Posterous theme by Cory Watilo

Two Letters Home

These two letters are to my great grandmother, Aggie. The first is from her brother Tom, who was serving with the 3rd Dragoon Guards (Prince of Wales' Own) and the second is from my great grandfather Tom who was serving with 16th Battalion Royal Scots - known as McCrae's Battalion. Both are from the front during WW1 and both men would be dead within a few months of writing them.

Thomas-whitelaw
Saturday 10/4/15

Dear Aggie,

I must thank you for your parcel.  I can tell you it came in very handy and it goes down alright in the cold nights for it is a bit cold out here.   How is Tommy liking his cooks job.   I don’t want you Aggie to send me out any parcels for I know you will be wanting your money for your family.   I know I would be welcome to it but never mind Aggie and I don’t care as long as I can keep good health.   that is the main thing out here and it will be a good job when the warm weather starts again.    how is the weather at home.  sun shining.  I don’t think it would help to cheer us up with a little sunshine.  I wrote to Lizzie about 2 weeks ago but I see I have not got an answer so I can tell you Aggie she will wait a good bit longer before I write to her again.   Not only that but not even speak to her if I don’t get any word from here.   I have never got a letter from Jenny yet but I will get one later on I suppose.  I wonder Aggie if she will send me on that cocoa and coffee I asked from her.  if I don’t get it well I will have to go without that’s all.  Do you still get letters from Jocky and how is he getting on.   I hope he gets back safe and sound.   I suppose he will be wondering how I am getting on.   When you write again let him know how I am doing.   Is Jamie and Willie still sticking on at the coals.   If you see them in your travels give them my regards.   Will you Aggie remember me to my mother and Mrs Noon and Tommy sisters.  Tell them I am still in the land of the living and doing well. I never got your paper that you promised to send to me.  I thought I would have had it before this time.   I still get a letter from my chum Walter Grant and it seems he is sticking it alright but I suppose I will miss a lot of the old faces around the corner.   I suppose they have all joined the Army.   Well Aggie I have no more news at present but hoping this finds you and all the family at home in the best of health and good luck as it leaves me the same roll on when the war is over.  Until we meet again

From

Your loving Brother Tom  xxxxxxxx

xxxxxxx with love to all at home

Private Thomas Whitelaw - killed in action on 02/06/1915. His body was never found. He's name listed on the Menin Gate in Ypres with the other 55,000 missing .

The_noons_web
4/1/1917 - BEF - France

My Dear Aggie and children

I recieved your kind and welcome letters and parcel all right but the cake was brocking up but the bottle was alright it came in very handy.   I got it on Xmas eve and it went down a.one with the two cooks.   I was cooking for the Xmas dinner so we had not a bad time the officers gave us 5 turkeys and I(we) cook them for the boys and also a barrel of French beer so we were not bad off.   We were out for a few days rest.  Just know Dear Aggie I recieved your kind Xmas card   It was a very nice one.   Did you get the one with the child in the basket  I had not enough money to get a good one but will send one some time.  How are you getting along and how did you enjoy your New Year.  Had you and the children a good time.   I was just thinking of you when 12 oclock came.  I was very down hearted but I just made the best of it.  a young chap came up to me and 12-30 and said happy new year tommy and i shook his hand and he had a bottle of scotch in his pocket and he gave me a good drop so I drank to his health and yours and children so I felt a bit happy after that.   We had a great night with the big guns given the Germans theme new year.   Well Aggie I don’t know when I will get my leave.  It might be this month or next but will let you know, how is the weather in Edinburgh.   Was it snowing for we got some of it over here.  It is so very cold at night and rain and snow at any time.   I only hope I am spared to get my leave for I am fed up out here.   I wish it was all over.   They say it won’t be long but it don’t look it out here.   I think it will be a time yet before it over.   Well Aggie how did you get on with your money you know what I mean.   Had you to write Hamilton about it.   Hope you get it alright.   how is Willie doing in his long trousers.   He will be thinking he is a man now.  How much did he get in his Xmas box.   Had he a good time with his pals.   I don’t know who he is.  You might tell him I was asking for his pall.   Dear Aggie you might tell my mother I was asking for her also Nellie and Charlie and also Mr. Smith.   Was he home at new year time.   I have not written to Smith yet for I don’t know what to say.  I will drop him a not in a few days.  was my Brother Joe home at new year time.   Mother said she was going to write to me and let me know, Well Aggie I will now draw to a close as that is all the new at present.    I am very sorry for not writing before this.    we have been very bussy out here.   Give my best love the the children not for getting your self and the new baby.  Kisses to Willie xxx   Tom xxx  Jim xxx Bessie xxx Kate xxx and wee Lizzie xxx and wee Peter xxx and  your wee self from Tom xxxxx to Aggie

With love. Write Soon. xxx

Private Thomas Duncan Noon of the was killed in action on April 8, 1917. He's buried in Roclincourt Valley Cemetery in France. Tom survived the battle of the Somme in 1916 while many of his friends did not, only to be killed in a shell attack shortly before the Battle of Arras.