Page 1 of Letter 0006 of Lot 0001

3.ix.42. 2575382 Drs i/c. Appleyard, Bill., Signal Troop (Middlesex rifles) att 104th Reg. R.N.A, M.E.F Mummy Darling, You recent precious letter of 5.7.42(1 of how series) has arrived this evening - even more infinitely precious than you can imagine. Look at the date and you will see why. Yes - once of we are doing our pre-ordained job - and though it is early to voice too many opportunistic hopes I think we are getting along pretty well. It is always wonderful hearing from you, but at times like this when one is of necessity living under rather a strain, your letters are a great comfort and inspiration. It seems to bring home the fact that we aren't dumped out here in a rather un-attractive desert and told to get on with the fighting, but that we are preventing the further spoilations of our own homes. I hate to think of you worrying about me, really it is not necessary - you probably imagine all sorts of things happening that exist more in the minds of verbose war correspondents than in actual fact. We know by now that physically we can stand anything, and mental endurance being purely an individual spiritual affair. I think I can safely say that I am not in any way worried. I feel very safe and sure and certain, and the end should come in this way, I think its for preferable like this because I do (furiously) believe in the things (are worth) fighting. This is only saying that I have ( )said before, but it is to ( ) now on this third anniversary of our entry into the war as it was on that bright autumn Sunday morning when we first heard the news. Despite what has been happening these last few days have been very happy ones for me as once again Fred and I are temporarily together and once more the mob has been confounded by our own private humour and seemingly vile accusations and public washing of dirty clothing in the best back alley style. Tonight we discovered a bottle of beer - surely the last and consumed it ... .. .

edit 22  made on 15/10/12 at 07:58 edit 21  made on 14/10/12 at 11:14 edit 20  made on 08/07/12 at 12:01 edit 19  made on 09/11/09 at 03:02 edit 18  made on 05/08/09 at 23:57 edit 17  made on 28/06/09 at 08:49 edit 16  made on 28/06/09 at 04:18 edit 15  made on 28/06/09 at 04:18 edit 14  made on 10/03/09 at 16:34 edit 13  made on 18/02/09 at 02:33 edit 12  made on 28/01/09 at 11:41 edit 11  made on 26/01/09 at 19:24 edit 10  made on 26/01/09 at 19:05 edit 9  made on 26/01/09 at 18:58 edit 8  made on 26/01/09 at 18:46 edit 7  made on 26/01/09 at 15:46 edit 6  made on 26/01/09 at 14:55 edit 5  made on 26/01/09 at 14:51 edit 4  made on 26/01/09 at 14:39 edit 3  made on 25/01/09 at 04:44 edit 2  made on 01/01/09 at 12:00 edit 1  made on 9// at :‰G

i. Page to be transcribed is availble here http://letter.ie/0001/0006p1.jpg (suggest you open in a 2nd browser and position screen for comfortable transcribing) ii. Letters are to be transcribed in the same language as the author. Do not translate! American English should use American spelling, British uses British and so forth. iii. Spelling mistakes of the author and transcriber ought to be corrected. Obvious grammatical errors can to be reformated to improve readability provided they are in keeping with the author's natural literary style. iv. Former html tags (those between < .. > brackets) are no longer supported and should be removed. Simple ascii text only please.