Wilfred Owens' letter home on his Battalion's headed notepaper"
Great Crosby
1 September 1917
See 42.15 for main entry and details of where to find the other letters.
Wilfred Owens' Letters from 5th December to 27nd December 1917. (Numbers 23 to 33)
The crest on the letterhead indicates the 3rd Battalion, The Border Regiment
23.Wednesday December 5th 17France
Dear mother & father Edward & all at home
Well father & Edward on Monday Dec 3rd I received your both letters. Father's kind registered letter with the 5/- P.O. quite safe for which I thank him very much indeed. Well Edward's was sent on Nov. 30th so I must thank him also for the news. I will write you again Edward as soon as I can I trust you have had mine Edward, the last I sent you on Dec. 2nd Well father & all it is most kind of you sending me all which you have done of late you state that you have sent another parcel so it will be here in a day or so I will let you know. Well don't sent any more money till I tell you I am pleased to tell you I can P.O. also notes changed out here but the reason I asked to send a P.O. was I thought you may send a cheque and I know I would never be able to change them. Well I have plenty I had my pay last week, 10 Francs first pay since being out here. I missed my pay through being on that R.E. course. Well I am now with the Batt. so have been behind the line as a working party. I have come out safe. Well we are on the way back for a few weeks rest so we will be far back out of it for Xmas & the New Year hope. Well I am sorry to hear of Mr. Colly being dead and buried but am pleased to hear of Mrs. Colly being well cared for by her brothers and that she is going to the Shetland Isles. Well I expected to hear of a good few at the funeral but I suppose it was through the wet afternoon you had for it. Well father you must always think of me putting my whole trust in the Lord always having faith in him that I shall be brought back safe to you. So we must all look on the bright side as the war can't last much longer. Well Edward I am pleased to hear you have decided on keeping the Douglas as it is the best machine you can get there is millions of Douglas's out here and everyone goes alike 2 ¾ H.P. also the 4 H.P. with sidecar never no trouble with them on the road. Well you state you are having awful weather in Buckley but we have had no bad weather out here since I came out here it has been splendid except for a few showers. But these last few days it as been frosty and one day it threatened by snowing a little but now it has cleared off. Well Edward you say that Fred Reynolds is in hospital. I understand he was up the line so I trust he is having a good time and will be there for Xmas. Pleased to hear of Gomer being still alright. Please send me Gomer's address in your next letter Edward. I am also pleased to hear Edward that you have from Harry Connah & that he is on the look out for me as I am on the look out for him & all the rest I know. Well I am trying to get some Xmas cards to send you for Xmas. If I am able to get some I will send them in one envelope to you, cards for partly all my friends. I will mark them so I will leave you to give them to my friends. Well I have no more news at present heard no more about a transfer as yet but will always let you know how I am going on. Please remember me Edward to all at the Warren & all that I know. I must thank you all dearly for your many kindness in sending all I have needed so I trust this will find you all in the best of health at home as it leaves your true son & brother Wilfred.
P.S. I have just received your parcel safe and find everything alright in good condition for which I thank you all dearly. Letter follows the 1st opportunity I get to write you & Edward.
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24.Thursday Dec 6th 17France
Dear brother Edward & all at home
Well Edward I have received your many kind letters of late for which I thank you very much indeed, the last I had from you you sent on Nov. 30th you stated in it that mother & father were sending a parcel well I am pleased to tell you I have received it quite safe all the cakes and everything else in the best of condition and what I have eaten up to now is splendid. Well Edward I have had a letter from Fred Griffiths also Frank with Frank's photo. Fred says he sent a parcel from there house the same time as yours so I am expecting it but it has not arrived yet. Well Edward I am pleased to hear you are keeping the Douglas as you wont get a better machine. Well Frank says that Mr. Hewitt is dead out of Megs Lane. I am sorry to hear of it as it is not long since Mrs. Hewitt died so Ernest & Willie will be left on there own now. Well you say you are having very bad weather wind rain etc. but out here Edward we are having some very nice weather and these last few days we have had some frost. Well I am pleased to hear you have heard from Gomer & that he is going on alright, please send me his address as I would like to write him a letter. Hoping you have heard from Fred again and that he is alright. Well we are at present coming out of the line for rest so we are expecting to be out for Xmas. Well I haven't much news this time I trust grandmother is going on alright also my dear mother & father & all you dear brothers & my dear sister Miriam. I must thank you all for everything you have sent me. I must thank mother for the cakes which are splendid also the butter which is a big change from what we get will be writing them a letter when I get there parcel. So I must now enclose with love to all at home thanking you all for your many kindnesses. From your true and ever loving son & brother Wilfred.
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25.Friday Dec. 7th 17France
Dear mother & father & all at home
Well I am pleased to tell you I received the parcel quite safe on Dec. 4th (Tuesday) so I must thank you very much indeed for same. The cakes are splendid also the butter & sweets and seem none the worse for their journey. I must thank mother dearly for her home made cakes which are a treat from what we are getting also the small loaf seems to be splendid although I have not as yet touched it. Well I had a letter from Fred & Arthur and they say they have sent a parcel which I am sure is very good of them indeed. I have not as yet received it but am expecting it too come at any time so will let you know when it arrives. Well mother & father I have bought some silk Christmas cards so I will be sending you a few so that you can give one to cousin Frank & one to Aunt Mary. I may send four so that will be two for you at home. I am sending Frank & Arthur one also Uncle Edwin one in an envelope straight to them. I wont send them for another week or so but if you get yours a few days before Xmas don't give them till Xmas day I know you will do me this favour. I think they are very nice cards indeed for the price I have only paid some 5d & some 6d each. I thought they would be the nicest present I could get out here and all the soldiers out here are sending the same. Well Fred tells me in his letter that the Chapel will be sending me a parcel so I am being well looked after with parcels, although we can't grumble at the meat we are getting out here only sometimes we run a bit short of rations. I hear we are going to draw our extra pay which the Government has talked about such a long time so we will draw a large amount if we get back pay included. I am pleased to say we are having some very nice weather also we are having a bit of frost. Well you must remember me to all at the Warren Edward. I sent them a field card the other day hoping this will find you all quite well at home grandmother still alright. So I must enclose you must look out for the Xmas cards in a week or so. With love from your true son & brother Wilfred.
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26.Wednesday Dec. 12th 17France
Dear mother & father Edward & all at home
Well father the long kind letter you sent me on Sunday Dec. 2nd I received quite safe also little Edwin's of Monday. I received Mrs. Griffith's parcel at the same time and a letter from Uncle Edwin, so you can see I have plenty of news. Well I am very sorry I have not had a chance to write to any of you till today and it is Tuesday Dec. 11th but I wont be able to post this till tomorrow Wed. I am also pleased to say I received Edward's most kind letter last night sent Monday Dec. 4th so will write him a letter as soon as I can thanking you all very much for all your letters. I have sent some field cards so I trust you have had these. Well we have been on the march very much of late so it does not give me much time to write we are on our way for a few weeks rest so that when we get to our destination I will be able to write you often. I will also send those Xmas cards which I have ready for posting but will send them so that you will get them somewhere near Xmas. Well father & mother I must thank you all again for your many kindness. I am sending 4 or 5 cards in a green envelope so you can let Aunt Mary & Frank have one. I am trying to send 5 or so that you can give Mr. & Mrs. Rogers one as they have been very good in sending me things in times gone by. Well I am writing Fred & Arthur at the same time and thanking them for there parcel but mother I want you too thank Mrs. Griffiths for her cake which she sent me I am sure it was very kind of her indeed and I must say the cake was splendid and very tasty indeed. Trusting you will thank her for me dear mother. Well father I can see you have got a job on with Mr. Jones car. I only wish I could come and help but we must win this war first. How thankful I am to you father for your most kind words of your long letter. Yes it is a pity that there wasn't more earnest prayer going on all through the nation during these trying days of war and I am sure we would soon have an everlasting peace. Well you state in some of your letters that you have had some snow also it being very cold. Well we are having some very nice weather and have had no snow yet but we manage to keep warm. Well you ask whether to send me one of those Chemico Body Shields well I would not bother because we are well looked after with plenty of ward clothes as many as we can carry. We have 4 or 5 thicknesses nearly all the while between undervests, shirts, cardigans, tunic also those woollen coats sheepskin so please don't send anymore thanking you all the same. So I must now enclose will write Edward & little Edwin in a day or so. Trusting this will find you all quite well grandmother still alright. With love to all at home from your true & ever loving son & brother Wilfred. Wishing to be remembered to all I know.
P.S. Dear father I have today received your letter sent Friday dec. 7th I am sorry to hear of grandmother being so ill but I trust that this will find her quite well. I will answer your letter father as soon as I can. Thanking you for same.
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27.Wednesday Dec. 12th 17France
Dear Uncle & Mr. & Mrs. Williams
Your most kind & welcome letter of Dec. 3rd arrived quite safe also the papers on Dec. 8th for which I thank you very much indeed. Pleased to hear of you all being quite well at Bickershaw lane also at home. Well I am going on alright still in the best of health. Well uncle I agree with you I have seen a lot since joining up with being all over Wales, Ireland and then out here. I must say that there is some splendid country around here where I am at present lovely scenery but you know as much as me about here only I would like to mention the places so that you would know whether you have visited this part in peace time, but I am sorry I am unable to mention any names of places anyway I wont forget the places I have been so that when we have a chat together about what I have seen hoping that time will soon come when we have an everlasting peace. Well they tell me they have had some snow a Buckley. I suppose you have had the same. I will never forget my last journey to see you when the snow was very thick around your part. Well there was snow all the way from Chester to Wigan but at Buckley there was none. Well at present we are having nice weather here and no snow at all. Well I will be sending you a Xmas card so you can expect it in time. So I must now enclose trusting this will find you quite well as it leaves yours sincerely Wilfred.
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28.Monday Dec. 16th 17France
Dear mother & father & all at home
Well father I am writing this in reply to your letter of Sunday Dec. 9th I received Edward's at the same time which he sent on the same date. I just taking them a week exactly to come. I also had the Sunday Companion and John Bull from Uncle Edwin so I am writing by return but they wont be posted till Monday. Well I only sent little Edwin & Miriam a letter yesterday and today received there Christmas cards quite safe for which I thank them very much indeed. Well I have sent none of my cards yet but you will get them a day or so after this. I will have to send Uncle Edwin is card the same time as this letter for him to have it before coming over to spend Christmas with you wishing him the best of good wishes for a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year with you all. I am pleased to read in your both letters of an improvement for the best with my grandmother hoping she is alright now hoping she enjoys the very best of health over Christmas and the New Year and onwards. Well father I am sorry to hear that Andrew's mother as not heard from him lately but I trust you have had better news since. It is about a month or so since I wrote him last and I have not had an answer from him yet but please don't say anything about this to Mrs. Jones but as soon as I hear any news from him I will let you know. Trusting that he is still alright. Well I am pleased Mrs. Colly is being well looked after and will be gone home by you get this. Well we are having similar weather to you these last few days very cold indeed also it blows very like snow but we manage to keep warm fairly well with having plenty of clothes and we are kept busy and another thing is we are getting hardened to the weather. Well father & mother & all it is very good of you in sending another parcel. I can't express my thanks to you. Well you should see the mail which comes now hundreds of Christmas parcels for the troops whom are eagerly looking forward to them and I am sure I have had my share up to now for which I can only thank you at home also Fred & Arthur. I would be very much obliged to you if you would send me the Flintshire Observer weekly as it is eagerly looked forward to hear by the troops so I know you will send me a local paper so that I can have the news of the district also send about a dozen envelopes. I have a fair amount but am afraid of running short as I am in a bad place for getting them. Only send a few because the gum gets stuck before being used if I have too many. Well father I am pleased to hear of all the motors going on alright yes we will have some good motor rides when the war is over and we are able to get petrol. Well I am pleased to hear of Harry Maddock's being home on leave I am sure he as had a good spell out here without a leave. Well I must thank you all for all kindnesses & little Edwin & Miriam for the Xmas Cards. Hoping you will receive mine quite safe. So I trust this will find you all quite well wishing you all a Merry Xmas & a Happy New year. From your true son and brother Wilfred from the front.
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29.Tuesday Dec. 18th 17France
Dear brother Edward & all at home
Well Edward I received your most kind letter quite safe on Sunday Dec. 16th along with father's kind long letter also Edwin & Miriam Xmas cards both letters being sent on the same date Sun. Dec. 9th 17. Well I am very pleased to hear of grandmother being on the improvement. So I hope by you receive this that she is alright. Well I am pleased to hear of the motor cycles all being in the best of order and I am sure that now there is no petrol to be had they are best stored away and tuned up a bit also kept clean so that when the war is over and we are allowed to motor as we used to in pre-war days we shall have as fine a stock of machines as anyone in the district and besides it does no machine any good to be out in all weathers neither is paraffin any good to the engines but we have had to have substitutes for many things during this war. Well I hope by now you have heard from Gomer & Fred and that they are going on alright also I trust Harry Connah is going on alright. Well Edward I have been wondering how Charlie Connah is going on now that he has joined the army. Please tell me Edward in your next letter what part he is at training also what Regiment he is in but he is only just 18 so he as the best of hopes of not seeing this place because I think myself that it will be over in the early New Year. I also hope Bob Davidson's brother Edward is still at the Mountain Colliery and will not have to join up. Well Edward remember me to them and give them the compliments of the season from me. Well I suppose Mr. Rogers is still waiting for his engine but it would be of no use to him if he had it now. But we all know his ways he likes things in good order if they are not being used. Well Edward I am sorry to hear that Andrew Jones' mother as not heard from him for so long but sometimes you are not able to post your letters out here for nearly a week through being on the move but I do hope Andrew is alright. Well Edward I am leaving you to write on the backs of the Xmas cards to Aunt Mary & Frank & Mr. & Mrs. Rogers. Wishing them all also all of you at home the very best of wishes for a Merry Xmas & a Happy New Year. From your ever true son & brother Wilfred. Thank you for all your kindness.
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30.Wednesday December 19th 17France
Dear mother & father & all at home
Well I was very pleased to receive both father's & Edward's letters sent on Wed. & Thursday Dec.12th & 13th today Tuesday Dec. 18th So I must thank you very much for the news
And am writing you both by return. Well I am pleased to hear of an improvement in my grandmother for the best and all the rest of you at home being quite well so I trust by you receive this that grandmother is quite well again. Well I must thank you mother & father & all for the two parcels which you say you sent last Thursday. I have not yet received them but will let you know as soon as I get same. I can see I must look forward to a good time when they arrive. We can't say when they will arrive as they are delayed a lot at present through millions crossing over here for the troops but I trust that I shall get them somewhere about Xmas. Well I think the Chapel is doing a wise thing in sending money for us out here as we can buy things which we mostly need and we can buy things, well the majority of things, cheaper out here than in Blighty. Well father I am very pleased indeed to hear that you saw the tank in Liverpool, I am quite sure it would attract a lot from all parts. A pal of mine hear had a letter from home and he says his parents went to see it on the Monday but we think nothing of seeing them here as we see hundreds of them while up the line. Well I did not expect to hear of Dai being on his draught leave so soon after having Scarlet Fever but I suppose we all have to obey orders while in the army. I know he wont like coming out hear again but I don't think any of us will be here much longer. Well there seems to be a lot going to India by your letter father from Buckley. I know the two whom you mention alright. So I wish them both a safe return shortly. Well we have had a downfall of snow here a few inches deep and we have had heavy frosts since it still keeps bitter cold so we are expecting more snow before it is any warmer but this sort of weather is more welcome to us than a lot of rain and we must be thankful to be in huts where we are able to have a nice fire we are able to get plenty of wood from the village which is in ruins close by which as been left in retreat by the Hun so you can see we are all thankful for small mercies. Well I suppose George will be hard on the lookout for work at present ready to begin the new year at a fresh job so I wish you luck George to get a job which you will take interest in seeing that you don't take interest in the business at home but it wouldn't do for us all to be the same. I find out myself that there will be no job to suit me like the one I left at home repairing. I always took the greatest of interest in it and always will do if I am spared to get back home again. Well I hope before you get this that you have had my five Xmas cards also all the others had theres Fred & Arthur Uncle Edwin & Mr. & Mrs. Wainwright. Anyway I sent them a week in advance. Well I have no more news to tell you at present so must bring these few lines to a close, wishing all of you at home also all my many friends a Merry Xmas & a Happy New year. Thanking all of you for your many kindness and good wishes will write again shortly also I will let you know as soon as I receive your parcels. Wishing to be remembered to my many friends and give them my compliments of the season. With love from your ever tru & loving son & brother Wilfred.
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31.
Wednesday Dec. 19th 17
Dear brother Edward & all at home
Well Edward thank you for your most kind letter of Dec. 12th which I received along with father's his being sent a day after. Well Edward you must excuse me I have not the news either the time to write you a long letter but the other to you all as all the news but I always like to answer all your letters if it is only a line or so. Well Edward I thank you for Gomer's address I will be able to write to him now as soon as I have a chance. Well I think it is a good thing that the Chapel are sending money as the boys will be able to buy what they like. Well we have had a downfall of snow and are expecting more as it is cold enough for it. I am pleased to hear of all the motors being in such good order, hoping we will be able to have a good spin together shortly but it is too cold at present. Well Edward I hope you have heard again from Fred & Harry Connah with the very best of news. I am sorry to hear of Dai being on his draught to come out here on the 21st wishing him the very best of luck, but I don't think any of us will be here much longer. So must close wishing you all a merry Xmas & a Happy New Year from your ever true & sincere brother Wilfred.
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32.Sunday Dec. 23rd 17
Dear mother & father & all at home
Well I must thank you all dearly for all which I have received from you during the last few days. Sorry to say we have been unable to send our letters but now I take the greatest of pleasure in writing this to you all trusting you have had my Christmas Cards. Well on the 21st I received your two parcels together in good condition and everything in them alright. The rabbit is splendid also the mince pies, cakes, sweets, chocolate, bread and all which you sent. I could not have wished them to come at a better time just when we were settled down for a bit. I can't express my many thanks to you all for all you sent. Well at the same time I had father's long letter sent on the 15th Edward's of the 13th also Aunt Mary's Fred Griffiths sent 14th & 15th I also had the one sent from the Chapel with the 5/- Postal Order quite safe so am trying to write a letter in reply with many thanks for their kindness. Well on the 22nd I received Frank's kind letter with Xmas card quite safe for which I do thank him so you can see I have some corresponding to do to last me a day or so. Well father I am pleased to hear you are keeping busy selling Gramaphones Cycles etc. which I am sure livens things up a bit. It will be busy around Cropper's now with the Picture Palace being opened hoping he has a fine show in store for us. Well father they have soon got Mr. Rogers brother in Italy haven't they pleased to hear they are seeing such good things. Well I am pleased to hear of grandmother being a lot better so by now I trust she is quite alright and that you have all had a merry Xmas, wishing you all a Happy New Year but I must thank you all for your many good wishes. Well you say you are having more snow we have only had one downfall and since then it has frozen heavy. Well I have had a good time up to now with receiving your parcels and other things so I can't grumble in the least. Well Ant Mary says Gomer may be home for Xmas so I wish him a jolly good time with you all. Tell him Edward I am going to write him as soon as ever I get a chance. Well you say that Uncle Edwin is coming over for a few days so I hope he has a good time with you and you have some nice weather like we are having. Well you can imagine us now everyone getting parcels and don't we have a good time together we all share out and each get a taste of one another's parcel we aren't half making the best of things out here but I don't think we shall be out here much longer as we are nearing the finish fast so I must once again thank you all for all which you have sent will write Edward again trusting this will find you all as it leaves me in the best of everything. From your ever true & loving brother Wilfred.
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33.
27th December 17
France
Dear mother & father & all at home
Well father I received your most kind letter yesterday the 26th which you sent on the 21st
Well the parcel you sent the next day Friday the 22nd I have just received quite safe and everything alright the sausage rolls & cakes, eggs, tin of biscuits & tin of coffee-au-lait, sweets, so I must thank you very much one again. Pleased to say this parcel came in 5 days. Well father I am very pleased to hear of you all being quite well also that you are busy with motors & cycles I would just like to be with you now father helping all I could but I am hoping it wont be long before I am with you again. It is just the weather for motoring & cycling if you are having it like us. I was very pleased to read in your letter father of Mr. Griffiths selling his car to Mr. Booth I think myself that Mr. Booth will be able to make his money out of it. I am sure he has got it cheap. Well you state you have Fred's Enfield alright which will do him better service than a car. I suppose his car as been lying idle since I was on leave with you I was also pleased to hear you had the spindles for the Enfield you use it will be in tip top order again. Well father I am pleased to read of Abrahm Messham, Stanley Parry & Sam Iball being home on leave hoping they had a jolly good time with nice weather. You can expect me in the next two or three months that is if it does not come to an end in the meantime. Well we are still going on the same here getting fairly good rations which we can't grumble at at all. Pleased to hear you are also getting a fair share of food. Well you state you dreamed a lot about me on the 20th but as far as I can remember nothing appeared of any importance to me you need not trouble I will always let you know what I am going through as far as I am allowed. Well father I am pleased you are keeping in touch with the Enfield people if it is only getting spare parts because they are as fine a machine as any which will be the thing to deal with after the war. Well I am sorry Mr. Rogers as not had is engine as yet but I hope he gets it soon as they have had it long enough now. Will now close wishing to be remembered to all my many friends with kindest regards I am not short of anything only those small things I mentioned in my last letter with love to all from your true & ever loving son & brother Wilfred.
Author: Owens, Wilfred, 1898-1918
Tags
Year = 1917
Month = September
Day = 1
Document = Letter
Gender = Male
People = Single
Work = Military
Extra = Military
Extra = WW1
Extra = 1910s
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