3 Elsmere Road Sale Cheshire

3 Elsmere Road Sale Cheshire

England

To my darling Elizabeth

I am in the Trenches we are planning to attack the German Trenches tomorrow . I am extremely cold and wet my feet are never dry anymore rats and pests feeding off the dead bodies I miss you so much we will marry as soon as I get back I promise but that be along time from now Sgt Morris predicts the war wont end for a few years yet.

I have some bad news for Mary the Germans through a grenade in our trenches Jon was on sentry duty at the time the grenade killed him tell Mary I am sorry and I will try to bring his body back . We are attacking the German trenches there's going to be lots of deaths but don't worry about me because if I die always remember I will always be there for you . I can't wait for the day when your in my arms again I might be dead when you get this I never told you how much I love you , the man next to me is shell shock he keeps on shaking and shouting Lucy I do not know who this is maybe its his wife or something. I know you'd ask me if I was scared I am going to be brave and honour my country and do you proud we've been through so much remember when we first met when we were young children ? I've met so many new friends this isn't as exciting as I thought with the dark shadow of death hanging over us I can't sleep because all I hear is gun shot after gun shot grenade after grenade but I will carry on for you and our country all that keeps me going is the thought of us being together again it's stupid to think the war only started because Serbia wanted Independence now we've all been dragged into Austria-Hungary and Serbia's fight but we will win and I will carry on I'm sat here all rats around me and I'm really tired and I'm covered in mud. They give us a small bottle of rum a day I think it helps us relax but I'm far from being relaxed I'm on sentry duty in 1 hour everyone goes on sentry duty for 4 hours and it's terrible I'm incredibly homesick and clutching a picture of you that's all I have to remind me of home . I pray that I will survive but I get shot then I wont be afraid I wont shed a tear. I've not had any proper food in a long time just rations if I die please do not shed tears or break your heart you'll meet someone