The Earl Campbell Story -
Red Cross Boxes from Home & Souvenirs from the Front

Feb 8, 1918, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England

p.2 " Say, Merelda did you get that small parcel with the silk apron and some small truck in. I sent it last November and I sent a large box from Aberdeen. I put a kilt in which I carried with me for 9 months. It is a Gordon kilt. I forgot to put the socks and ribbons in. I also put a Brass cap made from a British 18 pounded. Frank Brown made it for me. And I put some German stuff in. I think you can easily guess where I got that. I have not had a letter since I left France. That is how I don't get to hear the news. The last letter I received from home was the one you sent with the 3 dollars in Gold to me. Allso the one dollar bill Mr. Rolling put in for me. It will be a great help to me when I get out of Hospital. Cheltenham is a big City so I will need lots of doe to go to the shows. We are allowed out in the town from 10 to 12. And from 2 to 6 at night. I wrote to Merle a few days ago I will look for a letter from her soon. I find it very lonesome to be without mail from home. I have been so use to getting it so regular in France. When I got back off my 14 days leave. I sure had some mail waiting for me. There were 5 boxes. I sure had a feed for once in France. I wrote to the Coy and told them to send it along to me if they could. But I am not sure if they are allowed to send parcels or boxes. So I guess that sweater Mother sent me will have to wait until I go back again. Well Merelda I will again have to close. I think I have wrote you a good long letter this time. But I can't beat you for writing long letters yet. It is easy seen that you are use to writing to lads. Well write soon. Love to all, Au Revoir,

Loving Bro.
Earl
Sapper Earl Campbell
No. 779051
Ward 2
Naunton Park Hospital
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, Eng

Mar 17, 1918, Cheltenham

"Dear Mother,
p.2 Tell Annie Sturdy I got the cake she sent me. I thot I told you before I got that box. Clara sent me one before Xmas I have not it yet tho. I hate to loose a box over here. I have not lost any so far. Charlie Williams & Colin's has not arrive yet. Will let you know when I get them. How is Harold and his young wife.

May 18, 1918, 3rd C.C.D, Seaford, Sussex, England

"Dear Merelda,
p. 3 ... I also rec the Laskay Red Cross box packed by Floss. And also one from the King Girls. So you see I have a great stock of eats in one hand now. Clara Ross's box to me went to France. So my chum Wellman got it."

Jun 1, 1918, C.C.D., Seaford letter to Merelda. Earl writes of the high cost of goods in Europe. Compare it to the letter May 31, 1918 letter his sister Merle sent to him with the cost of prices in King.

Dear Merelda,
p.2 ... "I will send you one. I have finished all my boxes. I had three in one week that's going some eh. That can of honey was dandy. I hope for another. I am sure some hog yet. But say Merelda, there is nothing so good as eats from home. The baking is far ahead of the stuff you get over in the stores here. If one wants a good fruit cake he has to pay about 10£ for one. Than it is not so good as that I get from home. Everything here is a awful price. I don't see how people live here. Eggs are 4 pence each that is 8 cents. Bread is 1£ a loaf than it is dark bread too. This war will have to end soon" .

Jul 7, 1918 letter from Merle to Earl – she writes about possibility of Government restricting sending boxes overseas.

p.2 I have been going to send you a box but have to learn how to bake with this awful stuff we have to use called war-flour, but some of these days you shall get one, if they don't stop us sending boxes. It is hard to say what the next order will be. I don't mind using the flour & doing without meat & etc. but if it comes to not sending boxes I think that is too much for they must be needed over there.

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 two 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 at all! 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. Also 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.

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