Date of Letter:
1916/04/22
Summary:
In which Gordon Munro replies to the letter Jessie Munro sent him from Bermuda. Includes description of current accommodations at a Chateau and the conditions endured on the previous night's "carrying party". Also, mention is made of fellow soldiers overseas known to the Munro family.
Transcription:
Saturday, Apr. 22/16
Belgium
Dear Mother, -
I got your letter written from Bermuda, 2 days ago. I was about half asleep when it came in at night so I just laid it down by my head to read in the morning. I got up & looked for it & it was gone. I found it on the floor half burnt, somebody had lit a cigarette with it. all I could make out was the name of the place you were at & that you were having a good time. I suppose you will be back by now.
We are staying in a Chateau just now. Its a fine big white stone building. Every thing was at one time just fine around here but its broken up a little with shells & so on. The grounds have fountains in them & drive ways & a big moat surrounds it. There are some fine big trees in it too, but everything is torn up & smashed. The room I am in is a peach there are about 7 big French windows that open on to a verandah, a fine big fire-place & arched door ways. I sleep on the floor with my head in the fire-place & my feet out the doorway. Brock sleeps in the wine cellar away down. He is in a place where a big barrel or something used to be. Its shell proof where he is. I was up this morning before breakfast & washed & shaved, something unusual as its not a healthy place to wash. For breakfast we had tea, toast, bacon & honey, who wouldn't be a soldier? Last night we had a great time. We went on a carrying party to the front line with ammunition. We left about 8.30 p. m. in a pouring rain & stood around waiting till 11.30 & then got our loads & started. The way was very rocky & every other foot was a shell hole & full of water. splash bang! you'd go right into one with the box on top of you. I walked into one right up to the waist. at first every one was sore but they soon got laughing at each other falling. We got to a place & had to go through a gap in a hedge & the Huns opened a machine gun on it just as we got there. every one flopped in the mud & you could hear the bullets hit in the ground, no one was hit & we started again & got to our depot pretty well tired out. The journey back was'nt bad & we had a good sleep but rather a damp one. All I have is my great coat & it got wet when I fell in the shell hole.
Last week I was near Kenneth Marlatt & Charlie Kerr but could'nt get to see either of them. I saw the Shelleys & Scott & Fussell. Brock saw Monk Tuck too. Quite a while ago I got a message from Charlie Kerr. He was at some school & met one of our officers there & told him to see if I was all right as you hadnt heard from me for some time. I guess it was Grace told him; so I got busy & wrote right away.
Tomorrow is Easter Sunday. We are to have a service I think. Its not much like last Easter. Tell Mr. Cowan I got his letter & will write him soon. I had a letter from "Pugno & Bill." Well I guess I'll have to wring off & get busy at my rifle. It fell in the hole with me last night. I got the parcel with the shirt & chocolates allright & it was sure welcome. best regards to all the neighbors.
love to all
Gordon
Enclosing one of Bill's Espistles which I'd like you to keep.
Apr 22 1916
Belgium
Dear Mother, -
I got your letter written from Bermuda, 2 days ago. I was about half asleep when it came in at night so I just laid it down by my head to read in the morning. I got up & looked for it & it was gone. I found it on the floor half burnt, somebody had lit a cigarette with it. all I could make out was the name of the place you were at & that you were having a good time. I suppose you will be back by now.
We are staying in a Chateau just now. Its a fine big white stone building. Every thing was at one time just fine around here but its broken up a little with shells & so on. The grounds have fountains in them & drive ways & a big moat surrounds it. There are some fine big trees in it too, but everything is torn up & smashed. The room I am in is a peach there are about 7 big French windows that open on to a verandah, a fine big fire-place & arched door ways. I sleep on the floor with my head in the fire-place & my feet out the doorway. Brock sleeps in the wine cellar away down. He is in a place where a big barrel or something used to be. Its shell proof where he is. I was up this morning before breakfast & washed & shaved, something unusual as its not a healthy place to wash. For breakfast we had tea, toast, bacon & honey, who wouldn't be a soldier? Last night we had a great time. We went on a carrying party to the front line with ammunition. We left about 8.30 p. m. in a pouring rain & stood around waiting till 11.30 & then got our loads & started. The way was very rocky & every other foot was a shell hole & full of water. splash bang! you'd go right into one with the box on top of you. I walked into one right up to the waist. at first every one was sore but they soon got laughing at each other falling. We got to a place & had to go through a gap in a hedge & the Huns opened a machine gun on it just as we got there. every one flopped in the mud & you could hear the bullets hit in the ground, no one was hit & we started again & got to our depot pretty well tired out. The journey back was'nt bad & we had a good sleep but rather a damp one. All I have is my great coat & it got wet when I fell in the shell hole.
Last week I was near Kenneth Marlatt & Charlie Kerr but could'nt get to see either of them. I saw the Shelleys & Scott & Fussell. Brock saw Monk Tuck too. Quite a while ago I got a message from Charlie Kerr. He was at some school & met one of our officers there & told him to see if I was all right as you hadnt heard from me for some time. I guess it was Grace told him; so I got busy & wrote right away.
Tomorrow is Easter Sunday. We are to have a service I think. Its not much like last Easter. Tell Mr. Cowan I got his letter & will write him soon. I had a letter from "Pugno & Bill." Well I guess I'll have to wring off & get busy at my rifle. It fell in the hole with me last night. I got the parcel with the shirt & chocolates allright & it was sure welcome. best regards to all the neighbors.
love to all
Gordon
Enclosing one of Bill's Espistles which I'd like you to keep.
Apr 22 1916
Object ID:
2017.22.88