The Earl Campbell Story - Life In The Army

Battle of Amiens occurred August 8-12, 1918

Aug 9, 1918, Somewhere in France

Dear Merelda, Not my ??? but I will have to something to pass away the evening. Well last night I rec two dandy boxes. One from the League packed by you. And the other one from Home. Everything is as fresh as tho it was baked a week ago. And how hungry I was for a box from home. It is sure a treat to get such boxes over here. You certainly had the tow packed well. The honey. I just had some for my supper. It is jake and the very best honey. I will certainly enjoy it as long as it last me. The three plugs of chewing comes in very hand now. You know out on the track is very hard work doing without a chew. And the stuff you get over here is rotten to chew. The tin of salmon I took out for my dinner on the track. Clarence Bowhey and I enjoyed it very much. Thanks very much Merelda. You can't imagine how much I value a box from home. Tell Mother I am keep the suite of underwear until the weather turns a bit cooler. The crawlies will not stick to it very much ha-ha. I am thinking of doing like the chinks do. They wear no shirt atall! Their bodies are colour of a penny. One cannot tell when they are sun-burnt. I wrote to Mother a couple of nights ago. I hope she get it o.k. I heard from Ruth last night. Allso had a letter from Frank Gambril. He is happy guy now. I only wish I was in his shoes now. But I must cheer up. I will soon be back again. And then the happy days, eh. Well Merelda this is two sheets is'nt it. So I will now ring off for another time. Hope all of you are in the very best of health. And getting along well. Merelda just one moment. Why not you send me a few snaps of home. I have nearly forgotten what it looks like. I would like to have some very much. Write me soon. Love to all. Au Revoir Bro Earl.

Aug 31, 1918 In France, letter to Earl from Merelda. Earl mentions that they must bury the dead before they can begin to lay the tracks.

Dear Merelda, Well atlas I found time to write a few lines home. This is the first time I think I have miss writing home for so long. We have been so awful busy these last few wks. We are moved away for our good spot. And lovely Mackeral we have had some time coming here. We are now in no man's land. So guess you know or have a little idea of what we are doing. We had to burrie a great number of dead before we could start on building a line. I would sooner be working at the track then burring the stiffs. The job is not up to much, ha-ha. I rec a letter from Pauline before I left the other camp. She had a bunch of flowers in it. They kept well, but to be sure they were dead. The boys are all jake so far. H.Bovair is'nt back with us yet. In the dugout I am in is A. Brown, J. Allen, B. Wilkins, C. Bowhey, F. Locuas, Jensen the Dane you have his photo at home. Fisher, Wellman and Wilson you have his photo allso. We all get along jake to-gether. Say Merelda did you know Dan McKenzie from Woodbridge. I think Dad and Henry knew him. This poor chap was killed. I forgot to tell you in my last letter. He was a fine head. And a good Sergeant. How is Dad getting along? Is Arch off for good yet? They did not keep his Batt long in Canada. Maybe I'll see some of the lads over here soon. I heard the other night from Fredie Young that Bob Carney had been wounded and sent to Blighty. I hope he makes Canada out of it. I think he was sniped by a sharp shooter. Well Mon Cherie I'll have to ring off for now. I have to get up at 3 o'clock in the morning. We are working from 3 oclock to 12 noon. That's half the Coy. The other half goes on at 12 noon to 8 at night. So you think that last photo of me was good. Well I don't think so. I think I am better looking than that, ha-ha. Don't you believe me. I'll not have any more taken until I get my 14 days leave about Jan or Feb it will be. And the war will be just about over by then. We are place now where we were when I got you a piece of music in a G.dugout. Do you remember reading of a town in flames. We are near that place, but there is not town to be seen, just dust is all what I can see of it. The first letter of it starts with a P. now think it out. So here goes for a close. And another fat letter soon. Best of Love and Good Health to all at home. Au Revoir, Loving Bro, Earl

Sept 23, 1918, In the Field (written in pencil).

Earl mentions Battalions of Australian and Americans are with them.

My Dear Mother, just a few lines to you tonight. I must let you know that I received the £4 3S 6 pence ok. I am golly glad to get it too. It will be a great help to me when I get a leave. That is if I can save it until I get my leave. I'll try my best to anyway. Our leave is cut off now. That is our Paris leave. But Blighty leave still is on. But I can't look for my Blighty leave until Jan or Feb anyway. Well we made another move we landed here last night. A dreadful looking place to. We were 3 days on the train. I sure enjoyed the trip allright. The Americans and Australians are with us now. The Yanks are a bunch of good heads. We can get any kind of tobacco from them. And it sure is best of tobacco. We have a Batt of Americans Engineers working with us. They started this afternoon. There are some big lads too. Mostly Southern lads. Some have been cowboys all their lives. I make some money out of them by selling my souviners of Fritzies. I had a card from Harold a few days ago. He wished to know if I was near the place he mentioned. Yes we were right beside that place, before we moved here. Tell Merelda I receive the Laskay R + box she packed for me. It was a dandy one. And I was as hungry as a timber wolf the day I got it. I knew she baked some of the cake which was in it. I can pick her cooking out of any box. I heard from May last week. She is near Lake Erie. I guess she will find it a pretty place in summer time. I will write to her soon. Well, Mother I guess I will close for this time. I will write home more often now. I guess we will be here for a few months now. Write to me again I always like to hear from you. And take the best of care of yourself. Good luck to all.

Love, from Loving Son Earl.

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