Example of an Envelope used to send Wilfred Owens' Letters Home"

France

17 November 1917

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

Wilfred Owens' Letters from 1st July to 23rd July 1918. (Numbers 88 to 98)

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ENVELOPE TEXT

Active Service

This envelope must not be used for coin or valuables. It cannot be accepted for registration.

Note:-

Correspondence in this envelope need not be censored Regimentally. The contents are liable to examination at the Base.

The following Certificate must be signed by the writer:-

I certify on my honour that the contents of this envelope refer to nothing but private and family matters.

Signature

Name Only: Wilfred Owens

[Several letters may be forwarded in this Cover, but these must be all from the same writer. The Cover should be addressed in such case to the Base Censor.]

Address:- Mr Wm Owens, 151, Brunswick Road, Buckley, Nr Chester, England.

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88.

July 1^st 18France

Dear brother Edward & all at home

I have received your most kind letter today which you sent Sunday June 27^th very pleased you are going on alright and still left alone at home. Well I was sorry to hear you had had no news from Fred hoping you have had some good news by now. Pleased to hear Gomer is going on alright. I am expecting a letter from him anytime now. I was also pleased to hear of Frank going on alright but sorry to hear of him expecting to come out here. Well I have not had a letter from him yet so I want you to send me his address so that I can drop him a line. Well I hope you are having some nice weather like we are having. We are still out on rest and are not having a bad time. I will be sending you some of them cards when I get some. So must close from your ever true brother Wilfred.

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89.

July 2^nd 18France

Dear mother & father & all at home

Well I have tonight received your parcel which you sent on June 24^th with everything quite alright oranges, bananas, sweets, braces & pencil for which I must thank you very much indeed. Well things are going on about the same as usual pleased to say I am still going on alright and we are having some lovely weather hoping you are having the same. Well I hope by now they have had news at the Warren from Fred saying that he is going on alright. Hoping Gomer, Frank and the rest of the lads are going on alright. Well I have hear nothing as yet about coming on leave. I would just like to be coming now that the days are at their longest but anyway we shall have to hope for the best. With love from your ever true son & brother Wilfred.

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90.

July 4^th 18France

Dear brother George & all at home

Well I received your most kind letter of the 28^th yesterday very pleased to hear of you all being quite well as this leaves me at present. We are having lovely weather out here hope you are having the same. I suppose they will be getting ready to start with the harvest shortly then you will be giving them a hand if you have any time to spare. Well I was sorry to hear that Gomer may be sent to Kent I trust he will manage in getting back to the pits before they do send him. I was pleased to hear of John Samuel expecting his discharge I suppose he is still in Ireland. Well George I hope you have all had a good time at the Anniversary and that this will find you all well and you George still doing well at your work. So must enclose from your ever true brother Wilfred.

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91.

Thursday July 4^th 18France

Dear mother & father & all at home

I have today received your most kind letter father of the 29^th inst. stating you had received the silk cards also receiving my letters. I am also pleased to hear of you all keeping well as this leaves me at present. I have enclosed two more cards which I think you will like. I have got two to send to Edward so will forward them in a day or so's time. I am writing Uncle Edwin at the same time sending him also a card. Well I am very pleased to hear of you all enjoying yourselves with the old Spider Cycle I shall have to have a run on it when I come over. Well things are going on about the same out here we are still out resting from the line. We are enjoying a lot of sports and I must say they are splendid we thought Hawarden was a good place on Whit Monday but they are not to be mentioned with these out here all sorts of races men & horses, hurdle jumping, cross country runs. I could fill a book with the kinds of sports they also give good prizes. The weather also is keeping lovely out here. Well I have still heard nothing about leave starting but we must try & be satisfied for the time being. I think the end is not far distant the Yankees are coming over in splendid fashion now. Hoping they will be the means of ending it. Well I am pleased you are still selling a few cycles and that you are able to keep the work down father. Hoping this will find Edward still at home. George was saying Gomer may be sent to Kent. I hope he gets back to the pits beforehand. So I must close remember me to all I know from your ever true & loving son & brother Wilfred.

P.S. I will be sending father & the rest of you some later not forgetting Miriam.

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92.

Sunday July 7^th 18France

Dear mother & father & all at home

Well father I have just received the "Observer" quite safe for which I thank you very much. I am pleased to read all about the Anniversary and by what I can read you have had some splendid services with good preachers also the singing and recitations have gone off well. I trust this will find you one & all quite well at home and enjoying some nice weather like we are having, hoping you are still getting plenty of food as we can't grumble at the rations we are getting. I trust by now they have had news at the Warren from Fred with good news hoping Gomer is also alright & is managing to get back to the pits again. Please remember me to them all when you write & John Samuel, Harry & Charlie Connah & Cousin Frank. I am getting the letter & cards ready to send you Edward. From your ever true son and brother Wilfred. Thanking you for all the kindnesses.

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93.

Thursday July 11^th 18France

Dear brother Edward & all at home

Well Edward I now taker the pleasure of writing you again & sending the only suitable card I could get but anyway you can expect the others as soon as I can get them. I am trying to send you all one in turn. Well I have today received father's most kind letter & John Samuel's address which he sent on July 4^th. Very pleased to hear you are all keeping well at home but I was very sorry at reading of Uncle Edwin's accident. I received newspapers from him the same time as your letter. Well I do hope it is not very serious but as bad as it may be it might have been worse. So I hope by you get this that you have had news saying he is progressing favourably. Well we are having showers of rain here a present but it is doing good for the harvest that is if it doesn't come too heavy but anyway they are busy with the harvest. Well I am pleased to hear of you doing so well at the Anniversary. Fred tells me about the proceeds being £4 higher than last year. I was very pleased to hear of it indeed hoping you also have a good time at the Jubilee. I would like to have been home to see the both but we shall have to hope that the war will soon be over. Well I want to ask you to send me (when you have time to spare) a writing pad & a few envelopes also a tin of health salts. So I must close for now I will answer father's letter tomorrow. Please remember me to all I know hoping you have heard from Fred & him & Gomer & Frank going on alright. I received the parcel with the braces alright father. From your ever true & loving son & brother Wilfred.

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94.

Saturday July 13^th 18France

Dear mother & father & all at home

Well father I now take the pleasure in answering your kind letter of July 4^th I have also received the "Flintshire Observer" this morning thanking you very much for same. I have just looked over it and am very sorry to read of Harry Connah being wounded hoping it isn't seriously. I was also sorry to read about Victor Hayes being reported missing hoping good news will be received from him in due course. I was sorry you had had no more news from Fred but he will be alright. I don't believe they are being badly dealt with. Well we are still having showery weather last night we had a heavy hailstorm I never say such big hailstones in all my life just like marbles. I am sure it will make it bad for the crops it is also cold enough out here considering the time of the year. Well father I read in the paper about David Jenkins still working his cards well and keeping out the army. You will have to ask him how he does it. It is a long time since I received a letter from him but I don't care much whether he write or as it is his turn to reply. I hope Uncle Edwin's foot is progressing favourably but it is a nasty place. I shall never forget yours father when the anvil slid off the block on to it. Yours was a long while in getting around again. I am pleased to hear of Mrs. Colly going on alright hoping you have received the cards I sent to grandmother & Edward & one to all. I will send more when I am able to get them. So I must close for now thanking you all for all kindnesses wishing to be remembered to my friends & relations. From you ever true & loving son & brother Wilfred.

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95.

Tuesday July 16^th 18France

Dear mother & father & all at home

Well father I am writing in reply to your most kind letter of July 7^th which I received yesterday also the "Motor Cycle" "Flintshire Observer" and "Eexpress" for which I thank you very much. I am pleased to hear of you all keeping well as I am doing also busy. Pleased you have got Mr. Jones car to pieces which will give you more room. Well father the war news looks much better as you say it is to be hoped they can come to some terms before so very long. It would be hard lines to think we would have to do another winter out here. I have had enough anyway. Well I was sorry to hear of cousin Frank being home on his draught leave but he as nothing to grumble at as he is sure of a good job out here, well I trust you all had a jolly good time at the Jubilee hoping Frank had a good time. Well I was very pleased to hear of Andrew going on alright hoping they have had good news at the Warren before now from Fred. Well the weather keeps about the same out here very showery. Pleased to read of you having such nice weather and they are doing so well with the harvest. I hope you received the letter I sent Edward asking you to send some writing material which I trust you have sent. I must thank you for the Diamond puzzle you sent which is a very good one and we had a merry laugh with it. Well I am pleased to hear of Gomer still going on alright and still at Kinmel Park. I hope you have received the silk cards I have sent, one to grandmother, Edward and another to all of you. Will send more the first opportunity I get to get some. So I must close please remember me to all my friends & relations, Gomer, Fred, Frank, John Samuel hoping Harry Connah is not wounded very bad. From your ever true & loving son & brother Wilfred.

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96.

Thursday July 18^th 18France

Dear brother Edward & all at home

Well Edward I received your most kind letter of July 10^th quite safe today very pleased you are all keeping well as this leaves me at present. I was pleased to hear of Harry Connah not being wounded so bad although I would like to hear of him getting over to England as it is high time he had a rest. I am pleased Gomer is still going on alright I am writing him a line the same time as you Edward. I am sorry you have had no further news from Fred but we must hope he is being well looked after but is as father says we can rest content that he is finished with the fighting so must hope he wont be a prisoner long. Well Edward it is very good of you in getting the Douglas in such good order. I only wish there was a sign of us coming on leave. I know we would have a good time. Pleased to hear of the war news looking much better hoping you got the silk card I sent. From your ever true brother Wilfred. Remember me to all

P.S. I have just received father's letter of July 12^th & Edward's of the 11^th also the "Motor Cycle" thanking you very much for same

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97.

Saturday July 20^th 18France

Dear mother & father & all at home

I now take the pleasure in answering your kind letter of July 12^th which I received along with Edward's of the 11^th also the "Motor Cycle" I am very pleased to hear of you all keeping well as this leaves me at present also pleased to hear of the Jubilee going off so well and you all enjoying yourselves. Well father I am glad to hear of the Enfield also the Douglas doing so well I am sure the hood would make a big difference with it. Well I have cut a piece out of the last "Motor Cycle" you sent stating all about how to get petrol when we are due for leave. So I shall be alright when my turn comes. I was sorry to hear of little Edwin not being so well I suppose it will be after enjoying himself at the Jubilee. Hoping this will find him quite alright again. Well I am so pleased to hear of you doing so well with Mr. Jones car hoping he wont lose much by having to sell it in parts. I should think the Brass & alluminium will bring a good price hoping you will get a quick sale for all the parts and then you will have more room to work. Well I am very pleased to hear of you having such nice weather which I am sure will be very helpful to the farmers with there harvest. I was so pleased to hear of Uncle Edwin improving also coming over to spend a few days with you hoping to hear of the Anniversary going off as well or even better at the Tabernacle than it did at the Bistre. Well I trust Frank as arrived back safe after spending his draught leave at home. I know it would be hard lines for him going back but he can't grumble. I only wish I was in the A.S.C. but it is to be hoped none of us will be any of them much longer. I think it is fast drawing to a close. I suppose you have had the good news of the French victories of late. I hope Russia will start again as it will mean him taking more troops from here so we shall have to hope for an early finish and may it come sooner than we expect. Please remember me to my relations & friends with kindest regards from your ever true son & brother Wilfred.

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98.

Tuesday July 23^rd France

Dear mother & father & all at home

Well I have this morning received father's & Edward's kind letters of July 16^th also the "Observer" & "Liverpool Echo" thanking you very much for same. Pleased to hear of you all keeping quite well and receiving my letters pleased Edward has received the silk card I sent hoping you have received the two I sent before Edwards, one to grandmother and the other to you all which was worded "Love to all at home" Well I am very pleased to hear of Fred going on alright but sorry they are short of food and tobacco but still we must be thankful for small mercies. Trusting you will help to see to his needs and forward him a parcel as it hard lines to be a prisoner of war so far from home. I am pleased to hear of Gomer and John Samuel going on alright and both expecting there discharge hoping they succeed as they have done there bit I am sure. Hoping cousin Frank is going on alright and still in England please remember me to them all. I am pleased to hear of Uncle Edwin being with you for a few days hoping he as enjoyed himself but I am sorry you are having such a lot of rain. Well I can see you have had some splendid services at the Tabernacle. Trusting the proceeds were excellent. Well there is some talk they have started leave in this Batt. So if it is true you can see me coming shortly. I will let you know definitely later. I am pleased to read of you doing so well with the old car. I can see him getting a jolly good price for the 1 ½ cwt. Of Aluminium. I suppose there will be nearly a ton of Brass. I am pleased you are being kept busy pleased to say things are fairly quiet out here with us at present. You will have had better news since the German advance I hear the French have driven him back also they are making it hot for him in Belgium hoping it is the means of bringing it to a close very shortly. I must thank you for forwarding the parcel with the writing material. I will let you know when it arrives. So I must close hoping this will find you all quite well and little Edwin alright once more. From your ever true son & brother Wilfred. With love to all.

Author: Owens, Wilfred, 1898-1918

Example of an Envelope used to send Wilfred Owens' Letters Home"

France

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