March 29, 1945 (2)

8 C.I.T.R., C.A.O.,

29 Mar 45

Dear Isobel:

I wrote you once before today but I’m in the mood again tonight so I’ll drop a few more lines. Had a letter from Mrs. McAskill today and gave me some news of the place. They seem well anyway. She said you were the best looking woman at the W.M.S. meeting & I know dear, that she was telling the truth too. I haven’t seen anyone that looks half as good to me as you do, even when you had your teeth out. Heard a cute story today – a soldier saying so his son – “Never you mind where I met your mother, but believe me, it sure cured me of whistling!”

I’m rather curious about what happened to Agnes, in fact I’ve been wondering all along what the score was there. How about letting me in on it too? Did she have to leave for some reason or something? Maybe I could guess but I won’t right now.

Had another letter from Mrs. Rigby today. She is some bent on me going down to Leeds to see a cousin of hers there. I don’t imagine I’ll ever be able to get there because it’s a long distance & I don’t plan on spending money on going to see people I don’t even know. I haven’t had a chance yet to get down to see the Dowell’s & I want to get down there before too long. By the look of this war news we won’t be here much longer, I guess. Am sure excited about the parcels and am looking forward to them all. They should be here real soon now.

Will close darling, with all my love, & kisses & hugs for the children.

-Frank

March 29, 1945 (1)

Last Letter 28 Mar

8 C.I.T.R, C.A.O.,

29 Mar 45

Darling Isobel:

Just about dinner time here now, & about 7:30 AM where you are I guess. You’re just about thinking of getting up. Wish I were there, kid. Was down to Aldershot yesterday to get some information on a chap in Hospital there & when I was finished popped in for a few minutes to see Hugh. He is looking really good now, his hand is all better & he’s working hard to get back into shape. I doubt very much if he’ll be in it again but he will be well when he gets home. He tells me he hasn’t had only one letter from home in about a month so I gave him all the news I had which was fairly recent. I see a bunch of air mail stuff in today so quite likely there will be a letter from you in it. Also in Hospital I met a guy by the name of Drysdale who was a Sgt. at Aldershot when I was. He took a pretty awful wound somewhere in Belgium – a piece of shrapnel entered high up in his back and came out in front of his stomach. Tore out a lung on the way & really chewed him up pretty badly. You can get some idea of the good medical attention over here when I tell you it has now about healed, that all his insides are working normally & that he will soon be going home. The medical services here are wonderful. There was a man admitted to that hospital yesterday afternoon that had been wounded in Germany yesterday morning. The casualties are nearly all flown back.

Well, honey, I’m waiting for the parcel & I know I’ll enjoy it when it comes. How are you feeling & does it show yet? Won’t be long now, will it? I wish to God I were there with you, but no can do. Make sure you see a doctor well ahead of time & make your arrangements.

All my love, dear, & don’t worry about me.

Your own Frank

xxxx

March 28, 1945

Last letter – 25 Mar.

8 C.I.R.T., CAO,

28 Mar 45.

Darling Isobel:

I’m late this time writing. I was going to write last night but was away all day taking some evidence on another case & didn’t get back until late – was so tired I just had a cup of tea & went to bed. Anyway I’m writing this to catch this mornings mail, so no harm done.

I’m Victory Loan Joe again this time. I sort of thought that I’d be able to get away with it this time but I was someone else thought differently. It will be o.k., I guess best I tried to get over to the [?]to sell them there but couldn’t make it. I sure would like to have done that.

Well, Babe, the war news sure looks swell these days, & maybe before too long we’ll all be home again. Certainly we’ll be back by this Christmas, & that’s not so very far away. I’ve been here nearly three months already. I’d sort of like to be back before things get happening to you. It will sure be funny coming back & seeing a baby a few months old. Had another phone call from Hugh – he just phoned as he was passing a phone booth. We are getting together this Sunday afternoon if all is well.

Have had no letters this last few days. Maybe the weather has been bad or something. No parcel yet. It will be along sometime. Be sure to register the next ones you send. It is always safer. Also don’t enumerate the articles in them – just say “soldiers comforts” & don’t forget to put on a customs declaration – lots of unnecessary advice, I guess.

Well, honey, I’ll get this to the P.O. right away. Don’t worry about me, dear, & be sure you get to the doctor in lots of time.

All my love, honey

-Frank

xxxx

March 25, 1945

Last letter 23 Mar 45

8C.I.T.R., CAO,

25 Mar 45

Darling Isobel:

Here I am again with the usual Sunday night effort. John & I are over in our room & it is nice & warm & quiet here now. Got a letter from you yesterday again, the one that you wrote after you’d been to Whycocomagh & told me about the funny chocolate bars. About that Mrs. M. Adams piece – whether you put it in or not I kept it. It’s about how to make a happy home, not losing one’s temper & venting one’s displeasure upon the ones one loves best. Maybe Ida did it on purpose but it sure hit me right between the eyes & I’m not fooling. I’ll send it to you.

Had a letter from Normal yesterday too. He expects to come to England on nine days leave real soon. I hope he & Hugh can have their leave together. I expect they will be able to. Norman is now in Belgium and likes it there much better than any other place he has been so far. It was a good letter. He hadn’t seen Henry up to that time, but his letter was 2 weeks coming this way. I wrote Hugh right quick to get in touch with him at once re. the leave situation.

John & I were down to a hospital about 15 miles away overnight – got back at noon today. Mr. Morris who was at Aldershot, he comes from Windsor, is there & has been quite ill with some ear trouble that by spells destroys his sense of balance so that he can’t stand up. A queer one, what! He expects to go home soon so we went down to see him. He seemed awful glad to see someone from home, having been here for about a year. While there we saw two more doctors that had been in Aldershot for a short time – one’s name was Carrol & I can’t remember the other one. Remember Bill Garrell – the officer that came to Flo’s & Jack’s the night of Jack’s birthday party & only stayed a short time? He was there in hospital with his left hand missing – lost in just across the border to Germany. He is very well & the wound healed up very rapidly. He goes home very soon. We decided it was a good occasion to open the chocolates so we took them with us and ate them all. Looking any day for the parcel, dear. There were no cookies in the other one.

Will close, darling, with all my love – forever your own

Frank

March 23, 1945

Last letter 22 Mar

8 C.I.T.R., C.A.O.

23 Mar 45

Darling Isobel:

Went down to the P.O. today & there, sure enough, was a letter from you. So I feel pretty good tonight. Had a long letter & Easter card from Jennie, & one from Mrs. Rigby too, & a letter from Col. MacKenzie.

It’s nice to get them but I like your letters dear, better than all the others. Just as I had started this, the phone rang & who was it but Hugh. He’s out of Hospital & is now at a convalescent Depot, a place where men go from Hospital to pick up again in their training & physical condition. He expects to be coming this way soon & I’d sure like to see him again. His hand is all healed up & he’s feeling very good again. He’ll never see the front again, though, I’m sure. Jennie & family are all well. Wilbur had all his teeth out & now is living on soup. Roslyn is five now & I guess they had a birthday cake for her that was out of this world. One of the CWAC’s at camp back there is in trouble & I guess RSM Rollins is the Joe. By all accounts the Col is furious. I don’t know who the girl was but she sure is unlucky. Rollins is to be stripped. The parcel should be here any day now & I’m looking forward to it. I hope my parcel to you arrived by this time & I hope you like it as much as I did getting it for you. It’s from Cornwall where Dad’s people came from.

Well, honey, I know just how much you must be pondering over in your mind these days. If I were only there how much better I’d feel. Would Bessie come home? Maybe by that time I might be back. I would like to get started at school again this fall if I am going, because time is really slipping by fast & there’s none to waste. I’m crowding 29 now, remember.

I haven’t heard from Roger McKim so I expect he must have gone. He was lucky, wasn’t he? Did I tell you his little girl, about 4, has had to go to bed with some trouble with her spine? That’s tough.

That’s all for tonight, honey, and here’s worlds of love to you & the kiddies.

-Your own (always, dear)

Frank.

March 18, 1945

Last Letter – 16 Mar.

8 CITR, CAO.,

18 Mar 45

Darling Isobel.

Didn’t write yesterday because there was no mail out today. Whoop! There come the planes again, just passing over. There sure is some noise when they go by. Saw a whole bunch of fighter planes go over today. They are much faster than the bombers & away up in the sky they look like ducks with their next sticking out. They have long engines away out in front & do they ever travel at a fast clip.

Had rather an interesting weekend. Yesterday John & I had arranged to get a couple of bikes & see the country. Just as we were ready to leave a call come to say there were two fellows down town to see us. So we walked down & there were Jimmie McLean & Joe McMillan, who used to be in Aldershot & who have come over recently. So we went into a hotel & sat down in the lobby & had quite a chat. Then we took them around & showed them a bit of the town & came up for supper. When we got here, there were two more, George Murray & Bill Ryan, also formerly from Aldershot but have been in action & back, who came down to see us. So we had supper & chewed the rag all evening. Then the first two left at 9 o’clock by bus so we all walked down town. The other two stayed all night. Jonnie went on that Educational trip today so I walked the other two around & after dinner they left to go back to their place. They had a bit of a nap & about 4 o’clock got up & took the bike I had & went for a ride. I guess I was gone about 1 ½ hours but I sure saw some pretty country. The primroses are out now – they are a small flower that grows close to the ground like a mayflower, but are yellow & about as big as a quarter. They sure look lovely & are in thousands. You asked what month this is like at home – I’d say it’s about like May. I even saw the apple tree in bloom today & I got pretty homesick, I can tell you.

Well, honey, goodnight for now & I’ll write tomorrow night too. All my love, dear, & I wish I were with you right this minute. Kisses for the boys.

Frank

xxxxxxxx

March 16, 1945

Last Letter – 15 Mar.

8 C.I.T.R., C.A.O.

16 Mar 45.

My Darling Isobel –

This was quite a day for me & I sure was busy. I handled 4 cases today & they sure were interesting, & quite sticky in spots. Guess I’ll be a lawyer when I come back. You ought to hear me when I get up & make an address to the court. Then I got 7 letters today too & I sure was happy.

There was one from you, and Ida, Aunt Sarah, Uncle Arch, Aunt Margaret, Jack Bower & a Mrs. Manelaws, who lived across the street from us in Victoria. I saw her this summer & had tea on the boat with her, remember? She is from Edinburaugh (that’s not spelled right) & gave me her sisters address there & I’m to call on her if I go to see her. Rather nice of her. She got my address from Jennie. Aunt Ida had no news to speak of, but gave me the Darwell’s address here in England, which I already have. Aunt Sarah, Uncle Arch are both well, & Cecil is much better this year than he has been for years. Aunt Charlotte is fine but her son Fred is not too well. He was ill this summer. Edna Hoffe, Aunt Lucy’s daughter, has scarlet fever as well as almost all the kids in the school, so it’s closed. They are still in Gander Bay & expect to go back to C.I. [Change Islands] in the spring. They have me the address of Tim’s resting place – it is near Oxford & they want me to see it. Aunt Sarah thinks you are very nice, as I do too, & apparently Uncle Arch got a pretty good report on both of us, as well. From Aunt Margaret – she says Uncle Will has been in Hospital with bladder trouble – had several stones removed as large as walnuts. Do you suppose the Dr. made an error & cut of something he shouldn’t have? Anyway he was still in Hospital when Aunt Margaret wrote & getting better. They phoned you when they found out that I left but I guess you had gone in to Halifax & they didn’t know where you were. Jack & Flo are in Utopia, or a place called St. George, & Jack’s not happy. Has to work awfully hard there. They are both well. You said in your letter that you had received 5 letters from me all at once. I’m so glad, dear, & I thought that’s what would happen. Incidentally, they gave you an awful rip on the rate of exchange on that English money. I thought you’d get about $25. I’m going to buy another bond as usual & I’ll save all I can. I’m glad you’re feeling better dear, & I know the war news must be cheering to everyone home as it is to us here. It can’t last much longer now. All my love, dear, & do try to take care of yourself & see the doctor.

Goodnight

-Frank.

xxxxxxxx

March 15, 1945

Last letter – 14 Mar.

8 C.I.T.R. (CAO)

15 Mar 45.

Hi Toots –

Thought I’d drop you a little line tonight again just to say hello, darling, & let you know I’m thinking about you again. I do hope you are getting my mail more regularly now as I’m sure there is a large number of letters somewhere on the way.

Things are as usual here. I’ve been kept pretty busy there days & have four cases tomorrow. It sill probably last all day & most of the next day too. As I said before, it is very interesting but at the end of the day you feel all [?] & worn out. I saw one case handled by a lawyer. It finished about 2 in the afternoon & he actually had to go to bed he was so tired. You can imagine how the guy felt that was being tried. Haven’t heard from Hugh recently but expect him down almost any day now. I’m quite sure he’ll never get back into action as this is nearly over here now. Some new bomb they have, isn’t it? Weighs 11 tons.

I think pretty soon I’ll go over to the room & make a cup of coffee. It sure is comfortable & cosy over there. I guess pretty soon someone will find out about it & take out the stove or something. I wrote to Stan Charleton to send me some films & when he does I’ll take some pictures & send them along. I’m looking forward to the pictures that you are sending me & the parcel. Great stuff. You ought soon to be getting the Easter present I sent you. All my love, dear. How is baby Susie behaving?

-Frank

March 14, 1945

Last letter – 13 Mar 45

8 C.I.T.R. C.A.O.

14 Mar 45.

Darling Isobel:

I thought I’d write a few lines again tonight just to keep them coming and surely you ought to get a few letters if I write often enough. I’m still mad thinking of all the letters I’ve written & you only getting such a few of them. I’ve worked for the last two nights until midnight on some Summaries of Evidence & got them finished today so took the night off & went over to a show in the YMCA here. It was not bad either & I got some good laughs.

Had a letter today from one of the Dowells in Bour[?]. His name is Percy. He got my address from the Post Master that I wrote to & he invited me down. I had sort of planned on slipping down over some weekend but apparently his wife is going away for a couple of weeks & he was giving me a gentle hint of not to come until after she gets back. They dind’t mention how old they were – he is a second cousin of mine – that is, his father & my mother would be first cousins. I rather think he is older than I am, & quite a bit too, because he remember Bill Oak, Harry’s brother who was over here in the last war. I think I must be about the youngest of them all in my particular generation.

Anyway I must go down some time. He didn’t say whether they had any family or not. I’m really very anxious to see them & see what they are like. There is a Miss Dowell living close by & I’ll bet she’s an old maid like Aunt [?].

I’m over in my room writing now – have a nice cosy fire in the stove & a kettle of water on to make some tea soon. Doesn’t sound too bad. Jonnie went down town to a show tonight. All my love, dear, & I’m thinking of you all the time now & wishing to the Lord I was home. Love to dear little Frankie & Jimmie.

-Frank.

March 13, 1945

Last letter – 11 Mar.

8 C.I.T.R.

Cdn Army O/S.

13 Mar 45

Darling Isobel:

Got a letter from you today & was much pleased. I can’t understand, dear, why you are not getting my letters. I have written very regularly ever since I came over, never more than a day or two between letters, & often every day. You should get about three at a time. I rather guess that the mails don’t fly over every day, but you should be getting more than you are. I wonder where they are? You’re sure doing well, darling, with the bills & I don’t know how you manage. You mentioned you had to buy a water [?] for the stove. Did the other one burn out? If it did it must have been an awful mess but it lasted pretty well, not being an expensive stove. By the way, did you get that pine wood to burn? I’ve often wondered about it. Lord, how I miss you and the children. I got thinking today of the day I took the boys fishing & how Frankie caught two trout. He sure was pleased. And you send me a picture of yourself too or I’ll be cross. I want one honey, & you do that, won’t you please. All I have is a snap of you taken down at Johns & Florences two years old when John & I built the fence there. I’ve carried it for a long time & it is beginning to get dirty. They have educational tours for soldiers & John & I may go on one this Sunday to see Nelsons ship, the “Victory”, still afloat, & a castle. The trips are all paid for, no expenses whatever so it looks like a swell chance to get around.

Was to Brighton Monday for a few minutes to get some evidence on a court & saw George O’Handley who was at Aldershot in Col. White time. He wasn’t there long but I rather liked him. He is now a Major. Expect Hugh almost any day, & the boy here in the office have arranged to have him live with them while he is here, so it won’t cost him anything. They are rather kind to invite him. There is a chap here in the office who was with the Unit in action, & remembers him. Will close, dear, with all my love. Had letter from Joyce & Stewart today. All well there.

All my love, darling, your own

Frank.

March 10, 1945

8 CITR, C.A.O.,

10 Mar 45.

Darling Isobel:

Well darling, you cannot imagine what a pleasant surprise I got last night when I got back off the two day course I was on to come into the room and see your parcel. I have been thinking about it a lot these last few days but I guess I was just thinking of going to bed and nothing more at that moment. Anyway I started at the string first and cut it all off at the knits and saved it, then I carefully unwrapped the paper and saved that, opened the inside string and finally opened the parcel. And was it ever grand. Where in this world did you get that box of chocolates? Honest, dear, you should have kept them for yourself. I haven’t opened them and I don’t know when I will. Maybe I’ll keep them until Susie is born and then pass them around instead of cigars which are even scarcer here than chocolates, and yours are the first of those I have seen since I came over.

The underwear was most acceptable, as the weather here is still cold as the devil himself. I managed to buy one set since I came. We are issued with a certain number of clothing coupons, I think it was thirty to do us until June 30^th, and the suit of underwear cost me 12 of those coupons. Anyway I just had to have it or freeze to death. I brought one complete suit with me from home when I came away and I think the suit you sent me was all I left behind. I do not think there was any more but I am n ot sure. Anyway I sure am well fitted now and I’m glad. You can never imagine how cold and raw it has been here this winter. Not like winters at home at all. The Lypsil sure came in handy as my lips have been cracking for the last few days so I put on a liberal supply right away. I salted the hand lotion in the trunk for when I need it, and have the Odorono at hand ready to use.

I think that I should take it out and apply a liberal amount of that to a big sow which we have to pass every time we come to our quarters. It is a black one, the only black pig I think I have ever seen, and it smells very similar to the two that Mrs. Carter had in the little shed out back of the house, and as a matter of fact is about the same colour, except that the colour of this one is natural. I guess there must be some blood in this one. The soap is swell and I sure can use it. You can never go wrong on sending soap to anyone over here, both kinds. I was getting really strapped up for laundry soap and didn’t know where the next was coming from. I did manage to get a few small pieces from the kitchen but it sure wasn’t very much.

My cold is all better now, thank you, but I am still a little deaf in one ear, but I guess I can still hear thunder so I’m OK. Incidentally I was so proud of the parcel that I turned around and gave Jonnie a chocolate bar and when he opened it it was only half there. We sure had a laugh out of that as I guess the children or maybe yourself had had a nibble at it. The magazines are swell and you can’t imagine what a lift I got from the papers. Late as it was Jonnie and I just sat right down and read both papers through from front to back. It was just like a bit of home, no fooling. Did you get your magazine yet? I think I have you the receipt for the money. If you didn’t get it yet, write to Mr. Ross at Ross’ Book Store, Kentville, and ask him what the trouble is. It was there that I bought it. Also tell me if you got the extra amount on your check this month. You should have, you know. About the money I sent you – it was to be forwarded to the Royal Bank of Canada in Kentville and I should think that they would let you know when it comes, but they may just not have your address and it is possible that they may just credit it to the account there. Anyway if I were you I would drop them a line and inquire about it. I can guess it will come in handy at any time.

I’ll send the papers and the magazines to Hugh just as soon as I have finished with them. By the way the little piece of advise on Home by Geo. Mathew Adams is really good and I can guess why you enclosed it. I’ll sure try when I get back darling – you know what I mean even if I don’t say it in so many words. Being away from home this far makes a guy think a whole lot about things and you sort of get a different look at things as they were, and learn to appreciate what you have, and what you had and didn’t think enough about. Maybe some good will come out of all this for me after all.

The course, a two day affair on Security was very good, but in spite of the fact that I was only twenty five miles away from the camp I was really lonesome to get back here. Roger McKim was living in the next building to me, and the first night I was there I was over to see him and the next night we went out to another little place by bus just to look around. The English people sure are a pecurliar lot and Roger made no bones about telling them, either. He expects to go home very soon, as he only came over for a copuple of months. Tomorrow I shall be able to put my Maple Leaf on my ribbon to show that I have been over here. The time sure has gone quickly.

Well, dear, there is little room left, so I will close. Thanks a million for the swell parcel.

[Handwritten:]Whoops! There it goes. All my love dear, & goodnight honey. Sorry I’m not there to massage that swelling you were telling me about

xxx

Frank

March 6, 1945

8 C.I.T.R.

Can Army O/S

6 Mar 45

Darling Isobel:

I was so darn glad to get your letter today, written 25 Feb, I could have jumped over the moon. I hadn’t heard from you for a week and it seems a long time. I can’t understand why you are not hearing from me, dear, because I have written very regularly since I’ve been here. I wrote almost every day & never miss more than one day at a time. I guess you’ll be getting several at once & that will make up for it. I got 4 letters today – one from you, Joyce, Mrs. McAskill & Floss Terraville. She got my address from Aunt Sarah I think. Anyway they were all good to get, believe me. Oh yes, had a letter from Henry. He is fine & is not in action yet. Had no date on it either but wasn’t written too long ago. Hugh also wrote & told me he was getting leave & will be down this way, which will be swell. No dear, I didn’t tell a soul about the good news, not even Joyce. She said she was writing you the night she wrote me. I haven’t moved, dear, & by the look of things, I don’t think I will be going to the front. I’m not saying that to cheer you up, although I hope it will, honey. I believe I’ll be here until the end of the war, which is not too far distant either. I’m kept pretty busy with one thing and another & don’t find time heavy on my hands. I work quite a lot at night too. There go the planes again – they’ve been going night & day for two weeks. Cologne is almost ours now & maybe when you get this the British will be across the Rhine. I sure hope so - & then its not too far to Berlin. Glad to hear Norman may be home. He needs a rest. I don’t think Hugh will be going in again so tell your mother that for me, won’t you? Don’t worry about me, kid, I’m perfectly o.k. & be sure to do the right thing by yourself. Mrs. McA told me John had a big snookism for you first time he saw you. He’s lucky. I wish I could give you one right now. Did the money come to the Bank for you & did you get your [?] pay yet?

xxx to the children

All my love

Frank

February 25, 1945

8 C.I.T.R.

Cdn Army O/S

25 Feb 45

Sheet 1 – There are two of these to this letter, both mailed today – you should get them at the same time. Fr.

Darling Isobel:

I’m writing this time with a fine nib and I don’t know whether I like it or not. It’s not too bad so far but I think I prefer a broader nib. Yesterday I got a letter that you wrote before the W.M.S. meeting & also one from Tom. The day before yesterday I received the one you wrote after the meeting so I guess our letters are pretty well crossed up. Anyway I’ll answer them as they come & write as often as I can besides. I know by your letters now that you have no girl there. Is there no possibility at all of getting one? What made the other one leave? I thought she was quite a good girl & was getting well paid. Holy moses, whatever you do, try to get a girl of a woman, if you have to pay her yourself. I’ll shoot all the money to you that I can. When this Victory Bond is over which will be in another couple of months time, I’ll send that along too – it is $16.50 a month & will be a help to you. Besides the bond will be coming to you, addressed to Kentville, so that will be nearly enough to tie you over the “final assault” in July. And please, dear, try to see the doctor real soon. You always did before & things went really well. And you know what happened that Sunday afternoon – you should see a doctor right soon to make sure everything is o.k. Now don’t delay it any longer. It scares me when I think about you not being examined. And don’t worry about me, honey. I’m as safe as a church here. I do not think I will be going into action at all, because by the time it will take to train me, the war will be over. The planes were out yesterday, last night, & today again, & Germany is really catching hell no end. They said last night on the radio that the confusion in the German Transportation system was beyond belief. Jonnie & I were to Aldershot yesterday & got back just at 6PM. It was an awfully nice day & we enjoyed it a lot. I only wish I could tell you all the things we saw, or describe the beautiful country. Everything is so neat & clean & tidy, even the fields are as clean as a lawn. The hedges are all trimmed & the crocus & snowdrops are up everywhere, they let them grow in the lawns & all over the place. We stopped on the way back & went into a place the driver knew about & had poached eggs on toast & tea, 1/3d, or about 30¢. Fresh eggs are pretty scarce & it was a treat. I’m getting onto the English money now but it isn’t as good as ours. The smallest bill is 10s or $2.50, & anything less is silver or copper. They have coins equal to ½¢, 1d, 2¢, 5¢, 10¢, 25¢, 50¢, 60¢ and your change fairly drags you down. I’m going to continue this on another sheet

-Frank.

February 22 1945

8 C.I.T.R

Cdn Army O/S

22 Feb 45

Darling Isobel:

I am on duty tonight in the Orderly Room and things are pretty quiet so I think I’ll drop you another line. I’m doing pretty good lately as I think this is the fourth letter four days in a row. For a few days there I was going so darn hard I found it pretty hard to write as regularly as I should have done, but I’ll write as often as I can. I don’t imagine you will be getting them very regularly anyway, probably two or three at a time. This is an awful typewriter and if I had known that it was as bad as it is when I started I’d have left it alone. The keys stick and one of two of them are missing. By the look of it it must have come out of the Ark anyway.

I haven’t had any mail from you for an awful long time it seems to me. I guess I got one last week, only two altogether since I came over here. I know there must be some others on the way. It sure seems a long time though to go without mail from home and I miss your letters very much. Please write me as often as you can. I don’t know whether Hugh is out of the Hospital or not yet. I believe he was due to come out today. I have written to both Henry and Norman but haven’t had a reply from either of them so far. I believe the mail service from here to the mainland is very slow and that they give a priority on mails from Canada, which is fair enough.

Boy, you should have seen the planes going over to Germany last night and today. Honestly I could never have believed there was anything in the world like it. A flight will go over heading east and the sky will be covered from side to side with planes, and it will take an hour for them to get by. The papers today said that there were three such flights over last night and for the first time since I have been here they went over in similar formation during the day, and there sure were some big baby’s among them. I never saw anything like it in all my life before. Some of the people said that there hadn’t been so many go over like this since “D” Day so I guess Jerry is catching it hot and heavy somewhere, and it looks like the big push on the Western front is about ready to start. The planes sure look great going over but sometimes not so good when they come back.

My cold is getting better but slowly. I don’t ever remember having one that held on quite so stubbornly as this one has. My head has cleared up a lot but my ears are still pretty sore and only one is working properly. It is just like the tube inside has plugged up and won’t come open. When I scratch my head it’s just like a piece of wood or something dead --- maybe it is for all I know – but it’s the queerest darn feeling. I feel right stupid too because I can’t hear very well what’s going on around me. I guess I’ll have to get me a horn to wear in my ear or something like you see in the funny papers. We’re expecting a big shot here tomorrow and it sure is funny to see everyone running around getting ready to put on a show. That sure makes me laugh. But the place looks pretty good here now – everything has been cleaned up and tidied and it makes a big difference.

I miss the Halifax papers a great deal. The papers here have been cut to a minimum due to the shortage of paper. Most papers are only four sheets, that is a double sheet printed both sides.

The quality of the reporting is really good, I think better than our own. Every little item seems to be of interest and is well written. But I miss the news from home. You are not supposed to send papers over here to England but you can send cuttings. So whenever you see anything of interest would you cut it out and send it to me. I am especially interested in any of the news from Aldershot or Kentville, and from Skye Glen and Whycocomagh. If you see anything of the Hockey Teams from Aldershot send that along too. I think every Saturday here there is a column made especially for service men over here. Perhaps you could save that and send it along too. Just stick them in an ordinary envelope and send them along with a letter. I certainly would like my magazines too if you could wrap them up somehow. Jonnie and I are going to Aldershot this Saturday again on business but we are not staying over as we did last time. We are really lucky to get these trips as we get a swell chance to see the country. We will be going by truck and if the weather is decent it will be grand. If you can send me a film, any size, I’ll get you some real nice pictures. I can get a camera here quite easily but films are extinct. There doesn’t seem to be much room left on this paper so I guess I’ll sign off for tonight and go to bed. I guess you are just having your supper now. All my love, darling and I miss you very much. Kisses to the kids.

As always,

Frank.

xxxxxxx

February 21, 1945

8 C.I.T.R.

Cdn Army O/S,

21 Feb 45

No8

Darling Isobel:

Just a few lines tonight before I go to bed to say goodnight & let you know I am still going strong. My cold is very much better but my ears, both of them now, are painful as the dickens & nearly drive me nuts. I have them both plugged with cotton wool and filled with some evil concoction the M.O. gave me. I’ve been putting some stuff similar to Friar’s Balsam in boiling water & breathing that in & it is really wonderful but I guess it got to my ears sooner than I expected. Anyway, it sure is hell to be half deaf with a continuous ringing & pain in my head. Believe me, I’m not happy.

How are the kids? My gosh, I miss you & them a lot. Will you send me some snaps first opportunity as I have only three old ones from my furlough in June 1943 when we had the picnic on the hill across from Florences. The kids have changed an awful lot since then.

I’d sure like to get my magazines too as current Canadian magazines are very difficult to get here. I’ll send you some more money payday that will help you out. I can buy Canadian currency here & put it in a registered letter for you & that will save the bother of going through the bank. By the way, did you get the money I sent yet? Haven’t had any mail now for quite a while from you – keep them coming, kid, the war is nearly over –

All my love,

Frank.

February 12, 1945

8 C.I.T.R., C.A.O.

12 Feb 45

Darling Isobel:

Received Letter No 3 from you a short while ago, about half an hour, so I think I’ll answer right now while I have a few minutes. Also got one from Nina whom I wrote shortly after I came over. I sure was glad to get your letter with the news. Whatever you do, kid, drop me a line often. I can get along without the parcels but it gets pretty grim with no mail. The kids must be having a whale of a time, & I sure envy them. I really enjoyed the sligh drives we used to have, tucked in under about 10 rugs. Yes, I thought of the birthday party a lot on Feb 1^st & sent that wire. Maybe I was crazy but I sure was thinking about you all.

I guessed from your letter that you had let the house to Rose & Glen. I think that is very good, dear, & I am sure they will look after things for us well. It’s too bad that Jack & Flo moved away from them, & as I said I thought he would go to Yarmouth or New Glasgow. It was rather strange to send him to Victoria.

Things are rather quiet here but we are kept pretty busy. I saw by the paper today that during the month of January an average of 19 people were killed daily in England by the V bombs & over 50 daily injured. That is an awful score when you come to think of it. The M.O. was in London over the week-end & one fell during the night & landed about 3 miles away from him. He said the house where he was staying trembled & woke him up. I told you about the close one I had with one. I guess if you hear them you are o.k.

The outfit I came overseas with are starting to scatter so the officers had a farewell dinner Friday night, and the cook sure produced a lovely dinner, with real steak, which is very scarce. After the meal we had a sing-song & one of the guys produced some bagpipes & we had quite a time. Many o them had been in Nfld at one time or another & they knew Art’s [Art Scammell] song “The Squid-Jigging Ground.” It’s quite a song when a bunch of fellows sing it – it has a real good swing.

The weather is milder than it was & I think I’m beating this cold, but it’s a slow process. I’ve got no one to give me hot drinks etc except the [?], & he’s never around when I want him.

I’m sure looking forward to the parcel, dear, but whatever you do, don’t spend too much money on them. I know just how hard things are to get so don’t worry. By the way, did my magazines come yet? I sure would like to get them. Did your magazine come yet? The only thing I really need is soap, mostly face soap. I don’t need any batteries for the flashlight as I was able to buy some. Honest to pete, it’s so dark here at night you can’t see an inch before your face. To get from our living quarters from the mess & sitting room we have to cross a yard full of mud & pot holes, through a barn & out again, along a walk, under two clotheslines, past a pig sty (which contains a coal black pig), along a pond & finally get to the quarters – about 400 yards. Some walk in the dark. By the way if you send me any candy, would you try to get some hard candy, like life savers, rather than chocolate bars. They last longer. Also, I sure would like some snapshots of yourself & the children too, but at least one of you, dear. Incidentally, if you send me some films, any size, I can get a camera here. Films are almost impossible to get in this country but as I am in charge of the registration of cameras for the place, I can always borrow one for a time. I’ll send you some snaps which I can get developed easily enough.

Nina didn’t have much news in her letter, didn’t mention Amy Bu[?] or Aunt Jessie or Uncle Sol. Sonny is a Sgt. and is in Sussex, N.B. Harry is in France with a Hospital Unit & is a Cpl. Your idea about writing all the letters may work out to be pretty good – Both Nina & Jennie promised to send me a parcel. Jonnie Henderson & I were writing together the other evening & he told me that he was doing the same thing too. Even if we only get letters in reply it will be something, a sort of connection with home.

Well, darling, I haven’t got much news, this is mostly a bunch of _ _ _ _ you guess, but anyway it’s probably what I’d say to you if I had a chance to talk to you for a while, & I wish to Heavens that I had. I must phone you some night – I sure would if I could.

Honey, I think this war is nearly over. I really do & boy oh boy, will I be glad to get back home. Honest, I’ll never appreciate anyone so much as I will you when I get home, & I’m not fooling when I say that.

Well close now, dear & go down to supper. I’ll write again first chance I get. Keep up the music, dear. We haven’t even got a piano in this place & I miss it very much.

Love & more love,

Frank

xxxxxx

February 8, 1945

No 8 C.I.T.R.

Can Army O/S

8 Feb 45

 My dear Isobel:

Well, darling, at last I received a letter from you and I sure was overjoyed to get it. It was written on 1 Feb, Frankie’s Birthday & got here pretty fast. I don’t understand the way the mails are. I wrote you right away as soon as I got here & a day or two afterward started to write other letters. I wrote one to Wilbur & Jennie and got a reply from them today too, & their letter was written on the 2^nd of Feb. Jennie would like you to write to her – the address is 2733 Mark St., Victoria. By the way, did you hear anything from them about the Christmas parcel we sent? She didn’t say a word in her letter & I am wondering about it, whether they got it or not.

Yes, dear, I’ll start numbering my letters from now on, just to see if you get them all. I think too, that we can write these kind of letters instead of the air mail ones. They are cheaper to send (they don’t cost me anything at all) & are almost as fast. If there is anything important comes up, send an air mail & I’ll do the same. I think I’ve written you about 15 times since I arrived over. Glad to hear you got the cable o.k. & hope you got the one I sent to Frankie. At that time I didn’t know you were in the Glen [Skye Glen, Cape Breton, NS] so I sent it to Kentville [NS].

Have you made any plans for the future & where are you going to live? I know, dear, it must be a dreadful problem on your mind and I sure wish that I could be there to help out on the situation. Did you find a place in Whycocomagh [Cape Breton, NS] or nearby? What about that house of Annie Bishop’s? Did you try the Hotel? What are you doing with the house in Kentville? Are you renting it? And by the way, in case you didn’t get the letter that I wrote with this in it before, I had £ 5 sent to you to the Royal Bank of Canada in Kentville. Please contact that Bank about it right away if you haven’t already done so. My pay has all been queered up since I came over & it won’t be straightened out until after the end of this month.

It’s too bad Jack & Flo have moved away. What have they done with their place? I wrote them but didn’t get a reply yet.

I was in to London yesterday – drove in by truck & took some stuff in. An officer had to go with them so I was it. It was rather a good trip – had to follow the road by map & that’s a bad proposition here, because the roads go in all directions, especially going through the towns. None of the streets in the towns are straight. They wander all over the place in London. We saw a lot of bombed buildings and believe me they sure look bad. – walls down, roofs in, no glass in the windows for blocks around. The strange thing is that the people don’t say too much about it. I saw a letter in the paper the other day that a woman wrote & she finished it this way – “I’ll give you my name if you want it, but I can’t give you my address – I lost it last week.” And that seems to be the attitude – no one complains but believe me it’s plain hell, just the same. The rockets still come over & there is just a note in the paper to say that 5 were killed & 10 injured & 12 houses knocked down, or something like that. However they have taken a heavy toll & you never know where they are going to land, because they travel faster than sound & you can’t hear them.

About the parcels, darling, don’t worry about them for me at all – I’ll settle for letters from you. Honestly, dear, I’m not short of anything. My cigarettes are coming along now, at the same price as you can get them for, & we only have to wait for about 10 days or so. We get a cup of tea or something to eat every night so that’s over – we didn’t get that at first & I missed it very much. About the soap – we can’t get good soap here. It is rationed & we have no points to buy any. We are issued with two cakes of toilet soap a month, which is not of very good quality, & is really only a good type of laundry soap. There is no issue of laundry soap so we have to go around picking up soap wherever we can get it & get our laundry done. So darling, if you send me a parcel, would you put one toilet soap in it, about 3 or 4 cakes a month would be swell.

I was able to get some flashlight batteries in town the other day, so I don’t need them. The weather has turned mild so I won’t need my heavy underwear any more this year. So you see I’m doing o.k. However if you send me a parcel would you send me some shaving cream. A stick would be preferred & some toothpaste. By the way, if you can, will you try to get me a holder for a stick of shaving cream. I’ve tried to get one & can’t.

There was a movie here in the mess last night so I went to see it. It was quite good. About a Polish airman who married an American girl.

Alex Sutherland is here now or I should say “still”. He was a Captain but since he was acting & not confirmed, he had to take his third pip down & is now a Lieutenant. Jonnie & I are both confirmed so we are o.k. Gerry Merser is here too. He was asst. Adjt at Aldershot when I took over the job. He has been over to France & has been wounded & is back again.

Well, darling, I must close now. Keep well, dear, & don’t get blue. I’m thinking of you all the time, darling, & I love you very much. Love to the children & everyone.

Your own Frank

xxxxx

February 2, 1945

8C.I.T.R.

Can Army O/S

2 Feb 45

Darling:

I just had breakfast and have a few minutes to spare before I start work so I guess I can’t fill it in a better way than by dropping you a line or two.

I think the weather has broken at last. It is a little milder anyway and is raining like the dickens this morning. Actually the cold spell wasn’t even noticeable by our standards if there had been plenty of fuel, but the buildings are draughty & coal is not too plentiful, and fireplaces are only for show, as far as I can see. By all reports they must have had some heavy snowfalls in Scotland. I see by the papers that trains have been held up, & baby’s born under queer conditions, & one woman died in the snow trying to get home from a shopping tour in a nearby town.

However, since it has turned milder, I sleep better, because I don’t have to put my great coat over me or anything like that. I can’t get over the vegetation here. All the grass is green, and most of the trees & bushes too, although they aren’t evergreens. I’m going to try & grow a piece of Ivy – if I can. I’ll try to send you some & get it going there. It grows out of doors over fences & things like that, has shiny dark green leaves & is green all winder. It sure looks beautiful to me.

No letters from you yet, dear, but I know there’s some on the way, so I’ll wait for a while yet. Heres a couple of Canadian stamps I had on me. All my love, dear, & the children too.

Your own Frank

PS Please send me some snaps of yourself and the children

And it begins...

It is 4:03am and my night shift is winding down in 4 hours. This time of morning is usually reserved for reclining my computer chair and vegging out with some music until the rest of Yellowhead County wakes up.

However, I am so excited to get this started, that I cannot rest yet.

The purpose of this blog is to share with the world my foray into my family's history. I've just recently acquired somewhere around 200 letters written by my Grandfather in 1945, while he was deployed overseas during World War II. At this time, he was a Captain in the Canadian Army.

I have not read the letters myself yet. Just tonight, I carefully unfolded 120 letters and placed each one in an archival-quality page protector. I organized the 120 letters in chronological order, and they are all from February-November 1945.

Getting Started:
The letters were all folded up, and had been hidden away in an attic for years. The "Hope Chest" they were in belonged to my grandmother, Isobel (Austin) Scammell. Also in the chest was a birthday card to Isobel from her mother-in-law (my Great-Grandmother) explaining that she would be getting a Hope Chest, and to keep her most prized posessions in it.

Messy:
Thankfully I have lots of open workspace to play with at work. Unfortunately I under-estimated how many letters we had and only ordered 120 archival-quality page protectors. I will need at least 120 more, but I do have enough to keep me busy for now!

Looking Better:
All 120 letters that I was dealing with are sorted into month. I then organized them chronologically within their month, and put them in a binder for now, until a prettier long-term solution is made.

It seems Grampie Frank wrote to my grandmother nearly daily, and sometimes twice! I expect the gaps in these 10 months are going to be filled in with the remaining 100+ letters that I haven't organized yet!

February, March, April, May 1945

June, July, August, September 1945

October & November 1945

It was very challenging to stay on-task and not just read them all! Just skimming through several of them, I see so much of his personality. I can't wait to get into every single one and archive it electronically to share with our family and anyone else who is interested in Canadian WWII history.

That's all for now - I shall start typing away and see how far I get before my shift is over!

Sincerely,

Helen Scammell
Youngest Granddaughter of Captain F. E. Scammell