Nettie McNaughton Jones Family World War One Letters

[Letterhead] YMCA logos [left and right, centre says] On Active SErvice with the British Expeditionary Force

Somewhere in France, Dec., 27/16.

Dear friend, -

Was pleased to get a good long letter from you, for I like to hear all the news from Granton.

We had a very good time on Xmas, and had a good dinner, and supper too as I got a Xmas cake from my sister Minnie that day. I got a box of cigars from Oliver yesterday. I don't know whether he is in France yet or not. He may be since he sent the box, as it takes mail from a week to ten days to reach me from Eng., now at the Xmas season.

Cecil Evans and Jack Baynes are over hear some place but not in our battalion. We have to give an address in the body of the letter, with our name.

D.H. Radcliffe, No. 802864, C. Co'y., 9th platoon, 4th Can. Batt., B.E.F., France.

Well I'm sure you would have a good time at the supper at Woodham, they always do. I didn't know the J.B. Armitage was a singer, but a prophet is never honored in his

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own country, so I suppose that's the reason he never sings in Lucan.

We have to be so careful what we write out here that one hardly know what to tell, and what not to, but I guess if I say something about the country in general and the climate it won't be out of place. There isn't as much woods here as in Canada, and the land is more rolling. More valleys and hills than in western Ontario, although it is much more like Ontario than is Eng. One feature of the landscape is the numerous wheat and hay stacks, many of them standing out so conspicuous on the skyline. They are just doing their threshing now. Some of them use gasoline engines while others use a treadmill, run by a horse. It looks very slow and and behind the times, but they have up to date binders here.

The French are rather a fine looking race, being different to the French Canadians in their complexion. The Fr. Canadians are much darker skinned.

I suppose you see a good deal in the papers about these "peace notes." Well, I may be mistaken but I don't think they will amount

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to much. I'm afraid the time for peace is some distance in the future yet. I can't see it any other way.

I wish the winter was over as it is so damp and muddy. We get a little snow and frost, but it doesn't last long. It has been quite cold at times, but to-day was beautiful, and so was Xmas day.

I didn't tell you what we had for dinner on Xmas. Well, we had duck and chicken and nuts of all kinds, oranges, raisins and other good [underlined] things. Then we had songs after dinner and readings etc.

I suppose there is good sleighing in Canada now, and skating. Do they skate much in Granton this winter. The last time I was on a rink was in Parkhill. I had a big time on the rink one night in Lucan, shortly before I enlisted.

I got a letter the other day from L. Ridley, and one from W. M. Shoebottom and a Xmas card from Mrs. Shoebottom. I ordered a dozen nice Xmas cards before I left Eng., with a verse and my name printed on, but they didn't come before I left, and

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so never got them. I expected the man I ordered them from would forward them to me as some of the other fellows ^who had ordered some too,^ asked him about it and he said he would. I was going to send one to you. I didn't mind losing the dollar I spent for them ^for we're not very careful of our money here, ^but was disappointed in not getting them.

How is the "League" getting on and how is the c hurch attendance now? Do you know whether Mr. Alp got my letter. If you know you might let me know, as he wouldn't like it if I didn't write. I wrote to him quite a while before I left Eng.

Am sorry we're limited to what we say about our doings etc. here as I could write a much longer letter if we could tell everything.

Will close by wishing you a Happy and Bright New Year, and hope the time will come when I can tell you in person our interesting experience.

Write soon. Yours sincerely,

D.H.R.

[Top left corner] YMCA logo and Canadian War Contingent Association

Somewhere in France1/16/17

Dear friend, -

Received your box ^yesterday and wish to thank you kindly for remembering me. We are ^as tickled to get a box from Canada as a kid is to get into its stocking on Xmas morning. I got a box of cigars from Oliver and some of the other fellows who are still in Eng. My address. Pt. D.H. Radcliffe, No. 802864, 4th Batt., C. Coy., M.G.S., B.E.F., France.

I'm in the mechine gun section now. I like it alright. I suppose Oliver has told you something about that work.

Well I suppose you have lots

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of snow over there. We haven't any just here, but I see by the papers they have all kinds of it in Eng., the trains being blockaded in places. There is snow in some parts of France too.

How is the choir getting on. Is Dave Youngson still in it. I suppose Will still attends. I got a card from Lorne Ridley, or at least a letter. He says he likes London. I also got a letter from Ken Alp.

How are the "hops" doing this winter. ^Not the ones that grow in gardens.^ We get lots of hoping out here, but not that kind. The mud is too deep to enjoy it. We won't know how to act in a house now

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after roughing it out doors so much. It will take us awhile to get used it living like civilized beings again, that is if we get the chance to get used to it, but we will keep on hoping anyway.

I got your card. You didn't sign your name, but I know your writing.

I suppose Jessie is teaching now.

I heard that one or two of the Duncan boys would soon be leaving for home and that Fred Courney who has been home to Lucan

YMCA logo. On Active Service [postmark] Granton Jun 12 17 Ont

Somewhere in France 5/18/17

Dear friend, -

Received your very welcome letter and would have written sooner, but we have had very strenuous times over here and not much time on our hands. I am in a hospital just now. I have a sore arm and it happens to be my right arm too, and so am not in very good shape for writing, but it is getting better. I also had blood poison in my hand but that is alright again.

Had a card from Oliver a short while ago. He seems to feel badly on account of not getting over to France, but he should worry. Dave.

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He was in the vicinity though and saw some of the other battalions march pass.

Some of the people seem to think we have never been in the front line yet. Well if forty or fifty yds. from Fritz isn't being there, I don't know what is meant by that term.

We can't say where we are at time of writing or give any definite information, but we are not kept constantly in the front line as it would be too wearing on the men.

Well by the time this reaches you I expect the snow will all be gone and the farmers will be getting ready for seeding.

You. will have to excuse short letters as it is pretty cold on the fingers writing.

Thank you again for the kind remembrance. I shoud have said before that I received your letter. Write soon.

Yours sincerely

Dave

[in separately drawn box, to the left of signature] Pte D.H. Radcliffe C. Co. No. 802864