Letters From the Front

Dated:

Letter from the Front

J. J. Richards received the following interesting letter from his son, Will Richards, of the 12th Mounted Rifles, and now drafted with probably the 3rd Mounted Rifles. He says,

Somewhere in France,
April 5, 1916

Dear Mother and Dad:--

We have just got back from the trenches for a rest, and I can tell you we sure earned it this time, you know that I can't tell you what part of the line we are in, but I can tell you that it was a pretty hot place where we were, but we will be going to a little quieter place when we go back, but we will have quite a little rest now before we go into the trenches again.

Last night when we were coming out a shell burst right over our heads. You should have seen us trying to buy ourselves, as one fellow said, we were putting stones on top of our heads to keep the shrapnel from going through us, but as it happened, it killed our second in command, and our company Captain, which was an awful hard loss to our battalion. I would like to tell some of our experiences, but I am afraid that I wold get into trouble, but the main thing is, that I am alive and sound.

Now dad, you said that I must take care of myself and not expose myself unnecessarily, well, I suppose that would be a pretty good scheme all right, but you take it from me, that where the rest of the battalion can go, I can go, but dad, you needn't worry about me taking any unnecessary risk, because I know that you people are worrying about me, and for my own sake, I want to see this war through, so I will be as careful as I can.

But dad, you sure make me wish that I was home, when you mention getting ready for spring work. Gee, wouldn't I like to have one of those four horse teams on the drill this spring, but better luck next fall. Say folks, you needn't worry about us being at Verdun, because we are not there.

Oh, say, I forgot to tell you that Rob Coupland¹ got a piece of shrapnel in his ankle and I hear that he will have a stiff ankle for life. If he is, and gets his discharge you will see him in that part of the country before very long.

So a young man is wearing khaki breeches is he? Well, I expect that he would like to be a soldier all right if he didn't have to come and fight and could wear soldier's uniform. But, believe me, if it is only to wear the uniform, he is a blame sight better out of it.

Say, folks you ought to see the French farming. One horse on a six inch plow, and one line on the horse and they can do anything they like with the horse with one line, give the line a certain jerk and the horse will go right or left, I got hold of a plow, and tried to work it, but the horse would not go in the direction I wanted him to, so I had to give it up as a bad job. I would rather drive four with two lines than one with one line, but I guess it was because I couldn't swear in French. There are civilians farming within four miles of the firing line, they don't seem to give a hang for the war, and a whole lot of them are making far more money than they ever did before.

You said that you had sent a box, but I have not got it yet, but expect it will be along one of these days, and socks and handkerchiefs is just what I need. Mother said that she was going to send a small box every two weeks, that would be great and say, don't send a big one, just a small one, and tell Jennie to put in something good to eat once in a while. Youd don't know how good it would be.

Give my love to all the family.
Your loving son,
BILL