08 - Send me to the front before I croak here

Reading

Lee G. Darrach
Buchanan, Alan

Virtual Studios Creative Digital Media

1916-01-01

00:02:03

A 2019 dramatic reading by Alan Buchanan of a letter sent from Lee G. Darrach to his brother, Jack Darrach. In this letter, Lee details his sickness, the worsening spread of disease among the troop camps, and the poor weather conditions he experienced at the time. This letter was sent from Codford, England, on January 1st, 1916.

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Original letters held by the Clyde River Historical Society.

Codford, England – January 1st, 1916 – (Letter #8) “Send me to the front before I croak here”
Dear Brother; Jack and B, just a few lines to let you know I am still here.
I have been very sick for the past two weeks with a cold or the good old-fashioned grip,
but am getting O.K. again.
Well, Jack, the fever is awful bad here in a lot of the camps,
especially the one I was in. We got moved to another camp or I think we would all be dead.
I do wish they would send me to the front before I will croak here.
We will all die if they don’t move us.
We must have lost about 200 so far with fever and pneumonia.
It is a hell of a place. Rain, there has not been a fine day here for two months.
We are halfway up our knees in mud and water.
Well, we did not have very much of a Christmas.
I thought of you all and was saying to myself, I bet your are enjoying yourselves by this time.
I was not out of my hut, as I was sick.
I did not get Mother’s parcel yet. I do hope I will get it.
It is a damn sight worse here than in Southport for grub.
I don’t know what is the trouble. We do not get enough to live on, but, Jack, I am standing it [up] pretty good.
If I can only keep clear of the fever, I think I will be O.K.
I like the machine gun alright and you bet I can make it go.
God help the Germans or Turks when we get a few hundred guns on them. They will think hell got loose.
Well, Jack, I will have to close for this time, as I have to parade again.
Give my love and best regards to all and kiss the children. Wish you all a Happy New Year. From, Lee.