As I write this, my dearest, we await the order to go over the top. Sargent said we should use the time wisely to write to our mothers, wives and sweethearts. So, I take up the pen and think lovingly of you.
I do not know which is worse, at times, the inching forward through the Hun’s firestorm of bullets and grabbing, tearing barbed wire, or sitting here in our muddy home, always damp with nerves taut.
We seem to be forever waiting: for orders, for rations, for ammunition, for the deafening bombs, for choking gas, and oh, more precious of all to us: mail.
To read your thoughts, to faintly catch the smell of your lavender perfume upon the page. It is the lovely image of your face, your raven hair cascading loose, the curve of your breast, soft touch of your hand which keeps me warm on even the coldest of nights. My dearest, I miss you so.
When this damn fight is over, perhaps by Christmas, I shall return to you, with promises to never leave again. To forget the miasma of this place and time. To restart our lives together. Keep me in your heart, my dearest.
I must close this. The call has come to collect the mail. Orders have arrived: at sunrise, we are over the top.
Tears, wept silently and alone, now mingle with the mud and blood splattered upon his last words to her.
Sighing, I carefully place the letter back in our box of family remembories.
free-fallish meditation on mindlovemisery’s menagerie tale weaver 299: over the top
With Remembrance Day less than two weeks away:
An interactive video from the Canadian War Museum which simulates going over the top in World War One: Over the top
Two Historica Canada Heritage Minutes on World War I
November 5, 2020 at 1:52 pm
This was a wonderful post and letter, Lorraine. I’ve always loved those Canadian Heritage Minutes.
(I came here by way of Willow!)
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November 9, 2020 at 2:29 am
Oops, missed responding!
Thanks for dropping by.
Yes, Canadian Heritage Minutes are great!
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November 9, 2020 at 8:06 am
No worries! And yeah. They are.
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October 30, 2020 at 2:35 pm
That was a moving story Lorraine. There are so many instants such as the one you depict. What a senseless loss of lives it was. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us.
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October 31, 2020 at 1:56 am
Thank you for carrying on tale weaver tradition — 300th tw next week!
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October 31, 2020 at 4:46 pm
Time sure flies when you’re having fun.
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October 29, 2020 at 6:21 pm
A moving story… You did a great job with the soldier’s voice.
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October 31, 2020 at 1:55 am
Thank you.
On October 31, 1917, during the Second Battle of Passchendaele, my great-uncle Earle went missing, presumed dead. His body was never found. He was 20 years old. His brother, Grover, enlisted in 1914, and returned home in 1919. My grandfather also volunteered in WW1; he served as a clerk on an Army base. I feel a kind of personal connection to WW1.
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October 29, 2020 at 1:49 pm
Beautiful letter…
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October 29, 2020 at 2:04 pm
Thank you. I have always found letters from the front to those at home very powerful and moving. When I taught American history (survey type courses), I would show a clip from Ken Burns series on the Civil War. A solider is writing home to his wife, sensing his impending end. It is sweet, touching, and moving. Of course, the solider doesn’t make it through the battle. When I put the lights back on, probably not one dry eye in the place — even some of the men were moved to tears by it. Now, that is the sort of emotional punch, drop-kick writing I’d like to to do — with out the same sad ending, I hope.
Thanks again for stopping by and leaving a comment. I dont’ “get out much” in the cyberworld, but I will try to “star trek” to your blog soon.
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October 29, 2020 at 3:41 pm
Yes, anytime!
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October 29, 2020 at 6:31 am
Reblogged this on willowdot21 and commented:
What a touching read at this time of year. Due to the pandemic the veterans will not be marching in London, all the more reason not to forget.
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October 29, 2020 at 6:31 am
What a touching read at this time of year. Due to the pandemic the veterans will not be marching in London, all the more reason not to forget.💜
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October 29, 2020 at 2:07 pm
Yes what a shame, especially since there has been focus on the role of first responders, including those who serve/served, and the efforts of veterans, such as that gentleman walking his garden to raise money for first responders in his town. Maybe, like so many other things, it can happen at a different time.
Here in the states, Memorial Day (in May) is supposed to be spent honouring veterans and those serving now. Unfortunately, It’s now mostly a “let’s go shopping as the deals are BIG, and then have a BBQ” kinda of holiday. So much for thoughts about veterans. A group also very vulnerable, so they can’t be together on such a special day.
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October 29, 2020 at 3:21 pm
It’s so sad that it will not happen this year, let’s hope it will be back soon. I believe wreaths will be laid at the Cenotaph. 💜
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October 31, 2020 at 1:13 am
I hope wreaths can be laid. In my town, there was a wreath laying (social distanced) on Memorial Day in May.
In Canada, there is always a minute of silence at the 11th hour of the 11thday of the 11th month — when WWI armistice was signed.
During this minute, I hope folks think, too, of all those we’ve lost in the virus war.
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October 31, 2020 at 5:00 am
Yes indeed we do the same on the 11th and nearest Sunday too. I am sure everyone will remember the virus dead too. 💜
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