Z1360/1/16

Letter (single sheet) from Wilfred Hammond, marked: In the Field. August 1st 1916 Dear All I must first thank you for parcel received to-day. I am sorry to say that the cakes were absolutely pulverised. I think it would be good policy to send a stronger box. Those boxes are alright but by the time they get here it is matter of 6 pieces of card- board tucd round some parcels. The lemonade was especially appreciated as I had just come in from a digging party on the hottest day I remember lately. It was Cocoa I asked for, Mother, not Coffee but don’t send any more until I ask. With the coffee and books I shall be able to have some hot drinks in my dug-out when I come off night work. Will you tell me whether this is all, as one tin has fallen out of box?:- Café, chocolate, salt, soap, lemonade, potash crystals, cooker & refills, cigarettes, Cake and Toasties (no more please!) & Tin Fruit Spearmint. I have lost my ordinary pencil so am now using about 1½” of one of my old “3H” Drawing pencils. Hence particularly erratic & faint writing. Last night three of us had had a pass into a town near here & just before leaving we picked up another of our fellows just as we were going into an estaminet for chips, eggs, rolls & coffee. This new arrival, did not want any chips so when Madam was about 1½ feet away, he let go in a very sharp voice with full power of his lungs “ I don’t want any chips, no chips for me”. It was probably a similar idea to that of deaf people who always shout, only with languages to blame. Any how it startled everyone & then made them laugh. I am writing this letter, sitting in a field, in the perfect evening of a sweltering hot day & the ‘cussed insects seem to regard my nice bare knees as a trenching ground. The card I am sending is gaudy but is a new design. My Company is “C”, Mother, so please put it on letters. Love. Wilf

1 August 1916

From: 1916 To: 1916

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France, letters, service personnel, overseas (WW1), King's Royal Rifle Corps, , lemonade, cocoa, coffee, books, salt, tobacco, eggs, cafes, weather