No 441507
Pte J Aitchison
A Coy, 53rd Battalion C.E. F.
Bramshott Camp

Sat May 27th 1916

My dear wife

Just a few lines to let you know that I am still in the land of the living and feeling in the best of health. I am wearying to hear how, Ella Norma & Nettie, are keeping I hope they don’t take anything else along with the whooping cough, and that it does not drag out long. Your last letter telling me of Baby’s death, has made me a bit homesick, and if I could get out of the army and across to you I think I would go. However I suppose I am in it now till the end, and we will have to keep up our hearts, and hope the end will not be long. I sent your letter on to Tina, telling her in turn to send it to Innerleithen as you give the news much better than I could and there was nothing in it but anyone might read. I had a letter from Tina saying she had sent on 3 little remmits she had knitted for the children. She is knitting a pair of socks for me also. How are you bearing up dear under your trial, you think it is bad for me, but I know it is you who will suffer most, as you are always so fond of a young baby. He was a dear little fellow, but maybe he hasn’t missed much, as life isn’t all roses by any means. We got back here from the ranges on Tuesday, I did fairly well at the shooting, and passed as a first class shot with 20 points to spare, I missed being a marksman however by 15 points, still I am a long way above the average, so I am well enough pleased. I have been doing a bit of carpenter work these last three days, and hope it will last a while as it is a nice change, and of course we don’t have to go very hard. I think you had all the children insured but suppose you won’t get much as he was so young. How are you getting on during the Quarantine [there was a polio epidemic that resulted in quarantine in 1916, impacting both Canada and the United States], does Pringle and Ray sleep out, or how do you manage. I see Conscription comes into force here in June, I believe if they had it at the first the war would have been over by now. I have never had a medical exam yet, but anyway I don’t think they will turn me down now. I will close now as there is really nothing here to write about. Hoping the children are some better and that the rest of you are well

I remain yours forever

Jim

How about your own trouble you haven’t mentioned it lately.

No 441507
Pte J. Aitchison
No 4 Coy
14th Can. Battalion
3rd Brigade
1st Can Division
The Front
France

My dear wife

I got back to the rest camp last night, none the worse of my first experience at the Front. It is wonderful how cool a fellow feels up there, I have been more scared many a time when out on a salmon exploit. All the same I am glad to be back, where we don’t hear the guns as much, and where we don’t see any shells explode. I didn’t sleep well last night, thinking of you all, I had a look at the picture, and I remembered how bright Nettie was when it was taken and that I gave her a shake because she wouldn’t sit still. I hope she didn’t remember it. I can’t keep my eyes dry when I think of her. I haven’t had a letter since coming to France, but I don’t think any of the 53rd have, I hope there is no more bad news when I do get one. Now, dear, try and worry as little as possible about me, and try and keep up for the children’s sake, I know it is hard to do, but remember you are all they have to look to. I wish I could take you in my arms and comfort you in this terrible affliction. I will not be greatly surprised if I am sent back to the base, as some of the non-coms are talking about me being deaf, and saying I should not be here. I know you would be glad if I am sent there but don’t get too elated about it, as that is all I have to go by. Anyway I might pull through alright, as there are some in this Regt, who have been in and out the trenches for 16 months and have never had a scratch, on the other hand of course, some got laid out the first day, let us hope for the best, it can’t last such a long time now, as Austria seems to be about all in. I hear that the 65th are either in England or going there soon to reinforce the 53rd, if so Pringle will lose her boy. As this is all the paper I have I will close now and will write again, before our next turn at the front.

Your ever loving husband

Jim

No 441507
Pte J Aitchison
No 4 Coy. 14th Can Batt
3rd Brigade 1st Can Civ
The Front
France

Aug 9th 1916

My dear wife

I received your letter dated July 20th also the parcel containing towel, socks & tobacco. I have got two parcels from you to date. Well, dear, about sending parcels, I have as many socks as I require for the present, and as we have to carry everything about with us, don’t send any more meantime, also about tobacco, although we don’t get McDonalds, we get as much as we can use of other kinds, so there is no use of you spending your money sending that, but, a little cake, if you could make it in a little tin, and send it tin and all, would be very acceptable, as of course we don’t get anything of that kind. I am sorry to see that they have reduced your P.V. so much, I thought they had deducted for the two children in the spring, and it seems to me that they have stopped the allowance for them twice over. It doesn’t seem fair to me, as I have to keep up my end of the bargain they might keep theirs. Glad to see that W. McBain, is only a prisoner, although that is bad enough, still they can only keep him until the end of the war, and he is two years ahead of these poor fellows who were captured at the retreat from Mons. Yes, this is rather a hard life, long marches in Heavy Marching Order, sleeping in damp dugouts, etc, it is a wonder there is not a lot sickness, but there isn’t, it is wonderful what men can stand, except for my deafness, I am in the best of health. I am getting used to hearing shells explode now, but still I don’t like it, they are nasty things when they drop near, still Fritz has to stand more of that than we have, and I don’t suppose he likes it either. Pringle was praising Lizzie & Jim for the way they have worked in the gardens, they are good workers, and I hope they have good results. I am pleased to see that you are taking an interest in things again, I was afraid it would crush you entirely, as it must have been an awful blow. I don’t know that I have much more to say, I hope the war won’t last long and that I will be beside you before long.

Your ever loving husband

Jim

Somewhere in France
Sept 21st 1916

My dear wife

Just a few lines to let you know that I am still alive and well, and am receiving my mail pretty regular now. You have no idea how nice it is to get a letter or parcel from home. The next parcel you send you might send some chewing tobacco instead of smoking, as we get all the smoking we can use. I know you don’t like me chewing, but we are not allowed to smoke at night in the trenches, and it is a weary time from darkness till daylight. I haven’t seen J Green, but hear he is alright so far, I haven’t heard anything about W. Souter, but his regt is within 2 miles of us now, I may see them soon. Last year at this time I was home on harvest leave, we had a great time then, didn’t we. Let us hope it won’t be long before we are home for good. I see the German press is beginning to squeal about us sending them so many shells, they say it is butchery, I consider that a good sign, it certainly is fierce, the amount of shells we send over, and though it is bad enough in our lines, it must be terrible in theirs. It is beginning to get a little cold at night. I hope the darned thing is over before the winter sets in, as it must be miserable then, however, some of the boys have been here two winters, so I must not grumble. Tell Mrs. Forrester I was asking for them. I see by the Peebleshire Standard [that] Walter Redpath is killed. I think that is the last of Jack’s family by his first wife. He was a soldier when they left for Canada, and has been in France from the start. I will close now with love to you and the children.

Your ever loving husband

Jim