Letters relating to William George Blaskett, 1916-1919 - Part 7

3232. Sgt. W.G. Blaskett
48^th Bn A I F
France. 8/12/16
My dearest Mater/
It is some little
time since I last wrote you
but since then I have joined
the Battalion and been in the
line with them. I am glad to
say I came through alright
this time. It was much better
than our first appearance
up this way, except for the
mud which was simply
awful. I thought I had
seen mud at various times
but everything I had seen
previously fades into
insignificance compared
with what I have lived
in during the last 3 weeks
xxx We must have been 

a sight worth going miles to
see. We looked like a
mixture of Cromwell's Ironsides,
Deal Fishermen and cave
dwellers. We were all wearing
tin hats (steel helmets is the
official name), long gum
boots, and sheepskin jackets.
Also, we didnt get a wash
or shavexx for about 8 days,
and were covered in mud.
from head to foot.
I received a big budget
of letters and 2 parcels
from you this week. Thanks
very much for the socks and
gloves they are extremely useful.
I saw Fred Snooks 2
days ago. He is a corporal
and looks very fit indeed.
I am glad to hear Roy

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has Enlisted. Am writing to
him today. I hope to be
in England on leave before
long now. I have received
my new paybook, but
my credit isn't carried on,
and I understand I can't
get that until I get my
discharge. x So if you get
a cable from me asking
you to send money to Emmie,
you'll understand the reason.
If I hadn't lost my paybook
I would have been alright
as I had over £16 credit.
In my new book I only
have about £4.
I'm sorry to say there's
no further news of poor
old Bill. I'm afraid
he must be dead. It 

4
seems terrible to think that,
but I'm afraid there's no
alternative.
I was sorry to hear the
news about Mr. C.E.S. It's
a pity some of those
"brave fellows" who assaulted
him, don't come and try
themselves against Fritz.
They might find it required
rather more courage than
they possess.
I hear from Harold that
he didnt get a Commission
after all, so my indignation was
perhaps a little previous.
I'm glad to say I'm pretty
good except for an awful cold
in the head. Still everyone
has got one of those, more or
less, so I suppose I 

5
must grumble.
Now I must close, with
fondest love to all at
home from your loving
son
Will. 

France
19.12.16
My dear Mother/
I am sorry
to say I am not feeling too
well just lately. I had
rather a nasty cold, but
suppose I shall get rid of it
soon. One thing we changed
billets two days ago, & the present
one is the best I have had
in France yet. We are living
in the barn, & it is pretty
comfortable, with beds made of
wire netting. The old lady
who lives in the house is a
widow, & treats us splendidly.
Her son has been on the 

2
Somme for a long time, and
went with his regiment to
Algeria a week ago, so she is
in a state between joy & sorrow.
Joy, because he is away from
the fighting, & sorrow, because
she wont see him again for
a long time. She seems to
have taken a great liking to
me. I think it is because
I have a bad cold, and
always ^also because I talk French,
and she can tell me all about
her son.
This paper I am writing
to you on was sent me by
Aunt. Ellen in a bonzer
parcel, containing biscuits, 

3
salmon, chocolate, cocoa &c,
and a tin of cigarettes from
Alice Turner at Eversden.
I am writing to Aunt Ellen today
to thank her.
I also got a nice parcel from
Ethel Wenham the other day
So you see I'm doing well.
Did I tell you I received
your parcel, containing gloves &c.
which were very acceptable,
indeed. We had a sharp
frost here last night; an
event which is getting only
too common, unfortunately.
I'm afraid it's going to be
a cold winter. We had
a little snow one day whilst 

4
we were in the line.
Have you heard about
Germany offering peace terms.
There has been great talk
about it here for some time
past. But terms that would
be acceptable to Germany
now, would not be acceptable
to us, so unless something
extraordinary occurs I'm
afraid there is very little
chance of peace just yet.
What do you think of the
new Government in England.
It's to be hoped they will
be a bit more pushing than
previous ones. Of course, they
are promising to do a lot, 

5
but politicians' promises, as
a rule, aren't worth much.
I expect you think my letters
are often very dull and
uninteresting, dear, but I
do my best. As you know,
we are, quite rightly, allowed
to say nothing of what
occurs here, but I'll be
able to tell you all about
it when I come home.
I am writing this beside
the fire in the old lady's
house, with a hot brick
under my feet, so you
see I'm going strong.
Must ring off now, as I
have nothing more to talk