Remembrance Sunday

Hello friends

On this important day I thought I would share something

with you, a little bit of my family history.

This is a letter written home from my Great Uncle Walter,

also known as Sapper Walter Woodward No.14539513

He wrote this letter home to his Mum whilst on active service,

28 June 1945.  We don't know for sure where he was when he wrote this

but he does state seven thousand miles from good old England.

Impressive handwriting but for ease I have typed a transcript of the letter below.

My Dear Mother.  

Just a few lines hoping this letter will find you all in the best of health

as it leaves me the same at present.  Well Mother the weather is not too bad here 

but we keep on getting showers of rain.  

Well Mum my Dolly told me about Bill having fourteen days,

all I hope he does not come out here,it is not so good out here as people paint it.

Well I expect my brother Len is still in Holland, please remember me to him when you 

write to him.  Well Mother, my mate and I went to town on Wednesday June 27 and

we did have a good feed, what do you think we had? A leg of chicken and two 

eggs for dinner and the same for tea so we did not do so bad did we.

Well how is little Brian getting on? I bet he is just as saucy as ever.

Well Mother, I expect your little garden begins to look nice now.  

Please will you give my love to all at home.

Well Mother, I will be glad when I can come home again and see you all once

more like I used to do.  Nobody knows what it is like to be right away

from home, seven thousand miles from good old England.

All I can say is it is a shame that men like me should come out here 

while there is tens of thousands of young men in England.

Well Mother, do not worry about me as I am OK so now I must say 

good afternoon and God bless you all from your loving Son 

Walter.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I've read this letter many times, it moves me how the language is fairly formal 

but also there is a true sense of sadness and genuine home sickness.

Some of the references: 

Dolly (Dorothy is his wife) they married and were both together till very old age.

He refers at one point to ' how is little Brian getting on', this is my Dad,

he's all grown up now!

A snippet of history written many years ago by a very young man,

in a strange place wishing he was at home.

Who could possibly know that one day his letter would be shared via technology 

that would be way beyond his wildest imagination.

Take care friends.