George Pringle Brunton - Letters

28 January 1916 No 1 Platoon A Coy 12 Royal Scots No 43270 My Dear Wifie I have just got back to the Battalion from the Musketry school and no doubt you will be thinking that I am neglecting to write but, Megsie, I have been kept fairly busy at the school and never had much chance of writing. I can’t tell you how thankful I am that our Dear Lassie is better now. It is a load off my mind, I can tell you. It is hard to be stuck out here when there is anything wrong at home. The Battalion are in the trenches again but I am not in the firing line. I am a good bit back down a deep dugout and safe. I got three letters from you today. They kept them for me. It is the rule out here that when anybody goes away like I did any parcel is divided up among the platoon so they had two of mine. It is better than letting the stuff go to waste and I often get the chance of other’s parcels. I also had a letter from Father and they seem to be all well, and one from Glasgow with photos of Bert and Rena. The photo is very good. I expect you will have one of each by this time. It has been very cold weather out here, freezing hard. My coat was covered with frost at the collar…

…with my breath. I was very lucky to be at that school. It is very cold yet but we have a fine fire in the dugout now. I got the parcel of tobacco alright. Well, Megsie, I hope that headache of yours is not troubling you, that you are well and that it is nothing more than a headache also that Peggy is still alright and as cheeky as ever. She fairly looks after her Dad. I am proud to think that your Father is doing… …his bit at his age and condition. He is a game spud. I hope your Mother is clear of her cold again. I am alright myself in spite of the weather and liking my new duties though there is a little more work but it is easy. I hope you are all square with the GR people and getting the £11 also the (generous) (2/-) extra from the government. It is like them. Your ever loving Hubby George xxxxxxxxxx to Mum xxxxxxxxxxto Peggy

Somewhere in France 13 August 1916 My Dear Wifie I have at last been able to snatch a few minutes to write you, Dear Meg. First of all I am in the best of health and spirits and I hope to hear the same of you and Peggy and don’t worry too much me as I am pretty well off. We left Scotland last Thursday at 9 am and had a stop in Carlisle then went on to London. Arrived there and we were marched along The Strand and had a general look round I must say I was disappointed in London. Well, we left there for Folkstone and arrived at 2.30 the next morning. We had a good sleep on the way down in the train and I guess we were needing it. Then we sailed the next morning for France. I suppose the censor will read this so I will mention no more places. Well, the sail lasted about two hours and was good. The Channel was very calm. When we arrived in France on Friday there was a woman selling fruit of all kinds but everything was very dirty. We marched through the town to a rest camp and spent the night there. The next morning we were put in the train (in cattle trucks) but they were a lot better than the ones you see at home. Then we arrived at the Base and it is alright here. I expect we will be here for a long time. I hope so. It is like being on Portobello Beach. All sand. You would never know that you were in France. Here you never see a French man, woman or child. We can see a little town down the hill a bit but we are not allowed into it but the first chance…

…I get I will send Peggy and you something from France. I hope by that time you will be getting a little more settled. It is pretty hard on you and Peggy but cheer up, they say we will all have a fine time some day and I hope it will be soon. They think it will soon be all over here. I wish I could let you see the size of the camp here. It is something awful. Oh by the way I am still in the Royal Scots. There is no different Battalions here. It is all Royal Scots so that is something to be thankful for. Well, Meg Dear, you might send me on one or two razor blades. You know the kind, Gilette, they call them. You will get them in Junction Road also a nice cheery… …letter. That is about all I need just now. I am going to ask Father to send me on some tobacco. You will have plenty to do with your money without that but we get decent stuff to buy. I can’t say what I would like to say in this letter as they are all read before you get it but you know, Megsie, I am still the same. Your loving Hubby George xxxxxxxxxx to Mummy xxxxxxxxxx to Peggy My address is Private G Brunton 3810 5 Royal Scots 20th IBD 17 Section c/o APO BEF France

5 Royal Scots 20 IBD 17 Section c/o APO BEF France 19 August 1916 My Dear Wifie I have had no letter from Home. Yes I know that you have not had time but it seems years since I saw you and Peggy so I am writing you but there is nothing to write about. We do the same out here every day. We get up every day at 5.30, parade at 8 and are finished at 1 pm the day so you see we have a pretty easy time of it. The only thing I feel is doing my own washing. I have one to start to after I finish this note. A shirt, pants and towel and socks. It is the thought of it more than the actual washing.

When I get home again, I will be sending Peggy and yourself out for a walk the time I am doing the washing. I hope you got the parcel and can that I sent home with McLeod alright. I was going to post them but take it. I suppose he will be ready for a draft by this time, I fancy. One of the chaps in the draft which left after me was telling us that there is a report in Stobs that we had been in action and that one of our chaps was killed. That lets you see how rumour spreads. We have been having the time of our lives here. I am going down to a French town tomorrow just to see what like it is but if it is like the one we landed in I won’t spend much time in it as it was a dirty hole. We cannot keep ourselves clean here. Every second here one has a dose of lice. I am not that…

…way yet but I will be a marvel if I keep clear but, Meg, don’t worry, they think nothing about it here, in fact I believe they would exchange five wee one for a big one. That puts me in mind of the Cochranes. How is David getting on? Is he still clear? I hope not. They would fairly rub it in to him out here. I expect to see Waddle soon. He will likely be coming down here. Well, Meg, I know you will be saying that there is no news in what I have written but I really have none. I do hope our Peggy is in the best of health and as wild and cheeky as ever and that you are also in the best of health and spirits. I would give something to see you both again but it can’t be helped just now but once I do get home… …I have the feeling just now that I will never go out. I will just sit in the big chair and enjoy myself. I see by the papers that the weather at home has been pretty bad. Well we are having it fine here. Very warm, in fact it could not be better. Some of the chaps are sleeping outside at night. Tell your Father and Mother that I hope they are still in good health and behaving themselves. I will send them a note soon. You might tell Mother that I will write her soon again and that I am still in the pink. Your Ever Loving Hubby George PS I will send you both a silk postcard when I go down to the town.

22 August 1916 20 IBD 17 Section c/o APO BEF France My Dear Wifie I received your very welcome letter with the photo. It was not bad. I am going to keep it beside me. I prize it all the more with the mark on it. You will understand, Meg, I am surprised to learn that M Reid was not home on Saturday. He should have been. He will likely be in the Guard soon again. He is never out of it. I hope he has brought the parcel home before you get there. I hope I did not make a mistake in trusting him with it. I have a good chance of meeting our foster cousin, A Waddle, as when we get a shift it is sure to be to the Old Regiment, the fifth. I must agree with you that Kate is the best of the bunch. I will tell him that whenever I meet him. It will be a surprise for you to know that McGlassan (I don’t know the right way to spell it) is also with them. The 5

th and

6

th are

joined together now so I will meet him also but there is no word of us going up the line yet. I will let you know as soon as I get word that we are going. I am still wondering… …how you will get on at the Sheriff Court, if you will get anything. I have just received your letter saying that you have sent a parcel but no parcel yet, They take two days longer to come than the letters so I will get it alright. You might send on some writing paper, Meg, as it is very scarce here, This is a bit I got from W Main’s brother. You can buy none here. I have never got a pass for the village but will send the silk PC the first chance. I am longing for that photo of Peggy and yourself. I didn’t need to tell you how I will prize it. I will bring it home with me. I am going to try and get another sheet of paper to write Mother and thank her for the tobacco. I have never had a decent smoke for a while. We can only get light tobacco here and it burns the tongue. Well, Meg, I will need to stop. I have no news but this will always let you know that I am in good health and sticking it very well. Give Peggy her usual kiss for Daddy and I will send her some little nic nack whenever I get the chance. I hope you are still in the best of health and managing to make ends meet. Your loving Hubby George Both Bert and Jim Fortune are lucky boys as they say in the army. I here that there has been a further advance so that’s always in the right direction.

24 August 1916 20 IBD 17 Section c/o APO BEF France My Dear Wifie I received your parcel tonight just in time as we are shifting further up the line but don’t worry, as far as I can make out it is to another base camp but would just be the same as. Letters and parcels will be sent on to me and I will let you know my address whenever I arrive. The biscuits were all crushed to crumbs but they went high all the same. There were some with chocolate on them which strange to say were alright and the tin of tongue will come in handy as I suppose it is a pretty long journey. When I get settled down you might send me a pair of socks but I will let you know again. I will be able to shave now without the agony of an old blade. It was a hard job trying to shave…

…with the old one. Tell our Peggy that Dad did not get his pass for the village so I have not been able to get her present but will send her something soon. I will have to stop as I have not much time as we are going off tonight and I have to get everything ready yet. There was some mistake as we have been on parade all day when we should have been getting ready for the flitting. I trust that, Meg Dear, you are keeping up not worrying too much and still in the best of health also Dear wee Peggy. I suppose she will be getting a big girl and wilder than ever. I hope so anyway. I hear that we are to be attached to the 12 Royal Scots so hard luck I won’t see our foster cousin, Kate’s man. You might let Mother know and tell her that I will write her on the journey. I have only a few minutes…

…to spare so, Megsie, I will have to stop but another letter will follow soon. Tell your Father and Mother that I am still thinking of them and hope they are enjoying good health. Cheer up, Wifie Your Loving Hubby George xxxxxxxxxx to Mumma xxxxxxxxxx to Peggy Let me know how Bert gets on. A Coy 28 August 1916 3810 12 Royal Scots BEF France My Dear Wifie I am now in the trenches but don’t worry it is a quiet part of the line. We never see anything of the Germans. If it is always like this I am safer here than at the Base so don’t worry too much about it. I will take every precaution and run no risks. I am not a tryer for the VC. I really got a surprise. I thought the trenches would have been much…

…worse but I expect it is only my good luck to get a quiet part of the line. Speaking about luck I found a four leaf clover so what do you think of that for a good sign. I know that you believe in these things. I am wondering how Peggy and you are getting on. It is a good while since I had a letter. I am longing to see your handwriting again. I hope it will be a nice cheery letter full of good news. We heard some good news today about the war but I suppose I dare not mention it. But it should have a good… …for us on this war. So cheer up, Megsie, we will perhaps see each other sooner than we thought. So be sure and let me know all the news when you write and if you keep me in writing paper I will send you plenty notes letting you know how I am getting on. But don’t worry too much, Megsie, look after our wee lassie and I will come home safe. I feel sure of it. By the time you get this I will be out of the trenches again and into a rest camp.

So you see the danger will be over for the time being and I will let you know whenever I get word again but you will get letters before that. Tell your Father and Mother that I am in good health and not a bit nervous. Be sure to give Peggy the usual kiss and will (the censor reads this letter) so I won’t say. Your Loving Hubby George xxxxxxxxxx to Mumma xxxxxxxxx to Peggy Be sure you put A Coy in my letters, Megsie. 2 September 1916 No 43270 No 1 Platoon A Coy 12 RS My Dear Wifie I received your welcome letter also PC of Earlston and was very sorry to hear about Uncle Jock of D. It surely was very sudden. What will Aunt do now? I am a bit worried about Peggy. I really think, Meg Dear, that you should see the Doctor before it gets any worse. You will be wondering how I am getting on myself with the scabies. Well I am still attending the Dr yet but he has never said any more about hospital although I can’t see any improvement yet but I suppose he knows best. This is a green envelope and it has…

…a chance of going through without being censored but we are only supposed to write about family affairs when sending these and we only get them once in a blue moon. I read about the fire at Ross’s in one of the other chaps papers. I must have been a fair sized blaze to turn into £3,000 damages. Your Dad will be idle. I could do with his chance just now but I expect he won’t like it. I hope that, Megsie Mine, you are in the best of health and not worrying too much. We have a lot to be thankful for. There are a few sad hearts after the last affair. I was never in the least afraid and was confident of coming… … out safe and well, Megsie. I will have to stop now but I must say just that I would very much like to see Bishop in his kilt doing that 18 mile march. It will be a good job of soldiering makes a better man of him, knocks some of the selfishness out of him. I do hope that your Mother is better by this time also Father and that Dear Peggy and yourself are in the best of health. I feel fit myself only, I think, a wee bit thinner, but that’s not to be wondered at after what we came through the last time. Your loving Hubby George xxxxxxxxxx to Dear Peggy xxxxxxxxxx to my Wife (written on the back of this sheet) Just received tobacco - all OK. Yours George

3 September 1916 A Coy 12 Royal Scots France My Dear Wifie I received your welcome letter yesterday. I am sorry to see that you have not had my letters up to that time. I have written 2 since we came up here but we have been shifting about a bit and they lie about a good while at different places. Fancy, I only got my parcel of tobacco along with your letter yesterday dated 25. They take a long time to come out here. I am still in the trenches but it will only be for a day or so now. Then we will get a well-earned rest. I am sorry to hear that Peggy’s cold is no better but trust that by this time she will be all right again and happy as the day is long, also that your Father is alright and back to work again. Not forgetting you, Dear Wifie. Don’t worry about me, Meg, I will come home alright again. I can see for myself now that we have got them on toast now. We fairly give them beans. What do you think? I received a letter from Rev P A Reid. He is seemingly on holiday, lucky bounder. I will enclose it with this. I think you will enjoy the joke about Mr Sago if you have not…

…heard it. I was in luck the other day. Three letters. One from Father and Bert and Jean. I suppose Bert has got off again. Another lucky bounder but our luck will be in when Peggy’s Dad come marching home. You can bet your boots we will enjoy ourselves, Dear Meg. You might send out another pad. You will be thinking that I must have wasted this one but we had two very wet days here and the envelopes are practically useless. All stuck together. We had not much shelter but it has no ill effect. Well. Meg, I will close now as anything I could write about I am not allowed to. Tell your Father that I will…

…have some rare old crack with him someday and I will tell him some of the things I have seen. I have not been here long but I know it would interest him to hear what big guns can do. This is Sunday but you never know any difference here. It is the same thing every day of the week. No long lie on Sunday here or ham and eggs either but cheer up, Megsie, they will come again and be all the more enjoyable. So keep your head up, Meg, as it fairly cheers me up when I get a letter from home. Your Loving Hubby George xxxxxxxxxx to Mum xxxxxxxxxx to Peggy

8 September 1916 12 Royal Scots A Coy BEF France My Dearest Wife I received your letter of the 21 August and you have no idea how cheering it was. I would give something to see Peggy climbing now but I expect I would be the same as ever, afraid of her falling. You will be pleased to hear that I am out of the trenches now getting a rest so, Megsie Mine, the danger is over for the time being. It was a fearful strain at first but I was about the first of the draft to get a sleep. I slept and the big guns going like anything. I was not long in getting used to it but don’t think for one minute that I run any risks. I have the dearest Wifie and Girlie to think of. We had a good way to march from… …the trenches to this place and a good deal of our chaps fell out. One of them, the chap I chum out here with, fainted and I stayed with him, then carried his pack along with my own so you can see for yourself that the trenches have done me no harm. His name is Selkirk, his brother and him have a painters’ business in St Peter’s Place. You know the shop. He was very grateful and says that when we get home he is going take Wife and Peggy for runs in his motor. He is pretty well off. I wrote and told you a long time ago that Bill Ainslie was killed. It was not true then I was speaking to him out here but, poor chap, he was killed last night, 6 September, coming out of the trenches for a rest. He is in a different Coy and was a long way from us.

He was a nice cheery chap but don’t let that worry you. He had an idea that it was coming, at least he gave me that impression. I never saw him again. I am pleased to hear that you have got something off the civil affairs but it is not near enough. I think you ought to appeal. £4.10/- is nothing at all for rent etc. I am looking forward to that parcel. We get rations here in the morning for the whole day and sometimes you could eat the lot for breakfast but it is usually pretty fair, only you get tired of the same thing day after day. I have met Nellie Fraser’s friend, M Reid. I was sitting reading the Observer when a chap came forward and asked for a look at… …at it and asked me if I knew Leith. So he turned out to be M Reid. We have many a crack now about Leith. I see in the old Observer that the Chapmans opposite Mother have been convicted for kicking up a row. Well, Wifie, I will have to stop again. Time and paper are limited so please send on that pad. I have still got the other one but it is useless. We were out for a long time in the rain and everything was soaking but no ill effects to myself. I am sorry but I had two silk cards for Peggy but we are not allowed to send them. I had them posted and they were sent back. Well, Dearest Wife, give our Girlie her usual kiss from Dad and pray for the war to finish. Your Ever Loving Hubby George xxxxxxxxxx to Mum xxxxxxxxxx to Peggy

10 September 1916 A Coy 12 RS BEF France My Dearest Wifie I received your welcome parcel and photos. The photos are splendid. My word, what a big girl Peggy is. I can’t get over her being so big. She looks nice and cheeky and really, Megsie Dear, you are looking well. I am always pulling it out and having another look at it. It is the best photo of you I have seen yet. I put a silk card in my last letter for our Peggy but they returned the card to me. They won’t let us send them now. I don’t see what harm they would do but it is an order so Peggy won’t get her card but the next time I am in a village… …I will try and get something for her. I had salmon for my tea with biscuits but I never shared Peggy’s tablet and sweets. I kept them for myself. I have got Jim’s Bible. I carry it with me along with your photo. There will be something far wrong if I lose them. I was looking at the front leaf and when I get home again I will hand it over to our Big Girlie. She will appreciate it when she gets older. I have plenty tobacco in the meantime and will let Mother know when I need more. Bert wrote me and asked if there was anything I needed so I just thought that I would tell him to send on a pipe. He can afford it and he is dashed lucky to get off so easy.

You will be pleased to hear that I am still out of the trenches getting a rest. This is a very fine place. You would not think that it is anywhere near the war zone at all. I saw a thing when we went up first which I would not have believed if anybody told me. Fancy the little French boys and girls about 8 to 11 years old selling newspapers in a village and some shells dropping over now and again. It never troubled them. I have just received all the letters but I think I have had two parcels of tobacco from home but sometimes they take a long time to come. I wonder if the censor strikes out much in my letters. You have… …never said. I don’t think he can as I never write about anything. I think well. After I finish the note and one to Father, I will have a quiet hour with the Wide World. Everybody wants a look at it after me. Well, Meg Dear, that’s about all my news. I trust that both Peggy and yourself are in the best of health. Tell Peggy I think she is a bonny lassie. With love and kisses Your Loving Hubby George xxxxxxxxxx to Mumma xxxxxxxxxx to Peggy Dearest Wifie, by the time you get this it will just be about the anniversary of our wedding but cheer up, lass, I will be beside you by the next one.

15 September 1916 A Coy RS BEF France My Dearest Wifie I received your very welcome parcel. It was a treat. The dumpling lasted about 5 minutes and I ate half of it myself. It was very rich and well cooked. I just got it in time for tea when we had neither butter nor jam, just dry bread so you will understand how I felt they handed me my parcel. The black pudding was very fine and, Megsie Dear, the next parcel you send, for goodness sake, mind the black pudding and dumpling. It brings visions of home when I see them. I am keeping the cake and clout for tomorrow. We have to make it spread out. We are still enjoying a rest in a village a good bit from the firing line and there is no word of going back yet. So that will be good news for you. I would like to have seen Peggy when you were making up the parcel. I expect she would have to help with Daddy’s parcel. I hope yourself and Dear Peggy are in the best of health and these blessed spots all away. I am feeling fit myself. The only thing that bothers me just now is the lice. They seem to have taken a notion for me but I am not so bad as some of the chaps. I have no more news just now but will write you again on Sunday. You might let me know how Jean…

…is getting on. Is she any better after that last row. I feel like writing her and letting her know something. She is a bit too bad and need looking after. What do you think, my chum has just been handed a parcel. We are in luck this week. He is fair excited opening it, too busy to speak. We are going down through the village tonight for a walk. I wish I could let you see the old ramshackle places they have here. They always look as if they would topple over. Well, Megsie, look out for another letter in a few days. Your Ever Loving Hubby George xxxxxxxxxx to Mummy xxxxxxxxxx to Dear Peggy 15 September 1916 A Coy 12 RS BEF France My Dear Wifie I received your welcome letter telling me about Jean. I can picture Mother’s face when she found these two late passes and badge in Jean’s bag. I really wish somebody would take her in hand. She is a bit too bad but I trust this will be a lesson for her. I hope you are both still in the best of health and spirits and Peggy’s blessed spots are better and she is as wild as ever. I hope it won’t be long until I see you both again. I think your Mother is quite right in not letting you go to make munitions. I don’t like the idea at all. If you can manage to make ends meet…

…without it. This is going to be a very short note, Meg Dear, as I am writing this in bed and my candle is about finished but it will always let you know that I am in the best of health and feeling fit. If I can manage I will writ Mother in the morning but it will have to be like this one, short, as we parade at 6.45. I am still out of the trenches yet so that will keep your mind easy, Megsie Mine, and I will write you whenever I hear that we are going back to the trenches. I received Liz’s photo and note. It is very good indeed. I will write her first chance. Well, Megsie Mine, the candle is finishing so cheer up, lass, there is a good time coming. Your Loving Hubby George xxxxxxxxxx to Mum xxxxxxxxxx to Peggy 21 September 1916 No 1 Platoon A Coy 12 RS My Dear Wifie I received your very welcome letter dated 14th September and I am pleased to see by it that you and Peggy are in the best of health. Dear Peggy must be as you say a perfect treat now. Fancy her remembering about the Waverley Station. I would give something to hear her at it again. And I hope I will do so soon as I don’t think the war can last long now. Fritz is not top dog now by a long chalk. Well, Meg Dear, we are back in the trenches again but don’t worry, this is an even quieter part than the last and a long way from Fritz. The last ones were only 25 yds and we could hear them talking occasionally. W Selkirk is in hospital but I don’t think it is anything serious.

So, Megsie, you can see for yourself that we have not had a bad time of it, so don’t worry. My usual good luck is sticking by me. I had a letter from Bob this morning and he is sending out a pipe and a tube of ointment for killing vermin also a shirt for killing them also so don’t send out that sulphur as the ointment and shirt should be alright. We had a medical exam the day before coming to the trenches and the doctor told me to go to his room. I had visions of Blighty and home but no such luck. My skin is all out in a rash but he says it is only the change of food. I think myself that it is eczema as there is an itch in it but it is nothing and it might do us a good turn yet. He has never been well since we landed in this country. You were asking what one it was. Well, he stays about Polwarth Terrace. I expect it is the same one the Mrs S knows. He is a chap about my own age and they have one little boy about Peggy’s age. I hope you received Peggy’s card alright and that she is pleased with it. I will send a good one the next time we get out for a visit. It was the only one I could get handy in the time. I will try and get two with silk handkerchiefs in them. Really nice things. They cost about 8d each but we have nothing else to do with the little money we get. Out of the draft of 40 men that left Stobs we have only had one wounded and W S sick and that chap L Durkin is away with chilled lungs. That Durkin used to drive one of Tod’s lorries.

Now, Megsie, don’t worry as it is really nothing. The doctor rubbed some sulphur ointment on it. That was all. The weather was very bad up till today. It is fair now and I think it will remain so but we are pretty well off here – a nice big, dry dugout to sleep in and we can keep ourselves fairly dry. Well, Megsie Mine, that is about all my news. It is not much of a letter but it always lets you know that I am well. If at any time I don’t get a chance to write I will send a field Post Card. We are always allowed to send them so take care of yourself and our Big Girlie until I come home. Your ever loving Hubby George xxxxxxxxxx to Mum xxxxxxxxxx to Peggy It must be a poor substitute, a Pom (? French gun) but we wish them well, poor souls. 23 September 1916 No 1 Platoon A Coy 12 RS My Dearest Wifie I am a happy man today. Fancy, two letters from you on 16 and 17 September also a parcel of papers and a letter and parcel from Bert. No wonder the chap that does postman was grumbling about the bag being heavy. One of the parcels of papers was from home but no letters from home. I am beginning to wonder if they are well enough. I was rather tickled at the thought of Mcleod and I being great chums. I did not think that soldiering had brought me down the scale so far but that is just like him. He has a face for anything. I could easily have posted my clothes but he was eager to oblige. In fact he would take them…

…home, right reason or none. Dear Peggy must really be a warrior. Fancy washing her Granny’s face. Really, Meg Dear, I feel like deserting when I look at the photo and think of her running about, gabbling away, but I will try and have patience although it is hard. We must just hope that the whole affair will finish soon. It is a consolation to know that you are both well. By the time you get this I will be out of the trenches again, so the rumour goes, but we never can tell. Doesn’t make much difference out or in as it is so quiet here. I will finish now as it is my turn for duty. Your Ever Loving Hubby George xxxxxxxxxx to Mummy xxxxxxxxxx to Peggy

27 September 1916 No 1 Platoon A Coy 12 RS BEF France My Dearest Wifie I received your letter with the fags and sulphur yesterday. You will be thinking that I have neglected you altogether in not writing but we have been on the march and they would take no letters until we arrived at our billets so I think this is them now but I am not sure but it will make up for all your worry to hear that I am clear of the trenches again. Pretty far back this time and likely to be out for a while. The last trenches were really good, quiet and big dugouts to sleep in and a long way from Old Fritz. I could have stuck yonder for the duration. There was very…

…little danger. W Selkirk is back again alright. I don’t think there was much more than pure funk wrong with him. He keeps worrying about where we are going and wondering if we are likely to go over the top at Fritz until you get fed up listening to him. He makes trouble where there is none so I am crying off. We are billeted now in a pretty little village. You would not think there was a war on. It is so peaceful and the French people never seem in a hurry. I hear that we are to be paid today so if we are I will try and get another card. I am glad Peggy likes her last one as it is not half so pretty as some I have seen but… …it was the only one I could get at the time. Dear Wifie, you will be reading about the great push and wondering if I am in it. Well, I am not. This Battalion was in it just before I joined it, did well and got high praise for it. There was a good few of them got medals for it so they are getting things easy. I got a letter from Dad with my photo in it. It was quite nice. He was telling me that you and Peggy would not give him a kiss as she was keeping them all for her Dad. She fairly looks after Dad. I wish I could get home again to get them and from somebody else.

Well, Megsie, that is about all my news, only that I am wearing the small bags of sulphur but it is too soon to say if they will be a success or not. I don’t think that Bert’s shirt will be. It was alright as long as it was new but after marching for three days I think the stuff is all off it but I will give it a day or two yet. I hope Peggy and yourself are in the best of health also your Father and Mother. Look out for another PC. Your loving Hubby George You are in luck this time as it is bound to be Mr Chisholm as Mr Jackson is away.

1st October 1916 Private G Brunton 43270 No 1 Platoon A Coy 12 RS My Dear Wifie I received your very welcome letter of 24th also the parcel and I need not say that it’s welcome. You will understand that the dumpling was a treat. In fact you have earned a name for dumpling making among the boys. They were all asking if it was your own make. You will know by this time that I am out of the trenches again for a supposed rest far back from the firing line and rumour says we are to be here for a good while. I hope Peggy and yourself are in the best of health and taking Mr Reid’s advice and going out often. I hope the weather at home is as good as it is out here.

Just now it is like the middle of June, very warm. I never did think much of Bishop but I never thought any man would sink so low as to try and get off the way he is doing. I never wanted to come out and would go home if I could get a chance but if B and C could see some of the villages and think what some of the poor French people must have suffered they would soon change their opinion and do their bit even if it was only at home. It is a pity he did not get his job at the docks. I don’t think he would he would have been long in changing his mind and joining up. I don’t believe that story about AS. I am very sorry about it if it is true for she was not a bad wee soul. It was good news about the two Zepps and I hope they manage to do the same should ?Yuly come back again. I don’t think he will reach Edinburgh again. I have just received another letter dated the 27th and you are asking about my eczema. Well, it is just the same but I have never seen the Doctor since so don’t know what it is yet but it does not worry me much. You will see by the top of this letter that I have got a new number. They have changed it today so mind and put it on my letters. I had a new little disc that I wear on my wrist with my name and number printed by a chap at the base so I am sending it home in this letter. It will always be something belonging to the…

…Old Regiment, the 5 RS. Well, Meg, this is about all my news. Only don’t think that I despise the little bags of sulphur. I don’t do that with anything that comes from home. Well, Megsie Dear, you can look for another PC soon. There is a perfect run on them here and only one little shop. She was sold out of them in no time but she is getting some more soon. Your ever loving Hubby George xxxxxxxxxx to Mummy xxxxxxxxxx to Peggy I can see Dear Peggy’s writing at the top of this letter. She fairly looks after her Dad. I am longing to see you both again. I hope your Father and Mother are well. I was hard luck on Rena, Bert paying 3/- for ? I think they should try for the real thing.

6 October 1916 No 43270 No 1 Platoon 12 RS My Dear Wifie I received your very welcome letter dated 2nd October and I would like to see you and Peggy with the furs on. You will be as Peggy says awful nuts. I expect I shall see a big difference in her as everybody that writes says she is getting tall. It makes me long for a Blighty wound so that I could get a chance of seeing you both or, better still, the finish of this war, then I would be beside you both for good. I don’t think I will shift from the big chair and fire when I get home. I have had more than enough of marching about France but I suppose it is all for a good cause.

Dear Meg, you are asking if I received your letter with the fags. I did. I am sorry if I forgot to say so but it is usually dark now when we get finished for the day so that letter writing is a rush during dinner and you forget half. Now, Meg, I really don’t think you should think about working if you can possibly manage at all without it. Peggy is getting big now but she will take a good deal of managing yet and think, Megsie, I am doing my bit and that’s plenty without the wife starting too. Of course, you will know better being at home but really, Wifie, I don’t like the idea. I have still a decent bit of tobacco left yet, about 6oz. You see they gave us some black… …and one or two of the chaps could not smoke it so I came in for a good share but it will just arrive in time. I am very sorry to hear that you have had a sore throat and the cold and hope it has left no ill effects. You were saying that W C has done it again with you but don’t you think that it is for the want of your Hubby looking after you. Cochrane does not seem to be so sure that he won’t soldier now. No word of prison. I don’t wish him any harm but I would like to see him called up and get a wee share. He was always so cocksure that he would not go. Well, Megsie, I forgot to mention that we are now in another billet – a deserted hole. There is nothing to see…

…about the place at all, only farm places. We marched about 12 miles yesterday but I hear we are to move again so if I don’t get a chance to write I will send you another field PC. You see, Meg, when we are moving they won’t take letters only this field PC. I am looking forward to that parcel with the butter, jam and lemon curd and hoping they won’t all be mixed up but if they should I will eat them just the same. I received the papers today also the Wide World. The rash on my body is a lot better now and I think it will soon be better. Well, Wifie, that’s about all my news now. Only look after that big wild girlie of ours and give her a kiss from Dad. Your ever loving Hubby George xxxxxxxxxx to Mumsie xxxxxxxxxx to Peggy

6 October 1916 No 43270 No 1 Platoon A Coy 12 RS My Dearest Wifie I am taking this chance of writing you a few lines as I don’t know when I may get another chance for we are on the move again. I received your letter with the fags and am pleased to hear that you are all well. I have no news myself only we are still out of the trenches and have marched about half over France. I and we are not finished yet. I hope you and Dear Peggy are in the best of health and spirits also your Mother and Father. I will send a field PC whenever if I don’t get the chance of writing. Your Loving Hubby George xxxxxxxxxx to Mummy xxxxxxxxxx to Peggy

11 October 1916 No 43270 No 1 Platoon 12 RS My Dear Wifie I have just received you very welcome letter and see by it that you have had no letter since the 27th but you will have had some by this time. I have not had the chance to write many as we have been on the move all the time. We travelled a long distance in motor cars. I sent a PC so you will know by this time that I have had both parcels. We are lying now in tents that we rigged up ourselves… …with our waterproof shoes but we are fine and snug. My bedmate is H Reid, Nellie James’s friend. I hope Peggy and yourself are in the best of health. I must say that I admire your spirit in trying to work but I don’t like the idea, Meg Dear, and I don’t think you will stay long as being away from Dear Peggy for a whole day will be rather much for you. Well, Megsie Mine, I will have to stop for the night and make getting a chance of finishing this in the morning as the candle is about out.

Dear Wifie, they are not taking letters this morning so that means we are to be on the move again. I can tell you that the jam was a treat only it was too big a tin to carry so we finished it that night. You could have heard me smile when I saw a Yoma. Well, Megsie, don’t worry too much about not getting letters. We simply can’t get them posted. It is hard luck on the folks at home but we can’t help it. I hope Dear Peggy won’t forget what like her Dad was. I will need to stop now, they are packing up. Your ever loving Hubby George xxxxxxxxxx to Mum xxxxxxxxxx to Peggy

15 October 1916 No 43270 12 RS No 1 Platoon My Dear Wifie I received you very welcome letter dated the 8th October and I am pleased to see by it that you are all well. I am in the best of health myself and still out of the trenches yet. We are getting a long spell of rest this time but we never know the minute we will be marched up again. I had a letter from Jean yesterday (fancy one from Jean) and she is going to a new job as a clerkess also learning typewriting and shorthand. She must be turning over a new leaf now in style. I do hope she sticks in and behaves herself. I am wondering if your Father has taken the job…

…in PT. He is getting on now and the work will be pretty trying on him. If it is easier work he should snatch it. I am picturing our Peggy in her red coat with the muffler. Fine she will fairly strut about. I wish I had been able to send her something but we are far from any town or village just now lying in a vast camp. I do hope it won’t be long until I see you and Peggy again. I would not worry if I were you about the Drysdales. It shows really what kind of people they are. I expect they have nobody out here or they would have shown a little sympathy to folks. I rather doubt that Bod F must be called up by now when there is another man in his job. Either that or he has got the sack which I was sure… …would come sooner or later the way he carried on. Chisholm must have got shifted and pretty smart. It is a good job for him that some of the other chaps didn’t get hold of him or there would have been a second war over that last sacking affair at Tods. Dear Wifie, the next time you send out a parcel, put in a cake of carbolic soap and I wonder if you could get a tin of Harrison’s pomade. That is about all my news. Tell Peggy that Daddy often looks at her photo and gives her a kiss and that he won’t be long in coming home. Your ever loving Hubby George xxxxxxxxxx to Mumma xxxxxxxxxx to Peggy I had received the paper alright. I am now going to enjoy myself.

17 October 1916 My Dear Wifie I received your very welcome letter and paper. I am very sorry to hear that Peggy is looking white and heavy. Be sure that you let me know, Meg Dear, if anything is wrong with her but I am not going to worry myself just yet but hope for the best. I am still… (censored) …yet. We are getting a long spell this time but don’t think we do nothing fancy. Your humble doing the navvy making roads but it is a long way better than being in the trenches and we are not grumbling. I got Mother’s parcel and the thought just struck me when I opened it that you had helped to pack… …it. I don’t know what made me think it but when I got your letter I saw I was right. It was a ‘bon’ parcel. You know enough French to know what ‘bon’ means. I was very sorry to hear about Mr Mills’ death. He has seen long service in Westgate Avenue. Have had no pay for a long time now but that does not matter much as we are far from any shop and there is no chance of getting these silk cards, Well, Megsie, I will have to stop as it is getting dark and I can hardly see to write so hoping that Dear Peggy gets alright again and that you are in the best of health, also your Father and Mother. Your ever loving Hubby George xxxxxxxxxx to Mum xxxxxxxxxx to Peggy

19 October 1916 No 1 Platoon A Coy 12 Royal Scots My Dear Wifie I received two letters and parcel fro you last night and you were saying in one of the letters that I must be in love. Well, Meg Dear, the next time I get a green envelope I will tell you all about that when nobody censors it. I was just looking at the photo today. In fact, I often look at it, Dear Meg. I am sorry to hear that you are hard put to it for money and I think that you should stop sending my parcels as it is bound to cost you a pretty penny to send it and Mother is sending one now and… …and she is able to when you are not. I can manage fine on Mother’s parcel and it would always be a shilling or two for Peggy and yourself. You will be pleased to hear that we are still out of the trenches yet and no word of moving either. They are giving us a good spell this time and when we do go back it will be to a quiet part of the line. There is word of Harry Small at last. He is in hospital somewhere in this country. I am glad he has turned up. There is very little of our draft left out here. The most of them have been wounded and…

…and back in Scotland, lucky beggars. Oh, by the way, it was arranged between three of us that if any of us get wounded and home that we would call on the other two’s people and let them know how we were getting on. A Coull was and is in Glasgow so he will likely call when he gets his 10 day’s leave. You remember we saw him standing on the back of a car just at the Waverley stop when I was on my 6 day leave from Stobs. He is a married man and has one little girlie. She was only a month old when he left for France. I have no doubt you will like to hear from… …somebody that has been out here with me. I saw about A Robertson winning the DCM. I was pleased to hear it. I don’t think I will get anything as I never run any risks. I think of the people at home first. I hope that Dear Peggy is in her usual good health and still saving up for Dad’s pipe and that Wifie is in the best of health and not worrying as much about money matters as I know that either your people or mine won’t see you want. Your ever loving Hubby George

30 October 1916 No 43270 No 1 Platoon 12 RS My Dear Wife You will be thinking that all sorts of things have happened to your Humble. I am still alive and well after being in the hottest corner of the British Front. We could not get any letters away then when we did come out of the trenches we tramped for a whole week resting at villages at night so that they could not take any letters or PCs. I am not allowed to say anything about what we did but I shall never forget the 19th-20th October as long as I live. I was sorry to hear that Dear Peggy had a black eye but trust it is better by this time. I received yours…

…when we came out and was lucky that everything was eatable. Some of the chaps got stuff that was bad with lying. I went sick this morning with that rash that is on my body and the Doctor told me it was (censored) I have to go back and see him again. There is a chance of my going to hospital. It will always be a rest but don’t worry, Dear, it is only a skin trouble. No pain, only itch. Well, Meg, I will need to stop now as it is only a few minutes until…

…the postman comes. You will remember the chap Small. He was up in Hairmyres Street with me one Sunday. Well he is missing. There is also other two of our chums killed. R Banks was killed just alongside me, poor soul. He was married just before he joined up. I think I mentioned his name before but, Megsie Dear, I am far away now from the firing line and out of danger for the time being. I hope that your Father and Mother are in the best of health and that Dear Peggy and yourself are well and not worrying too much. Your loving Hubby George xxxxxxxxxx to Peggy xxxxxxxxxx to Mum

8 November 1916 No 1 Platoon A Coy 12 RS My Dear Wife I received your welcome letter yesterday and it was a relief to see that you had received my field PC. I can picture the state that you would be in. It was also very worrying to me to know the state you were in and not able to get any word through and also what.. (censored) ..but it is all over now. I am far enough away from the sound of the guns now. We never hear them and likely to be here for some time.

I am sorry to hear that our Dear Lassie is not in her usual health. I do hope that she is now better by this time and still looking after the cooking of Dad’s dumplings. I am always on the lookout for these fancy PCs to send her but we have never been lucky enough to be billeted where there is any shop. It is fearful weather out here. Rain the whole time and very hard frost at nights. There were a few cases of trench foot when we were in the trenches and most of them managed to get home to Glasgow hospitals.

Well, Meg Dear, the next item in the programme is my wants. You were asking me if I have plenty of warm clothing. Well, the only thing is if you could send me a pair of socks now and again and also you might knit me one of those helmets as they are very useful out here. We have been issued with a leather coat so I am warm enough. You might also send a tin of Cameron’s Pomade. It is the only thing that shifts them but a tin does not last long. I am in a good deal better mood now the scabies are shifting. Well, Megsie Mine, I will stop now after all these wants. I am keeping my eye open for that parcel. I trust that your Father and Mother are getting…

…over the shock of Uncle’s death and not brooding too much. Oh by the way, Meg Dear, you might send out some envelopes as I had to throw the lot away. They all got wet in the trenches. Some places the… (censored) You sent a letter with an ounce of tobacco in it. Well, the tobacco had been taken out and I hope you have heard nothing about it as a chap out here had some fags taken out of a letter and his wife was fined 5/-. I trust you are in the best of health and that Dear Peggy is better. Your loving Hubby George xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx

15 November 1916 No 1 Platoon A Coy 12 RS No 43270 My Dear Wifie I received two very welcome letters from you yesterday also parcel and papers. I had a fair mail bag all to myself so I spent a fine hour or two reading and eating. The pudding was extra. I enjoyed it so did Reid who, by the way, is Officer’s servant now. He likes the job alright but I don’t think I would as he has never any time off – always standing by in case they need him, whereas we are always sure of an hour or two to ourselves. The thing I enjoyed most in your last letter was Dear Peggy’s prattle. I could hardly believe that our Girlie…

…has reached that stage yet. She must be getting a big girl just now and sensible when she is asking questions like these. I would dearly like to listen to her now. I was dreaming last night that I was home beside you both again. I thought we were getting ready to go down to Mother’s to give them a pleasant surprise at seeing me home again and I can tell you it was cruel when I wakened up and found myself still in an old barn soldiering, but cheer up, lass, it will finish sometime and there will be a happy reunion then. I don’t think I will ever leave… …the big chair again unless you are going out. You’ll never catch me out by myself, Meg Dear. The weather here is dry but very cold but I have plenty clothes and a leather jacket and woollen gloves and the best of lot is that we are still out of the trenches and rumour says that we will be out for some time. I hope you and Peggy liked your PC and that you are both well and that your toothache is better, Meg Dear. Your loving Hubby George xxxxxxxxxx to Mum xxxxxxxxxx to Peggy

I trust that your Mother and Father are well. Remember me to them.

30 November 1916 No 1 Platoon A Coy 12 RS No 43270 My Dear Wifie I received your letter of 24 and am sorry to hear that our Girlie has the cold but hope she is alright again and able to go out and buy Daddy’s pipe. I don’t think I will manage into that town I spoke of as it (censored) away and they don’t care about giving passes to it but I can get silk handkerchiefs in this village so I think I will get two of them to send for Christmas. I am sorry that I dated my letter wrong but they are often written in a hurry, and another thing, Meg Dear, I don’t think I could ever forget the 19 October. It must… …have been running through my mind. I expect you will remember that date too. I mentioned it in my letters on the 19 and 20, Dear Wifie. I am really sorry for poor Annie S. She is to be pitied. It is a queer handful for a single girl but it will also let his mother know that they are not perfect. It will be a drop down for her. I have just received a letter from J Williamson. It was enclosed in one from Jean and he is getting married. I will answer his letter this time. He says that he would have come home but for the war.

You will find his letter enclosed. I am still out of the trenches yet so that will be good news for you and no word yet. I suppose that Father has been off work with his annual bout of influenza but trust he is alright again. I had a letter from Bert with a welcome 5 franc note and Rena had been telling him that Peggy is getting big and that you would know a big difference in her. I am pleased to hear that she says her prayers at night and remembers her Dad in them. I wish I could get home to hear her, Dear Wifie. I am sorry that I forgot the usual kisses as I must have written it in a hurry to forget them. Good old Mr Hogg. I hope he is right and that you manage to get that extra. It is not much but every little helps in times like these. Don’t forget to keep at them, Megsie. Well that is about all my news except that Harry Small has turned up here again. He was not wounded but hurt his leg trying to get out of the mud. I consider him lucky to get out of it as easy and getting a rest in hospital into the bargain. I did not manage it anyway. His card was marked ‘injuries trivial nature’. Dear Wifie, try and get Peggy her kid gloves if it is possible to get them small enough. Your loving Hubby George xxxxxxxxxx Mum xxxxxxxxxx Peggy

3 December 1916 No 1 Platoon A Coy 12 RS My Dear Wifie I wrote your letter and had just finished when we got orders pack up and I am (censored) but don’t worry, Meg Dear. (Censored) and little or no danger. Quite a treat from the last one. It is pretty cold but I have plenty stockings thanks to you. I received your welcome letter of the 26 along with the parcel with our Big Girl’s pipe. It is a treat and you can tell her that Daddy sends plenty kisses for it. I never got a chance of going to see J Sanson but I might get a chance to see him again. I don’t know if they are taking in letters today so I am writing this on chance. Well, Megsie Mine, I have no more news than what is in the other note only I am extra thankful at that parcel this time and it is a good one. I hope that Peggy has got rid of all the spots and keeping champion also that you are in the best of health and spirits as this leaves me. Your loving Hubby George xxxxxxxxxx to Peggy xxxxxxxxxx to Mummy

12 December 1916 No 1 Platoon A Coy 12 RS BEF My Dear Wifie I know that you will be worried at only getting a PC this week but I could not get any letter away as we were in the trenches and had a pretty hard week of it as it was very cold weather. But I am out now and in pretty good billets. We are not far away from the front line but far enough to be safe so don’t worry, Megsie Mine. I am sorry that I omitted to tell our Peggy that she was a clever lassie for throwing her bits(?) in the fire but very often we have to write in such a hurry. I have managed to get two handkerchiefs in this place but no silk cards yet… …so I am sending on the handkerchiefs for Christmas for yourself and Peggy and I think that I will manage to get some silk cards by New Year time. I expect to be out of the trenches and in billets for the New Year but we never can tell. It will be a big change for all of us this time. We will just have to make the best of it, Wifie, and hope to have a better time soon. We will have the time of our lives when I get home again and I hope it won’t be long either. I am sorry to hear that you have the cold, Megsie, also Peggy and trust that you are both better by this time, Dear Wifie. I thought you would understand whose parcel is the most welcome. I would…

…not like to do without my home made pudding now and I know some of the boys would be disappointed. So home-made, Megsie, and that means something when the Wifie makes it so don’t let that bother you, Dear. I am looking forward to that cake of shortbread that’s coming from yourself and Peggy and I don’t think I will be able to share it. I expect I will feel a bit lonely at that time but I am going to enjoy myself as best as I can and make the best of it and I hope, Megsie, that you will do the same also that Peggy gets a full stocking from Santa. Well, Megsie, I will write you again on Wednesday. Your ever loving hubby George xxxxxxxxxx to Mum xxxxxxxxxx to Peggy

14 December 1916 No 1 Platoon A Coy 12 RS France My Dear Wifie I received your letter of 8 December and I am sorry to hear that you have had no letter from me but we were in the trenches and they would not take any letter. But I managed to get away a couple of PCs and I have written since that so I expect you have received them alright by this time. I am very sorry to hear that Dear Peggy was so sick and hope that there is nothing serious came of it. Be sure you let me know, Megsie. She must be good wee soul when she never cried.

I hope by this time you have received the two silk handkerchiefs for Christmas and that they are in plenty of time for Peggy’s stocking as I suppose they take a while to go at this time of year. You will be pleased to hear that I am still out of the trenches but expect we will be going back soon and we expect to be out in Billets for New Year. But don’t worry, Meg Dear, it is a very quiet part of the line and there is really no cause to worry. It must be a pretty hard job getting sugar now. I wonder how the food tickets are working. Are they any benefit? Well, Meg Dear, I have really no news only that I am in the best of health and spirits and making the best of a bad job. It will be a pretty lonely time for me this year but it will also be hard for you. But never mind, Wife, there is a good time coming and we will enjoy ourselves. You bet we will have a good holiday. I have ordered some Christmas cards with all the names of the parts of the Line the Battalion has been in but they have not arrived yet so you will see where we have been. I will stop now, Megsie mine, as it is time for bed…

…and the candle is getting low so make the most of it this Christmas and enjoy yourself as best you can. I know you will see that Dear Peggy has a good time anyway and my thoughts will be at home with Wife and Peggy Your Ever Loving Hubby George xxxxxxxxxx to Mum xxxxxxxxxx to Peggy

19 December 1916 No 1 Platoon A Coy 12 RS

BEF

My Dearest Wifie Just received your letter of

12 Dec and I see by it that you are a bit hurt at my people for not letting you know about JW letter. I am sorry Meg Dear and Jean (they) might have told you but you know how careless she is about everything and I would not bother about it. I would not like any trouble especially when I am out here as it is worrying. I had a short letter from Eliza and she is telling me that her Mother is going to send me a parcel. I am not going to be hungry…

…at Christmas but there is only one parcel that really counts Megsie Mini and I think you can guess who it is from. The best wife in Edinburgh and I am longing to read what is on our darling lassie’s shortbread. Dear wife you will understand the longing that comes over me sometimes to get home beside you both again. If they would only come to some peace arrangement. But wife the reunion will be all the sweeter when it does come. I always thought a lot of our own home but it will be heaven itself to me when I get home… …and I know that you feel the same. But, Magsi, don’t think I am always down in the mouth. I often think it is bound to finish soon, so cheer up lass, the hubby that comes back will be a better man to you every way and don’t be frightened, Meg, we get no rum now they give us hot soup instead. I will have to stop now as it is near my turn for guard. We are out of the trenches but I expect to go up again tomorrow and by the time you get this I will be out again. Give my regards to your mother and father for a right good Christmas.

The Christmas cards have not arrived yet but will send them on post haste when I get them. Your ever loving hubby George xxxxxxxxxx to my Dear Wifie xxxxxxxxxx to my Darling Lassie George also included a short note – I have managed to get two silk postcards, one for Dear Peggy and one for yourself, and I am trying to catch the mail, hoping you like them. 19 December 1916 No 1 Platoon A Coy 12 RS No 43276 My Dear Mother and Father I received your very welcome letter and regarding the body shields, I really don’t think they are much good. I have spoken some of the other chaps and none of them have any good to say about them in fact some of them declare that if you do get struck with one on it makes a far worse wound. So, Mother, I don’t think you should bother any more about them. I can understand how worried you are about me but I run no risk and always take the safest way. I am writing this in the trenches so that…

…by the time you get this I will be out again and looking forward to New Year in billets. It will be a big change this time but we will just have to make the best of it and look forward to another time when I will be home and everything going smoothly again. I hope you are all in the best of health at home as I am in the pink of condition. Jean must be doing well in her new job getting 2/- rise already. Your loving son George With the compliments of the Christmas season

28 December 1916 A Coy 12 RS No 1 Platoon No 43270 My Dear Mother and Father I received your very welcome letter franc notes and the Christmas card from Mother and I am looking forward to the two parcels. You don’t mean me to be hungry anyway. I felt a wee bit down in the mouth on Christmas morning. We all left the trenches on Christmas Eve so were in billets and I would dearly love to have seen Peggy’s face when she wakened and saw her stocking full in the morning but it can’t be helped but I don’t think it will last long now.

The peace notes are not floating around for nothing. I am sending one of the promised Christmas cards with the names of the places where we have been along with this so look out for the small. Dear Mother I will send on something for Jean but there is such a rush for everything here just now and extra dear. I am in the best of health and getting along fine also looking forward to being home in the Spring as I feel sure that it will finish soon and there is always a chance of a pass. I have been asked again to take a stripe and would earn 3d a day more but I am not… …caring much about it. However, I will let you know. Meg does not know as her letter was just away before the Sergeant Major asked me. Well Mother, by the time you get this New Year may well be a thing of the past so hoping that the New Year will be better for us all than the old one was. Your loving son George Ps When coming out of the trenches I saw two chaps throw away their steel waistcoats. They could carry them no further. I asked one of them if they were any good and what he said, well, I could not write it. He called them everything but good.

This was Lance Corporal Brunton’s last letter to his wife 1 February 1917 No 1 Platoon A Coy 12 RS BEF My Dear Wifie Just a few line to let you know that I am still in the best of health. We are further back from the firing line but still dwelling in deep dugouts yet. I can’t tell you how pleased I was to hear that Dear Peggy is getting on fine again and able to be at Leith is half the battle when I know that you are both well at home. I see that you have been puzzling your head wondering what the initials on the back of the envelope meant. Well, Wifie, they mean (swalk) sealed with a loving kiss. What do you think of that… …I saw a young chap do it and asked him what it meant then thought I would put the same. Dear Meg, your parcel was a treat. There is nothing like the home made pudding especially when it is the Wifie that made it and the cake was fine. The boys kept the socks out of your last parcel for me so that I am well off now with two pairs of home knitted socks. It must cost you a lot for wool just now but, Meg Lass, I will make it all up to you when I get home. I will stop now but will write again on 3rd. I hope this finds Wifie in the best of health and spirits, Peggy also and that she is still speaking away about Dad. Tell her she will have her big carry. I am just letting my pay go on. It will be all the more…

…to lift when I get home. We can all have a good holiday then. Remember me to your Mother and Father. Your Loving Hubby George xxxxxxxxxx Dear Mum xxxxxxxxxx Dear Peggy Excuse the writing as my hands are very cold with the paper.