“Well there isn’t much I can say xxx these letters as to were I am. As the people are not supposed to know until we reach our destination.”
Letter to Miss La Verne Woods – July 20, 1940
Transcription of Artifact Content
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX [REDACTED LOCATION]
Sat. Morn.
Dear La Verne:-
I guess you know I have left Camp Borden. last week-end. I got a letter from Frances yesterday & she said she was talking to you on the phone that morning. (last sun.). I guess she was sort of upset when I phoned her from Camp & told her I was leaving.
“There were red cross ladies at that station handing out cigarettes & chocolate bars.”
Letter to Mrs. Elton Newman – July 16, 1940
Transcription of Artifact Content
Tues Morn.
Dear Frances:-
Well we’ve just finished breakfast & they are getting ready for a parade for exercise at our next stop which is just 20 more minutes. I have a nail in my shoe. So I wear my barrack shoes & stay & sweep out the coach & guard the equipment
“…I want you to send my white flannels to the cleaners & be sure they bring them back by next Sat.”
Letter to Mrs. Elton Newman – July 10, 1940
Transcription of Artifact Content
Camp Borden, Ont.
Wed. nite.
Dear Sister:-
I’m so sorry I didn’t write you sooner But I’ve been pretty busy & haven’t written any one but Onn. And I guess you know I’ve got to find time to write to her Frances. You really don[t know how much she means to me & her family will do anything for me.
“Although I’d like to see Peggy there. But I guess I won’t have to ask your permission. I think that you love her more than I do. And I sure do.”
Letter to Mrs. Elton Newman – July 2, 1940
Transcription of Artifact Content
Camp Borden, Ont.
Tues. nite.
Dear Frank:-
Well I guess it’s about time I got busy on your letter. I wrote Helen Irvin[s letter just before supper and then I thought I’d better get at yours.
Onnellee said She would like for Marrianne, Ross, her & I to go on a picnic, when I come home. But I told her what your said, about her coming out there. However I’ll be calling her when I arrive on Sat. & if you happen to call her before that you & her can arrange. I know you’ll want me to be with you. & I told her that. Anyway La Verne wanted me to let her know when I came down & she would get over to see me. I want to write her a letter & tell her I’ll be coming this week. End & also that I’ll call her on Sat. morn. from Windsor.
“We heard from Jeff & he said he had a car accide…”
Artifact 1940-06-21 – Letter to Mrs. Elton Newman
Transcription of Artifact Content
Camp Borden, Ont.
Thurs. nite.
Dear Frances:
I received your letter the other
day & also the girls. They sure did swell in writing them too. Thanks a lot
for the box Frances. It sure was good. We just got it finished in the middle of
the week, when Johnny Burn’s wife sent him a box. He & Bob sleep with Glen
Piper & I. The four of us in our tent.
I got a letter from Glaydys
Gladys & Wilbur to-day & also one from La Verne. I sure was glad to
hear from her. She said she was talking to you before she wrote. And that you
expected coming up here this weekend. I hope you do. I’m sure counting on it.
La Verne said if I came to Cottam, to let her know & they she would
come over & see me.
“The advance party left for England to-day. That is the whole division. About 50 went from our Regt.”
Artifact 1940-06-06 – Letter to Mrs. Elton Newman
Transcription of Artifact Content
Camp Borden, Ont.
Dear Frances:
Was so glad to get your letter
to-nite. I was looking for one from you. I didn’t get one from Onn. To-day. I
guess she didn’t have time to write yesterday. Although it’s the first she’s
missed this weeke.
You sure had a lot of pullets out
of that bunch of chicks. I hope you have as good luck with these others as you
had with the last bunch. We were out on a scheme the other day & went into
a farm house to get our canteens full. They were just bringing some baby chicks
as we were there & Bob Diamond & I watched them put them out.
“Well I just got finished pealing the pineapple for supper & I put the sugar on it. You didn’t have to send sugar as there is plenty of sugar yet.”
Letter to Mrs. Elton Newman – Unknown Date, assumed June 2, 1940
Editor’s Note
Editor Note – Unknown Artifact Original Date
The actual date of this artifact is unknown because there is no envelope with postmarks, but believed to have been written during the first or second week of June, 1940.
Transcription of Artifact Content
Camp
Borden
Sun.
aft.
Dear Frances:
Received your parcel
O.K. and also a letter Fri. & Sat. Thanks a lot for the dinner. It was
really swell. I just got the parcel about nine last night. I also got one from
Pearl’s sister. It was a big chocolate box full of date cake & some candy. Well
I had Marshall Healey over to our tent for dinner and of course I had Glen
piper stay is he and I are in the same tent. The chicken & dressing was
swell, but it is so warm in the day time I thought I’d better get it ate up.
“I am in a canteen run by the Salvation Army and is it ever packed.”
Letter to Mrs. Elton Newman – May 26, 1940
Transcription of Artifact Content
Camp
Borden
Sun.
nite
Dear Frances:
Just a few lines to
let you know we arrived O.K. at five O’clock of course as soon as we got here
we had to set our watches ahead an hour.
We have been sort of
busy this aft. But didn’t do much but sleep this morn. I wrote to Onnellee this
morning right after breakfast but haven’t had any way of sending it out yet.