Letters to Miss Jeanne Reid
From
Pte. Leslie Burke 189330, 18th Battalion, CEF
Postmarked- Basingstoke, England (7/03/18)
Pte. Leslie Burke
189330, 18th Canadians,
c/o 4th Can. Gen. Hospital,
Ward E6,
Basingstoke, Surrey,
Dear Miss Reid,
Just a few lines, it may interest you to know I am getting better from a long illness of 12 weeks, I have been in different hospital I had a letter from Mrs. Burke with your address today. I wish you good luck and happiness I am improving a bit and expect I shall be all right now when I get out of here. I caught trench fever in France I am sorry to say that many of the old boys have gone. Ones we all loved. I shall hope if God is willing to return to Mrs. Burke. I hope you will often think of me. It is not always a white cot and nurses. I have helped to bury some of our lads Poor Boys. Well I can’t tell you more I shall hope the future will be brighter for us all. I must close now ever your sincere friend.
I have just read a wonderful book by H.G. Wells, Mr. Britling sees it through and “options” by O’Henry either of which names do credit to the shelves of the library if they are not already there. They are good reading instructive and above all fine samples of thought and of the knowledge of people.
Well I must really go to bed.
Bon swar mon ami.
Leslie Burke.
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Letters to Miss Jeanne Reid
From
Hillman
January 4th, 1917
Dear Miss Reid,
You should really have taken me to task for not writing sooner. Am afraid I am as lazy out here as I used to be in Sunday School. The mail has been quite backward lately so was delighted to see a cheerful note from you.
Tell Fraser to make good use of his feet for Canada is to be preferred to France any day. Bob seems to be an industrious chap with his letter writing. I must try and get him to drop me a few lines once in a while. Maybe Wesley B. will land nearby with his plane and pay us a visit. I am hanging on to the snaps to show Bill Anderson when he returns from leave, which he is at present enjoying in Scotland.
Surely you don’t expect to find large numbers of young men at league in these times. I guess it is up to the girls to carry on. Wish I was there to hear Dr. Daniels I used to like him very much.
It is some job after mass writing to all the people who have remembered you. I wish I had that typewriter in the library.
Got started in our signaling classes this a.m. hope to get some good practice in before leaving this burg. The other signaling N.C.O. and myself have quite a nice billet, at least the bed is a fair imitation of home. The lady always has coffee ready for us when we come in. Well must write one of my numerous Aunts now. Will try to better in the future with my pen.
Sincerely,
Hillman
