Just a few lines to
let you know I am fine, I did one guard last night from midnight until 6:00
A.M. this morning but didn’t intend a go on another one until tomorrow night at
6:00 PM. It really is tough guarding. You are plowing in white clay
up to your ankles all around the joint. This sure is a good place for a
barracks it is just like a mansion (inside) alongside of ours in Windsor.
“I was up for Orderly Room this morning and got a sentence of 7 days Confined to barracks…”
Letter to Mrs. Elton Newman – February 19, 1940
Transcription of Artifact Content
Windsor,
Ontario
Feb
19/40
Dear Frank:
Just a few lines to
let you know I am O.K. I was going to come down at 4 O’clock last night, but it
snowed so hard that I thought I would put it off until some night during the
week.
“My lighter sure works good. I think it is a grand one for ten cents don’t you?”
Letter to Mrs. Elton Newman – May 7, 1940
Transcription of Artifact Content
Windsor
Ontario
Tues.
noon.
Dear Frances:
I think I promised
you a letter, so here it is. It sure is hot this last couple of days isn’t it.
We are almost cooking with these heavy clothes and equipment on.
We went on the
scheme last night. We left barracks at seven, and by the time we marched out
there, it was dark. Then we got in some time between eleven and twelve. Then I
had a nice hot shower before I went to bed.
Just a few lines as
I promised I’d write. I am over a Dot’s house in is really cool in here,
compared to the barracks
Our platoon went to
Cedar Springs today but I didn’t get in until 8 o’clock and they were gone. I
have to go on guard to-nite, which I’m glad of as I soon will just have fatigue work to do over the on the next duty next
weekend. When you get it done you are off in the evening.
“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.
“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.
‘There was a big fire over at the airport about 7 O’clock and I went over. At first we thought it was a plane crashed…”
Artifact 1940-06-04 – Letter to La Verne Woods
Transcription of Artifact Content
Camp Borden, Ont.
Tues. nite.
Dearest La Verne:
Your letter was a very pleasant
surprise I sure did feel good when I saw your writing I opened it even before
Onnellee’s.
I had an address of yours, but I did
thought you had moved since. So I asked Frances what it was in my last letter
to her. She’ll probably send it in her next letter. But however I’m glad you
got mine & wrote to me. I guess I’ve written about 25 or th 30
letters & I don’t know how many cards since I came a week ago.
“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.