On Active Duty

Vol. 12 No. 18

By Riley Sleeman

This is a funny country now, there are no little children to be seen, in fact no one at all but soldiers. There are no cows or chickens or ducks and all the houses have been broken down like a house of cards when you touch it. There are lots of horses and mules because soldiers use them. They are looking fine now as there is lots of green grass for them to eat, but in the winter and spring they were awful looking creatures all covered with mud and some of them had very little hair on them and looked like camels. All heads and feet and ribs and cakey looking skin. There are lots of balloons near here which look like elephants without legs when they are on the ground. Then they go away up in the air tied to a cable and one or two men sit in a basket which hangs underneath them. These men have spy glasses and watch what the Germans are doing and they tell the artillery where to shoot.

We have been working at night and go out bumpity bump on an old flat car as soon as it gets dark and the train comes back for us before it gets light. But tomorrow my company is starting to work in the day time and will be able to go to sleep when other good people do. There are larks here that fly away up in the air and sing very nicely, and every here and there in the fields are bunches of bright red poppies like the ones that grow at home.

Tell Mummy I got the two parcels safely today and there wasn’t one cookie broken and they are nice and fresh. I will write to her in a day or two.

Now Gertrude I know you are going to keep on being a good girl and be kind and generous to brother Charlie and do what Mummy says. I hope to be home with you all long before your next birthday but this Fritz is an awfully bad chap and needs a good spanking to make him remember his manners, but we’ll get him fixed up before long and then there will be whole ship loads of Daddies coming back to their homes and won’t we have a fine time then? I hope you have got the little rings I sent you and Charlie some time ago.

Give Mummy and Charlie a great big hug from Daddy and lots of kisses for my little Gertrude.

Ever your own loving

Daddy
XXXXXX X Six and one to grow on.

BOER WAR

Rhenosterfontein

March 6th, 1902

My darling Ida,

I left Hoopstaal two days ago to return to ____ River. I am still a cripple, but mending nicely. I hope to get about again before the end of next week, in fact I must, for there is so much work to be done, and the longer I leave it the worse it gets. I shall send you a cable from Bloemfontein when I go in next, and if I find I cannot go, will write to a friend of mine to send it for me.

What wretched paper this is. I cannot write properly on it.

I think I told you in my last letter from Hoopstaal the B(aden) P(owell) had been to inspect our Division, and the circumstances under which I was laid out. If I could spare the time & money I would take a trip to the Cape, but as I can do neither I shall get back to duty as soon as possible.

I expect to find two or three letters of yours at _____ River, and am anxious to arrive there so that I may receive them.

And what have you been doing all this time, sweetheart mine? How I have thought of you when I was laid up, constantly wondering what you were doing, and wishing – aye longing – to see you. My love for you consumes me. I shall never know what happiness is until I can take you in my arms, and hold you to me, and look into your eyes and there read of your love. My whole being thrills when I think of you, dearie, and when I dream of our life together – the complete companionship of soul and soul – I tremble with fear that something may happen to prevent the realization of that dream. It all seems to me to be too good to be true…

I’m sitting in a tent, and as the sun is very strong and no wind the warmth is quite unpleasant. I fear you wouldn’t recognize me if you could see me now. I haven’t shaved in two days and am quite disreputable looking. I must get the photos you ask for taken the first opportunity.

I have just heard some very bad news – Major Pack Beresfow’s death in Blftn. He was very ill some three weeks ago with enteric and was sent to Bloemfontein Raadzaal – which is the Officer’s Hospital – before hearing of his death the last reports were favorable. We’ve lost quite the best fighting man we have in the Division, and I can assure you he can ill be spared. He had a splendid career before him and was just becoming known. You can well understand that it’s no easy task to command 3,000 mounted men. Major Beresfow was absolutely au fait with this kind of warfare and his command respected him and what is more, felt safe under his orders.

His death leaves Major S____ of the 5th Lancers 2nd in command of this Division, and as he is a warm friend of mine I hope to see my promotion shortly. When I took over the Divisional Transport there was no authorized establishment to run it with. Now they have given me the establishment I asked for – with a few modifications – and amongst the establishment I find 3 officers – 1 Captain and 2 subs – since I have organized the whole affair and put it on a working basis I feel they cannot do otherwise than give me the appointment. In fact when the Colonel was out with me he promised to give my supt. Mr. S____ his commission and leave him with me. He will then give me another sub – in which case they must give me my captaincy, or take me off the job. I shall hear something along the line almost at once with 1,700 pounds pay for the natives, etc. I don’t half like the responsibility of carting such a sum with me through the enemy’s country. Only yesterday a few sporting Boers decided to use me as a target but the range was so long that the fire fell short.

Tis a beautiful country thru which our posts go, and I can well imagine what life on a beautiful farm must be like. Hoopstaal is a very pretty place. There were evidently some very nice people living in the place, for many of the houses are very pretty, well-planned and comfortable. What they’ll be like when we get through with the place is hard to say, for when fortifying a town one does not hesitate to make alterations which to say the least, are not conducive to either comfort or beauty.

Have you seen or heard anything of my father lately? I will write to him by the next mail. How is the dear Mother? My fond love to her and I will find time to write her by the next mail.

Do you forgive me for such a short letter Sweetheart? I must close to catch the mail. I hope I shall be able to continue my daily letters again on arrival in _____ River. Love to Arthur, Ida + the dear children + kind regards to Harry + Birdie, and all my love to you – my own my Ida from

Yours always
Harold

WORLD WAR II

RCAF Overseas

Aug. 12/42

Hello brother

Well I received your air mail letter of July 15th and glad to see that you like your flying and that you are getting along swell. I just received two parcels from home this week with candy, gum, fruit, socks, razor blades, summer trousers, shirt, trunks, etc. and also the swell air force lighter, it sure is a honey and have wanted one for some time but they are quite expensive so I can’t thank you enough for this kind consideration and for the cigarettes…

… Cheerio. I am as ever your brother…

RCAF Overseas

Sept. 17/44

Hello Mother:

I received your two airmail letters dated Aug 14th & 29th which as usual came in ten days. I also received a carton of cigarettes which Dad sent and will enclose card. It sure makes cigarettes scarce these days, now that they have changed the procedure. It seems they send cigarettes over in bulk and then distribute them over here, and for the last couple of months there have been very few and would appreciate if you can arrange to send more. Oh yes I also received your swell parcel no. 34 with all the good eats, etc. although I don’t know why you sent the magazine namely True Experience and True Romances! Are you trying to give me ideas? … Ah yes and the shorts were not what I wanted but will make them do. Would you enclose a tin of Talcum powder in the next box as I am completely out…

… A chum and I are going on leave tomorrow and will be staying in Nottingham, Sheffield, Manchester, & Blackpool, as I never seen these Midland centres and will take this opportunity to see what I can before going to India or whether they can send me home, which I would appreciate very much as the way things are going over here, get very fed up and out of sorts. So the day I am sent home will be the happiest day of my service career…

… I am as ever your son.

RCAF Overseas

Oct. 21/44

… So I hope that it is not long before this fracas is over and enable us to get back to God’s country…