Letter home from the trenches

Dear Mother and Big Joe,
I hope this finds you well. I want to tell you that I miss you both terribly. And Molly too. I hope her and the baby are doing well. I long to be home. I can't stand this place much longer. I dream of being warm, dry and above all safe. Charlie looks after me though, and I feel better just knowing he's here with me. If people back home knew what it was like here, they wouldn't be so quick to join up or wave us off. The trenches are appalling, we live side by side with the rats and lice crawl over our bodies all day. The whizzbangs fly over our head almost constantly and every time I hear one I think my days are numbered. I just want this blasted War to be over so we can be together again as a family, in peace. It feels like that day will never come.

Apart from the rats, lice and and a few nutter lieutenants it isn't all bad. There are times when the shelling stops and the rain dries up and we can have a laugh and a cup of hot tea. It's times like that I forget this insane War and realise the comradeship and courage that I am only a very small part of.

Anyway, I must be off, there's still drilling to be done. Give my love to everyone. I'll be back before you know it.

All my love, Tommo xxx

The Yellow Aeroplane!

Things are looking up in my life now. Me, Charlie and Molly are great friends and do eveything together. The other day we were playing in the fields when we heard a great rumbling of an engine. At first, we thought it was the Colonel's car, but we looked up and there was a beautiful yellow aeroplane...and it was circling down towards the ground.


We all watched in amazement as the pilot got out, took off his goggles, and looking rather confused, beckoned us over. I was a bit scared at first but I looked at the others and we all grinned and ran over together. He explained he was lost, and asked for Lanford church. When we told him he was in Iddesleigh, he looked even more confused, but chuckled and said it was a "jolly good thing" he checked!


I wasn't sure if we helped all that much, but the best thing is he gave us some humbugs! I'm going to make them last as long as I can.

My first post

My name is Tommo Peaceful and I have a terrible secret.

It was my first day of school today and I hated it. Even with my big brother Charlie there it was no good. Everyone laughed because I couldn't tie my bootlaces. A pretty girl helped me though, Molly I think her name is. Playtime wasn't much good either because I couldn't spend time with Charlie or Molly. I was left alone with only my secret for comfort.

Before school, I used to tag along with father, up in the woods. I loved it, just me and him. I wish he was here now.

That day in the woods, I found a dead mouse. I was making a wooden cross for it's grave when it happened. I looked up and saw a gigantic tree groaning and swaying. I knew it was going to land right slap on me, but I couldn't move! Before I knew what was going on Father had flung me to safety. When I came out of my trance I saw him, under the tree...

...then I knew, it was my fault. I killed my father.