Letters from George Alexander Hugh Murray to his family, 1917 - Part 1

France

3/1/16

Dear Lenor

Well I think it is up

to me to write a line to you

but I have not had a line from

you for some time nor can

I get a word from Sis or Jim

only lately have I had a 

letter from home.

Well I am on my way into

three years from home & by

all accounts of it may be

some time before it is all

ended though I have had

full & plenty enough to last 

me a life time.

Winter is well set in but there

only been two slight falls of

snow but it is continually

raining & very cold into the

bargain.

I may be getting a few days

leave to England before long

& I will take a trip north

& see them again

I never received any of

the parcels sent me for

Xmas but they may turn up

ere long.

I am writing home so will

close

From your loving Brother

George.

France

4/1/16

All at home

I received a couple

of letters a few days ago

& two papers today also

one from Mrs March

so I suppose I shall have

to write & say I received

it.

Well, this soldiering life is

getting monotonous never

have much of a change

in scenery for one village

is very much like the

next, a fair number of

estaminets (public houses) but

they are controlled by the

military some sport, a bakers

shop but on the whole it

would make anyone sick

to see the houses for they are

connected to the stables, where

all kinds of animals are

stabled & the manure is

always thrown in front of

the door of the house

generally to stay there till

it rots.

Before this leave this country -

I shall be in the line

again about my fourteenth

time since being in France

as I have had not many

times days out but the

worst time is when one

is in supports - for then

one gets all the over

flow of shells. The front-

line on a whole hardly gets

any

No news of Jim or Sis

whats' happened to them I

cannot imagine

It is getting too dark to write

any more so I will close

hoping you are all well &

in the best of health as

I am now

From your loving son

& Brother

George

France

10/1/17

All at home

It is now some time since I received

a letter from you all; but I

received the two parcels that you sent

but not so the others but they may

turn up later.

It is very cold today & a slight fall

of snow into the Bargain with a

cold wind nearing a blizzard

Some of the coldest weather I have

ever expected experienced.

Another Warrack chap has joined this

Coy in the person of one of the [[Willakes?]]

He looks very well.

I have not heard from Sis or Jim so I am

going to write to the enquiry office to see

if they know of Jims whereabouts.

The articles in the large parcel came in

very handy especially when I could not

beg borrow buy or bake the things

I wanted.

By the time you receive this winter will 

be about over & I shall not be

sorry either for I cannot stand the

icy winds.

Well I cannot think of any thing more

to say so au Revoir.

From your loving Son

George.

France

15/1/17

Dear Dad,

Just received your parcel

also the one from Marchants

but no letters for some time except

for a field card from Les & a letter

from Scotland saying that

Les had written to them

A few days ago I met A Taylor

& later on Harold Tarrant

Both were well & working with good

will.

It is a very cold dark & dreary

night but the sky is continually

lit up with the flashes of the

guns but up to late there has

been very little doing except

for Fritz hopping over on in

fifteen different places at the

same time but he received the

an another surprise for not

at any point did he 

enter our lines.

There is supposed to be a

peace conference in Rome

but one out here cannot

get any news for papers 

are scarce.

Well I have nothing more to say 

so I will ring off.

From your loving son

George

I have not heard anything

concerning Jim.

 W.D.H.

14-3-17

Dear Mum,

Sol brought these letters up for me to read

and then send them along to you. I never

knew that you had gone until Sol told

the girls to tell me. How did you

find them all at Everton.

It is just twelve o'clock Thursday morning

& I think I am about the only one awake

We had a big abdominal operation this

A.M. I had to stay up for it so had 

only five hours sleep but dont feel

too bad considering There was a terrible

dust storm in the early hours of yesterday

morning I was nearly blown away going

from one ward to the other

Drinks due so I must go.

 Love [[?Lena]]

Dear Mum,

Postie asked me was it

was birthday today as I got such

a lot of mail. How is Grandma?

I hope she is better. Is Uncle [[?Wan]]

up there yet. Lin sent the

boys' letters to me to read &

then I am to send them to you.

Quite a nice lot of them.

Remember me to all at Everton

Love Bess