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Will, Grace, and World War One

100 years ago, a YMCA man writes home from the Western Front

May 12, 1918

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May 12, 2018

Will's "Aliens' Restriction Order" card lists him aboard the steamer Victoria arriving in Tilbury, Britain, on May 12, 1918.

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October 27-28, 1918

October 28, 2018

Excerpts from letters mailed together and dated October 27 and 28, 1918 My Dear Grace – Well darling, the mail came at last, yesterday I got three letters from you and one from Dorthy and one from Florence with the pictures, My I think the pictures are just fine… But the one I liked most was the one of you and Count, Oh I think that is just great, I wouldn’t part with the for any thing Florence had it marked “Somebody’s Pals” and they are I know both are as true as steel, that is some picture, and I am so glad you had it taken for me. Do you suppose old Count will know me when I get home?... My mail had been sent to W. E. Foote, but I guess it is straightened out now so we will have no more trouble My I have been so busy lately Grace, I don’t know which way to turn, our work is increasing very fast and I hope I get the other job pretty quick, as I am still all in, My cold is a lot better, than when I wrote the other day. I used the cold compresses on my throat, for t...

February 17-18, 1919

February 18, 2019

Excerpts from letters mailed together and dated February 17 and 18, 1919 My Dear Grace – Rec’d your letter this afternoon, some parts of it were just fine, but I see you opened up family matters again, I just wrote you a letter and tore it up so Ill try and keep off of that questions, No I have not received any Xmas box from any one this year, I guess it landed in France all right, as I received a card from [illegible] that there was a box there and also a card from Brest, that there was a box there for me, I filled out my slip and sent them back about Xmas time but, I never received either box… My there have been thousands of horses passing here all day to day, the British are shipping them home I guess… My Dear Grace – This is a nice warm morning just like it is home in May. the birds are all singing and every thing looks quite springey but perhaps in a hour or so, things will look different, I got thro’ work last night before dark which is about six o...

February 15, 1919

February 15, 2019

Excerpts from February 15, 1919 My Dear Grace – Have a few moments to spare, so will write you a few lines… Ten months to-day and starting on the eleventh, and by the time you answer this will be on my last Month, and getting ready to come home, So you had better tell me just what you are going to-do when you answer this, Is Ethel coming with you, she told Ralph that she wasn’t coming to New York, but I guess she was just kinda sore in that letter, she no doubt. will be there with bells on. I would suggest that we go to the Hotel Laytham, the one Ralph and I stopped at when we came over, if we could not get rooms then have it for headquarters untill we found each other, that is if we arrived first we would leave our address with the clerk, or if you arrived first and could not get room leave your address with the clerk. as it will be quite difficult for you to be right there when the boat arrives, and you might now know which, dock we were to dock at so if, I do n...