TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SPRINGDALE NEWS JULY 12, 1918 P. 8
Dear Mother:
Have been in England for several weeks, but have not written to you, because I was sick with measles, which I took on the trip over. Am all right again, and with the rest of the company, but am not able to stand up under as much as I will be presently.
There appears to be particular shortage of food supplies in this country, which I consider a good sign, because I think the war will be won or lost (unless by the intervention of something not to be foreseen) on the question of the supply of food and ammunition.
Personally I am also very much interested in the clothing supply, and am not forgetting your offer to knit sweater and sox. Regarding the sweater, I would suggest that you make it plenty large, ditto for the sox. Be sure that whatever you send me is of enough practical use to justify my packing it around with me; you know that every extra pound in a big pack amounts up rapidly as balanced against energy.
I am much interested in England, from the standpoint of scenery and the associations contrasts springing up in connection in what I have read. If this war ends before I do, I am going to make some notes of the innumerable things, “different to what we are used to” that I uses; and I would like to return some day to make a visit to the places recorded in the literature of the country. In a way they may disappoint, but for luxury of greenery, this country passes anywhere I’ve yet seen.
However, such reflections as these are pretty much opposite to the business of war and I guess they’ll have to wait for reflection at a time when they don’t interfere with this very serious business that has brought us here, and that is to open the road to Berlin.
Notwithstanding that the Allies have lost ground lately, the conviction that we are going to win at an early date is very prevalent.
Well, hoping the most of this letter will get by the censor, I close for this time by reminding you, that the less worrying you do, the better it will be for yourself, me, and others.
Your loving son,
Pvt. J. D. J. Jones.
NOTES: Jones who was writing to his mother Mrs. W. A. Jones, was serving in a Canadian reserve unit that had sailed to England in May.
TRANSCRIBED BY DAVID COLLINS
Dear Mother:
Have been in England for several weeks, but have not written to you, because I was sick with measles, which I took on the trip over. Am all right again, and with the rest of the company, but am not able to stand up under as much as I will be presently.
There appears to be particular shortage of food supplies in this country, which I consider a good sign, because I think the war will be won or lost (unless by the intervention of something not to be foreseen) on the question of the supply of food and ammunition.
Personally I am also very much interested in the clothing supply, and am not forgetting your offer to knit sweater and sox. Regarding the sweater, I would suggest that you make it plenty large, ditto for the sox. Be sure that whatever you send me is of enough practical use to justify my packing it around with me; you know that every extra pound in a big pack amounts up rapidly as balanced against energy.
I am much interested in England, from the standpoint of scenery and the associations contrasts springing up in connection in what I have read. If this war ends before I do, I am going to make some notes of the innumerable things, “different to what we are used to” that I uses; and I would like to return some day to make a visit to the places recorded in the literature of the country. In a way they may disappoint, but for luxury of greenery, this country passes anywhere I’ve yet seen.
However, such reflections as these are pretty much opposite to the business of war and I guess they’ll have to wait for reflection at a time when they don’t interfere with this very serious business that has brought us here, and that is to open the road to Berlin.
Notwithstanding that the Allies have lost ground lately, the conviction that we are going to win at an early date is very prevalent.
Well, hoping the most of this letter will get by the censor, I close for this time by reminding you, that the less worrying you do, the better it will be for yourself, me, and others.
Your loving son,
Pvt. J. D. J. Jones.
NOTES: Jones who was writing to his mother Mrs. W. A. Jones, was serving in a Canadian reserve unit that had sailed to England in May.
TRANSCRIBED BY DAVID COLLINS