Wilfred Owens' letter home on his father's headed notepaper"

France

6 February 1918

See 42.15 for main entry and details of where to find the other letters.

Wilfred Owens' Letters from 9th June to 30th June 1918. (Numbers 77 to 87)

LETTER HEAD TEXT

From William Owens

Motor and Cycle Dealer, Brunswick Road, Lane End, Buckley

Always in Stock

Dunlop Cycle & Motor Cycle Tyres

Belts & Sundries

Warwick. Cambridge. Edinburgh &

Pericles Cycle Tyres

Trade Mark

DUNLOP

Inventor of the Pneumatic Tyre

********************

77.Sunday June 9^th 18France

Dear brother Edward & all at home

Well I now have the pleasure of answering our letters of may 28^th & 29^th very pleased to hear of you all being quite well also to hear of you still being at home Edward. I think this will find you still enjoying nice weather pleased to say the weather still continues to be lovely out here. I was sorry to read by your letter that they had no news about Fred Reynolds but we must hope for news in the near future because he may have the misfortune to be a prisoner of war. Well Edward I am pleased to hear of you riding the Enfield a little and getting such good results from her especially on hills. I don't think you can beat the Jap engine for power, speed and reliability. Well I have not as yet received mother & father's parcel of the 31^st but it may arrive any day now. I will write when it does come. I am pleased to hear of Gomer being alright and still at Kinmel Park also to of Harry Connah still going on alright sorry to hear of Willie Dunne also Dai Edwards coming out here. Well Edward I have hear no more about leave starting I only wish I was coming home on leave now. Wouldn't we enjoy ourselves with having such nice weather. Well Edward I have no more news for now will write again shortly also to little Edwin please remember me to all at the Warren and at Aunty Polly's with kindest regards from your ever true brother Wilfred.

P.S. I have just received the parcel of the 31^st also your letter Edward of June 2^nd also the "Observer"

***********

78.Tuesday June 11^th 18France

Dear Edwin & Miriam & all at home

Well Edwin I now take the pleasure of answering your kind letter very pleased to hear of you all being quite well as this leaves me at present. I was pleased to hear of you all enjoying my photo alright. I was also pleased to hear of Uncle Edwin sending you & Miriam a present each hoping you will take care of them & not lose them. Well I suppose you will be looking forward to your months holiday at August. Hoping I shall be with you before then I was pleased to hear you enjoyed Whitsun alright I suppose you go to Mr. Cropper's pictures very often now. I can see he as some good films at present. Well I have no more news for now hoping this will find you all well with love to all from your ever true brother Wilfred.

*********

79.

Thursday June 13^th 18France

Dear mother & father & all at home

Well I have this morning received your parcel which you sent on June 7^th also father's most kind letter of same date with Miriam's nice birthday card enclosed for which I thank you for very much also the parcel everything being in the best of condition the bread, cakes, oranges, health salts etc. being quite alright. I must thank you very much for all these good things I want to ask you not to send anymore health salts till I tell you as I have four tins with me now. I will let you know in time when I am running short. Well I was exceedingly pleased to hear they had had news of Fred at the Warren although a prisoner of war. I am sure his parents would be very thankful to receive that news. Yes father it is to be hoped he wont be a prisoner long. Well I am pleased to hear of you all keeping well also keeping busy and having some nice weather pleased to say we are having glorious weather out here. I am also very pleased to hear you are also getting fairly good rations of late. Well father I was pleased to read of your dream. I only wish there was a sign of it coming true as it is high time I was coming on leave. The rumour is they are sending one a week so if this is true I shall be a bit yet but anyway I am hoping it will not be long before it comes to an end I think we would all sooner wait a little longer and come for good. Well I received the "Motor Cycle" you sent on the 9^th I will write George when I get his birthday card so I must enclose wishing to be remembered to my friends & relations hoping Gomer & Frank is still going on alright. From your ever true son & brother Wilfred.

**********

80.

Friday June 14^th 18France

Dear brother Edward & all at home

Well Edward I have this morning received your most kind letter of June 7^th very pleased to hear of you all being quite well and keeping busy. Pleased to say this leaves me in the best of health. Well I was pleased to hear the news of Fred I knew his parents would be also so we must hope he wont be there long. Well Edward you ask about me coming on leave I can't say when this is going to come off as there is very little sign at present but we must hope it will be over shortly it will be better than all leaves to be returning home for good. I must thank you for the Petrol Controller's address. I will keep it safe in case I need it. It is no use writing them till there is a sign of coming. Pleased to hear of Gomer, Frank & John Samuel going on alright please remember me to all from your ever true brother Wilfred.

**********

81.

19^th June 1918 France

Dear mother & father & all at home

Well I have received quite a stock of letters & papers this morning one from father & little Edwin sent June 10^th one from Edward sent June 9^th one from George sent on the 6^th with the splendid birthday card in for which I thank him, also one from Aunt Mary sent on June 8^th I have also received the "Observer" & "Motor Cycle" enclosed in the M.C. the three lovely cards from grandmother mother & father. I do thank you very sincerely for same also all the news. I will try and send you all a reply as soon as possible. I am pleased to hear of the Enfield mounting Constitution Hill alright yes there is no doubt about it father they are good machines they always seem to be going at ease out here under all conditions. Well by what I can read of the Raleigh & H.P. twin I think it will be a good machine but if it is anything like there cycles it will be A1 I suppose it will have to be tested yet. Well I was pleased to read extracts from the letters of the local lads in acknowledgement of the 5/- P.O. I notice they haven't entered mine this time I suppose it will be a mistake. I am sorry to read by Edward's letter of Buckley being so empty of young men it is hard lines to think they are having them all in the army and still worse to think of the game we are on. Well George I am pleased to hear of you doing so well at your work and drawing such big wages but I hope you don't have to work too hard. Well mother & father I want to ask you not to send anymore parcels till I tell you because we are getting any amount of rations now 2 & 3 to a loaf and good dinners so I thought it best to tell you I will let you know if ever I am in need of eatables. I want to ask you to send me a pair of braces for my trousers my old ones are nearly done. I suppose it will be with doing such a lot of digging also send an indellible pencil you will remember sending me one in one of your late parcels well when I come to cut it I found it was a black lead so if I were you I should cut it before sending it to make sure. Well I hope they have had work from Fred with good news. I am pleased to hear of some lads coming on leave we have heard nothing as yet. Well I must conclude my letter thanking you all for your letters & splendid cards with love to all from your ever true & loving son & brother Wilfred.

Please remember me to my friends & relations

************

82.

Friday June 21^st 18

Dear brother Edward & all at home

Well I now take the pleasure in answering your kind letter very pleased to hear of you all going on quite well. Pleased to say this leaves me still alright. Pleased to hear you are still at home Edward I was sorry to hear of them working you so hard but it was what I expected with being short of men. I suppose by now father will have been to Wrexham it will be a journey for him knowing that nothing will come of it. I have just received father's & mother's parcel which was sent on June 14^th with the cakes, Hovis loaf, oranges, sweets & health salts & soap all in the best of condition thanking them very much indeed for same. Well things are going on about the same out here we are getting fairly good rations hope you are still doing well for food. I am pleased to read by your letter Edward of Rogers Son the Brickfield being on leave. I can't say when my turn is coming but we shall have to have patience. Pleased to hear of Harry & Charlie Connah being alright also Gomer & John Samuel remember me to them all. I am writing Aunt Mary at the same time. So I must now enclose from your ever true brother Wilfred.

**********

83.

June 21^st 18France

Dear mother & father & all at home

Well I have just received your most kind letter which you sent on the 13^th very pleased to hear from you again saying you are all quite well and keeping busy. Pleased to say this leaves me in the very best of everything. Well father it amuses me to think of you having to report to Wrexham for medical inspection but I know this will be all as you are needed too much at home. Well I am very pleased to hear of some local lads coming home on leave it shows it as started but we have not heard anything. I am not with the Batt at present but am with the R.E. tunelling coy. But anyway I am hoping to join them in a day of so hoping also to hear something about coming on leave. I will have to drop a line to Uncle Edwin because it is weeks since I heard from him. Pleased to hear of him waiting till I come home I have no idea at present when I shall come but will let you know if I hear anymore. I was pleased to hear before about Fred hoping you have had more news. I haven't much to say this time I will be writing to the lads again pleased to hear of George sticking to his work although having to turn out so early. I was pleased to read by Edward's letter of Gomer, Harry Connah & John Samuel going on alright. From you ever true son & brother Wilfred.

**********

84.

Saturday June 22^nd 18

Dear brother George & all

Well George I now take the pleasure of answering your kind letter of the 16^th very pleased to hear you are going on alright. I must thank you for the splendid birthday card you sent me also all the others I received. I will be writing to little Edwin & Miriam perhaps tomorrow pleased you liked my photo alright George and that you thought it a good one. I was pleased to read by your letter of Gomer & Willie Dunne being on leave and had been up to see you don't trouble George my turn will come shortly. I am pleased to hear you are working alright helping to pack sheeting for the wounded tommies you are getting very good wages I am sure. I am expecting a letter from Fred & Arthur any day now hoping they are keeping alright. I was pleased to hear by father's letter of you going on alright with the potatoes hoping you have good crops. Well things are going on about the same here we are having showery weather at present. I would like to get over for the Anniversary but have poor hopes. So must now close. From your ever true brother Wilfred.

**********

85.

Monday June 24^th 18France

Dear mother & father & all at home

Well mother I am writing in reply to your kind note in the parcel of the 17^th which I received yesterday the parcel you sent on the 14^th I received the day before for which I do thank you all very sincerely. I have also received the "Motor Cycle" & "Observer" pleased to read in it about Fred Reynolds trusting you have had more news from him & that he is going on alright. Well mother we have just come out of the line for rest. I have been trying to get a brooch tonight for Mrs. Lewis which you ask me about but have not succeeded but am sending a silk card the best I could get you must thank her and Mrs. Davidson for the splendid cakes they sent and grandmother I must thank you very much for the oranges which are splendid don't mention about sending me money mother I have plenty. I have today been payed out after returning from the R.E.'s and have drawn 40 francs not so bad at all you must not send parcels so often we are getting splendid rations as I told you before but send them braces & pencil sorry having to ask you to send these we don't get them issued but we get as many clothes & boots etc as often as we like to ask for them. Well I am pleased you are keeping well also busy and are having nice weather pleased to say we are having the same. Things are going on about the same here have heard nothing as yet about leave but don't trouble we are not having a bad time of it at all. I am enclosing two silk cards one for Mr. & Mrs. Lewis & the other for mother with best wishes on your birthday. I am lucky in being able to get them. I will send more later for the others. Excuse hurried note remember me to my friends & relations with kindest regards with love to all from you ever true son & brother Wilfred.

**********

86.

Friday June 28^th 18France

Dear brother Edward & all at home

Well Edward I now take the pleasure of answering your kind letter of June 17^th very pleased to hear of you all keeping quite well also busy as this leaves me at present. I trust you have had a letter from Fred with good news also his address you can tell Aunty Mary about me being unable to write to him so I trust you will remember me to him in your letter hoping Gomer is still at Kinmel Park and going on alright. I was pleased to hear of you and Uncle Billy going to see him it will be twelve months now since I was there also Andrew remember I was at the Anniversary twelve months next Sunday. What a big change we have had since them. Well I trust mother as received the silk cards I sent I will be sending more as soon as I can get some. I wont forget you Edward as I promised to send you some. Well I am expecting a letter anytime saying how father went on at Wrexham although I am expecting he will be left at home. I have today received a letter from Uncle Edwin he hopes I will be coming on leave soon so that he can have his weeks holiday. I will be writing Edwin a letter anytime now in reply to his. Please remember me to my friends & relations also Gomer, Fred, John Samuel, Harry & Charlie Connah & Frank. From your ever true brother Wilfred.

Please alter my address and put 16 Platoon as I have been transferred back again.

*************

87.

Sunday June 30^th 18France

Dear mother & father & all at home

Well I have today received father's letter of the 24^th also Edward's of the 27^th the "Motor Cycle" "Bicycling news" and Observer very pleased to hear of you all keeping well as this leaves me at present. I was pleased to hear of father being put grade 3 also to hear that he wont have to join up. Well as I told you in my last letter I had received your parcel with the cakes Mrs. Lewis & Mrs. Davidson sent please thank them very much for same as they were splendid. I must also thank you for all the good things you have sent. Well I am pleased to hear of the Anniversary going off alright. Thanks for the programme I am sure they would be splendid services. I would like to have been there like I was last year. I hope by now you have had a letter from Fred Reynolds with good news. Pleased to hear of Gomer going on so well hoping whey will leave him at Kinmel Park. I am pleased Edward is being left alone hoping it will come to a speedy end very shortly before they need many more. Well I trust you received the Silk Cards I have sent. I will be sending more later. Please remember me to my friends and relations with kindest regards thanking you for all your kindnesses from your ever true son and brother Wilfred

Author: Owens, Wilfred, 1898-1918

Wilfred Owens' letter home on his father's headed notepaper"

France

Tags