Month: January 2022

Artifact 1940-11-08 – Letter to Miss La Verne Woods

“…I can’t say much to-nite. But I do wish I were back home.”

Letter to Miss La Verne Woods – November 8, 1940

Transcription of Artifact Content

Aldershot England
November 8/40

Dear La Verne:-

Here it is almost bedtime & I just got off police duty. The Corporal of the police are here alone in our cozy little office & he’s making us a cup of good old Chase & Sanborns coffee. I just felt that I couldn’t put your letter off any longer. So decided I’d scratch a few lines before going to bed.

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Artifact 1940-11-07 – Letter to Mrs. Elton Newman

“He & I just upset a whole bottle of ink.”

Letter to Mrs. Elton Newman – November 7, 1940

Transcription of Artifact Content

Aldershot England
November 7/40

Dear Sister:-

Well I was expecting Eva & her brother down to-day. But they didn’t show up. So I guess I’ll go to the show after supper.

I wrote to Onnellee last nite But I want to drop another line to-nite. If I have time. Also Aunt Lil. I haven’t heard from her yet.

Gee. I haven’t had any Canadien mail in a week. I expected some to-day. But it didn’t come

A bunch of Canadiens arrived the other day from Iceland. & are they a happy bunch. Bob Oakley that used to fork from for Les. Ash & Wane Tully. was amongst them. He had a bunch of pictures he took in Iceland. & what a desolate looking place. Not a tree in sight.

He gave me some Money he brought from there & I’m going to try & wrap it up & send it in this letter.

Gee Franc. I wish some mail would arrive from you & Onnellee You know I wasn’t going to write her last night But I went to the show& I couldn’t get her off my mind. So I had to write her before I went to bed.

There is an air raid on now & I soon have to go to supper. Gee I can’t understand why they fly over us & drop their eggs & none has come near us. Lucky Aren’t we? Well I’ll write some more after supper.

Well I’ve finished & what a louzy supper. I wish I could have supper with you some nighe.

They are starting to give the seven days leaves out now. & I expect to go in a couple weeks. Tweedale & Wilf. the guy I went on my last leave with. Are going together first this time & then I go next. If we go to Scotland. We get 2 days extra to toe travel on. So that’ll make me nine days all told

Well Franc. my (xxxx) lips I mean the sores on my lips are just about dried. And I feel much better. I cleeen cleaned my teeth to day for the first My lips were so sore before that I couldn’t stand to clean them.

Weel Franc. There isn’t much more to say. So I guess I’d better close for now. So I’ll say

Good Night

Your Loving Brother

     Harry

P.S.

This crazy Tweedale would drive the
best of men     nuts

He & I just upset a whole bottle of ink.

***   End of Transcription   ***

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Artifact 1940-11-05 – Letter to Mrs. Elton Newman

“But a Gerry just flew over & he was real low.”

Letter to Mrs. Elton Newman – November 5, 1940

Transcription of Artifact Content

Aldershot England
November 5/40

Dear Sis & all:-

Here it is 10 O’clock & I should be going to bed. but Tweedale is going to write a short letter. So I thought I might as well too.

Its raining like heck again to-nite as usual. But the Gerries haven’t been bothering us these last few days. I wrote Peg. to-nite too. I haven’t the attitude for writing after what I went thro’ last week. Gee! I felt tough

I have worked nearly every nite this last couple days. Our cpl. of the police has been on a bender & the rest have of us have to make up his time He came in tight last night. & then he got up this morn. & he uses me like his boy. Well about ten A.M. He says Harry. See that the prisoners get the work done in the kitchen & Orderly room Won’t You? & I said. Yes Jim & away he went & Jim Tweedale & I are expecting him in. is the reason we’re staying up a little later. I get along swell with Jimmie Tweedale & also the rest of the police. They all seem to like me & are doing they their utmost to make me a permanent police

Franc. what was the matter with Louie Clifford. I’m glad you told Peg. to tell me that she had gone. Gee we really miss Pat Burling too Franc.

No one can imagine how well Pat was liked in this Regiment. I would love to hear some of the rumors that would be drifting around Essex about his death.

Jimmie & I sat with our ears wide open for a minute. There is no air raid on. But a Gerry just flew over & he was real low. We were sitting here looking at each other for a minute & Tweedale says. I don’t like that. We expected to hear some eggs come whistling thro’ the air. But he managed to get over us.

Well Sis. I think you’ll do good if you read this much & I have to get some dope on these sores before I go to bed

So I’ll say Good Night & God bless you all

Lovingly Yours          Harry

For the Kiddies.
XXXXXXXXXXXX

P.S.
Tell Elt. to write.

***   End of Transcription   ***

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Artifact 1940-11-01 – Letter to Mrs. Elton Newman

“Billie wrote a letter to me & put it in with Onn. He’s quite a boy Isn’t he?”

Letter to Mrs. Elton Newman – November 1, 1940

Transcription of Artifact Content

Aldershot England
November 1/40

Dear Sis:-

Well I received another letter from you this morn. Also two from Onn. I’m glad they come as often as they do & I hope you get all yours now. I am going to start numbering them on the back of the envelope the same as I have started with Onnellee’s & then you can tell if any are lost or not.

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Artifact 1940-10-31-b – Postcard to Miss L. Woods

Postcard to Miss L. Woods – October 31, 1940

Transcription of Artifact Content

Oct. 31/40

Dear La Verne:-

You can see by this that I have received the cigs.

Thanks a million dear. I really enjoyed them & now that I’m down to the card I am returning it to you.

Have had a bad cold this week, but am improving now.

I will write a letter in a couple days when I feel better.

I hope you are all well over there. Be sure & write whenever you have time. I will close for now

Lovingly Yours    Harry

***   End of Transcription   ***

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Artifact 1940-10-31 – Letter to Mrs. Elton Newman

“Piper is okay. Only we still nagg the devil out of him”

Letter to Mrs. Elton Newman – October 31, 1940

Transcription of Artifact Content

Aldershot Eng.
October 31/40

Dear Sister:-

Well here it is Father’s birthday. I wonder how old he would be if he were living I’ve thought of him a lot to-day.

I thought that money would come in handy. Thats why I signed it to you. However I want you & Elt. to make use of it for whatever you can

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Artifact 1940-10-27-c – Postcard to Mrs. Elton Newman

Letter to Mrs. Elton Newman – October 27, 1940

Transcription of Artifact Content

Oct. 27/40

Dear Franc:-

Here is one of the cards that are sent with the cigarettes. I told you I’d send the card back.

I have written a letter too. So in case you don’t get the letter. You may get this card. I’ll send the other one as soon as I work my way to it.

I am okay. have received the letter from you & the Kiddies & was sure glad to get it. Well I’ll close for now.      Lovingly Yours

Brother Harry

***   End of Transcription   ***

Information Note

Information – Harry William Manchester Reference to “Kiddies”

Harry William Manchester’s reference to “the Kiddies” is a reference to his nieces: Marjorie and Marion Newman.

 

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Artifact 1940-10-27 – Letter to Mrs. Elton Newman

“Gee that’s really news about Chuck & Inez getting married”

Letter to Mrs. Elton Newman – October 24, 1940

Transcription of Artifact Content

Aldershot, England
October 27/40

Dear Frank:-

Was very pleased to hear rom you & the kiddies yesterday morning. I also got letters from Onn. & Pearl’s sister Rita.

The girls sure do write a swell letter for their ages. When we get our mail. We (the Police) are all in the office. & so I litte let Jimmie Tweedale read Marjorie’s & Marion’s letters. He thought they were pretty good. & I did too.

Well Franc. I am fine & I guess I have a lot to be thankful for, for feeling as good as I do. Of course I’m still homesick.

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Artifact 1940-10-26 – Letter to Mrs. Elton Newman

“I suppose by the time you receive this letter. You’ll have heard about Pat Burling”

Artifact 1940-10-26 – Letter to Mrs. Elton Newman

Transcription of Artifact Content

Aldershot, Eng.
October 26/40

Dear Frances:-

Just a few lines to tell you, that I received your cigs to-day. They are the ones that Gladys. & you sent together. I want to write to her too & thank her as well as you.

Glen just got some too & he has just paid me back some that lent him.

I suppose by the time you receive this letter. You’ll have heard about Pat Burling Poor Pat. It’s just to bad about him. I think I’m going to be a pallbearer for his funeral. It just happened this Morn. & half of the guys are frightened to sleep in this room now. I have half a notion to go & sleep in another room myself. Well the boys all feel so bad cuzz’ everybody in this room liked Pat. a lot.

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Artifact 1940-10-24 – Letter to Mrs. Elton Newman

“I’m sorry you haven’t heard from me for so long. It isn’t because I haven’t written. It must be as you said. It went down on that ship with those refugee children.”

Letter to Mrs. Elton Newman – October 24, 1940

Transcription of Artifact Content

Aldershot, England
October 24/40

My Dear Sister:-

Was so glad to get your letter yesterday. But I didn’t get a chance to answer it until to-nite. I also got on from Onn. & I’ll try & get hers answered too.

I’m sorry you haven’t heard from me for so long. It isn’t because I haven’t written. It must be as you said. It went down on that ship with those refugee children. I think that I’m getting all your mail tho’

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