Witley Camp

080919

Mrs. J.J. McMahon

c/o Lt. Col. Grimstead

122 Queen Victoria St.

London,  Eng.

Dear Ollie:

Yours received this PM.  Was glad to hear you’d not died and having a good time.  Hope you have better weather than we are having in this God forsaken land.  Mebby I have done wrong in not telling you the truth about those grave locations but I came to the conclusion that what people did not know would hot hurt them.  My dear child you need not think I hiked over that accursed country last spring for pleasure.  I went with maps, compass & locations of 13 graves and found them frauds, every damned one of them.  That is the reason I never sent the map location home.  Planned to get a picture of a grave for Mother the same as we did for hundreds of other Mothers.  And shut our mouths.  Mother need never know.  I am trusting you to keep it to yourself.  Don’t you think I am right?  So you are learning a thing or two about the ways of this country are you?  Don’t worry about Meg “drinking and smoking”.  Worse luck, she does not care about either.  Therefore, I catch Hell every time I want a drink.  I do persuade her to take a haul at my cigarette occasionally.  Reckon I can teach her in time to smoke but am afraid the drink is impossible.  However, “while there is life there is hopes”.   But still she’s not a bad sort, perhaps I can teach her to swear if all else fails.  She is young yet you know.  And it would sure be a shame to disappoint some of the good people at home.  I reckon she will like most of the people I do and they will like her.  The rest can go to you know where and if she don’t like the country, well we flit, that’s all.  I am not married to the country and I am to the girl.  And glad of it.  As to Noble’s wife, poor kid.  Reckon she dropped a hornet’s nest, what do you think?  Am not worrying about Meg at any rate. 

Well Ollie, I didn’t know what to think about your S. M.  It’s damn funny I never heard the name before, & he did not know mine.  C & D Coy’s used to work together you know.  I was pretty well known in that old Bn. I thought. Reckon that he must have pulling your leg.  Lots of “birds” wearing our dress that never seen that Bn..

I sure would like to see him.  Hope you make Italy & Switzerland.  For my own part I want to make home just as quick as God & the Army will let me.  Will see you when you get back to Eng. I hope.  Expect to be going to Buxton in a few days.  But it may be months before I can get home. 

But if I send “Ginger” home with you will be able to make it sooner.  There are more than 1800 families waiting at Buxton now & no boat in sight.  However, will send for “Meg: when I get to Buxton and that will help the time along.  I get so damned lonesome around this place I don’t know what to do with myself.  Am afraid my soldering days is over.  The last two leaves I had, overstayed both (caught Hell too) so daren’t take another short leave.  Would be shot sure as my memory is getting bad as to dates.  Can’t soldier any more-to H_ _ _ with the whole outfit.  I want to go home! 

By the way have you a camera?  Would it be any use for me to send you mine now?  Forgot all about it when I was in London & dare not sent it.  I got off in such a hurry I did not think of anything.  By the way what hotel did you stop at when you were in London & where were you on Sunday?  I’ll bet we passed in the street.  Well I must ring off.  Probably you will never get this anyway.  It’s fine tonight for a change.  One of those damned lonesome feeling nights, and I am lonesome believe me.  I hear tonight we are all leaving for Buxton the 12th then I hope will get indefinite leave until we sail.  Will let you know if I am, will write the strand P. the 20th at any rate.  By the way I was in Amiens a year ago last Xmas morning & could not rustle even a bite of bread.  Times have changed since then eh?

 Love from "Meg" and Jack

PS     I hope you get a chance to go to Avion in front of Vimy.  I can tell you stories about that place to make you laugh.  We dubbed it the moving city.  We spent months on that cursed front.  I could shut my eyes and draw a map of the trench system even yet.

 Jack

PSS   Had a letter from old Auntie a couple of days ago.  She wants us to come by way of NY and give her a call.  Will if I get the chance.  Most as soon see her as Mum.  Write often if only a note.  I want to keep track of you if possible.    Jack