Category: La Verne Woods (née Manchester)

La Verne Woods is Harry William Manchester’s older sister. “Woods” is her married name from her first marriage.

Artifact 1940-11-15-a – Letter to Mrs. Elton Newman

Letter to Mrs. Elton Newman – November 15, 1940

TRANSCRIPTION OF ARTIFACT CONTENT

Aldershot England
November 15/40

Dear Franc:-

Here it is after lights out & I’m sitting up alone writing to you. I have already written to Onn. & Eva & I couldn’t go to bed without writing you. After the four nice letters I received from you this morn.

At last our mail came in & I got 14 letters How’s that for getting mail eh? I got your 4, 3 from Onn. 1 from Marg. and Charlie,1 from Wilbur and Gladys, 1 from Josephine Wride in Kingsville 1 from Dot Sweetman, 1 from Mildred Spence, 1 from Chip, & 1 from Pearl. & I was really tickled too. Just imagine going 2 weeks without any mail

I’m sure glad to know your feeling better Sis. I was anxious to hear from you since you had your tonsils out. I hope our mail is never held up again like this.

I haven’t received any parcels yet from the Canada Bread. I think Elmer must be crazy or something. The cheque you received Sept. 11 was for the month of August & the one you received Sept 30 was for September. God there’s an air raid on & the big guns are cracking away at a plane. It was nice & moonlite last night & the damn d big guns firing & bombs falling kept everyone awake. I suppose it’ll be the same to-nite. I just heard a terrible sound & I ran to the door but there was no flash in the sky. I still don’t know what it was. Those damned big aircraft guns ring in your ear while your sitting inside as loud as five shotguns all at once. They are 6 & 8 inch guns.

I’ll bet you had a good pheasant dinner eh? Onn’s dad got three in one day too. I’m glad to hear that Eula has a girl this time Also Lloyd Griffin’s

And as many letters as I have written her. I can’t imagine what is wrong I sure was glad to hear from Marg & Charlie. Marg says she has a pet goat that Mr. Hope gave her. She’s going to send me a picture of it.

I will say hello to Clarence for you he is in the truck drivers now. Johny & Bob are on their seven days leave. I think they went to Ireland So is Cpl. (Marsh) Healy. I know he went to Ireland. I see Jimmie Bulmer nearly every day & Bill Hiseman too. I am in supposed to be in 12 platoon. But I just haven’t been there since we arrived in England I am attached to Battalion Head Quarters for the duties & rations & I’m on police duty. So I don’t do any drilling at all. Just escort the detention men (prisoners) to work or wherever they go. I am trry trying to get transferred to B.H. 2. So I’ll be sure to be on police all the time. This is really a good job. There goes them guns again They really go to your ear drums if anything does.

I’m not on that ship that you sent the picture of. That is another ship that sailed in our convoy tho’

I sorry Marjorie fell off her bic. & hurt herself. Well tell her thanks for the letter anyhow. I haven’t received an the 1000 cigs you sent Nor the parcel with the razor blades & don’t think I get tired of reading your letters I really enjoy all the letters I get. I wish them cigs would soon come tho’ I have a lock on my box in Johnnie & Bob keep these cigs in my box & they left some in it So they have them when they came back off leave. Well I hope mine get here before they get back So I can pay them back cuz’ I’m smoking their cigs. I just hate to have to start smoking English Cigarettes.

My hands are starting to chap again. But it’s a wonder they didn’t start long ago in this climate. I think I’ll have to see the M. O. in the morning & see if he has anything good for them.

I well remember last halloween when I came down dressed in Dots’ clothes & I went over to Orrence Laramie’s party. Gee I haven’t heard from Orrence for so long. Onnellee says he said Chatham training with the rest of the boys. Don’t worry about those cigs & that other parcel They’ll eventually get here. It takes longer for parcels. especially cigs

I guess I told you about Pat Burling. But I didn’t know that Hugh had both his legs off. Neither did anyone else in the regiment. Gee Franc. Who ever told you that.

Poor Pat. He was sick in bed Franc & there were a couple more in the room. But they weren’t paying any attention to him. Well I guess he got out of bed. However the rest of the boys heard the rifle go off & they looked around just as he was falling He had a bullet hole just be between the eyes only ½ inch higher & when the bullet came out the back of his head. It made a big hole. They held a court of Inquiry & said it was suicide. I have plenty of socks. But I still need my sweater I told you to send. We don’t get many apples over here in what we do get don’t seem the same. Jimmie Tweedale has some sent from Essex So if you want to send some it will be all right.

Well here it is 11.30 So I’d better get these lights out. If the orderly officer comes around here. He’d raise old hell. So I will close for now & go to bed. Good nite dear sister & all.

I remain

Love & Kisses

Harry

*** End of Transcription ***

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Artifact 1940-11-09-a – Letter to Mrs. Elton Newman

Letter to Mrs. Elton Newman – November 9, 1940

TRANSCRIPTION OF ARTIFACT CONTENT

Aldershot England
November 9/40

Dear Franc:-

Well we’ve been well over a week without any mail from Can.

But then I’m going to write to you anyway. I haven’t had a letter from you since you got your tonsils out.

The last letter I have was from Onn. When she was staying with you after you came back from the hospital (having your tonsils out). Well I hope some mail soon comes in anyhow. I wrote Aunt Lil. A couple nites ago & to La Verne last nite. I And I don’t know whats the matter with me, but it seems like I write to Onn, every nite. I guess I must be love sick. Since I’ve read some of your letters what you say about her. Well I guess it makes me feel more towards her. Well I guess she’s worth having for a girl friend. The way she writes to me & the things she says. Well —I won’t say no more. I’ll have to write her another letter to-nite.

Gee I wished some of your mail would come so I’d know how you are feeling. You can’t imagine how much I’ve thought of you this past week &wondering how you are.

Has Elton had any more word about getting into Fords. You said that Murray told you, he might get in this winter. I hope he gets in anyhow!

Well Franc. I can’t think of much to say until I hear from you again & it’s about supper time. Altho we just had some coffee & cake about an hour ago. I wished you could see our little police office here. We are quite proud of it. Be sure & write me as often as you have time Franc. I go to a show about one nite a week & the rest of my spare time I just write letters. So you know how anxious I am to receive letters. Well I’ll close for to nite

Your Loving brother
Harry

*** End of Transcription ***

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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 1940-11-01 – 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 – 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 1940-10-19 – Letter to Miss La Verne Woods

“Well I guess you won’t be interested in our hardships. “

Letter to Miss La Verne Woods – October 19, 1940

Transcription of Artifact Content

Aldershot, Eng.
October 19/40

Dear La Verne:-

Just a few lines to let you know I have received your cigarettes (also Franc’s) I want to say Thanks a Million Sis.

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Artifact 1940-10-11 – Letter to Miss La Verne Woods

“Well the liking of England is wearing off now.”

Letter to Miss La Verne Woods – October 11, 1940

Transcription of Artifact Content

Aldershot, Eng.
October 11/40

Dear Sister:-

I was so glad to hear from you this morn. I have been looking for a letter from you for so long. & I begin to think you had forgotten your little brother in England. I have written you about three times.

Well I’ll start answering some of your questions. It’s a good thing you ask me things. Or I wouldn’t know what to write.

Well the liking of England is wearing off now. “There is no place like home.” No mater what kind of a dump your home is. It is better than anyplace else.

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Artifact 1940-10-05 – Letter to Mrs. Elton Newman

“We are having quite a bit of bombing Franc. But London has been getting the worst of it.”

Letter to Mrs. Elton Newman – October 5, 1940

Transcription of Artifact Content

Aldershot, Eng.
October 5/40

Dear Franc:-

I have received two letters from you & two from Onn. also her cigs & I’m sure enjoying them.

One of yours was written Sept 11 which I received first & one Sept. 5 I got it the following day. I’m glad Elt. dropped a line too. Tell him to do it as often as he can.

I’m glad you liked the cards, Franc. I thought you would. They only cost me one shilling (24) – they were worth it. I had been telling Clarence that they were anxious to hear from him & he said he had written two or three letters.

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