Reference
X985/12
Title
Letter from William George Tompkins [the battalion was then in huts in Martinsart Wood] to his wife
Date free text
7th February 1917
Production date
From: 1917 To: 1917
Scope and Content
Letter from William George Tompkins [the battalion was then in huts in Martinsart Wood] to his wife as follows: My Dearest Wife Rose Just another line to let you know that I am being shifted about & not feeling at all as well as I should like to. I feel bad at times & then I feel all right for a time. I do miss being away from the Boys very much. Concerts have not the slightest attraction for me I may as well sit there deaf & dumb & blind because it all brings back to me our old happy times when I was with my best & only chum my dear wife for no chum yet can I find to come up to her or equal her although some chaps I come in contact with are very nice indeed then I lose them next day. I sometimes think that God has forsaken me as I feel down at times but I don’t think He has or I should not be alive today but I do hope that I shall soon be well & have more cheerful & better news to tell you but I feel I must tell you all as I can and its so bitter cold out here. I never thought the weather could be so severe. I used to think it was cold at Home. But its “some” weather out here I can tell you. Well I am shortly going to see the doctor and shall then know my fate & also know how long I am stopping here perhaps.
Dear Rose I do hope & pray you are well & getting on all right and also not worrying about me its now a fortnight since I have had any letters at all but have written to you 6 or 7 I think. As I know you will be anxious to hear any news of me I am sure. I do hope Dear M & C are both well oh I do think about the good old CHA fire & warmth etc of all old sleep & read etc. give my love to them both also kind remembrance to Mrs Blount & Maggie. Hope they are better in health also Mr Parish, The Clarkes, Mrs V and one and all. I have never yet answered Aunt Carrie’s letter but I wrote a letter to Anderson at Ampthill Camp in answer to one he sent me he & Norling cannot get weekend leave now they are only just beginning & have their share of ill luck. I have never heard from V’s Dudley though I wrote to him does he write to you at all. I wrote to Palmer. I miss my thick sweater has [sic] I have had another one in the its place in Hospital & my shirt could do with a bit more on the end & front as Tommy has to smile while those at Home pray for him and wish him luck he needs it all I am sure. This place where I am now makes about 6 places. I have been up to now. I expect the Base will be the next shift. The food is fairly good of course you cannot have a lot but it is good. We get bread still while you in England cannot get things for any love or money. I read [breaks off here]
Level of description
item