a guard of honour up to London on July 2, guarding the King. Don t no [sic] for sure who is going. They are only sending ten of the best men. I got a letter from you today saying that you were sending a box. I hope it don t go astray. A fellow thinks it is great to get a 5

6 piece of cake home made. I hope you have sent me some money because the most of us is getting a pass on the second of July. How is my colt and the rest of the horses? Has Vick got a colt yet? I have not got that last box May sent me yet. I guess it has gone astray to. I got a parcel from Rusk Rogers the other day. Orville is getting along good at school. Is Gordon Galloway in the same class? The draft out of the 134th that went about a week ago are nearly all killed. Well I must soon close as I must answer some letters. Will close for tonight, hoping to hear from you soon. Tell the rest to right [sic] from A.J. Greig A (12) Letter Whitley Camp, June 24, 1917 Dear mother: Just a few lines to let you no [sic] I am well hoping you folks are the same. We are getting nice weather now. We are going away for three days this week. We are going to the other side of Brampshot which is seventeen miles and carry packs so we expect to be good and tired by the time we get back. We have not got any mail for a couple of weeks now. Well how are the crops looking? All you can see in this country is potatoes. How is Vick s colt and mine? Do you no [sic] any relations of mine in Scotland? I would like to get a pass. Where is Alex Moore? We herd [sic] he has went back to France. Jim Givens is very rich. Was operated and they got eight quartes of stuf out of his stomach that he could not digest. I forgot the name of it. I never heard of it before. Young Jackson was over to this camp yesterday from Wiarton. Well I must close for this time, hoping to get a letter this week. from A.J. Greig have you sent the money yet or tobacco? A (13) Letter Whitley Camp, July 19, 1917 Dear mother: Just a few lines to let you no [sic] I am well hoping you folks are the same. I hope that cable gram did not bother you until you got. I did not like to send it because I new [sic] it would scare you but I am getting a pass to Scotland and I need the money to go. Fred Slack a chum of mine is going too. He sent the same time I did. I am going to keep so much out of each pay and send that amount back. Well we just got back from a week s tramping around. We did not get much sleep or to eat. There was a hundred loaves of bread stole out of the tent so we were a day without anything to eat. We came home this forenoon, came fourteen miles in four hours heavy marching orders. Well I suppose Gordon will be doing haying now. Don t let him enlist and hang on the farm. A farmer in [swilion?] live over here is lucky. How are all the colts getting 6

7 along and my colt? Well I must close for this time, hoping to here [sic] from you soon. From A.J. Greig hope you did not worry about the cable. A (14) Letter Whitley, Aug. 19, 1917 I received the box today and was glad to get it. It s the box that Nellie Ward and you were sending. We had a big hut inspection today by all the officers and encoes [NCOs?]. The battalion is going out for three days next week. I don t have to go this time. I am on a machine gun course. I have a good notion to transfer to the flying corps. What do you think about it? There was a mine exploded on the ranges the other day and killed six men and thirty-two seriously wounded. Well I guess everybody will be busy harvesting. Nearly all the fellows are away today. Is the school teacher going to stay another year? I forget her I promised to right [sic] to her but never have yet. It keeps me going to answer what I get now. How are the colts and my colt? You can ask Goldie what he would give for her. Well I must close for this time, hoping to here [sic] from you soon. You can send me some tobacco. From A.J. Greig A (15) Letter [On Soldier s Christian Association letterhead] Sept. 20, 1917 Dear mother: Just a few lines to let you no [sic] I am well hoping you folks are the same. I don t believe I wrote a letter to you last week. We were out on a [schum?] and did not get a chance. I did not get a letter from you for over two weeks. I guess it must have got lost. I am sending a picture of a few of us beside our hut. Bert Parote is the fellow with the gas mask on and steel helmet. We are going out tomorrow again on another [schum?] I think it will be the last one for this year. I hope so anyway. It is pretty cold sleeping on the ground and it generally rains every time we go out. I was over to Brampshot Camp today to see Alex Moore but did not find him. [?] is Gordon getting married. I have seen him a couple of times. I m sure I would not get married over here. A fellow never knows what kind of a girl he is getting. Well, must close for this time hoping this finds you well as it leaves me at present only I took a dose of salts this morning. Good night. Right [sic] soon. From Alex I am going to right [sic] to Stanley 7

8 A (16) Letter [On Soldier s Christian Association letterhead] Oct. 27, 1917 Dear mother: Well, mother, how are you tonight? I hope you are feeling better by this time as I am feeling fine at present. I cabled to you last night for fifteen dollars as I just came home from pass and I am broke. I wish I had signed fifteen dollars instead of twenty, because it is not near enough to go anyplace everything is so dear. I rote [sic] to Emma tonight. I got a letter from her, the first for a long time. I guess it will be getting cold over there, some of those cold winds. It has not been too bad over here so far. I can t think of anything to rite [sic] but must try to fill a page. I am righting [sic] this letter in the Soldier s Christian Association. Jack Givens is on one side of me and Homer Reid on the other. Did you get the Battalion paper I sent to you? Tom Johnston is the editor of it. He is pretty good. Well, I must close, hoping to get a letter from you this week. From A.J. Greig A (17) Letter [On the letterhead of the Canadian Chaplain Service] I received a letter from you today and you were back home. Nearly all the fellows are gone to France, what have not are on draft now. I expect to go next week. My hip is all right now. It was not very bad. I don t get the mail very regular, and not half of it, but what can you expect when so many men are changing their camps and going to France. They lose track of them. Well I never got a letter from any of the girls. Emma used to write but she has quit. The next letter I right [sic] will likely be from France, so if you don t get one for a couple of weeks you will no [sic] what is the matter. Well I must close for this time. I am going to right [sic] a few lines to Gordon. From A.J. Greig A (18) Letter Sept. 8, 1918 Just a few lines to let you no [sic] I am well, hoping you folks are the same. I have not had any mail for a long time except a letter was rote in June. Our mail must be held up at the 1st Battalion. We are having plenty of rain this past week, rained nearly every day. How is Gordon 8

9 getting along with the crop? I hope you don t sell the farm before I go back because I intend to farm myself when I go back and if we can make a bargain will buy it myself. This is poor righting [sic] I am righting it on my knee in a bunk hole. Archie McLeod and a fellow we call Red. McWhinney is his last name. Say, send my address to Ella. I should right to her myself but we have not much chance. This is a short letter, but must close for this time, hoping to here [sic] from you soon. From Alex. Tell Nettie and Stanley to right. I like reading his letters. A (19) Letter Oct. 27, 1918 Well this is Sunday again. It has been a fine day. Well, how are all at home? I am getting along fine. I sleep pretty good now at nights. I seen my name in the Canada and McWhinney the fellow I chummed with in France, he is wounded too. I thought he must have been because I rote a couple letters to him and never got an answer. Bisket West is also wounded. There is a young fellow about eighteen cries half the time, gets on a fellow s nerves. He lost a leg. Well I cannot think of anything to rite about this evening. This is Monday morning and have been dressed. It is not very pleasant watching some of them getting dressed lots of grinding of teeth and yelling, not very pleasant to be near. The mail just came in but there is not any for me. Haven t had any since been in hospital. Well I must close for this time. Hoping to hear from you soon. From Alex A (20) Letter England, Nov. 14, 1918 Well mother I have just finished my supper. I came off guard at two o clock. I suppose it is getting pretty cold down there. We have not had anything like frost here yet, just rain. I did not go on pass. I am going in a couple weeks time. How are all the folks? I suppose Gordon has got the fall ploughing done. How is my colt coming up? I want them to take good care of her. I have not got rid of the cold yet. I can hardly hear. Well, I am going up to tin town tonight. I got a wrist watch to get fixed. There was a bunch of soldiers left here for the front today. There was a fellow in D Co. killed the other day by a motor car. Well, it is nearly a month since I rote and never got an answer. I suppose Orville is going to school every day. Well I will have to soon close because the fellows are near ready. Will right soon. You folks can right once a week. So, Good bye. My ad is Army Post Office, England, 160 C Co. No

10 A (21) Letter Brampshot, England, Jan. 2 [no year] Well mother I am well, hoping you are the same. I have not got a letter from you since before Xmas. Just you folks have forgot to right. Well mother we are quarantined, nearly all of the battalion is with the mumps. We are going with the 5th Division that is in June. Germany has gave peace terms but I guess they are not expected. I am not drilling today, am laying off with a sore foot. We drill from daylight to dark. I got a box from Aunt Mary and Aunt Jeanie. I never got any word from May and I have rote a half a dozen letters. Is she away this winter? I guess you read Bert Suders letters letter that was about right. I think everybody had a spell of seasickness. How is Gordon getting along with the wood? Oh yes, how is my colt? If nothing happens we will all be back before next Xmas. I am going up to London next pay day if I get enough money. I have not been up yet. It don t seem like January and no snow. How is Orville getting along at school? He must be getting along pretty good to get his name in the paper. Well, I must close for this time, from A.J. Greig A (22) Letter Whitley Camp, Sept. 20 [no year] Just a few lines to let you know I am well and received your letter yesterday and was glad to get it because I did not hear from you for two weeks. I right oftener than that. I always right every Sunday. I guess you don t get them all. We are going out for eight days, leaving in the morning. Have to make fifteen miles each day and full marching order. I have seven letters to right this evening because I wont have a chance for eight days. Well, why in H don t the rest of them right? I have not got a letter from Gordon since I came across. I guess they have forgotten all about me. So I always look for a letter from you every mail. There was a double rainbow today. It looked nice it was the first one I noticed since coming over here. Well, how are the colts coming up? I would like to see them. I sure miss the horses. I suppose there is no signs of ring bone on my colt. I hope not anyway. How do you like her for a driver? I suppose Gordon drives her all the time. Well I must close for this time, so if you don t get a letter next week, you will no the matter. From A.J. Greig 10

Unit 2. Spelling Most Common Words Root Words. Student Page. Most Common Words

Unit 2. Spelling Most Common Words Root Words. Student Page. Most Common Words 1. the 2. of 3. and 4. a 5. to 6. in 7. is 8. you 9. that 10. it 11. he 12. for 13. was 14. on 15. are 16. as 17. with 18. his 19. they 20. at 21. be 22. this 23. from 24. I 25. have 26. or 27. by 28.