Letters relating to William George Blaskett, 1916-1919 - Part 6

3232 Sgt. W.G.Blaskett

48 Bn

Address Letters

4 ADBD

C/o A.P.O.

Sec 17

B.E.F.

France

10/10/16

My dearest Mother,

I am sure you will be

pleased to hear that I am still in

Base details, and am likely to be here

for some time now.  I have been

appointed to the Instructional Staff of

the 4th Division and am teaching

bayonet fighting & musketry, grenade throwing and giving

lectures on gas helmets & how to use them

etc.  Did I ever tell you I went

to a "gas" school in France, and The

Chemistry I learnt years ago, at school

came in wonderfully useful I can

assure you, even the little I know.

 I dont know how long

the job will last; two or three months

I expect and perhaps even longer.

2.

I have had a pretty stiff time this

last few months in France, and am glad

of a spell.  Besides, I think I shall be

doing quite as much good here teaching

new men the things I have learnt by

hard experience; as I should by going

up the line again.

When I used to play soldiers as

a kiddie, I little thought I should

one day be warring, & teaching other 

men to war in real earnest.

I am writing  again to the Base

Post Office in London for my letters. The

last I received from you was about

August 1st (over two months ago) so you

see I'm very anxious to get some.

I trust things are going well at

home with you all.  It is nearly 12

months now since I left home.  It seems

hardly possible, and yet a terrible lot

3

of things have happen in that time.  YOu

can guess I shall be pleased to see

your dear face, & dear old dad & cheeky

young Modge once more.

I'm some swank now, with my

gold stripe for wounded on my arm

I can assure you. I would hardly

like to have taken this job on, before

having seen some fighting, but now

I'm satisfied I have done my share

for some time to come.

This letter seems to contain a lot 

of 'I's' doesnt it, but really you know

that's all you want to hear, isnt it?

Another case of "We didnt come

to see Lord Roberts, eh?"

Now, dear Mother, I must close

with fondest love to all, from your ever

loving son (who hopes to see you all again

soon).

Willy

P.T.O.

I got of a parcel of things I left at

the advanced base just before I was wounded.

It arrived 2 days ago & contained

quite an assortment of my treasures,

including that precious letter of Charlie's

which I got on the boat.  If I get

back, that's coming with me.  I hope

Modge's writing has improved by this

time

W.

48 Bn

4 ADBD

C/O A.P.O. Sec 17

BEF France

16/10/16

My dearest Mother,

Last night I received 

a big bundle of letters including

4 written by you in July.  You

can guess how pleased I was, dear.

When did you hear I was wounded.

I didn't tell you before because I

thought you would worry, but I

had a small wound in each hand

& one in the leg as well as the

big wound.  They weren't much, but

I know what an old worryer you

are.  They all quite well now, though

I seem to bexx smothered in scars

of various sorts.

I'm sorry I have no news

of Bill to send you as I haven't heard

 

from his people for some while now.  The

last letter I got from them, they had no

news of him.  We voted today on the

conscription question.  I expect you

can guess which way my vote went.

By the bye, I met Sam Brooke (who

was at the Waterworks Yard) a few days

ago.  He looks very fit & well.  I think

he is almost teetotal now.  It's just as

well, in this country.  I am glad

business is better now.  By jove, there's

no tuss on dear old Modge now, I'll bet.

Way he's getting more money than me,

now, the dirty dog.  I only get 17/6 a 

week.  I still have a big credit

the following are the figures.

Amount of pay earned - 48-6-0

Drawn                                  35-10-8

Balance                             £12-15-4

                                            

Not bad for a year is it?

There is a cable not yet charged up, so

I think I have about £12 clear.

3

I think thats not bad for a year.

My deferred pay to date is £37-8-0 so

you see I'm quite wealthy.  It will 

be a very nice next egg to have in the

bank, when I get back to civilian

life once more.  Do you think it would 

be wise to buy shares in a building

society.  If you think so, please do so

in your name, & pay the amount out

of my allotment.  Given if I'm not

back for a year or two it will be

handy for you & for me later on.  If it

is in your name, there will be no

trouble if anything happens to me.  I

shall be very pleased if I hear you

have decided to do this.

I am glad you are getting the money

alright now.  Its nice to know you

have something to carry on with.

If I was drawing it, it would only

mount up in my pay book, its much

4

better you should have it.

I got several letters from Roy, Else

Little, Maud Kindle, Ollie Ward & Percy B.  as well as

yours, dad's & Modges yesterday.

You say I must tell you all I can.

My dear Mother O mine, I do.  I don't

think people realise how necessary a

strict censorship is. Information has a

habit of leaking out, & we are the ones

who suffer if Fritz gets to know

anything.   When I come back I will

tell you everything.  I'll sit in the Morris

chair & spin most awful yarns, but just

at present, mother, I'm afraid you have

to be satisfied with the information that

I'm alive & kicking.  The German spy

system is too perfect for us to give

away anything at all.

I saw Gordon Crossman in March

last in Tel-el-Kebir.  He looked very

fit then.  I'm sorry to hear he is

killed.  I had a parcel from

Aunt Ellen a few day ago.  It left

London on July 31^st.  Not bad going

is it.  It had been to the Battn 3 times

since I got knocked.

Now, dear Mater, there's no more to

tell you so will close, with fondest love

to all at home.

From your everlasting son,

Will

Please give my kind regards to

everyone.  I know & apologise to them

for my not writing to them, but there

is really nothing to say & not much

chance to write.

16/10/16