Write to a Canadian Soldier in Afghanistan

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The Canadian Military Heritage Project
WW1

LETTERS HOME

Norma came upon these letters during an investigation into her family history and felt bound to find out something about Charles. Charles was a Barnardo child sent to Canada aboard the SS Southwark in 1905. He landed in Quebec on July 1, 1905 at age 13. Charles' will names Norma's grandfather Norman Franklin Cloes as his sole heir and lists him as "friend". Charles died on October 1, 1918 and is buried in Chambrai France according to the records of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. He is not forgotten.

France 22nd

Well Norm just a few lines to let you know I am still all right and hope you folks are the same. Well tell Eula that I have got my eyes open yet looking for that parcel which you have sent. As it is not arrived here yet of course you know it takes quite a long time to get to me. You know I am sorry that I have not wrote before as I have not had time. We have been busy over here just now.

This is from Pte Charles Wass 865750 52 Batt BEF France. You see Norm that we have to put our address in the centre of our letter.

Please send me something to read as we can't get anything over here. Send me a good book if you can. I am waiting for a letter from Walter Tansley. If he joins up tell him that when he gets to England tell him to come to the 52 Batt then we can be together over here. Well this is all just now as I have got to clean up for morning parade.

Goodby, give my love to Eula and the Children.
From Charlie

France 22 Aug

Well Norm just a few lines to let you know I am still alive and in the best of health and hope you are the same. Well say I am getting tired of being out here in France. I only wish I was back in Canada with you. Well how are you getting on with your crops and it must keep Eula busy helping you and doing the dishes as well. Tell her to never mind I will soon be back to help her and you too.

I am keeping my eyes open for that parcel that you are sending me. And please tell Walter Tansley to hurry up with that letter that he is sending me as I am watching for it every day when the mail man comes around.

Say Eula could you send me a writing paper as that is hard to get out here. And give my love to the kiddies also you folks till I return.

From Charlie
865750
52 Canadian Batt
BEF
France

France July 14th

Dear Norm

Just a few lines in answer to your welcome letter which I received tonight. Well We are having some fine weather over here in France. Well I was glad to hear that Leon and Eva are keeping fine. Well Eula I only wish I was back to help you pick the cherries and also spend the evening singing with Norm.

And say when this war is over I am coming right back to Norm again to stay. And tell him that I wish that I had took his advice but next time I will know better.

Well Eula you said that you sent me some letters but I am sorry I did not get any only just got the one that I now got. And say keep on writing to me while I am here and say you bet that I will be on the look out for that box and say I have not had one letter from Canada since I left.

But if I had known your address and you known mine. I know I will get a lot of letters from you folks at home now.

And when I return to Brandon I will certainly let you know, it will be the first thing I will do is to write home to you.

Well how is little Eula and Charles Closes coming along and say I must not forget Norman's father as I think about him and especially you and Norman.

Well you said that Norm sold the colts and bought a mate for Bell and that Babe is fat as a pig. Ask Norm what team will he have for me to work with when I do come home. And tell him I only wish was right home now to help him and you but Cheer up. It won't be long I hope and say Eula if you see little Eula tell her I said to drop me a line once in awhile with yours. And tell the Tansleys to write to me too as I don't get hardly any mail since I have been out here. I will keep on writing to you folks now, you bet.

Well I think I will have to stop and look out for that box as that is what I want out here.

Norm, well I will close, wishing you all good luck till I return.

From
Charles A Wass
No 865750
52 Canadians
BEF
France

Hastings Dec 8th

Dear Norm

Just a few lines to you as I think it is along time since you heard from me. I have forgot your address. I been going to write to you before only for that.

Say how is Leon and Eva coming along? Say I would give quite a lot to be back on the farm again with you. Say when this war is over I be right back to you again, you bet. I am at present in England. I got wounded on the 13th of Nov at Ypres and not very bad.

Tell Barker and Mr Douglas and the rest of them around that you heard from me at last. I am going to my home in England as soon as I get out of the hospital.

Tell Eula that I will be back to help her bake bread and eat her cookies. Tell her I forgot her name as you will see by the letter. Is there many boys left around there now? I don't get in very much smoking now as I did when I was with you. I will be glad when this war is over so I can get to farming again with you.

Say Norm, who have you working for you now or are you working alone like all the other farmers are doing? I have been thinking about you folk all the time I have been in France. So you see I have not forgot you all together. I don't know whether I will be in hospital when you answer this letter or not but address to 44 Lintaine Grove Normond Road Fulham London England and I will get it from there.

But don't forget and when I go back to my Batt I'll write and you know my address now is and my number is 865750 and Batt 52. Send them to the above address.

This is all at present so goodby from Charlie.

Say Norm if there is any money coming to me please send me some, but don't send it all. Have you got all your horses yet? Keep that team that I used to drive so I can drive them again when I come home.

So Goodby and Good luck to you all at present

From
Pte Charles Wass

19/19/18(sic)

Dear Sir

Just a few lines hoping to find you quite will as it leaves me at present. Well Norm it has been a long while since I left you now I am still in the army out in France. I have been to England once, wounded was the reason.

I have not wrote to you as I have forgot your address and say I do miss those cakes that I used to get before going to the field in the afternoon. Tell Mrs Cloes to send me a parcel and your address.

I feel lost when thinking of you and say Norm how is Leon and Eva getting along? I wish I could see them now, you bet. How are all your stock these days and are you looking for me back? I suppose some day when I come will my place be open for me? Let me know so as when i land in Brandon I will know what to do. Say who have you got working for you? Now I only wish I had taken your advice before I enlisted but I am alright yet anyway.

Say Norm ask Eula if she could send me some of her home made fruitcake as that is what the boys are getting over here. And I have not got a parcel from Canada since I left, nor a letter. I feel lost without a word from you folks.

Say How is Mr and Mrs Tansley and also Walter. Give them my address and tell them to drop me a line. And I will answer your letters as soon as I get them.

Well we are having fine weather over here. I hope you have the same. How are your crops? I suppose they are good and have you still got the grey and the colts and Jack the dog? What is Mr Parker doing these days? Is he still on the same place? I suppose you have a car now. Well tell Eula that I wish I was back helping her to wash dishes for her. But never mind, I will be home someday. I hope to help her pick cherries and work for you that is all I want because your place is home to me. I will not come to St Thomas unless you want me to work for you as I will not work for anybody else in Canada but you.

This is all at present. Till I hear from you I remain your true friend

Pte Charles Wass
No 865750
52 Canadian Batt
A Company
3 Platoon
BEF
France