Hi to all,

On the 90th Anniversary of his death, I post the following.

Guy Graydon was killed while serving at the Dardanelle's (August 8, 1915, age 21) he's listed on the Helles Memorial. The Helles Memorial stands on the tip of the Gallipoli Peninsula. It takes the form of an obelisk over 30 meters high that can be seen by ships passing through the Dardanelle's. It holds the name's of 21,000.

A copy of the letter notifying his parents of his untimely death. I'm sure that such a letter, that had been delivered to so many a parents, must have been an article of mail all parents feared ever having to receive, one can only imagine the thought process a parent must of had when seeing such a letter.

I include the eulogy spoken on behalf of Guy Graydon, by Rev Ogg

My dear friends, of Guy Graydon what shall I say? He was known to all of us; as a boy in our Sunday School, as a great helper in the Bible Class of which he was secretary, while he was also in the choir. He was cheerful, companionable and beloved by all who knew him.

There is a certain pathos in his death which does not belong to any of the other deaths we have recorded. His father and mother have gone to a far-off land where they have been anxiously waiting for the completion of this terrible war and longing for the time when their family circle would be complete.

To think of Guy Graydon, so lovable and so bright, being taken from our midst is indeed hard, but we will not think of him lost or prematurely taken from us, for let us remember that God has another place for young lives than this world.

I am sure I may write Guy Graydon's father and mother in the far-off land and tell them how very much we feel for them in their great loss, and how earnestly we hope that God will lead them to see that their boy is not lost but in God's presence where his life of unselfishness and sacrifice is being fulfilled, and we offer to all his friends- and especially her whose life was linked so tenderly with his - our great sympathy, and pray that God will comfort them and bless them and give them the consolation which we would fain give but cannot.

A letter written to Guy's sister from the front,

France

9-20-1915

My Dearest Margaret,


I received your dear, but also sad letter yesterday, with the news of Guys death. Darling I am so pleased you are taking it so bravely, and oh! keep it up for your dear mothers sake. I am sure it must be a terrible shock to her. Yes dearest, you are far better out there, than if you had been at home. It would not have helped matters at all, and you are saved the task of breaking the news to the rest of your family, if you had been separated.

Mother was telling me that there was a memorial service for Guy, she said it was very impressive & Mr. Ogg was very good indeed. Mother usually keeps away from services of that kind,but she said she felt she must go, when it was for one like Guy.

Don't you worry about me, dearie, I'm alright and although I have a number of rather risky jobs to do, I always take care to do nothing foolhardy. It's not a paying job, to run unnecessary risks, and too look at the future I have to look forward to. You will think me a bit callous & selfish bring up this at this time, but Darling when I say that, I just want you to know that you are never out of my thoughts, my one hope of the future is you dear.

There is a fair amount of work going on just now, and some very heavy shelling on the part of the Germans, but on the whole it is not what one might call lively. I got my photo taken a short time ago while in a large town,in which I spent a few hours, but I am not at all pleased with it. The satchel below my right hand is my smoke helmet. It is for use when the enemy uses the awful gas, but I am pleased to say I have not had to use it, and will be quite satisfied if it has never to be used. The chap Arthur Thomson, was in the same billet as me in Bedford, and we still very chummy.

I have not been having much news from home lately. Winnie is back at school, much against her will, but she seems to be settling down alright. Mother is keeping fairly well & wishes to kindly remembered to you all & sends her most sincere sympathy to you at this time. She was going to write to your mother, but I am not sure whether she has done so yet, or not. Otherwise things at home seem to be very quiet indeed, all entertainments seem to be stopped this winter. The church organizations are starting as usual & I expect there will be a busy work party this season.

I will now close dearest & get ready for guard, a pretty monotonous job, out there, and rather cold too.

Now my darling, keep as bright as you can for your mothers sake & always remember I am continually thinking about my own dear sweetheart.

Goodbye just now darling
With all my love
Your own Arthur

Having such documents, brings complete realization to me, of a era of such fine young men, so many souls whose life's were cut oh so short, an unforgiving statement of the world that proceeded us 90 years ago.

Gone, but not forgotten. Guy Graydon 1894-1915

Letter

Letter

And so say all of us.
Thanks for posting this beautiful tribute.

Evelyn

Agreed - it was lovely to read, and so nice to think of the family treasuring the papers all these years.
Marina

Thanks for the kind reply's,

Though the tribute is for a member of the family, I believe in this day and time one should share instruments, that can speak for all of the brave souls that sadly fell before their time. I am always in remembrance of all, and just by chance I can share examples of what life was once like, how genuinely nice, pleasant, decent, and brave to mention a few, the attributes of the young lads that once walked upon the ground we may walk now. Anything that I'm blessed to share, hopefully are only reflections of most all that served with dignity, and a saying I read often "were always more than willing to serve when needed".

As for family memories, unfortunately they have not been mentioned since the time that has passed since they happened. There are cases where something's are too painful to think about, let alone speak of, it's only until recently that the memories are now spoken of again. It's important that they are, as in what I have written above.

Thank you for your time,

jimmy

I have researched many men that died in WW1 and whilst the odd rogue appears in general summary their goodness, moral fibre and sense of community never ceases to obtain my respect or leave me with a sense of frustration that so many good men lives ended prematurely.

I hope the life of Guy Graydon's sister ran a much happier path.

I hope the life of Guy Graydon's sister ran a much happier path.

[/quote]




Jonathan,

"Margaret" it's difficult to say if she had a better road in life, as the War must of provided an everlasting impact to her mind and soul. Losing her brother was hard, losing many of her childhood friends, nearly the complete "Gang" of lads she grew up with, all gone. The realization of being a women and having most all your male contemporary's being lost to a senseless war, I cannot imagine how she or any women in such similar cases could have felt.

Yes, she was fortunate in the sense of being taken away from her childhood homeland, when her family migrating to America from 1909 to 1915 when she arrived. It's not known for sure what her exact feeling's might have been, for no one has been around for a long time, generation's have come and gone, nobody is left to say. I am the benefactor of these memory's, and only in time have I been able to uncover the events.

For you see, she had a love of a lifetime, a soulmate, a memory that probably haunted her the rest of her life.

"Forever yours, your own loving Arthur"

XXXXXXX's and OOOOOOO's

Jimmy

I cannot find Guy Graydon on CWGC but these is a Gavin Shearer Graydon, Royal Field Artillery - 4 Lowland Div. Date of death 9 Aug 1915, aged 21 and remembered at Helles. Is the CWGC wrong or was he just known as Guy in the family?

Did Arthur die as well? Did Margaret find another love and have a happy family life in the years that followed?

I am at Helles in a couple of weeks and intend to pay my respects.

Jonathan

Yes, the name on the CWGC is correct, and Guy was his nickname, I've never seen it as Gavin, other than on his CWGC page. It's a nice gesture for you to look him up, and if you run across his name, and speak it aloud, I'm sure you will be the first for such an occurrence.

Thank you

jimmy


As for Arthur and Margaret, it's hard for me to sum up their story in a line or two, and out of respect for the two (especially of Arthur) I cannot. Their story is not so simple as you might think, it would not be fair to them, for one would have to go along with them, from beginning to end, to realize the ultimate fate in the end.


Oh so sad, it will make one cry.

Margaret has a full life, she does meet someone and marries, but know one will ever know what could have happened if things would have turned out differently.

Jonathan

This is the last known letter written by Guy, dated July 15 1915, just weeks before his death.

My Dear Margaret,

I got your fine letter along with the invitation to Joey's wedding with the last mail. I got all the letters together and I had a big bunch 13 letters in all. I am glad the wedding passed off alright and that Joey has got his house. I suppose they will be as happy as the day is long. I got Mothers note too and you must tell her I was so glad to get it. She must not worry about me too much, for I'm alright I think. I'm glad you got word from Arthur, and I suppose he will be doing exactly the same as we are. Our guns have done splendid work here and we have made a good name for ourselves. I'm pleased to hear about Jim doing so well at school. He always was a brainy kid and I'm proud of him. Tell him I was asking for him and would be delighted to get a wee letter from him. I am terribly short of note paper, or I would write to him. Every time you write you might enclose a couple of sheets so that you will be sure of a reply. Every mail is eagerly looked for here for we all like to hear from home. Well Margaret, you mentioned something about the minstrels, you will be sorry to hear that Laurie Dalglish has been killed. I was speaking to him just before he went up to the trenches and an hour later he was dead. He was shot through the heart by a sniper and I was deeply grieved at the news. John Bushel is going to lose an arm, so Mt. Florida has been severely hit this last few days. It is bad news indeed. We are doing pretty well here, and I must say our battery has been pretty lucky. We have had a few wounded, but I think they will be all right. I was standing beside an officer when a shrapnel burst just above us and I'm sorry to say he was hit in the leg, but I got off Scot free. The Turks pretty often shell us, but they don't do much damage and they do waste a lot of ammunition. Our division the 52nd has done good work since they came here. The heat is still very bad and the flies!!! they are much more of a nuisance than the Turks. The only time we are free of them are at night and they waken you up in the morning at an unearthly hour. Some times a warship comes and gives the Turks a bit of a hit up and I'm thankful I'm not in their position. They do get an awful hot time from our artillery and when our infantry advances, they fire till the boys get to within 10 yards and then they drop the rifles and put up their hands. Their war cry is Allah-Allah and our boys say that is about all they can do is shout that. One thing we miss here is the water supply. It is pretty poor and we don't get too much, but we can put up with that. Otherwise we are fairly well off, and we get bread every day which is baked at the base, and brought up to us. We get fresh meal and have cheese and jam, so we are pretty well off to be in the firing line. You would be tickled to see our little under ground houses, and I can tell you we are pretty swig in them. They are fairly safe anyway. The sea bathing is A.I. and I don't know what we would do without it. Well Margaret this is about all I have room for, as my note paper is done, but I will write again soon. Give my love to all at Jax. Mother, Jamie and Dad and John and don't forget the newly weds, and of course your own sweet self.

Your loving brother,

Guy

Jonathan

While at the Helles, might you look up Laurie Dalglish.

Thank you

jimmy

Name: DALGLISH, LAURENCE
Initials: L
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Lance Corporal
Regiment: Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
Unit Text: 7th Bn.
Age: 24
Date of Death: 03/07/1915
Service No: 1624
Additional information: Son of Robert and Annie Dalglish, of 30, McLennan St., Mount Florida, Glasgow.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Sp. Mem. 139.
Cemetery: PINK FARM CEMETERY, HELLES

Jimmy,

Thanks for the additional info. I will find Guy Graydon's name at Helles and also look for Laurie Dalglish at Pink Farm - CWGC states it is a Special Memorial which means he is believed to be buried in the cemetery at Pink Farm rather than his known grave.

I can make a guess to the fate of Arthur and Margaret's dream.

All the best,

Jon

Jonathan

Arthur and Margaret were "courting" prior to his enlistment, but Margaret's father had already came to America 5 years earlier, and as it would only be natural, the remaining family members followed, including Margaret. Arthur and Margaret thus communicated thru the mail over a 4 year period, it's impossible to describe 4 years in a single page. Yes, Arthur is killed, but only after many events had transpired, he died a little less than 3 months before the war ended, which makes his story so sad. After all that time, how could his life be taken away? I have a letter from the Battle of the Somme, with the candle wax still upon it, as Arthur wrote it, candle and paper in one hand, and the pencil in the other, it's covered with the mud of the Somme. I have a copy (written by Arthur's father) of the letter from the Major, that explains to Arthur's father to the fact that his son had been killed, and the saddest letter of them all, the one written by Arthur's father to Margaret's father, telling him that hopefully Margaret won't take the news of Arthur's death too hard.

I post the very first letter written by Arthur to Margaret.

jimmy




S.S."Teucer"
Port of Liverpool
Sunday 14th June 1914
7:30 A.M.


My Dear Margaret.

We arrived here this morning “all well”. We left Glasgow at 1:30 P.M. on Saturday, dropped the Pilot at Greenock at 3:53 P.M., passed Ailsa Craig at 7:19 P.M., went to bed at 11:15 P.M., weather hazy, calm, cool. Up at 4:50 A.M. Sunday, passed the bar at 5:15 A.M., had coffee & hot buttered toast at 6 A.M., and dropped anchor off Liverpool at 6:53 A.M., where we are now waiting for the tide, to go into dock about 2:30 P.M. How’s that for a log?
We had a lovely sail round, the wind was with us and it was fine just “sprawling” all over the deck. The Officers are all very decent especially the Chief Engineer a Scotchman, the only one. He is always pointing things out to me, and giving me various “tips”, such as how to sleep, I mean the way to go to bed, you know what I mean and a host of other things, all of which I appreciate very much. Liverpool seems not a bad place from what I have seen of it, although one can’t judge very much from the ship here. Liverpool is very low lying. I am going to stay here tonight & go down to New Brighton tomorrow morning & look for a barn to sleep in?
Well I will need to stop now as the breakfast bell is going & you know well I could not miss that. I will let you know as soon as I fix digs.

Arthur J Sloan

P.S. Mind & behave. xxx
P.S. I am quite sober.

It wasnt what I expected - I had assumed Arthur had come back forever changed by his experiences - a different man, possibly a broken man but wracked by guilt for having survived.

I looked on CWGC. Is this Arthur?

Name: SLOAN, ARTHUR JAMES
Initials: A J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Regiment: Royal Field Artillery
Unit Text: "C" Bty. 315th Bde.
Age: 25
Date of Death: 30/08/1918
Additional information: Son of Arthur F. and Marion G. Sloan, of 28, Second Avenue, Cathcart, Glasgow.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: V. C. 7.
Cemetery: BUCQUOY ROAD CEMETERY, FICHEUX

Have any photos of Guy, Margaret or Arthur survived in your possession?

I am really gutted to learn that Arthur did not survive the war - to fall so close to the end - not an uncommon fate, unfortunately.

But the human spirit will not be extinguished and life went on.

Thanks for their story.

We will remember them.

Jonathan

Yes, the same Arthur, he trained for nearly a year (1914-1915), going to the Front in May of 1915, stayed till he fell ill from trench fever in December of 1916. Went home in the beginning of 1917, and went to Cadet school and in early 1918 went back to the Front as a 2nd Lieutenant.

As a side note, Arthur had a twin brother (Andrew H), who unfortunately saw his first action at the Somme, and was killed on the 1st day of the Battle of the Somme (July 1st) 16th Highland Light Infantry.

A picture of Arthur

What an extraordinary (but pretty commonplace) family story from the Great War.
I am sure Margaret thought of those young men regularly until the end of of her life - which I hope was a happy and fulfilling one.

Letter from Arthur's father

9-5-1918

Dear Mr. Graydon,

As I have sad news to send I thought I would write you instead of to Margaret. This morning I received the sad word that Arthur had been killed in Action. I send you a copy of the letter I received from his Major, I thought Margaret would like to see it. We value it all the more as his Major was an old soldier, some twenty years or so in the Army. Mrs. Sloan is bearing up well, but it is a terrible blow. We cannot realize that both our dear boys are now gone & all the hopes we had in them are perished. We have however the consolation that they have fallen in a great and noble cause, and that they were only too eager to place their services, & lives if need be, at their Country's disposal. I trust Margaret will not grieve overmuch, she has our sincere sympathy. I hope you are having good news from your son who is away & that all the other members of your family are well.

With kindest regards from Mrs. Sloan, Winnie & myself

Yours sincerely

Arthur F Sloan




Copy of the letter from Arthur's Major

8-31-1918

Mr. A J Sloan

Dear Sir,

It is with very deep regret that I have to inform you of the death of your son who was serving in my Battery. He was killed by a piece of shell whilst leading his Battery into Action on the 30th of August. I cannot express the sympathy we feel for you, but it may ease you a little to know that your Dear Boy was loved by all. His men thought the world of him & so did I. He was my pal and I feel his loss greatly. I always found him so brave, willing and everything that an Officer should be in dealing with & leading men. Your loss, my dear sir, is my loss also. I had his remains moved to a back area & buried with Military Honors & perhaps later on I will be able to let you know the exact spot of his grave. At present I cannot inform you. I shall be only too glad to give you any further particulars you may require. As we are on the move a great deal these days I regret that I cannot give you a fuller report at present. Hoping, dear sir, that you will all have the strength to bear the blow of the loss of your Dear Boy. Believe me to be

Yours Sincerely

JJ Bell, Major





The last word by Arthur's mother

3-30-1919

My Dear Margaret

This is the precious little thing at last, we don't need anything to keep us in memory of our loved one, but they are so nice to have. I think he would like you to have them dear. This time last year the dear one was just putting in the time until he sailed, our poor boy, 7 months today since he was killed, Oh it's cruel. 3 years on Friday last since poor Andrew sailed. As you say dear, the world seems to go on the same, but Ah not for us. I hope you are feeling a little better dear, you did look thin in your photo. I do hope the dear little thing arrive safe to you. Love to your Mother and your dear dear self.

Yours lovingly,

Marion Sloan

Jimmy - thanks for taking the time to post those letters. They brought a lump to my throat.

How very moving that is. Both sons - hard to believe anyone could cope with that.
Marina

Jimmy,

Isnt it strange how the fate of a group of people, most of whom died long ago and whom I had not heard of until a few days ago, I can still find upsetting.

I dont suppose there was much to comfort Arthur and Marion - although there is hope in the introduction of Winnie (a sister to the twins?) but please tell us Margaret married a good man, had a family and found happiness.

Jon

Jonathan, Marina, ianw

When I read thru the letters, I became extremely attached to Arthur, his personality was unlike any I've really have been around. I guess the fact that it was in an era when a hand shake was a contract, when common men & women had morals, it was a time that I personally have a feel for, I'd could have very easily have had lived at that time (without wars of course). But as I came across the last few letters that I have posted, I was upset, and nearly as mad, as to the fact that "Wars" serve one purpose, to extinguish good lives, and for what reason, the greed of a person/persons who seeming are able to caused such destruction. Where as the end result, Mother's and Father's become childless, and are left to bare the burden of "what could have been". Most all parents envision a better life for their children, many hopes, and dreams.

I feel humbled to write anything at all, I am not comfortable in writing and posting. To share a story such as above is somewhat difficult for me, volumes can be filled with the names and story's of such men, so to add another seems irrelevant.

History is important, a lot of people think that history isn't particularly needed to be, let's say a doctor, the lawyer, the police officer, or the guy fixing your plumbing, but in reality history is something that we all need and that is very important. Bad things have happened in the past, and similar occurrence's should be avoided, to ensure and help future endeavors. But what about now, why is history important right now? History is about remembering and honoring the past, and with that thought I can't help but to share.

Thanks for your time

jimmy


Picture of Margaret

I know exactly what you mean. On this Forum, I have faithfully followed the diary entries of Lt. John Pitt of the AIF, and the letters of Robert Vernede, shared with us by two more Pals who feel lke you. I certainly felt I got to know the men and they were both remarkable. If you have anyhting else about Arthur Margaret and the family, please post!
Marina

Tomorrow will be the anniversary (August 30th) of Arthur's untimely death. I post the following letter, it was written the day before.


BEF
8-29-18

My Own Dear Margaret,

I am afraid you will be wondering what has come over me darling, but it's quite ok. I am AI & feeling in the very best of health. As you will see from the papers, we have taken the offensive & are getting on wonderfully well, altho' we are kept fearfully busy & I have had no time for letters at all. This is just a spare half hour & I am writing in an old Boche dug out or what's left of it. I have had three such dear loving letters from you darling & oh! how they have cheered me on. They are dated 11th 19th & 25th July, & please accept my very best thanks for them dear. So pleased to hear you are still well & happy sweetheart & having good news from John. I wish I could run across him. We are all well at home except Mother, she was not so good for a week or so, in bed, back to her oneself again. I think she is worry too much. Now dearest girl, I will have to cut this letter short too as I must write home too. Don't worry darling I'll be ok & am always thinking of my own little girl, loving her more than ever. Cheerio just now darling.

With all my love

Ever your own loving

Arthur xxxxx
xxxxx
xxxxx

Ironically, I don't recall Arthur ever saying "Cheerio" before now. Arthur's words just bring on a sense of the day to follow, "Don't worry darling I'll be ok" "loving her more than ever", like this may be the last time he'll be able to tell her.

Hope she got the letter before she knew he was dead - it would be too much to read this AFTER she knew.
Marina

Jimmy thanks for all you have shared. I think in the past week Margaret, Arthur and Guy have lived again and hopefully that does say something positive about the generations that followed and for whom they made their sacrifices.

Best -

Jon

Hi Jimmy,

I've nothing exciting to say or add, only that I am extremely interested in your thread. I find the lives of Guy, Arthur, Margaret, - fascinating, I have enjoyed reading the letters. In fact I have bought many a book containing this sort of thing.

Thanks for sharing all of this with the forum.

Alie.

Jimmy - rest assured that this has certainly been one of the better threads on the Forum. Their story is one that was repeated with variations many thousands of times, but each story is individually unique and touching.

We Will Remember Them

Thanks for the kind words all, I'll try to add as I can.

I feel that today in remembrance to Arthur, I'll share some of his thoughts from 1914, the beginning of his separation from Margaret. I start with his 2nd letter written, and each paragraph to follow is from succeeding letters. You'll see that Arthur is wonderfully in love, and that the War will spoil things, and the fact that Margaret is soon to sail to America.


Remembering Arthur on this day, August 30th, 2005


c/o Mrs. Rawlinson
4 Victoria Rd.
New Brighton
Cheshire
Wednesday. 8 P.M.
I forget the date (June 1914)

My Dear Margaret,

I was so pleased to get your long letter this morning. No it was not too long, I will take double next time if you like.
I got digs in a hotel on Sunday night in Birkenhead. It seemed such a strange way to spend that day just loafing about the deck & not able to go to church altho’ I heard the bells & in plenty of time too.
It must have been fine at Eaglesham on Saturday & I am glad you enjoyed yourself, but you must cheer up especially at night, dear: but I should not talk. I must confess I felt a little bit home sick last night. Isn’t it strange that one feels like that in the evening. I think it is the seeing other chaps with their young ladies and a good sunset like what I have seen these last few evenings.
I was at Chester today. It is a lovely place. It is all so quaint, some of the buildings date as far back to the 15th century.
I sailed up the Dee in the afternoon & it was simply gorgeous. It is just like some of the places described in love stories you read about. I never thought such scenes excised.
All the back gardens come right down to the river & they have all their own “pier” & rowing boat, the kind you see in those pictures of the Thames. All the young men were out in flannels & with their lady loves in white, it was a delightful scene. I can’t describe it here in words. I will need to get a special night to tell you all about it. Everything seems different here, even the sunset. I think it is the want of hills for a background. The whole sky & sea is just one red mass. It really puts one in a kind of sentimental mood. I was going to say discontented but that would be wrong of me. I am wondering what you are about now, is it tennis. Oh! I forgot it is not your turn tonight, however altho’ I am not beside you, you know I am thinking of you & what usually happens on a Wednesday evening.
My landlady was anxious to know who the sender was, that it should keep me off my breakfast, I can tell you my dear Margaret, I felt inclined to show her it, I was so proud of it, my first.
I am constantly being reminded of your name here, one of the best pleasure boats is called “La Margaret” and the first piece of music I picked of the piano was a song addressed to you. I enclose a copy of the first verse. My thoughts were that way anyhow.
I am afraid I will need to stop now as I can hardly see what I am writing & have about two miles to walk for my bed & supper.
See & write soon, a nice cheery letter I will be home soon now. Kind regards to Guy and best love to your dear self.

Your affectionate
Arthur

In the sea the sun is sinking
Sunset rays are skyward blinking
As away the day is stealing
Evening bells are far off pealing
I think of thee love Margaret
Margaret I think of thee


"I am feeling a bit tired now, and I intend to do a bit of loafing now. It is another glorious evening & exceptionally clear. The river is full of ships as it is high tide. Just a minute till I light my pipe, its gone out, its my only mate so far. The White Star ship “Baltic” is passing just now a beautiful 25,000 ton boat, with one of the famous Blue Funnel passenger boats behind it. It is a grand sight. I could name about twenty large boats in sight from the “Aquitania” downwards. I hope I am not tiring you, my dear., but I am enjoying myself tonight its beautiful.
When I was on my why to Port Sunlight, I enquired the road from a policeman at a place called New Ferry, he told me & asked me who I was, & then asked if I was from Glasgow. He recognized my voice & seemed so pleased to see me, he is the first Scotch man I have met so far. It was very nice to hear a familiar accent.
Dear Margaret I wish you could see the sunset tonight, it is extra. You will be thinking me sunset daft, but I cannot help it. One can’t help thinking of higher things on a night like this. I have not been at church for a fortnight now but this is doing me more good than what many a good sermon has done.
I have altered my programme for coming home. I sail home, leaving here at eight P.M. tomorrow night. I will be in Glasgow on Sunday afternoon or evening & I will see you at night all going well".

So good bye just now dear
Your loving Arthur
I am feeling great tonight, hope you are not wearying


"The very thought of your dear self does me as much good as anything. I have something to live up to now, and am long as I am spared I promise you I will continue it, no matter where either of us may be. I pray God Darling that if we are to be separated we may sometimes; here at least, meet again.
Dear Margaret I hope you will excuse me not writing more at present, I have not the heart to say more. I will try & write a more cheery letter next time. Don’t let this worry you Dear I will be all right tomorrow".

"I must thank you very much for being so mindful of me. Nothing cheers me more than when I receive an envelope with your handwriting on it.
I want to apologies for the tone of yesterdays letter. I was sorry after I had written it, and whether to post it or not, but dear you know, some thoughts of last week come back to me, so you will perhaps forgive me this time. Somehow I feel quite cheery again altho it was not perhaps a very fair way to go about it".

"It is now Sunday night about 7:30 p.m. I have the tent to myself, & all the boys have gone to Carnoustie on the usual game. I have spent the last half hour re-reading your beautiful letter. I have enjoyed it very much and think it quite a suitable way to spend Sunday evening.
I would like to be with you for a night with your white frock, you must look fine. Never mind Margaret some time we will have a holiday together. So you can look forward to that darling."

"Well, dear, I think that is about all the news so far. I am behaving myself as usual, & am just waiting to hear how you are getting on. I hope darling that you are keeping up your spirits & not thinking too much about our parting. You know, Margaret it is only going to be for a short while & then, well just you wait. Well have an extra h-moon to make up for it".

"I received your beautiful long letter last night & so neat & oh darling, if you only knew how much I appreciated it, you would be very happy. I, myself, am feeling very lonely & a bit home sick at times, the kind of novelty of mobilization has passed over. I think I would give all to just get one more look at you, it is only now that I am beginning to realize what are parting is going to cost me, but darling Margaret I know you will be true to me, although you, yourself know what fears come on even to wait our time & if we are spared, Oh what a time we will have. I was dreaming of you last night; I don’t exactly know where we were, but we were sitting outside, probably that lane off the Carnumock Road. We had not much to say to each other, but I am sure dearie our thoughts made up for the want of words, I think that I was quite happy but alas dear I woke up".

"Oh! Margaret it was lovely it just made me think of my darling & well I can’t thank god enough that I have got one like you, dearest. When you go away Margaret keep up to your good name, for you have one & that is not only from me, for there are more who think the same of you. I was reading a bit last night & although you may perhaps think it a bit strange I want you to read a bit of it. Turn to 1st Thessalonians chapter 5. It is all very nice, but I want you to read the following verses, especially 16 to 18, 21 & 22, 25 & 28. I find great comfort at night in reading even a very few verses. That is one of the things we will have when you come back for good. We will have family reading every Sunday evening".

"I was at church this morning, but Margaret I’m sorry to say did not enjoy it, as I would have liked to. I was in the second back seat & our chaplain speaks none too loud. My thoughts took a wandering turn & I must confess I heard very little, if any, of the sermon. I don’t know what brought it up, but our night in the Cathedral cropped up & I could not forget it. Do you still remember that night Margaret? My darling I think that was one of the happiest nights I spent with you alone. I can tell you I felt very proud sitting along side you. It made me feel as if you actually belonged to me".

"You were asking if I remember your evening dress. My darling, I don’t think I will ever forget it or the occasion on which it was worn. I have thought of that night more than once since I came here. It was a night Margaret. My own Margaret you find it very hard when thoughts of past days come up in your mind, to keep your thoughts from others. I know too well what like it is darling, but dearest; just think what is in store. I am still your boy & will always be, & so darling you are to tell me all that you have, especially that which is for me alone".

jimmy

How happy she must have been to receive those letters. They are lovely.
Marina

Here's a link to 1st Thessalonians and the verses he mentions.


http://www.htmlbible.com/kjv30/B52C005.htm


Marina

I post the following letter written by a close friend of all the above, sadly most of the young men mentioned would fall in the war.

347 Cathcart Rd
March 1st 1915

My Dear Margaret

I received your welcome letter last week. I care see by it that you hadn’t received your books at the time of writing; however I dare say they will have arrived by now.
I am glad to hear that you are all happy, & having a good time. One wee thing, which I noted & was glad to see, is that you still think of Mount as home.
I know there are plenty of wee things, which I have to tell you, but I just don’t know where to begin.
I was up at Lilliecoultry last week seeing the twins & Guy. They are all looking in “the pink” & having a great time. Madge Brown came with me (she gets privilege tickets you see) & she & the twins went off together, which was rather convenient.

The choir social was a great success. There were actually more gentlemen than ladies, which perhaps accounts for our enjoying it so much. I got a new frock, & it is really very “tricky”. Pale green voile, with a pleated tunic, & black velvet at the waist & the wrists. There is also a wee military collar of black velvet coming half around the back of my neck.

The new spring fashions are out here also, & I am not enchanted with them. The skirts are too full & short, & the jackets too skimpy, but I suppose it will be a case of getting used to them as we did when the tight frocks came in. You were asking how Effie’s black & white was. I haven’t seen it for a while. She blossomed out a few Sundays ago in a new navy-blue. It is very neat, but I wonder she is not tired of navy by this time. Joye had a party a fortnight ago. Jack & I were there, also Effie, & the two Gillespie’s, your dear friend Stanley, Harry Gilchrist, & Effie’s new friend, a Mr. Cooper, rather a nice boy, but Jenny Gillespie race after him a great deal & poor Effie had quite a bad time of it. It was too bad all the same.

I don’t know if Joye is still keeping up with her sailor boy, but I suppose you would read in the papers about the sinking of the Clan McNaughton. He used to be on that boat, but was transferred to another when the war broke out. If you think that your writing to Stanley would make Arthur jealous, take my advice Margaret, & don’t. He isn’t really worth it, although he is a nice enough boy. He couldn’t join the soldiers because he is below height.
Andrew was telling me that Arthur is expected home on Saturday for five days leave.
Elphie Forrest was home for a weekend on Saturday, & was looking well & in fine form. George Henderson was home for a week’s sick leave, & isn’t looking a bit ill, but is getting terribly fat. Wee Jack’s address is still 3, Staumore, but I gave him your message, & he’ll be very pleased to hear from you at any time.

George Brown has lost his splendid situation, & we are all waiting anxiously for him to enlist; but as yet he is still “shivering on the brink”. Poor lad!
Yesterday in church a few of our shirkers looked uneasy. Mr. Ogg quoted that verse ‘O stay oh stay the maiden cried” etc. & said that the "seductively pleading voiceof a fair maiden was responsible for the majority of our young men who were not serving their country at the present time”. Oh it was funny.

Yesterday we had such sport. It had been snowing heavily, & everything was white when we went out the road after church. When we had passed the manse yonder, we met the boys, & they commenced throwing snowballs at us, & of course we threw them back. You would never have thought that it was it was a Sunday, but “everybody was doing it”. And oh Margaret I wish you had been there all right, there were no snow fights though, but we all stopped to look at the scenery. The moon was full, & it was as light as day. Towards the town all the lights were lit, & were twinkling among the snow & everything was so clean & peaceful, that it was difficult to imagine there was such a thing as war.
We have a new tenor in the choir, such a nice boy, fair hair & blue eyes, but an awful flirt. He was at the social, & came home with one. I have had a few mild colds this winter, but they were not caused by standing at the close. That is a thing of the past, & the second bottom step is quite a strange to me now.
How is wee Jimmie getting along? I had four back teeth out a week or two ago; it was very painful, but I am feeling lots better already.
I have been reading over this letter, & am wondering if you are thinking I have been rather nasty in my remarks about some of the folks I have mentioned. I hope not, & there you see I am most cautious to tell you everything which I think will interest you. I am afraid I must close now Margaret, but I hope you will write to me soon again. Mr. Mitchell was asking for you; also William Grant, who has taken a note of your address. Give my love to everyone of your folks, not forgetting yourself.

Your Sincere Friend,

Mary

A picture of a young Mary

Arthur's twin brother Andrew, excited that he has finally made into the army, Andrew could not have imagined that day to come, July 1 1916.

Dec. 12 1915
Pte A H Sloan
E. boy Hut 34
19 ® Batt H.L.I.
South Camp
Ripon Yorks

Dear Maggie,

It's a long time now since I have written to you & I know that I told you I was a poor correspondent, but I am afraid I've over done it this time. Since I wrote last we have lost Guy & I can tell you I felt pretty rotten over it, so I understand what like you would all feel especially since you are all so far away. Well Maggie I have got in a last, I have been here nearly a week now & so far have enjoyed it. Today I passed the final doctor's examination and was brought up before the Colonel who is a very decent chap. He gave me a long lecture on how to behave in the army and hoped I would keep up the reputation of the Battery, then he wish me luck. I have got into a very nice crowd of boys, we are in huts, 30 men to each and ours of course is the best. We are reserve to the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce Battery (Elphie Forrest's) who are now at the front. There are about 40,000 troops in Ripon, which is a quaint old Yorkshire town and the countryside is also very beautiful. It would interest you very much to see the camp which is a town in itself. We dine in large halls which are built in different parts of the camp, and our food id not bad atall, but I have a grand appetite since I came here, so that means a lot. There are also various place's through out the camp, such as the YMCA & the Church of England guild in which I am at present writing to you, it's a rare place this, at present a chap is playing & another singing that fine old song Annie Lawrie, then some are feasting & others like myself are writing, at the next table they are playing draughts & so/on. Before leaving this subject, in case you have not heard, nearly all the Glasgow Territory are here, although I've only seen one whom I know, they are in the N camp so it's not so easy spotting them. I suppose you will know that Arthur was home from the front. I was very glad he managed before I went away. We had a rare old time, because we did not know when we might have another chance. He is looking great and is several inches taller & is getting quite fat. He thinks it's not so bad at the front, but one good thing Artillery do not need to go into these rotten old trenches, the worst thing is the mud & the Germans. Well Maggie I had a good time before I left Mt. It was a bit miserable with all the boys away, but one good thing the girls are still there. I was up at the Harris's the night before I came away, and was very sorry that I had to leave early to pack my goods & clothes, I also had a good night at Jim Baird's and a night at the theatre, but not with a girl. There are very few of the latter subjects here as all that would suit me are booked up long ago, but I may be lucky yet and get a nice little Yorkshire girl yet to take me home for supper some night. Will you please excuse the poor attempt I made at the beginning of this not as you know me (my mood) I sure you will give my kind regards to all and best love to yourself, I will write soon again.

Andrew

Bedford
12-11-14
Friday

My Dear Margaret
I am very glad to say that, I have got your letters now, the first one took only ten days over to Edinburgh, but took a whole fortnight from Ebro’ to Bedford & then the second arrived a week late. Oh! Margaret. You are quite excused dearie. You have done exceeding well & I do thank you, your last letter was exceptionally nice. I have not received anything this week, but I expect it will come in due course all right, I am not worrying about it, this time, athlo’ I am, by no means, saying that I have not missed it.
Now Margaret I am sorry I have not much time to write my usual “long” letter, as we have been extra busy this week, & owing to the rush I was put into the office for an indefinite period. We have been working up till 10 & 11 PM every night & spent last night in the office. There is an inspection of all equipment & books & ledgers today, hence the rush.
I had a very enjoyable afternoon & evening in London, I went out to Ilford first to my Aunt & Uncle’s, the ones who were here when we were mobilized & then I went out to Crouchend for the evening. I saw some of Frank’s letters from France & he has been in four fights now & has not received a scratch so far. His Captain is home wounded & he says Frank did extra in the first battle that was their great one. To use his own words he said, “Frank came out with his bayonet dripping in blood& as proud as punch”. Isn’t it terrible to think about Margaret? The 6th & 7th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders left here today for France & they were all in fine spirits. The local band was out playing all the Scotch Airs; they did not forget “Tipperary” & finished up with “Auld Lang Syne”. That’s about 6000 men away from Bedford now.
Well Margaret I am sending you one of two handkerchiefs for your Christmas & wish you very many happy returns for your birthday, 18th isn’t it? I wonder what figures it will be when next I see you darling.
I got your two photos all right & they are very good indeed. I would not have known your father without his moustache. I remember seeing him once or twice at home, but that is a long while ago now. Your mother is looking very well & you dearie - well you are looking A. I. There is one change in your hair eh? But your are still the same Margaret, smile & all.
Well I think this is all just now, I don’t want to lose the post at any cost & wish you all, the compliments of the season & you especially darling a very Merry Christmas & a Bright New Year.
Please excuse this scrawl Margaret, & except my best love.
Your own loving Arthur


Bedford, England
12-17-14
Thursday
3rd Highland Ammunition Column R.F.A.

My Dear Margaret
You will notice I have put the address on the top of this page; it is a new rule out that all letters must have the sender’s full address on, otherwise they may be destroyed. They are not going to open every letter, but those, which they might think suspicious, however mine are all alright Margaret, it applies mostly to those for Norway & Sweden. You see we get information from Germany through these countries & vice versa, and you need have no fear of mine being opened.
I am writing at a queer hour 2:45 AM. We have been terrifically busy these last few nights & I am spending every second night in the office & have just finished a bit & intended having a rest to write your letter.
I got your lovely letter on Monday enclosing the butterflies, they are very beautiful & I am getting them put into glass & they will make a very pretty ornament, & keep me in mind of my Margaret.
You said you have had no word from Guy, but I don’t think you need have much fear of his being away. As for as I understand, there is none of the Scottish Artillery away & I would have heard by now if they were as there is so many of our boys have friends & relations in the 4th Lowland.
That must have been a fine trip you had with your father to Floral Bluff (what a funny name) you would be just in your glory among all that fruit & I don’t think I would have had any objection either.
There has been a great deal of excitement here yesterday & today; some German warships bombarded Scarborough & Whitley yesterday & did a good deal of damage, killing about two hundred persons, according to tonight papers. They (the warships) managed to slip in during a fog & got off as quickly as they appeared. That is the first experience the Englishman has had of warfare & I expect it will revive the recruiting business again. Our latest recruit from the church is Charlie Watt, he has joined the Glasgow Highlanders & I don’t think Andrew will be held back very long now. I heard through my aunt in London that he had made up his mind, that the New Year would see him a “soldier” too & if he does, I won’t be surprised. He has stuck it well, poor boy.
We are still pegging along here Margaret & no word yet of moving. I am sure we will see the whole of January here anyway.
Well darling I must stop now, my blinkers won’t stay open any longer, I have managed to keep awake with the aid of my (your) pipe. It is still going strong, dearie, & is in beautiful condition now. I will have no time for private writing tomorrow & at night will be too late for the mail.
With all my love & best wishes for the New Year.
Your own loving Arthur

Bedford
12-24-14
Thursday
10 PM

My Dear Margaret
I received your very nice letter yesterday, but don’t understand why you have got one that week, I have managed to write every week. I’m afraid it is the post office again dear, and I am going to write on Wednesdays in the future & there can be no chance of missing the mail again. I was told that Friday was mail day, but won’t risk it anymore.
Well Margaret tomorrow is Christmas & it is very seasonable weather too, very hard frost, & a nice full moon. The waits have started coming round & will be knocking around till about midnight, they are singing hymns & Christmas carols & it sounds very much indeed. Who would have thought this time last year, darling what was going to happen to us all & I often wonder how we shall spend next.
Our landlady is away at Sheffield for the holidays & I am sitting once more beside the kitchen fire. I have got the two butterflies mounted like a lanternslide & they are up on the mantle shelf & look exceedingly pretty.
I was to get ten days New Years leave, but it has been knocked on the head, there is rumor of another coast raid & we are once more bundled up & ready to move off at a moments notice. It’s a great life for uncertainty Margaret, we get one rumor on top of the others & really one can’t believe anything till it actually happen. Do you remember all the lorries & vans we had at Cathcart, well we have got rid of them all now & have got the proper ammunition & G.S. (General Stores) wagons. They are splendid vehicles & our turn out now, is something worth talking about.
I had a very nice parcel from the kirk, along with a letter from Mr. Ogg. Mary is secretary of the arrangements for these parcels & if convenient I am to acknowledge it to her.
Since my last page I have had my Christmas dinner. I had to stop last night, I could not keep awake at all & if I had kept on, it might have ended in me talking in my sleep, & that would never do at all, Margaret.
Well this morning was just simply beautiful, the trees had all a splendid coating of frost & all the hedges were the same. It was just like some of the pictures one see in Christmas Cards & that sort of thing. I had a very big mail this morning, I had to take it in a van, and it was too much for my usual bag & bicycle.
Well about the dinner, we had goose, spuds, cauliflower & sauce, applesauce & gravy. Then English plum pudding & sauce & Christmas pies. I can tell you I enjoyed it immensely darling. It was something out of the usual. Oh! I forgot the wine, five years; it was delicious & quite tee-tee. It was a friend of our landlady, who very kindly asked us to come, seeing Mrs. Crowsley was away at Sheffield.
The landlady of the office has been very good too, when we came in this morning she had a small table spread in the office with all sorts of things on it. A fine cake, bottles of wine, apples & oranges, all kinds of nuts, raisins & biscuits & some crackers. They are all very good to us darling, but it does make one a bit home sick. I do wish I could get back to old times for just one night & have you back beside me once more. My own Margaret wouldn’t it be fine just for one night to be together again, however there is not much use of talking like that, & we must just put up with things & hope that before long we will be together & happy once again. I am very glad that you have found such a good friend in John. It makes me feel that you are quite safe & in good company all the time.
Well dearest this is about all I have to say just now, write soon again & accept my very best love & good wishes.
Your own loving Arthur

3rd H (H) Bde. AC.
RFA
Bedford
12-29-14

My Dear Margaret

I have just received your very welcome letter & am glad you got my letter all right, the post office people are funny folk, I received yours tonight by the evening delivery, I usually, in fact always before, get it in the morning. I am glad you liked the papers, but I am sorry to say that the “War” is very very little exaggerated dear. I have spoken to a great number of wounded soldiers & have purposely asked some of them about some of the pictures in the “War”. Do you remember the one that showed the Germans firing a maxim out of a Red Cross Wagon; well one chap told me he saw it done himself. The Germans are doing something’s, darling, you could hardly credit, from civilized beings.

I am sorry that Johns leg has turned out so bad & hope that it will soon be all right once more, but think how happy he must be sitting there with you looking after him & being his very slave. I would give a good lot dear to be in his position just for one night & I bet I wouldn’t half interrupt you. Would you object darling? I don’t think so. It is very good of you sending me the fob. & I will be looking forward to getting it very very much; it will be my charm too. I have none so far, not that I am superstitious, but most of the boys have something & I don’t want to be in the cold as far as that is concerned & we will know later if it does it’s duty.

I had a letter from Mother today & she was saying Andrew has had a card from you & he is simply delighted. We have had pretty wretched weather lately, two days ago it simply poured all day & to complete the thing, it started snowing & it was a perfect blizzard. I went to the pantomime with two other boys & it was simply rotten (excuse the word) but it is not bad enough. I mean saw such a poor show in all my life & to think we went through all that rain & snow for it. We were wild. We had a big day today & are having the same tomorrow. You ought to see some of the fields surrounding Bedford, the floods are terrific, and I never saw the like of it in all my life. The ground is all so flat & the water has no time to run off. I spent quite a good Christmas here considering. Our landlady was away at Sheffield for Christmas & a friend of hers very kindly asked us up for dinner on Christmas day. We had a very good English Christmas dinner, but it was at night. I felt it most, it did not seem Christmas at all, however I must not grumble, dearie. You were asking if I hung up my stacking, well I did not Darling, even if I had I don’t suppose I should have got very much in it. I hope you are still keeping well Margaret & still enjoying your new life, you will be quite settled down now I expect. Things here are much the same as usual, I understand we will be off about the middle or end of February, not very long now, is it? Well darling I think this is all I have to say just now. My best wishes for a very Happy New Year to you all, especially your dear self. With all my love

Your own affectionate, Arthur



3rd H B.AC RFA
Bedford
1-6-15
Wednesday

My Darling

I received your dear letter last night. Margaret dear, I am afraid I had a dose of the blues when I wrote that letter, but, the same as you, I believe in writing just as I feel & I’m afraid I vexed you a little about a dozen times, darling and I thank you very very much for all the nice things you have written. Darling, you cannot realize what your letters are to me, & I do look forward to it every Monday. As regards the India business it is off. The colonel objected to our Brigade being broken up to complete another brigade that had not a full complement of men, so that settled it. We have now got back an old officer as Captain & he is one of the best & we are all delighted with him, so that put us all right for that darling, I am very pleased Margaret & I am sure you will be the same. I also received the fob & am simply delighted with it, it is far too good for the present time & I think I will send it home for future use.

It is very good of you darling remembering us all so well, Andrew has got his & Winnie hers & they are both delighted with their presents from you. I had a letter from Mother today & she was saying that Andrew is going to join the 9th High Light Infantry this week. It is just as he said Margaret; he would wait till after the New Year & then enlist. Mother does not say much about it, she seems to see that it is all our duty & although she will feel it a bit, I am sure she will be quite proud of him going too. We are doing our last fortnights training just now, the whole division is working together & we are doing some great maneuvers. Last Monday we had rather an exciting time, we were returning from Bedford & owing to the heavy rains & snow, the river is greatly flooded. At one village we passed through the whole place was flooded. I was mounted as usual & in the main street, we had some very deep water. Altho’ I was on my horse my feet were in the water, so you can see yourself dearie, how deep it was.

The Brigade is moving to Salisbury Plain on the 21st for firing practice, but it is not quite definite whether we are to go or not. Things are looking very like going to France now, we have new wagons, harness, suits & are getting new rifles next week, so I expect it won’t be very long now. Don’t you worry too much darling; I’ll take good care of myself. Do you remember David Caldwell of Second Ave., well he is in the trenches now & has had a very narrow escape, and his bayonet was split in two by a bullet. Mother sent him a black bun & he was just out of the trenches when it arrived, so she is very pleased about it. She has sent a bun to all the boys Laurie Dalglish, Guy, John Strang etc. & of course my self. Well my dear I think this is about all I have to write just, I would just like to add that I am quite contented now & that whatever may happen, you may be sure dearest that you will always be in my thoughts at all times, wherever I may go. I have told you before Margaret how much it is to me to think that I have one like you, my very own, thinking about me & praying too. It has kept me right in Bedford & that says a great deal. Well I will stop just now sweet one, you can be sure I have you always in my mind altho’ you are so far away. With my very best love & God bless you darling

Your own loving Arthur



3rd Highland Ammunition Column R.F.A.
Bedford
1-14-15
Thursday

My Dear Margaret

I have got two of your letters to answer this week. I got your very nice one written on Christmas night, or rather the night after. I am glad you enjoyed yourself dearie & just hope you did ditto at the New Year. I have not very much to say this week; in fact I don’t know how I am going to manage my usual four pages. I had a visit last night from my Uncle John, the gentleman who was with us when we were mobilized. He is on his quarterly travels through Bedfordshire, & as before, paid me a visit. My Cousin is still safe & has done a good deal more fighting, his chum was shot dead by his side a fortnight ago; The London Scottish have now lost about five hundred wounded, killed & missing. We are in the midst of divisional maneuvers just now, the whole division is working together, & we have had some fine battles, but no casualties so far.

The floods have gone down a good bit now, so we have had no more wading, and the weather is now A I, just like spring, fine & mild & plenty of sunshine. I am now in the office for the afternoon only & get on forenoon parades etc. & am not in the least sorry about it. It is so much nicer out in this fine weather & I fell ever so much better out. I have just had my dinner Margaret, the usual stew. How do you fancy stew for six months eh? However I am not grumbling darling, so don’t worry. After all Andrew did not manage to get in the Glasgow Highlanders & he seems to be very disappointed about it, he had a very slight varicose vein in his right leg. The doctor said it was very slight, but it would not look very well with a kilt. It seems a pretty lame excuse & what made him wild was that some passed at the same time, even although they were under the specific height. I don’t know whether he has tried anything else yet or not, but anyway I think it was rather hard lines. I got a good tip this week, if I go anywhere you will know where I am, I will put a dot (very little) over the first letters I get, I have put on “Bedford” this time, twig? Well I think this is about all just now darling, I hope you are keeping well & all the others too. How are the good resolutions getting on? With fondest love

Your own Arthur

3rd Highland Ammunition Column R.F.A.
Bedford
1-21-15
Thursday

My Dear Margaret

I got your very nice letter of 3rd Jan. yesterday. It was splendid reading Margaret, & may they never be shorter. I am very pleased to hear you have been at Communion darling & hope it will be the first of very many. I wonder whether when my next one will be. I would like very well to see you with your hair down, a sweet seventeen & never been kissed?? It does not matter in the least to me dearie what like you have your hair, you are always the same to me, as long as it is not short, eh! I remember fine the first time it was up, you looked a knob that day. It was very good of that lady & gentleman giving you the photo frames, & I am delighted you have put them where you say.

I wonder when we will make use of the contents. You were talking about being too frivolous, but I hardly think so, I think I might be put in that category (is that correct) I have been in the habit of going once a week to the theatre, I have got fed up with the picture houses, or rather they are apt to make me have that feeling. I don’t know why that should be, but it does, I think I miss the young lady who used to accompany me, & so it is very very rarely I visit one. I like the singing & music best, in fact in some of the plays the music & singing is worth going alone. I need not say that so far I have been very independent as far as company, & so far it looks as if I will continue doing so. Would you believe it darling, I have not been out with a girl since I came here. I often wonder if I were to have you for one night, how I would act, I think I have forgotten all the formula; but I have heard it say it does not take long to pick it up again. I think I would risk it dearie. We have had a Zeppelin raid on the Yarmouth coast, two nights ago, they did comparatively little damage & only killed a very few. You see they always attack unfortified places & then go back & tell yarns of great deeds, I understand the Germans are mad with joy (as the paper says) over the great victory of killing a few women & children, different from our raid at Christmas, we went for their naval base & did no little damage. Then they won’t let their boats out for a decent battle, they have a few submarines floating about & they occasionally pop off one of our ships. The one you refer to was the “Bulwark”. How they did not do that.

There was an internal combustion explosion, which might have lost 20 now, but they have lost more, look at the Falkland Islands battle etc. They have done nothing great yet. We are having a Burns night on the 25th in a local hall. We have ordered special Hagis from Scotland & ever so many are getting up various things to do. Then Eric Fairlie is going to give his favorite “Burns oration”. The Captain is going to be chairman, so we should have a fairly good night & they will behave, seeing who the chairman is. I think I told you before I am now in the office for the afternoon only, but that has been knocked on the head now. I was nest going to try & get out altogether, but I am put back in again for good. I am to be pay sergeant, the present one does not quite suit. I will get an extra 6th per diem, but the work is rather intricate & as there is so much money involved, I am not quite at my ease about it. However it was an order & must be obeyed. I will just need to take great care & think I will manage through somehow. All the same I did like out in the open air. I don’t think we will be here for a great length of time now & when we move there will be no office work then, so I will need to do my best for the time being. Between you & I darling, I am a little bit flattered at getting it, if it were note the late hours & all indoor.

Margaret I am going to ask you a favor, In your next letter could you please enclose one or two post cards of Jacksonville, I would like very much to see what like it is. Don’t think me rude dearest, but you know my feelings, & if there were any think like that you would like, be sure & ask for it. That’s one of our privileges you know. We are having extremely cold weather just now, the last week has been nice & frosty, but today is raw & very cold. Just the kind of day, one used to like to sit down in front of a nice fire in a fine cozy room. But none of that now dearie, worse luck. I was just thinking last night of some of the nights we had last winter, between minstrels & one thing & another, I think it was bit all right. What do you say Margaret. I still keep my “period of thoughts” for bed, although it is not quite so long as before. I am more of a sleepy head now days.

I had a very good trap last week; I had to go to a place called Milton Earnest about eleven miles from Bedford. The Vet Hospital is there & I went for one of our horses, which was undergoing treatment. It was a splendid ride out & I led the other one home. The only bad thing here is the amount of traction engines, & as you know, horses are none too fond of anything with steam. Well I think this is about all I have to say just now dear, I hope you keeping well & enjoying the good weather. It will soon be getting too warm for you. I am keeping quite well only for a cold, but they are all over just now & there is an epidemic of measles just now in the Division, but I am glad to say, there are no cases so far in our corp. Kindest regards to all & best love to yourself

Your own loving Arthur

How chatty he is - and how nice he seems. These are lovely letters Jimmy.
Marina

Hi Marina,

Arthur loved to write, and was a very nice chap!


Bedford
1-28-15
Thursday

My Dear Margaret

I received your very nice letter on Tuesday. You seem to be getting an expert housewife & I am very glad you are liking it Margaret. You are well off getting such fine weather just now. I can’t say that we are getting the same. Today is not so bad, but lately it has been very cold & raw & not at all to pleasant. You have got a fine lot of presents & I am pleased Andrew remembered you. You say, “Somebody must think something of Margaret”. Margaret is that something new? Eh! I don’t think so, somebody has always & always will. Darling I am always thinking of you especially at night & there is never a night, but I remember you in my prayers, asking that I may have you back beside me at not a very distant date. Darling when is that to be.

I heard about Guys Battery being shifted to Tillicoultry & none of them seem to be extra pleased with it. There is no truth in us being shifted, and as far as I can see will be here for a good time yet. We are in the midst of a Zeppelin scare just now. I was going to London on Saturday, but it has been knocked on the head through this scare. There are strong piquet’s at every road leading into Bedford & a number of guns are entrenched & set skywards with a detachment ready for action day & night. Quite cheery isn’t it? We had a great naval battle last Tuesday 26th in the North Sea. Five of our largest battleships met a squadron of German boats & put them to flight, sinking their largest & another smaller one & seriously damaging other two big ships. We lost no ships & had very very little damage done & only a matter of about 20 casualties. I have started my new duties today as Pay Sergeant. It is a pretty intricate job, but if I take great care I hope to get on all right. I have to make up the “Pay & Mess” book, “Billeting” book & keep the Corp Cashbook & pay the men every Friday. The best time is on Saturday evening when the books are squared up & I am square in my cash, which is about L 150 per week, quite a respectable sum? Eh!

I wrote to Mary & got a very nice reply from her, she was saying then that Guy was with them, but was recalled two hours before his time was up, all for nothing. These false alarms are a perfect nuisance dearie, but we are quite used to them now, and are quite used to them now, and are quite prepared to move at any time now. Do you remember Sydney Temley, well he is postman & brings me my letters & as a rule posts mine to you and he told me to tell you he was asking for you, he wanted me to give you his love, but I couldn’t do that. I want all that for myself. There is quite a number of letters every Tuesday from USA for the corp. I wonder how many of the receivers are in the same position as me? Andrew has not joined anything yet, but he said last week that he might try the 4th Lowland Brigade (Reserve) R.F.A. He seems determined to join something. Well Margaret I think this is about all I have to say just now. I hope you are all keeping & that you are enjoying yourself all right & “behaving” that is a useless question. Darling isn’t it? I will soon be getting your next letter; I count the days as soon as I get one till I will get the next. Well good afternoon just now dearie, with fondest love

Your own Arthur




3rd Highland Ammunition Column R.F.A.
Bedford
2-3-15
Wednesday

My Dear Margaret

This is the first time I have had breathing space since Saturday night. We have had an awful time with a new scheme of allotments for unmarried soldiers, and yesterday, for example I was at it from 5:30 AM till 10:30 PM., how’s that for a days work. When I got to bed about eleven, my eyes were nipping at a terrific rate, it just seemed as if I had rubbed an ounce of pepper into them & then tried to keep them open for ten minutes. However I am all right now & have just reread your dear letter for about the twentieth time. It has driven all my worry away completely. Now darling I should tell you not to cry at not receiving my letter the morning you expected it, but I am not. To tell you the truth dearie I am glad you did it, it tells me a thing or two, that I like to know; far far better than all the writing that can be done.

Margaret, I don’t know if I have said it before or not, but, between one thing & another I have every confidence in you & you may be sure it will take a very great deal to make me alter my opinion of you now, and I hope I may at least be worthy of you later on. I am glad you had such nice news from Mary & Miss J. I expect you will be even more acquainted with the doings of Mount than I am. I get plenty of word from home, but it does not seem to give the sort of news that you will get. Yes “Harry Watt” is of the same family as the one you know, both he & Charlie have enlisted. Very good isn’t it. I could not help laughing at the paragraph in your letter, about you blowing out my matches. The other boys in the office asked me to tell the joke & they would laugh too, but I didn’t, however that is by the bye. If I could only give you the chance, I might get terribly cross, but I know you would forgive me, and the first time we get the opportunity, I’m going to have a full box & more if you want. Now that’s a promise Margaret. I won’t mind if I try a whole night & don’t manage to light it.

The War is going on splendidly just now. We had a big naval battle in the North Sea & managed to sink two of their largest ships & cripple another two very severely & we had only two ships damaged & very slightly at that too. The German Press admits that they lost severely, but make it up by saying the sunk three of our ships, however the British Admiralty deny it & say that every ship has returned & we had only about twenty killed all over. I think you people must be in a bit of a dilemma which to believe, but you can take that as perfectly true. We had a grand night on the 25th Jan. “Burns Nicht”. I am sending you a cutting out of the local paper and it “speaks for itself”, as Mr. Hepburn of A L & Co used to write about a hundred times a day. I am having a bit of a treat tomorrow afternoon. The riding drill is to be out on the road, going to a place called Wootton about five miles each way. The sergeant major is allowing me out for the occasion, but says to be ready for some fun, we are to have our rifles slung & all our equipment & do four miles without stirrups, so I can see some fun, but I am quite looking forward to it, and will let you know in my next letter if I break my neck or such like.

There is an epidemic of measles in Bedford just now, but I am glad to say that our corp. is quite free from them so far, you see we are quite two miles out of the town & are more than likely to escape them, we are in the healthiest part of the district & are about the healthiest corp. going. The worst we have had was a slight case of fever about four months ago & have had absolutely nothing since. I was at Communion last Sunday afternoon. We were very busy on Sunday & as I did not wish to miss it, I did not manage to Church Parade in the morning. You see, dear, we have to work here on Sunday as well as any ordinary day. I took ill with it at first, but must say it seems quite ordinary now. About one hundred joined for the first time & I was very much impressed with the service Margaret. The text was John XV & 13. The minister was an Aberdonian & he spoke splendidly, pushing his point right home & finally mentioned how this versed applied to the soldier of the present day & that it may apply to some of his hearers. Darling I hope you won’t take this to heart too much, I just mention it, because it took hold on me so much, and it is similar things that keeping me straight, & the way I think you would like me to go. I sometimes find it hard Margaret, but when I think of you, it seems to keep me all right. You may think it a bit strange me writing like this, but I can write to you dear one, as I can write to no other, not even Mother. So you see what your love means to me. I don’t think I have anything else to write about just now. I hope you are all keeping well & am glad to hear that John’s foot is all right once more. Kindest regards to your Mother & Jammie & all the others and my very best love to yourself.

Your affectionate loving Arthur



Bedford
2-10-15
Wednesday

My Dear Margaret

I received your very nice letter yesterday, although it was written in your “office”, it was not “business like”. It was as you say a L-letter & very appreciable at that too. I have not sent the fob home yet although to tell the truth I meant to long ago, but to please you dearie I will keep it & wear it in remembrance of you. That sounds as if you were a person of the past, but you know well what I mean Margaret, Don’t you? I am glad to hear you had a letter from Winnie, & all I can say about you being frightened to write back is “Don’t talk nonsense”. That sounds very cheeky Margaret, but it’s a fact. What about me, receiving such neat letters & look, never mind darling, although they may be scrawls that does not take away any of the sincerity of my letters to you, my sweetheart.

There is a good deal of influenza here too, but the worst is the measles, most of the schools are closed & the troops in Bedford, seem to be affected rather badly too. I am please to say that we have escape so far & have nothing to talk about at all. Yes another attempt was made on Scarborough, but you will see the “War”, I am sending how very unsuccessful it was for our pals the Germans. The latest rumor we have is that we are bound for Egypt “shortly”, but we have had so very many within the last three months that I won’t believe any till we are off & actually there. I wouldn’t mind going there at all. There has been a good deal of fighting lately along the Suez Canal & we may have a chance yet. I wish we would shift somewhere anyway for I am absolutely fed up with this place.

I had a very nice letter from Laurie Dalglish on Monday. He is at Grange mouth & seems to be very fed up with it too. He is sleeping in a old granary & one night one of the boys fell through the floor on to the next flat. All the floors are very rotten, but Laurie says he did not hurt himself. I managed up to London again last Saturday afternoon. My Uncle met me at St. Pancras Station & we went out to Ilford to his house there. My cousin Nannie met me there & took me back to her house. We did a very good round of the centre of London on a bus. I saw St. Pails & Westminster, Trafalgar Square, Mansion House & most of the important buildings, it was most interesting & when you are back here that is another of the many places we will need to visit, eh! The only thing that put a damper on my visit was that Frank was in action again on Thursday & they have had no word yet as to how he got on this time. They are in action about twice a week. My Aunt seems to worry a good deal about him & it is beginning to tell on her a bit now. Do you remember Alick Laurie in the Bible Class; He is in our corp. & is home on leave just now for six days. Well could you guess what he has done, he has taken a young lady home with him, fancy that. The next thing we hear will be that he is engaged. I wonder what people would say if I did that, however don’t worry dearest, I am only joking. There will only be one girl, I’ll take home, and I think you have a very good ideal who that is. Isn’t that so?

No Margaret I am still on my own here & you can bet your boot I will remain so. No one else as long as Margaret is. You will be thinking I am starting to rave a bit, but nevertheless facts are facts, darling. I am still very busy in the office with my pays etc., but had a very fine outing last Thursday afternoon. We were supposed to be riding drill, but the sergeant major took us out on the road (10 of us) & we did about twelve miles, it was grand & we did a bit of cross country work. I very nearly came a cropper once when jumping a ditch, but managed to go no further than up on the horses neck. Well I think this is about all the news just now Margaret. I am keeping fine fit, altho’ I liked the open air better. I hope you are all keeping well & you yourself keeping cheery & bright. With all my love

Your own Arthur



Bedford
2-18-1915
Thursday

My Dear Margaret

No letter this week, I wonder what is wrong. I am blaming the boats. Today starts the Great Blockade of British Ports, so perhaps that is what is wrong. I am just talking as if it was not of much consequence, but it is a great disappointment to me on Tuesday morning if I don’t get a letter & sometimes it comes on Wednesday, but alas none yesterday, but I will perhaps get it tomorrow, Friday. I have nothing special to say this week Margaret. Things are fairly quiet. I suppose you will have heard by now that the Germans intend sinking every ship that they can get hold of, no matter what nationality it belongs to. One of our boats the “Laertes” had a very narrow shave. I am sending you a cutting out of the newspaper about it. I know Capt. Propert very well & if I remember right, he was the last captain I had to deal with before I left the “old firm”, so you see dear it makes it even more interesting to me.

It looks very bad for Britain, at first reading their new plans, but when you think that they have only thirty-three submarines. It is really more of a “boast” than anything else. The British Admirably are not taking it very much to heart & should they (the Germans) sink, say an American (USA) ship, I expect you will see the USA Govt. on their top next. Well so much for the war. You will be pleased to hear that I am getting a week furlough on the 7th of March I hope I am not dished this time. You remember I was to get ten days at the New Year, but it fell through, & I just wish that it does not happen again. I was at the “Quaker Girl” on Monday evening, it was a very fine show for Bedford, and perhaps why I enjoyed it was because of the extra fine feed I had before hand. Johnnie Strang & I arranged to meet each other at five, well as you will perhaps guess, we had to do without our tea, but I can tell you Margaret, we made up for it, when we got into Bedford. We went in to our usual tea shop & what do you think we got “outside” of, well we started with four scrambled eggs & toast each, wasn’t that disgraceful Margaret, then we had bread butter & Jam, a quite a respectable supply of scones & cakes. You will be wondering what I am coming to, darling, but when you take in to consideration that our previous meals for that day, were breakfast “dog” biscuit & cheese, dinner, bully beef & potatoes, you will see that we were quite justified in taking our glutinous fare.

Johnnie Strang suits me very well Margaret, he is not a “ladies man” at least not here, and we have some very happy times together. On Friday we are on the hop again this time for a bath, you see we have to visit Bedford even for that. I think I have forgotten how to “walk” a young lady out; it is six months yesterday since did so. Do you remember that night, darling I still remember your very last words spoken to me, & am still keeping up to them with all my heart. I haven’t really got the idea yet, that your are so far away from me, you see it would have been different if I had been in Mount at the time, but having had letters from you from the very beginning, I seem to think I am still writing home, I am quite happy dearie, but there seems to be some big blank somewhere & you know that it is only you who can fill it, but perhaps before very long it will be filled. That is my only wish just now Margaret. I am still busy at my pay book, although I am beginning to get more spare time now, I can usually manage every second or third night off, but I very often stay in for want of something to do, or somewhere to go. One gets tired of trotting into Bedford every time. I don’t know weather I told you or not, but Alic Laurie had a young lady home with him, how’s that for a sensation. Andrew saw the “young couple” out for their morning constitutional one morning about * AM. On the Carmunnock Road & promptly wrote to me asking if I was doing likewise, but I don’t think I need tell you what was my answer. You know me too well for that, don’t you Margaret?

I have just finished my first book since coming here. It is entitled “With the Allies” by Richard Harding Davis, an American War Correspondent. I think it is the most life like book I have ever read. Americans are neutral just now, but it shows how even such people cannot write about this war without telling of the awful things that the Germans will have to account for, when it comes to settling up. I got the book from the lady of the house in which we have our office. Her father was a colonel in the regulars, I think it was the Worchester Regiment, & she has seen a great deal of army life, having traveled all over the world with him. She was born in Malta, when the Regiment was stationed there. Well I think this is about all I have to say just now Margaret; I hope you are keeping very well & all the others too. I do hope I hear from you soon. I have just enough time to walk to the post, then bed. Tomorrow is my big day. With all my love

Your own Arthur

Bedford
2-28-15
Sunday

My Dear Margaret

I’m afraid it is I, who is erring this time, for not getting the mail, but when I explain you will perhaps excuse me, please. This is the end of the monthly account period & you can have no conception of the work that is entailed thereby. I am simply up to the ears in work; I only get three days to square it up. I have been at it constantly since Friday, working till very late every night & today Sunday is the same as usual. I am sorry to say it Margaret, but Sunday is practically the same as any ordinary day here. It is now 9 PM. & I am stopping, having done quite enough for today.

I did not even get to church. I mentioned last week that I had not received my usual Tuesday letter, well I got it on Saturday, a week yesterday with the very pretty post cards & thanks for them very very much darling. Many thanks for the compliment about being able for my new work, however I think you flatter me a little dearie, eh! You will be making me quite swelled headed. The post cards are just beautiful & it gives me a very good ideal of what like Jax is, I would like a stroll in that Phoenix Park, with you. I had a letter from my cousin Nannie today, she had another letter from Frank & he is still alive & kicking. He has been the lucky boy; out of 1200 that went out only 150 remain. Of course that is not to say they are all dead. A great many are only very slightly wounded, but out of the original lot that went out, that is all remaining & he has not received even a scratch yet.

I am glad Andrew has written you at last. You would be pleased to hear all the news. Would you believe it, I got a lot of Mount news out of one of your last letters. Andrew writes me every Sunday, but does not say very much, he thinks mother tells me most of news, forgetting that she is not one of the “crowd”. I get to know of most happenings, but as you will see, sometimes through a very round about way. Well dearest a week today I hope to be back in dear old Mount. I never thought I would ever think so much of it, and somehow or another I am looking foreword to my furlough a great deal more than I did to my weekend in October. O got whole six days this time, leave here on Saturday morning & leave home again on the Friday night. I will have a whole diary for you later on. I have not received any letter this week; I think I will need to send a very serious complaint to the Postmaster General, to see what he has to say for him self. However darling I have not much room for grumbling, & just hope that I will always receive them as regular & if so I think I can count myself a lucky guy.

I had a visit on Monday from Mr. Wilson of Largs, you know who I mean, used to stay in Eldon Villas. He was down at Eastbourne on business & called here on his way home to see Lieut. Arthur Hill (you remember him to, coming into Miss Rombach’s the Saturday of the trips to Gourack) and myself. We met at Arthur Hills digs & spent a most enjoyable evening. If my leave comes off all right, I must take a run down to Larg & see it again too. Andrew is still a civilian, the latest I have heard, (unofficially) is that he & Jammie Baird are having motor lessons & going to try for the Mechanical Transport section of the Army Service Corp. I wonder if it is only a rumor. Well darling I think this is all the news just now. I do hope I get a letter tomorrow or Tuesday. It is such a queer week without it. I hope you are well & keeping good spirits. I am fine & looking forward to Saturday, it isn’t long now. With my very best love

Your own Arthur

Jimmy,

I finally found time to read Arthur's letters this morning. I can understand your admiration for him.

I visited Helles and Pink Farm last week and have jpgs of Guy's name and Laurie Dalglish's grave if you would like me to send them on. If so let me have your e-address. It was a privilege to be able to pay my respects to both men.

Once again many thanks for sharing this fantastic piece of your family's history.

Jon

Hi Jonathan,

I appreciate the time you took out of your schedule to look up a few members of the "gang", it's wonderful that they are remembered, even after all this time. As for Arthur, though he's not related to me, I am extremely devoted to his memory, and have the up most respect for him, he was a model person, citizen, and soldier, he's my hero, all-time! I am fortunate to know of his existence, he was genuine.

suneagle7@comcast.net

jimmy

Have moved up in time a bit

Train
May 3rd 1915

My Dearest Margaret,

I am so sorry I did not manage to write my usual weekly letter, but when I tell you I have not been in my bed for three nights you will see how very busy I have been. We left Bedford at 2 AM this morning & hope to get over tomorrow morning. Now darling, it has come at last and all I hope is a safe return home & have you with me once more. I have not time to write any more just now, but will do so as soon as I possibly can. So goodbye just now darling & may you be spared & keep well for our meeting, before very long I hope. With all my love & best wishes. Your own loving sweetheart,

Arthur

France
May 11th 1915

My Dear Margaret,

I got your letter of the 20th April last night & was delighted to receive same. We have had four days good rest. We had rather a rough start, went the first five nights without any sleep, traveling all the time. We are billeted in a very pretty little village not far behind the firing line & can hear the guns night & day. We had a bathing parade in a canal yesterday & it was simply great, the first time we have had our clothes off for eight days & then to crown all we got a sub at night. There is not much to spend it on here only French wine, the water is not drinkable, so you see we have to indulge. It is quite passable stuff, & quite harmless. Have you any word of Guy shifting yet, I expect they will be moving before along too. I heard he was in Mount, but Andrew did not say whether he was speaking to him or not. I managed to get a might in London before coming away & had a very enjoyable time. We went to the Coliseum. Well I think this is about all the news just now. You might enclose an envelope & paper in your next letter. It is scare here & one can't buy it anywhere. Will write soon again, your loving,

Arthur

France
May 29th 1915

My Dearest Margaret,

This is the first time I have had the chance of writing a decent letter. All the others required to be censored & as one of our own officers is the censor, I do not exactly care to put too much into my letters, as I am working so much with him, you know what I mean darling, don't you? Well we have had rather a varied life since landing in France. We had a very rough passage over, but I was one of the very few not sick, how's that, not bad? eh! When we arrived we entrained in cattle trucks, forty men per truck, with plenty of straw on the floor, & it was more comfortable than eight men in an ordinary 3rd class carriage. We spent two days in the train & arrived right up in the firing line on the Thursday morning. We arrived very early & hung about all day & left at sunset for a night trek, and I can tell you Margaret, it was a trek, we did about thirty miles that night & it just about did for us all. It was our fourth night without sleep: I feel asleep in my saddle, some tumbled off their horses & the horses & mules themselves were just about done up. However that is a sort of pessimistic view of affairs, Margaret. We have quite recovered from it all, but all our moves are done at night. We often change about to relieve each other & break the monotony, I was doing my driver on the wagon the last march. I was lead driver & the only difficulty is getting the mules to cross the canals. They are not afraid of the largest traction engine, it is crossing the water they object to.

May 30th 1915

Well Dearie this Sunday I all seem to be thinking more of you on this day, & all that used to happen at home on Sunday. You remember what a busy day I used to have on Sunday & then to finish up with I had you. Oh! Darling when am I to get some of these pleasures again. Won't it be grand if we are spared, so practically start over again, Sunday evenings & all that sort of thing. I have had two delightful letters from you since coming here & they were a great comfort to me, your first one especially, it arrived on a Sunday when I was feeling more fed up than usual & I did enjoy reading it over & over again. Your letters are not censored dear so you need not mind putting a lot of love etc. into them. (Bow wow.). Well we were in action proper on the eight day after landing & it was a sight I shall never forget. There was miles of our guns blazing away for all they were worth, & the horizon was just one mass of flame & bursting shells. (it was after dark when it started). It lasted for nearly three days. We have shifted since & things are fairly quiet meantime, we are billeted in a fairly large farm & are quite comfortable considering. I am in the best of health & getting on AI. My feet bothered me at first, but they are all right now, and the mustache is just beautiful. Andrew said in his last letter he had written you & enclosed some of the Bedford photos, so I hope you will have them by the time this reaches you. Will need to stop now dear, as I have to go on parade. I am always thinking of my own Margaret & praying that we will be spared to each other, & be rejoined before very long. It's a paying speck this Margaret, I have saved about £4 already. Will write soon again, but these envelopes are very scare,we only get one now & then. With all my loving,

Arthur

You might let me know if this envelope was opened/ A.


France
June 16th 1915

My Dearest Margaret,

I have just received your dear letter of 27th May. The post mark shows 3rd June, so it seems to have been held up in Jax post office. You might write to President Wilson & complain, s'il vous plait. I was wondering what was keeping it & you may be sure darling, I was pleased to get it. I am glad you have heard from Guy before he left, for it will likely be a while before you get any more word. He has such a long way to go, altho' he might be able to drop a note, Gibraltar etc. on his way out. I am glad you liked the photos & expect by this time you will have received some more from Andrew. He told me a while ago, he had sent you them.
Many thanks for your good wishes for my birthday darling. I may be getting old, as you put it Margaret, but am the same "old" boy to you,sweetheart, I don't think anything will change that Margaret, things are just making me more & more determined that, if we are spared, you will be mine. I think about you & pray for you every night when I get to "bed", wondering what you are doing & how you are looking & dressed, all sort of thing, I have all sorts of fancies when I get settled down at night. It is better than thinking of the horrible sights one sees here, some of them seem more of a nightmare, than things possible. I was in the hospital today with two of our boys, sick, & saw a convoy of wounded being brought in. It was a terrible sight, but one gets quite used to it. It is great to hear some of the stories of the infantry, & I must confess darling I am glad I did not join that branch of the army. You may think it a bit funny Margaret, but I am going to write you a second letter tonight. You see that I have to declare on my honor on this envelope that it contains nothing of a military nature & the other letter can be passed by the censor & if anything is scorned out, you know I have given too much away. I have a great deal of work with our Capt. in writing etc. & it is he who censors the letters & you can imagine I don't exactly like him to read my love letters, so please don't be annoyed if it sound a little out of the usual. I will be looking forward to your next letter soon, seeing this one was delayed. I hope you are in the best of health Darling & still the same Margaret of old. Time is fairly flying darling & we will soon be seeing each other again, at least, before very longer I hope. I am in the best of health & getting along AI. Will need to stop now & get on with that other epistle I have promised you. With all my love, Your own boy,

Arthur
xxxxxxx
xxxxxxx I too will give you more when I see you/A.


France June 24th 1915

My Dearest Margaret,

I promised you I would write you another letter in a plain envelope, well here goes, but I am going to another green cover. I don't feel like using a plain one, and the amount of information we are allowed to give has been further restricted, so I will just need to keep it till I can deliver it verbally, How will that do Margaret. Well since writing my last one I have received your very cheery letter of 10th June, with the beautiful photo enclosed. What a change darling, but it is pretty. You seem another person altogether, but the face is the same as ever, I have put it into my pay book, where a "soldier" keeps all his private affairs. I do love it darling & will cherish it for a long long time. I am glad you have received Andrews letter with the photos & that you like them, we had many a laugh over them, especially the one with Mrs. Crowsley in it. She was a decent soul; to us. No Margaret I don't take an hour to go to sleep at nights now. Sometimes I am sleeping before I actually get to "bed". This at present consists of an oat sack stuffed with straw, on a stone floor of a stable. The sack is -in length- only about half my size, so the poor legs have to be content with the stone floor to rest upon, but it does not bother me much now, I think I could sleep on the "edge of a razor" as the saying goes. I am very pleased indeed to hear of Joe's plunge into matrimony & may he be spared to have many many years of happiness with Miss E. You said you almost wished you had been the lucky one, but cheer up, your turn will soon come. Yes just as you say Margaret "Swank". I did have many a good spin on that motor byke, and have serous thoughts of purchasing one when I get home, it would be a good affair to keep me from wearying, till my "mate" returns. It was very kind of your Aunt Maggie to ask for me, how did she hear of me,have I ever met her? I don't remember doing so. Well about the War next. Things have been rather quiet these last two days & we have had a bit of a rest, & I can assure you we were ready for it. It has come at a very good time too, the rain started today & things are very damp & miserable. We had a very heavy four days, but were lucky with the weather, beautiful sunshine, but a bit warm, however I am not grumbling, it's a lot better than rain. I had the good luck to see my cousin Frank last week, he was looking very well & expects to get home for a few days next week. Well I think this about all just now. I hope you are in the best of health & sticking the heat better now. I am AI & getting on fine. With best love, Your own loving,

Arthur xxxxxx

Jimmy,

That was my third trip to Gallipoli in the past year ... I dont intend going again until 2007 but I know I will be back again and again. All the time I can make it to the Peninsula neither Guy nor Laurie will be left out of my thoughts or visits.

Time is an issue for me this week but I will try and get those jpgs to you before the weekend is out.

Jon

Jimmy - jpgs sent. Hope you receive them ok.

Jon

Thanks Jonathan, they are awesome.

Thanks again Jonathan.

France
July 15th 1915

My Dear Margaret,

I don't know how to thank you for your great kindness to me in writing so regular, & not receiving letters in return; but I have written whenever I get the chance darling & I am sure you will understand dear one, & forgive me for not writing so regular. Your last letter is the third on in succession in which you have none to answer, but as far as I remember I don't think I have missed more than a fortnight & that only twice all the other times I have managed every week. You say dearie you want company, I too am alone at present & I too want company, I am at present in an old kitchen & with the aid of a candle, am writing this epistle. There are shutters on the windows,so one can have a light here. I have been lucky in getting under cover for last night it was pouring all night & more of the shacks got a good washing out. I had a slight touch of influenza & the doctor ordered me here, I am quite better in reality, but officially am getting on slowly. You will wonder at this Margaret, but some time ago we got our blanket taken from us, & the doctor me to have two, so I don't intend parting with them any sooner than possible. Aren't I wicked? You say you were at a show, & came out "quite envious" I know how it feels, that was my complaint while in Bedford, I usually went alone & sometimes did a bit more thinking than watching some of the pictures. It's only natural Margaret, but never mind,there's a good time coming, & I will be quite prepared for "a whole lot of fussing". I sometimes wonder who will do the most? it may not be you dearie. I will get the first chance anyway. I am glad you had such a nice day at Mayport & Atlantic Beach. No Margaret, I don't think anything about it at all. Sundays are different in every country, here we have no Sunday at all, although last Sabbath we did have a short service. It was like one of these you read about. All the time it was going on, there was a continual roar of guns all round us, and by the time it was finished it was dark & the air was light up with these star shells that are used here every night. I will need to stop as I have been ordered to bed, this consists of a stone floor, but it is a luxury to have a roof. Will write soon again, goodbye just now dearest, with all my love

Arthur


France
August 1st 1915

Dearest Margaret,

I must apologize for not writing before now, but we have been on the move for the last week & finished up with a 15 hours train journey. We encamped in an immense forest & expect to go into action again in a day or so. The British have never been here before & we are looked upon as, well I don't know what especially the kilties. Just before we left the last place, I ran across Geo Henderson, it was purely accidental & I can assure you we were pleased to meet. You will be very sorry to hear that poor Laurie Dalglish has been killed at the Dardanelles. Darling, I don't know how it is, but Laurie's death has impressed me very very much & Wm Arrol of Kings Park has been killed too. I heard of Laurie's death three days ago, Mother sent me the word. When is this awful war going to be over Margaret, I have been absolutely fed up this last week. We have had rotten luck for camping ground, every thing is wet. Dear knows what like it's is going to be in the winter, we are getting a good sample of the mud anyway. I am afraid dear Margaret, I am writing rather a poor letter, but you understand it's not all fun, & you are the only one I have, to write my woes as well as the good things too, & I have been in the blue's these two nights. It is now just a year since I saw your dear face & God only knows when I am to see you again. Dearest, I am afraid to think how I am to get on at work after. I must stop this nonsense Margaret. I will write again very soon, forgive me, my love, good bye just now darling, God bless you, your own loving,

Arthur


Laurence Dalglish

Initials: L
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Lance Corporal
Regiment: Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
Unit Text: 7th Bn.
Age: 24
Date of Death: 03/07/1915
Service No: 1624
Additional information: Son of Robert and Annie Dalglish, of 30, McLennan St., Mount Florida, Glasgow.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Sp. Mem. 139.
Cemetery: PINK FARM CEMETERY, HELLES



Letter written by Guy Graydon, July 15th 1915

France
August 8th 1915

My Dear Margaret,

I have received your most delightful letter of July. I have read & reread it, dear knows how many times. You have said so many nice things in it that it would take up to much of my paper to mention them all. I just thank you with all my heart & say you're a darling. About the soap, it's alright dearie, I am getting it regular from home now, but all the same, thanks very much for your kind offer. I do not quite remember what I said about it to you, however I am alright now. Winnie is now, well her age is the same as the year, 15. You see she was born in 1900. I am looking forward to there lemon pies, & will risk one in due course. Bow wow. Please thank Mrs. G. for her kind wishes. I would very much like to meet her, but that is not possible, meantime so no use talking about it, is there? Margaret.

Well I have a very important thing to tell you dear, & that is, that in future all correspondences is to be addressed to No 783 Corporal A J Sloan. I got promoted last week. It's alright & many thanks for your congratulations, in anticipation! I am at present billeted in a Chateau (Mansion House) which has been vacated by the owner. It is in beautiful condition, dining room, drawing room, ten bedrooms, kitchen with all the latest cooking appliances, & the furniture, carpets etc. are simply gorgeous. I have a bed to myself & simply could not sleep the first night, it was too comfortable. However I sleep like a top now. Father is sending me a gramophone, they have got it at home now and Andrew is making the box to send it out in. It is a box one, a new style, I heard one, in one of the Royal Horse Artillery camps & it was the business. I don't know what the records are yet, but will tell you all about them next week. I have no stamps for my letter this week, I got the precious lot from one of the sergeants, who happened to bring them from England. We only get letters free to British possessions. However just start an account & hand it over later on. Well I think this is about all the news just now. But I must apologize for my last letter. Darling I was sorry after I posted it, but at the time, we were in such a rotten condition it was nothing but mud, everywhere. So please excuse me darling, & please don't keep it. Will need to stop now kindness regards to everyone & my best love to you, your own loving,

Arthur


France
August 31 1915
Tuesday

My Own Dear Margaret,

I was so pleased to get your last letter on Thursday, but am very sorry indeed to hear of your fathers accident. I am glad however that he is now getting on & hope by time this reaches you darling that he is quite better and able for his work. It must have been a horrible blow to you my/dear girl, to walk over & find your father in such a state, but it is fine he is getting & I hope he will soon be quite better. Your Mother must have got a big shock too dearie & I hope she is alright too. You say dear that you thought you were going to lose him, but God answered your prayer. I am so pleased you look at it that way Margaret. Darling I know what it is to have them answered. I won't say when, just now, but I am so pleased you are of that way. Well Margaret, I have been managing to write you on Sunday evening, but I could not get the time last Sunday, but started this letter last night and only got half a page done, when I had to stop. I hope however to get through it tonight.

I was so pleased to hear that you have had news from Guy and hope you will have them regularly till the war is finished. It is a funny thing Margaret, but I always seem to be a bit anxious about the other boys. First it was Frank (my cousin) now Guys at it too, one never seems to bother about oneself now, I have not heard how Frank is getting on for a long time, his mother is very ill just now, her heart is bothering her a great deal. They seem to be a bit anxious about her, but I hope she will be better soon. Andrew was telling me he stayed beside Bella Law. I don't know whether you will know him or not. He was injured at the Dardanelles & is still a bit lame, but getting on alright. I was telling you last week about my narrow shave, but we nearly got it again while delivering ammunition. However they didn't, and I am still ok. We have some very close affairs, but they have not yet got a single man out of the column. Leave has started & the quarter master, OMS Albertson, was home last week. I think I have told you of him in some of my letters. He had the works of my gramophone home for repair, they got smashed a bit on the way out. He was up at Fathers place & Andrew saw him too. I wonder when my turn will be. I wouldn't half mind a spell just now. This sort of way of living gets rather tiresome.

I have had my tea now & sill start one more. The menu tonight consisted of tea, bread, butter,& a tin of sardines, I managed to buy in a village. They weren't half a treat & I enjoyed them very much. I wonder how decent tea & a table cloth would go. I think I will have lost all my table etiquette by the time I get home, but I will just need to learn over again. Oh! I forgot to tell you of my bath last week.I found a great big tin bath in a stable & a boiler with fire below. Well I got the fire going & had a delightful bath in the open about 9 30 PM. It was pitch dark, but there was a beautiful moon out. I was the business I can tell you.I think it is time to offer you an apology for my writing Margaret, but I am sure you will excuse it, if I promise to write you a decent one when I get home. Well dearie, I think I will stop now, I have no more news at present, I hope you are well dear & fulfilling your duties as nurse successfully & that your labors will soon have their reward. Well good bye just now darling & I will be looking forward to your next letter, with best love, your own,

Arthur


France
Sept 20th 1915

My Dearest Margaret,

I received your dear, but also sad letter yesterday, with the news of Guys death. Darling I am so pleased you are taking it so bravely, and oh! keep it up for your dear mothers sake. I am sure it must be a terrible shock to her. Yes dearest, you are far better out there, than if you had been at home. It would not have helped matters at all, and you are saved the task of breaking the news to the rest of your family, if you had been separated.Mother was telling me that there was a memorial service for Guy, she said it was very impressive & Mr Ogg was very good indeed. Mother usually keeps away from services of that kind,but she said she felt she must go, when it was for one like Guy. Don't you worry about me, dearie, I'm alright and although I have a number of rather risky jobs to do, I always take care to do nothing foolhardy. It's not a paying job, to run unnecessary risks, and too look at the future I have to look forward to. You will think me a bit calous & selfish bring up this at this time, but Darling when I say that, I just want you to know that you are never out of my thoughts, my one hope of the future is you dear.

There is a fair amount of work going on just now, and some very heavy shelling on the part of the Germans, but on the whole it is not what one might call lively. I got my photo taken a short time ago while in a large town,in which I spent a few hours, but I am not at all pleased with it. The satchel below my right hand is my smoke helmet. It is for use when the enemy uses the awful gas, but I am pleased to say Ihave not had to use it, and will be quite satisfied if it has never to be used. The chap Arthur Thomson, was in the same billet as me in Bedford, and we still very chumy. I have not been having much news from home lately. Winnie is back at school, much against her will, but she seems to be settling down alright. Mother is keeping fairly well & wishes to kindly remembered to you all & sends her most sincere sympathy to you at this time. She was going to write to your mother, but I am not sure whether she has done so yet, or not. Otherwise things at home seem to be very quiet indeed, all entertainments seem to be stopped this winter. The church organisations are starting as usual & I expect there will be a busy work party this season. I will now close dearest & get ready for guard, a pretty montonous job, out there, and rather cold too. Now my darling, keep as bright as you can for your mothers sake & always remember I am continually thinking about my own dear sweetheart. goodbye just now darling with all my love your own,

Arthur


France
Oct 3rd 1915

My Dearest Margaret,

I received your sweet letter of 16th Sept yesterday & such a beautiful one too, but the latter part does make me think & sorrow for you, my own dear girl. You will treasure that note from Guy, darling, and although it is unfinished, it must be a great relief to you all to know that he was happy before he was wounded, and although he is now gone from this world, he still lives & is in a far better place now, where there is no war & all is peace & happiness. Last night I was passing through a village on my way back to the column & hearing music, I stopped to listen. It turned out to be sacred concert in a battered & much worn hall. It was a soldiers concert & a young chap was singing a version of "Nearer my God to Thee", it sounded so sweet to me, I had to stay. It was the first hymn I have heard sung here bar a church parade, & we have not managed to have one for four Sundays now. I waited as long as I could & heard it finished & would you believe it darling, I seemed to have a different feeling in me as I rode home. The hearing of that grand old hymn seemed to put new heart into me for I was feeling none too cheery before hand. It may seem strange dearest, but it's a fact, the singing of that hymn in these surroundings & so simply done, then another thing I liked there was no cheering or clapping by the audience (all soldiers) after the soloist had finished. I would dearly have liked to go in, but then I couldn't.

I am glad your father & mother are going for that trip & I am sure it will do your mother a world of good & I hope it will prove a great benefit to your father too. I had a short note from Mary today, poor wee soul she seems to be feeling it very badly. I do feel sorry for her. I think a good holiday would do her a lot of good too. She seems to be well nigh heart broken, but I do hope she will just try & keep up a little, but they seem to be so worried about the rest of their family,they are having a sore time of it. I had a letter from Andrew the day before yesterday & he was saying he is thinking of having another try at getting into something. I don't know what mother will say, but if he has made up his mind it would take a lot to keep him back. I don't wonder at him anyway it must be pretty rotten at home just now anyway. I got back to the column last night & was not at all sorry to be back, you remember I told you I was up to the trenches, well the first thing we got was a warm reception from a German machine gun. We had bullets sputtering all around us for some time, but by good luck none managed to find their mark & I am still here to tell the tale. We had also a few shell & aerial torpedoes, but had no damage done at all. Now before closing darling, I don't want you to worry about me, I am as rights the mail & don't you fear I won't go poking my nose into danger, there's plenty without looking for more, but then it's all very fine for me to keep talking like that, but if I have your prayers darling & I am always thinking of you where ever I may be,I often wonder when I am riding alone, what you are doing at that moment. I sometimes picture you as writing my letters,or sitting sewing some pretty little thing. Well I will need to close now, I hope you are all keeping well & you my little darling, I hope you are keeping brighter & always remember I am thinking of you. With my best love & kisses, your own loving,

Arthur


France
Oct 9th 1915

My Dear Margaret,

I have just received your beautiful long letter of 22nd Sept today & am writing this one a day sooner than usual. This is Saturday night & I don't usually write till Sunday & alas sometimes don't even manage it then. My reason for starting a day sooner is that this envelope will not be valid after tomorrow morning and as I have none of the big ones left & I don't want to have to use an ordinary one, if at all possible. I am feeling tip top just now, I have just had a wash & a shave the first for two days, you try a couple of days without a wash dearie & see how it feels, & I can assure you, you will appreciate a little soap & water on the evening of the second day, that sounds rather biblical, eh! You will have likely heard of the big advance we have made, the week before last, but it has cost Mount Florida a few more life's.

Do you remember Tom Hughes, he stayed in second Ave., he has been killed - an only son -. Then Jim Brown, who went with Jean Hughes, has been seriously wounded, he stays in the next house to us. I will give you an extract from mothers letter received today. "Mrs. Brown had a letter from the War Office today, said Jim was seriously wounded & his father had a little note from himself - the last one was written by the nurse - he has had two bullets taken out of his arm, one out of his neck, one out of his chest, his jaw bone is broken and some of his teeth smashed, and a bit of shrapnel taken from his side, he expects to be in hospital in England soon, his cousin, who carried him off the battlefield & put him in a dugout, till the stretcher bearer had time to take him away, was wounded shortly afterwards". Darling what do you think of that. I often think I am born under a lucky star. I had a narrow shave from a German machine gun last Friday, & for a time the bullets were whistling all round, but I better not say too much, one never knows what may happen next.

I am so pleased to hear that your father & mother have been able to go to Baltimore, the trip will do them both the world of good, and I do hope your father will come back greatly improved in health. How are you getting on yourself, dear one, still the same & no thinner, at least I hope not. I used to think you were looking a great deal thinner when I came back from Camp. You will be becoming quite an expert housewife, doing it all on your own, and your cooking too, it seems to have passed quite a severe test - Jim & John. I quite swig dearest & am delighted to hear it. Yes that lunch you had at Ernestine's sounds rather tempting, I wonder how decent food would agree with my palate. Today's menu for example, Breakfast, bread, a chunk of cheese & tea; dinner bully beef & a couple of potatoes; tea, bread & jam & tea;supper, well, nil, and anybody who mentions supper is apt to get hurt, & told not to be sarcastic. But I am not grumbling Margaret, far from it. Our feeding might be fifty times worse & we never have biscuits, least very rarely, more than once a day. I was pleased to hear that Joe has a position as a paid singer in the church. Well dearie I don't think I have any more news just now, it has taken me two hours to write this, so you see how up I am for news. I hope you are keeping well dear & that your housework won't prove too much for you. I am still in the pink, & always the same towards my own wee girl. With all my love & kisses, your own loving,

Arthur

Jimmy - many thanks for continuing to write up and post Arthur's letters.

Jon

Great letters, Jimmy. Mount Florida taking a pounding in these last letters. So sad. Arthur has a generous spirit, wondering more about the others than himself.
Marina

Jimmy
thank you for sharing this individual fate with us