Author Topic: WWI era letter from a soldier in the field  (Read 580 times)

Offline wurding

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WWI era letter from a soldier in the field
« on: Thursday 05 August 21 09:26 BST (UK) »
I believe this letter was written by Hew Congreve Kennedy, but cannot confirm this. I have had difficulty transcribing the author's handwriting and appreciate any help:

https://imgur.com/pAAehIp
https://imgur.com/k1wfsyS

Here is what I have attempted - it makes little sense!

Quote
My dear Mater(?)
I have your letter of the 30th and am so glad to have that. Vere is still alive and kicking. He’ll be alright as a prisoner, ?? ?? the war won’t last much longer, so will soon be back again. A bit of ?outing? Won’t hurt him, ? I’ll back Tommy to get his pub(?) off a ?? - least ???! -
I wired you two days ago so ?? ?? have a wire daily after Heather has been operated on. I always like to know - guessing is no use to me - I am one Kiddie-Shell

Les inwardly jumps I know, or will funk the nurse like anything for she had me bad one onee and has now forgotten it - You will probably remember - How I got the beast wounded out of the island and put all the Afrikes in her whul at ?? that I could - To bully a defenceless sick child is to my mind the worst form of cruelty and is unforgivable - by me anyhow! I mention this as I know Heather has not forgotten or ever will, and she ?? fight shy abit at first and shrink from the nurse tribe.
Will you get her a few flowers from me please let me know

The cat(?) - I’d send a cheque if by chance my (leave)?? falls ???  Talking of leave
Pugh, Norman, Hall, Congreve, Rowsell, Montgomery,

Offline ShaunJ

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Re: WWI era letter from a soldier in the field
« Reply #1 on: Thursday 05 August 21 09:46 BST (UK) »
My dear Mater
I have your letter of the 30th and am so glad to hear that Vere is still alive and kicking. He’ll be alright as a prisoner,  I'm sure the war won’t last much longer, so he'll soon be back again. A bit of bouting (?) won’t hurt him. I’d back Tommy to get his grub off a barren-dead island!
I wired you two days ago to let me have a wire daily after Heather has been operated on....
UK Census info. Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Online mckha489

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Re: WWI era letter from a soldier in the field
« Reply #2 on: Thursday 05 August 21 09:51 BST (UK) »
barren desert island

Online mckha489

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Re: WWI era letter from a soldier in the field
« Reply #3 on: Thursday 05 August 21 09:56 BST (UK) »
Poor wee Kiddie she'll
be inwardly jumpy I know


last word third line second half is 'once'



Offline wurding

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Re: WWI era letter from a soldier in the field
« Reply #4 on: Thursday 05 August 21 09:56 BST (UK) »
My dear Mater
I have your letter of the 30th and am so glad to hear that Vere is still alive and kicking. He’ll be alright as a prisoner,  I'm sure the war won’t last much longer, so he'll soon be back again. A bit of bouting (?) won’t hurt him. I’d back Tommy to get his grub off a barren-dead island!
I wired you two days ago to let me have a wire daily after Heather has been operated on....


Thank you.

If it helps at all, I know Hew had a daughter called Heather who was having her tonsils removed at that time
Pugh, Norman, Hall, Congreve, Rowsell, Montgomery,

Offline ShaunJ

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Re: WWI era letter from a soldier in the field
« Reply #5 on: Thursday 05 August 21 09:58 BST (UK) »
I always like to know - guessing is no use to me - poor wee Kiddie. She'll be inwardly jumpy
I know, & will funk the nurse like anything for she had me bad(?)  one once and has never forgotten it - You will probably remember - How I got the beast hounded out of the island and put all the spokes in her wheel that I could....
UK Census info. Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Online mckha489

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Re: WWI era letter from a soldier in the field
« Reply #6 on: Thursday 05 August 21 10:25 BST (UK) »
the cost. I’ll send a cheque if
by chance my leave falls
through. - Talking of leave
I have mine sanctioned. - The
letter is in front of me as I
write & has been there for four
days now & I can’t avail myself
of it yet. The possibility I
mentioned in my last letters
has materialised and I am hard
at it with the adjutant on leave
& the Colonel fussing over details
that don’t count are merely ???
what I call “U.P”  or Usual
procedure. Stuff easily dealt with
by my stout Corporal clerk , who
has been with me since I started
Labour Corps work.

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Re: WWI era letter from a soldier in the field
« Reply #7 on: Thursday 05 August 21 10:37 BST (UK) »
However we ……….  through …….
and as soon as I’ve got things
straight here I’m ….  with
out my ticket & …..  for England
I hope the 10th or 12th will be the
date but it all depends
if I’m wanted - of course I can
always run over for a
couple of days & back to work
but that is to be avoided if
possible as we are on important
work here that has to be done
good ………  its up to me to
get it done a …… quicker than
the other bloke did - see?
I’ve brought a new tunic …
…. from the ordnance department
so I’m not the disreputable
begger I was a while ago! The
weather is warm & sunny &
things are favourably in hand.


 

Offline wurding

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Re: WWI era letter from a soldier in the field
« Reply #8 on: Thursday 05 August 21 10:49 BST (UK) »
However we ……….  through …….
and as soon as I’ve got things
straight here I’m ….  with
out my ticket & …..  for England
I hope the 10th or 12th will be the
date but it all depends
if I’m wanted - of course I can
always run over for a
couple of days & back to work
but that is to be avoided if
possible as we are on important
work here that has to be done
good ………  its up to me to
get it done a …… quicker than
the other bloke did - see?
I’ve brought a new tunic …
…. from the ordnance department
so I’m not the disreputable
begger I was a while ago! The
weather is warm & sunny &
things are favourably in hand.

sterling effort! Much better than what I could have done.

Thank you for your assistance
Pugh, Norman, Hall, Congreve, Rowsell, Montgomery,