A letter home, 1916
[transcribed as spelt]Frid Oct 5th -16
My Dear Mother,
You will no doubt think I am a long time in answering your letter but I have had hardly time for any thing so I thought I would write to you while I had the chance for you must feel down a bit with not hearing from me but dont worrie as I am alive and kicking and in good health so far and I hope to pull through, to come back to you, for it seems ages since I last saw you, and I think about you every day that comes and I supose you will think the same Well Mother dear I have had a parcel from Aunt Edith our Annie and Flo all in one week, and they came in niceley for I was in the trenches and it felt grand to taste a bit of home made stuff and I hope to have some more. You can tell our Annie that the tea cakes were nice and fresh and to send some more next time she sends one. I have only sent Aunt Edith a card just to say I had got her parcel, so I shall write to her and thank her. Well Mother - I see in the letter that came with the parcel that Willie Nettleton has been killed, it's a job isnt it, for they will miss him at home for he was such a fine lad. Its about time the war was over. Well let me know how our George + Guys going on for I cant write to them as I have lost their addresses. I some times hear a bit about them when Aunt Edith writes. I was surprised to hear of Cousin Hettys husban been in kahki, I didnt think he would pass, but they seem to be having anything in the Army. Oh by the way will you let me know if you got that parcel I sent from Grantham just before I came out hear. I wrote before asking about it so let me know will you, and let me know if Willie Crowther as been called up yet for the last time I heard of him he was still working. Well Mother I will now close hoping to hear from you soon + let me know how Fathers going on, and all at Ossett, so I wish you good night Mother dear and God Bless you + keep you till I return and remember me to Father, brothers + sister I remain your loving son William xxxxxxxxxxx
Pte W. Gawthorpe 13143, 103 Machine Gun Compy B.E.F. France