Reference
X985/6
Title
Undated letter from William George Tompkins to his wife
Date free text
Probably 1916
Production date
From: 1916 To: 1916
Scope and Content
Undated letter from William George Tompkins to his wife as follows: Dear Wify I hope you have plenty of work to do to help you along nicely not too much to knock yourself up you know for it won’t do to have two old crocks at 21 sitting round the fire which I hope & pray won’t be very long for me to wait bow in fact I felt bad enough several times for a Blighty Case but not my Luck but I hope soon the War will all be over & Peace all over the World. I am sure Tommy would be pleased everyone I should think is about fed up. I could tell you some tales perhaps if God Spares me which I hope He will you will have something to listen to for a few minutes. I was very unfortunate in slipping down and hurt my bottom part of my back & with the diarrhoea I can tell you I have been having a pretty rotten time they told me to duck my head when the shells came over & burst. I did too quickly and had some nasty bumps too but they saved me though I then I went through a lot of mud slush & wet earlier & got a bit of a cold. Its not all Honey & Jam I can tell you. Is Mr Lane still about remember me kindly to him also Mr and Mrs Doyle in the Brewery (Oh for a Caffyn) once again . Hope Boy and Knibbs are all right. Fancy you letting the machine go rusty you ought to keep it oiled & going as well as the Fires Burning till your Boy Comes Home again.
Dear Wife When I get settled I will write directly as shall want a parcel I think please one or two things as socks an old shirt & handkerchief but will let you know directly & how I get fixed up for things as perhaps I may get issued out with a few more as I went you never know in the Army till the time comes. I get overwhelmed with fags & tobacco they issued me fags in Hospital Red X train almost everywhere Tommy gets fags. Some of course get through them quickly but I hang mine out I keep them in a tin case the one you first sent me containing chocolate the first parcel. Do you hear anything of Bob & Emmie should like to know how Poor Old Bob is they never answered my letter & also how is Cousin Harry getting on I owe them a letter too but cannot write to all. I must & shall write to you dear while and when I can. I do hope and pray soon our prayers will be answered & God will let us see one another again oh how I long for that happy time. I think I shall go mad with joy. I trust God in His good time will surely grant our requests & also keep & protect us all out here & hasten the time when one & all can see dear ones and Home Sweet Home the one & only Blighty. Remember me to Mr Pain & Mr & Mrs Rhodes if you see them any time & Cheer oh Keep Smiling. Is the Empire still running at Wood Green?
Level of description
item