Letters from William Rawson Leach to his family, 1918 - Part 13

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open to contributions
Accession number:
AWM2018.19.105
Difficulty:
4

Page 1 / 10

04 RaAE AUSTRAHN MPERIAL POROY. 0 kindred during onr advi St bi da beather was 1 the but dd not i O by their getting date motherfX a Also letters 2 lette be on the all ecls 1h wot on me for me birehdo the not tu will ae convse o 7 erreed F.T.O.
M3 at tile 53 to held pi d expect But there is lot 6 them extendn balk of came to st days after the not of Actober tue matt 4 A bol 4 2 17 day 5 JR Thop st da nd the bad cawson o ov eaC P.S. d Ser thene delible Rsturn this lettee to me Withen Geacl Rtt Wer Memoral ReSHH
On. Reture Service 31 MA Leach Mrs Victoria St Parke New Soutt Arale australia
3S Rosemomit Horsforth 16. Oct 18 Dear Father. I am enclosing a letter which I wrote on sept 10 expecting to come on my lave anyday but I dran't get my leare tall a month later still the contents will be interesting to you. You wist have learned by this time that I am o lave as ssent you a cable sic day a go fyou should have got it within Iehouts ass sent it at the feill rate I have just had a week of my leave & am having a lovely time. We landed at Folkestone last Wednerday madday from Bonlogne (2t hes sail) & then came up to London got fixed up at Horseferry Rd & was fill that evening my pal & Iwent to the Adelphi Sheaths that night we stopped at a Hotil in Trafalgar square Is went out to see auntance the next morning came back into town in the afternoon & did some shopping & then caught the express to Glas gow & arwed there at 64h Friday morning we went for a bryp down hoch the bank of the Clydl throng Lomonds along
the shibuilding yards saw the wonderul Fiith of Forth Bridge & altogether had a very busy day but it was justlovely & the scending your Loch homond was beautiful I never saw the likes of it Every one was most hospitable Icouldn't do enough for us Glasgow reminds me very much of Melbourhe & it is a great comonsicial centre. Plenty of munition works etc there. We left again that evening at 9 oclock &came down through Fretna, Motherwell & one or two other by munition centres my Pat left me at Dumfries & went across to Irelaid & I cane down to Bradford arrived there at 4.25 AM Saturday. I had some breakfeast + a few lonss sleep at the soldier clut I arrived at Mrs Baxindalls about nine oclock & received a right royal welcome. That afternoon Mr Bascer dall Is went for a walk found alterton & saw a lot of your old pals. finig soccrgt Situs Kmight & seveaal Robertshaws & they all wished to be kindly remembered to you & were quite pleased to see a son of yours. On the sunday morning & went rome
to see Uncle goes wife + children + ther are all well the hwo goil are fine women &all weree pleased to see me. We also went to see Marjory Graven Sunday afternoon I went over to Willesden & saw Aunt Emma + her children + received another hearty welcoms + we had such an enjoyable afternoon together (bye the way Alike + mary sed thei love to marg they tell some fine tales of her) on the monday morning Mr Baxendall +d set off to have a look round the mills. First of all we went to the mill where He + on served your apprenticeship + I saw the room where you used to work. Your old Foreman Johnny Goldibors showed us round &he told me all about your anties & the capers you used to cot He also said you were the best whestler in Alterton & we thad quite a long chat together. Then we went to sir games Hills mill what they call the top mill I ecpect you will know where it is & had a good look round at the comi & spinning & it was so interestin watching the processes & maching that
(4 it had to pass through. Then we went down to Sowdens at Landly hane & saw the weaving of the cloth + that was just as interesting watching the hundreds of looms working. I dont think Tenr spens 3o interesting a day in my life. Overyone one did what they could for me & I became the centre of attraction when they leamed that I was sam heachs son On sunday night I was doing nothing but receiving visitons at Mrs. Barandall there were about half a dozen came to see mc. Mr &Mrs Baxendal & Ethel were most kind to me + they wouldn't let buy a chin nor pay for anything wherever they ivery with me. I left there on monday afternoon by the 4.30 train & came on to beed where I am at present. Yesterday Annie & I went up to Middlesmoor Pateley Bridge hofthouse How steen we also had a couple of hours in Harrogate & Sam greatly taken up with Harrogate it seem such a modern place with its massine buildings & uptodate shops Ienjoyed my outing & mother will be interesten to know that ahave seen all these places
2 Whedsshe spent all her goilhood day I saw, Shwaite House & also where mother lived at Lofthouse. Ionly wished that you + mother conld have been with ome. We cand down to Guiseley & then got the brain back to Horsforth & spent the evening with Mr & Mrs Loster who are great friends of Aunties. Sonight I am going to George tennings to tea. how mother & Father & think I will have to close & will write still you of the latter portion of my leane from Ancle Dred if I get the time to write. My letters have been irregular the last month but we couldit get then posted during the great advance I wilt wal the laster part of my exploits on to the letter which I wrote on sept up to the time Ilyt the Batter 100 to come on leave. Pass these letters round to the family & you the understand then why I have perhas nejuected writing them. Am going to Searbor tomovrow + then down to Dondon from Shence oct. to France on the 23 Had seven letters from Olive waiting for me at uncle Freds also a pet + some 4 papers Will now hove to close love Kawior
For Cod. Farking & For Country. $15 PhISSN SMHON V.M.C.A. NATIONAL COUNCIL MILITARY GAMP DEPT. H.M. THE KINE SNNN Trajalgarana London Kepty to Corban 2856 Bol 2210 1318 Dear Mother. a few lines to bepyou d know show I have spent the latter end of my holidin seeng that tomorrow morning I pleave for France by the 6 of in train from Victoria station. Idyt Leeds on Shunsdang morning & went to York Annis Walmstey came with me & we spent the moning havnn a look round York & the Cathedral wa very interesting I went on to Scartoro b that nadday brain & arrived there about 3.30 in the afternoon. They were all pleasur tosee me & every one sends their love to you. Pleft Searboroo Saturday mornn arriving back at London at5 PM. Went straight out to Uncle Fred & spenk the week end there. I came into the city yesterday morning + met my mate who had returned from Ireland the day previous
to the city. In the evenin to my Morri Dlewellyn who is in the Smut Bank here in London + we went G Wealth Stafterbury Sheatrs. I gotbackout to the norwood at mednight. This morning to Wiest I diding get out of bed till 10 Am sotoe good rest - came into town about Midday & have been shippy this afternoon bought myself a good waterproof coat- & pair of gloves & sundry other articles. I didnt draw any more money from Ms Londons office only the po that I got when I landed here a fortenig ago. the tuy cost me about $34.30 I consider I sdid very well seeng the proces of things over here Anyway I have had a good time & thoroughly ejoyed myself & that to the main thing. I am stopping at the Grosvever. Gardins Y MCa tonight as it is sright alongside the station. I woul be a bit hard good buck to France again + no donbt will take a day or so to get into the Collar but we are all in the best of spirits & we are begining sto see the silver lining of the cloud which has been hanging over our head for the past four years. I wouldnt be a bit surprised to see the whole business over

Start transcribing

Log in Sign up

Last edited by:
Transcriber 28006Transcriber 28006
Last edited on:

Last updated: