Letters Thomas Charles Richmond Baker 1916-1917 - Part 2

belts & a muffler to jab round my tummy

in case of attack by diarrohea. Well

I would rather have an attack of

above mentioned than a lice harbour

& would want a "batman" to carry

my portmanteau if I put in everything.

You see we only have our haversacks

[?] that is brimming over. We can

usually manage without a few

things you know. Not that I'm

ungrateful or anything like that,

but grub, or thin shirts & socks 

are the things - I can always get rid 

of socks to the fellows & have been

able to give away dozens of pairs.

I received a bonza tooth

brush from the A & N stores London,

forwarded at Aunties request I think

The dates of the letters

I received were up to 3 July or

thereabouts & former ones were June

28th or thereabouts. Those 3^d July were

on awaiting mail if you remember

Had a very nice letter from

7.

Ray Young. I spose he will be coming

over soon. Says he saw you all Keswick

Hospital?

Glad Jeff likes School of Mines & is

doing so well there. I would love to

see him in 'longins" must look a

trick.

Did I tell you that while at the "rest

camp," I had a bonzer "case" c-a-s-e

full of things from the Gordon stores. It

had a card in it from "The Mob". You

"dear old things". it was a beauty. The

things were just it. The cigarettes & baccy

from Auntie were just the identical.

There was a large jar or brown, 1 doz matches in

a tin box, ½ doz great fat candles, 2 tins/great

big ones) of fruit, 1 cake in tin, 1 box Short bread,

                            & don't forget a large box of beautiful Cadbury's choc gingers

1 bottle sauce ^ [?} I can't remember the rest.

Anyhow, you will be glad to know I

got it & it was the best I've had. It

had to be forwarded through the A.S.C.

Whilst at the rest camp, I also

got bought a small spirit stove & got

an old water bottle & filled up with

methylated spirit. It works just it,[?] 

8.

when I'm on O.P. duty or night duty [?]

very often during the day I use it to

make porridge or coffee etc. It is very

handy, but the spiritis is very hard to get.

Can't be got everywhere & I've nearly 

run out now. However [?] we've got 

the wood stove which is perfect [?]can

always get wood from the old trenches

The quantity of stores lying about

must amount to an enormous worth

in £.s.d.

I have lots of letters to write

Ma dear, so will have to shut up.

I guess you will be thankfull to

know how well my letters & parcels 

have been turning up. It is bonza

to get 'em I can tell you.

All my love to the chilluns [?]

yourself in case I can't scrape up time

to write 'em. Auntie is next.

So long / or short

From your loving son

Rich.

x x x x x x x x x x x x 

P.S.

The boat Manual is very

good & interesting, & I

spend some time

perusing it.

France.

21st Nov. 1916.

Dearest Ma,

Now let me see,

As I told Rho this, I mean

tomorrow will be the anniversary

of our leaving Aust. an incident

I shall never forget. Dear old

Ma I do hope to be back

'ere long. Unfortunately I will

not be able to have Christmas

dinner at home after all, will

I? I must have missed

the boat.

Today my mail

turned up in force. Twelve

letters, so I'm going home to

answer them I had a P.S.

attached to Rhoda's letter from

Miss Cooper who seems to be

just IT. I'm going to write to

her for a joke . She called

me Rich. I'm hanged if I

know wether to open fire

2

by "Dearest Edith" or "Dear Miss

Cooper" Anyhow I will manage

to start shomehow I suppose.

Things are getting

along the same as usual.

Its dashed cold though &

my toes are hanging out of

my boots, so I have had

to borrow a pair of gummies.

Three days ago, we experienced

our first fall of snow. It

was about an inch thick &

a prettier sight it would be

hard to imagine. The day

before it snowed (which it

did early in the morning) the

temperature was at Zero at

midday & the ice didn't even

make an attempt to melt

with the sun doing its best

to make it. The ice

on the pools was about

1¼ to 2" thick in places would

3.

stand my weight. I might

tell you our issue of rum,

just a mouthful to warm

us up before turning in, is

very acceptable this weather,

as it kind of burns the

insides out of you.

Another thing which

might be of interest, is

that I have had a good

look at the 'tanks," which

so puzzled so  many of

us as well as old "Fritz".

I hadn't the faintest notion

of what they would be

like & they fairly take ones

breath away, I can tell 

you. Absolutely wonderful

One which we pass on our

way to the O.P. is completely

wrecked inside. The petrol

was evidently ignited &

4.

the "tank"completly gutted

All the ammunition was

exploded, & the floor

covered thick with blown

out ammunition machine gun cartridges. By the

side is a grave, with a

cross knocked up of

ammunition boxes bearing

the inscription "To two unknown TANK heroes," &

by jove I raise my steel

lid every time I pass.

Some heroes those. I

can tell you. It would

be like going full steam

ahead for Hades inside

a steelbox.

I had a letter

from Cousin Lyle. It was

very nice, & she must be

another of those decent

old or middle aged sports.
Rest of no interest

2.

[[boshter?]], [[glorifious?]], [[magnobe?]]
Christmas case which
arrived in good condition
although rather late
from the stores. I

had had two or three
lovely parcels from
them [[therefore?]] [[duly?] [?]
naturally wrote [?]
thanked you all for
the Christmas parcels
but lo & behold up
she sailed in a great
box about four feet
by two x two ft six.
Imagine me. We
were going to move
out next day but we
had a jolly [[fire?]] action
in one of the gun pits.
& about a dozen of
us had a ripping feed
& a jolly good time, &
1. France

 

____________________________________________________________________________

Jan, 23^d 1917
My dearest Ma,
I don't know
when the mail goes
but, I do know that
I have the deuce of a 
lot of letters to answer.
I have just finished
one to Uncle Tom. By
jove, he is a dear old
chap and I reckon I
am lucky to have in
him such a bonza Uncle
I have just
devoured the paper
cuttings contained in Aunty's
last. Absurd to go jabbing

[[?]] in the paper. [[(Here?)]]
Before proceeding
I am going to thank-you
for the beautiful

4.
from you too.
You will be
pleased to know that
we are out of action
for a spell & are having
a jolly decent time.
June 30th.
I'm afraid I spoke too

soon. Ever since I wrote
the last part we have
shifted twice [?] it has
been terrifically cold. The
coldest spell for 21 years
over here. The pools, lakes
& every bit of water
is frozen solid; Boiling
water freezing in about
an hour. After dinner
there is a crust of ice
on your tea if you
forget to drink it.
If you upset any water

 

_____________________________________________________________________________
3. 
we let of the crackers
& had some songs etc
Look here Ma, I dont
know how to thank
you all enough. I
have been just swamped
with parcels & good things
from you dears. Just
yesterday I had a beautiful
lot of clothes from the
Stores. A beautiful
jersey from [[?en?]], & a
glorious waterproof
balaclava, a pair of
woollen underpants &
singlet of such lovely
soft material that I'm
just longing to have
a bath & get into them.
I can tell you the chaps
envy these things. Also
I had a pair of sox

6.
The artillery club seems
as though it will be
a success. Very flash
paper that of yours, isn't it
We were all very
annoyed to hear of the
coal strike. The rotters.
Let me see I
think I didn't tell you
what letter I received.
Well about four. Nov,
12th 16. 28^th & another.
Thanks very much
they were good oh!
Talking about
the trimmed fowl was in
the Christmas parcel I
can tell you it was
A1. & so was all the
rest.
The day before
yesterday a chap new
fellow was attached

 

_____________________________________________________________________________
5.
outside it won't run
down a slope but freezes
before reaching the bottom
We have some good funny
sliding on the ice.
wish I had a pair of
skates. The snow has
been inches thick for
three weeks.
Unless we have
a decent fire it is impossible
to write.
Whilst at the last
place we had leave to
a large town [?] I
sent you a souvenir
a miniature carving of the
cathedral in enamel. I
hope you get it alright.
Glad to hear Wooly
is going ahead.
was very sorry to hear
that Ray Peller was killed

8.
family & Auntie to whom
I send the best of
love.
The day after I
came home from leave
to  — (a town in France) the
Colonel gave me the
ribbon for the M.M. but
I spose you will hear
all about that soon. (Hum)
Now Ma, much
love & many kisses
to all & yourself &
thanks for all your
bonza parcels & letters.
from
yr loving son.
Rich. xxxxx
7.
to the Bty & put in the
"tent" which I am in.
Imagine my suprise
when I saw by his watch
that he was an old Saint's
chap. We talk of the
old days & the good old
times. He goes by the
name of Brown & although
I didn't know him personally
at school I know his
two brothers well. Jeff
will know "Bunny" Brown
& so will [{Bernis]}[[?]]. One
of them is in the A.M.P.
There are two over here.
I am afraid Ma
that this letter will
have to come to an
end now. Also it
will, unless I can [[state?]]
at point & get busy later
Have to do for the

France.
Mar 4^th 1917.
Dearest all,
Well, here we are
again, still going strong.
Watch papers for previous
weeks happenings & you

will see that we have
been exceedingly busy.
Hum, Ho!
It is now close
on midnight. Everything
is all [[?]]. Except
for a fierce [[haste?]] on
our right, all is quiet.
For some time we have
been expecting a large
mail but owing to that
coal strike & the consequent
delay of shipping I suppose
it is held up. However
when it does eventually
come to light, we will