Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    Z1360/1/56
  • Title
    Letter (6 sheets) from Wilfred Hammond, marked: BEF France April 22nd 1917 My Dear People I am writing on a grand day (and my knee) and am consequently feeling in good spirits. It is a very peculiar spring isn’t it? Fine weather and yet quite cold. As you will probably have guessed I haven’t the faintest idea what to write about but felt that I ought to make the attempt, so if it is a “dud” letter you will have to “bob your noddle”. Surprised to hear that Lou Downing is back in England again. Some people do strike it lucky, don’t they? You speak as if you expect him to get discharged; I should think not, personally. You needn’t worry about Bob, for if he was sent out here (which I very much doubt) he would be alright and not in the danger zone, probably. You need not tell him I said so though. Believe me there are some fine back of the line jobs out here. If Downing was with the Battalion that I think he was with, he has been within a few hundred yards of me, continually, although I never saw him. I note Mrs. Mills' address and will write. I hope your nighties are the success you anticipate, Eva and May, and I suppose you praying now for a Zeppelin alarm. Yes? Re Charlie Gent, your description of a cavalry man tickled me and my pals greatly. Just fancy, in the third year of the war too”. No wonder we are winning. I’ll wager the river at Bedford looks fine, but damn cold, all the same. How did you like the book, “The Lieutenant and others” Dad? Eva tells me you have been reading it. I thought it very good, personally. Pimples! I don’t grow them, I farm the things, with the lack of vegetables consequent upon Active Service. Will you please send me out a table of “Cuticura” soap? I only sent that ribbon, May, because it happens to be the original piece, and thus has some sentimental value. Since then I have had lots of pieces for it quickly gets dirty and one must keep fairly smart, although on “Active Service”. Do you know that the man that pinned it on is rumoured to have prophesied the end of the war in 5 weeks. He didn’t say from when though. There is a yarn attached to the brooch, May, if you want one, but I knew you wouldn’t believe me. Here is is – a month or two ago I bought a brooch exactly the same, from a small village that hadn’t been shelled for a good while. I put the brooch in my pocket and went down to the village some 5 days later, where to my surprise I found that the Church had been bumped quite a lot. Now the shop was quite close to the Church and shells aimed at one spot never all hit their object, so consequently this shop stopped a shell in the upper storey. Although, I believe, there were no casualties, it is quite unpleasant to have one’s front bedroom blown inside out, so the occupants retired at the double. All this being so I searched for the brooch to send it in a hurry for I knew you would value it more. Naturally, I had lost it but you can tell what yarn you like. An “India rubber Jack” is a Staff Sergeant of Physical Exercises, otherwise known as a “Physical Jerks King”. Got me? Finish now. Much love, Wilf
  • Date free text
    22 April 1917
  • Production date
    From: 1917 To: 1917
  • Level of description
    item
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