Soldier Record
William Earle
Contributed by: Linda Whitehead, on 2008-11-07
| Rank | |
|---|---|
| First Name | William |
| Surname | Earle |
| Year of Birth | 1888 |
| Year of Death | 1966 |
| Regiment | King's Regiment (Liverpool) |
| Place of Wartime Residence | Liverpool, Merseyside |
William's Story
This is an exact copy of a letter written to my grandmother Elizabeth Neill from my grandfather William John Earle some time during the First World War. I have copied it with all the grammatical errors and spelling mistakes intact as I think the errors reflect the situation he was in. He returned from the war with respiratory illness and shrapnel near his kidney. He never worked again but he did father eight children:
April 10th
In the field, France
Dear Liz,
I now take the pleasure of answering your most kind and loveing letter which I recived a few days ago with your papers which I thank you very much. Well Liz I sorry to say we are not settled down yet as we had three days rest in Amiens and wnt up the line again to work with the RE building bridges under heavy shell fire. I wish I was home to tell you all about the retrea as I cannot relate it here as this is all the paper I can find in the danger zone so I hope these few lines will find you and all at home in the best of spirits. Dear Liz I am sorry to find you had met with another accident hoping you will be alright again. I was pleased to know Dolly and Eleanor were at your house so you like Dolly but yes she is a good girl one of the best I only wish she would stay in Lpool. Well Liz I hope the Germans don't push us back any further for I have had enough of this rotton war as it is enough to drive a fellow mad we cannot get our proper rations or get any pay for we are all going mad for a fag I have been begging a lot of the French troups so I will have to preserver till such times get better.
Well Liz I see by you letter Leanor is messing aout with the lodge well let her carry on, you can trust me with any thing as I will nexer an one now about her carrying on I suppos she will writ and tell me if the is an hopes of her being married again. Well Liz it is every 6 months I hear from her so I don't mind if she never writes so long as Dolly writes. Well Liz it looks as if our plans are upset at presant with out I get a blighty I will be better off as we are nealy starving. Well Liz I will draw to a close for the presant so good night and God bless you all.
I remain yours truly Willie.
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