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Letters From Bill – Aug. 20, 1943.

Dear Mum, Dad and Jack:

Things are really popping now so I can’t promise when I can write. Right now we are all ready to leave and we have our own guesses. They say it is a scheme and will last from ten days to three weeks but is a funny one to us. We have packed everything and are all ready. They say the scheme is practice in landing of assault boats. That is usually the last thing we get before going into action. We also have to wear our best battle dress and the only time you do that is when the real thing is coming up so we are wondering. They also told us to get rid of all personal clothing and pictures but I am not doing that. I wouldn’t give those pictures up for love or money. All our equipment is being moved so you can see why we are guessing. Of course we may be wrong but we may not.…

I also got your parcel and boy it was sure good to see. There were cookies, chocolate bars, cake, cans of meat and gum so everything was there. There just couldn’t be anymore put in the box so guess it was all there. Thanks a million it was sure swell to get believe me. The others will catch up with me so I am waiting patiently. You have no idea what these parcels mean over here….

I would dearly like to have been at the Home when A.J. sang in the choir. That is the last I heard since quite some time. I don’t blame Isaac for ribbing him, if you see him tell him to give a couple of digs for me…. Dad singing in the Pres. Choir—that is a good one. I nearly fell down when I read that one. There seems to be an awful lot of people getting married in our part of the province lately, there won’t be anyone left soon. It is going to take a lot of buying to get all these presents for them.

Sorry to hear your weather is not so hot but I know just how you feel. It sure rains plenty in this country too. Why don’t you go into Halifax with Bette for a few days, it will do you good.  You should take a holiday after your sick spell so go and have a vacation.

There isn’t much news around here, mostly schemes and I can’t say much about what we do on them but they are plenty tough and I don’t mean maybe. I can’t say for sure what the future holds but I will write every time I get a chance. I am in charge of a section in the platoon now and in line for a stripe if I want it. I don’t think I would take it though because it means a lot of extra work for very little extra. I think I will wait until I can ask for two and know enough to wear them. You only get ten cents more for one stripe and I won’t take it. A section is ten men and there are three in a platoon so that is thirty men in a platoon including five N.C.O’s…. Our Cpls got sick so they put me in charge but I don’t know why.  I sure don’t want it. There is too much responsibility for the little extra a fellow gets….

You should have seen the washing I had to do it was the biggest yet. I had to get up early to get it done but I am hampered by the lack of laundry soap. I am waiting patiently for the box with the soap in it…. Thanks for the letter Jack but I hope this will do until I get time to write to you. Hope you have a good holiday and be a very good boy. It looks like Bill won’t be so long getting home so be ready when I come….

The best in the world to you all.

Lots of Love,

Pte. Bill


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