Z1360/1/5

Letter (3 sheets) from Wilfred Hammond, marked: Same Address Saturday No. 2 Dear People I received the excellent parcel yesterday, and although as soon as I picked it up I swore and blinded (incidentally poisoning 2 wells) as I could feel that the box was smashed in. I found an opening that, owing to the precautions taken, it was in excellent (sic – it’s the effect of leaving the “c” (sea) at the last camp!) condition with only one of the pieces of cake broken and that not bad. We (myself and my pals) sampled the cake at tea-time and all pronounced it was “tres bonne”. Ditto the sandwich and rolls. Whose work were they? When I found the jelly with the bit out I was going to nail it up in the hut to show the fellows that a "pig debit” of a sister I have. Unfortunately the nail flew back and hit me on the “Boko”. Today I received from Mother the letter and 20/- postal order for which many thanks. I am afraid I should very often receive an empty mail (rotten experience) if it were not for Mother. Owing to shifts etc. I forgot to mention it before but while at (censored), the last camp, I received the letters that you first sent to me when you knew I had gone abroad. It was peculiar to read them after so long a period. Yes Mother, I did happen to see about the new aeroplane that went to Lille, in the Daily Mail. It was a big pity but cannot be helped. Did you notice where it crossed our line? Is Lou getting on with camp life any better or is he still hating it? Very few of us realise that we are in France as it seems merely like a change in training camps. We are at present doing the same work as before. We got served out with, together with a number of other things, a sun shield affair that fastens on the cap and hangs down the neck and makes us look like Arabs. We get very good “grub” really and most things are tinned. We get real butter in tins, apricot and peach preserve in tins (very fine!) and last but not least “Bully beef” and vegetables in tins. Dinner is our worst meal as it consists of tinned stuff stewed up and possesses many weird and wonderful flavours. We are free from 6 pm to 8.30 pm, with lights out at 9.15 pm and must not leave the camp as we are not allowed in the towns. (If any of you would like any of those silk pictures, etc. and will let me know I will get them, as I don’t know whether you care for them.) The money out here is quite a wangle as most people accept English cash and an English “bob” is worth 1/2d. in French cash or 1 franc 40 cents. One goes in somewhere and gives in a bob for some goods and gets the stuff and staggers away with a handful of copper and silver (apparently) coins with 10’s, 25’s and 50’s stamped on at random. One feels quite wealthy until one realises that 50 centimes is worth only 5d. It is owing to the decreased value of the French cash. I was standing near a French hawker yesterday and near me stood a Cameron Highlander, (No you’re wrong, it did not turn out to be one of our boys) One of the French kiddies, hanging round said, pointing to the kilt “You mademoiselle?” (sic) Comprenez? Cigarettes and tobacco can be bought here cheaper than in England thus: a 4d. packet of fags can be bought for 3d. I want to get this off by dinner time so I’ll knock off. Yours with love Wilf

n.d. [June 1916]

From: 1916 To: 1916

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France, letters, service personnel, overseas (WW1), King's Royal Rifle Corps, LANGUAGES, , aircraft, coins, money, Cameron Highlanders, tobacco