Duff & Morrison Collection
“We are having an awful time of it…” Lou Duff, Belgium 6 Dec 1915
Belgium
6th Dec 1915
Dear Aunt Lily,
Received John and your letter of Nov. 7th about a week ago. Am glad to hear that Rosamond sent you a copy of my letter to her. It keeps me going to keep up my correspondence with so much occupying my time and energy over here. However, every once in a while I sneak an hour or two and scratch off ten or fifteen letters.
We are having an awful time of it. The rain has been falling continually for the last six weeks and the country is in a very flooded condition. I haven’t known what dry feet are for many days. A great many of the boys who have not the physical constitution to withstand the wet and cold are down with rheumatism. Thank goodness I’m not suffering in the least from it. All I can complain of is a slight cold which is common amongst us all. The sooner we make an advance the better for all concerned. And from the way things are shaping up we will be going at them properly with the bayonet and grenade very shortly.
Well, Lily, I would like to go on but time will not permit. You mention in your letter about what I would like or need most. Well, I am well fitted out for clothing, I have ordered a flash light from London – They are a necessity over here, new batteries are needed frequently and a postal order for a small sum would help that end out. However I’m not complaining or asking for anything so don’t worry about me. A good stout pair of gloves for handling barbed wire or fur gloves (lined) would be acceptable.
Must stop. Hoping you are all well and have a very very Merry Xmas and Happy New Year. With love to all from the firing live.
Your nephew,
Louis
• Letter 1: 30 Dec. 1914 Toronto. letter from Louis to his Aunt Lilly
• Letter 2: 9 Jan 1915 letter from Rosa (Lily’s sister and Lou’s mother)to Lilly
• Letter 3: 26 Feb 1915 letter from Jean to her Aunt Lily
• Letter 4 18 Apr. 1915 letter from Tot (Lily’s cousin) to Lily
• Letter 5: 29 June 1915, England. Letter from Louis to his Aunt Lily
• Letter 6: 21 Aug. 1915 England. Letter from Louis to his Aunt Lily
• Letter 7: 24 Oct. 1915 Toronto. Letter from Rosa (Lily’s sister and Lou’s mother)to Lily
• Letter 8: 14 Oct 1915 France. Postcard to Lily from Louis
• Letter 9: 1 Nov. 1915 Toronto. Letter to Lily from Rosa (Lily’s sister and Lou’s mother) enclosing Louis’ lengthy letter of 11 Oct. 1915 in France
• Letter 10: 19 Nov. 1915 Belgium. Letter to Lily from Louis plus enclosure for his niece Jean
• Letter 11: 6 Dec. 1915 Belgium. Letter to Lily from Louis
• Letter 12: 7 Jan. 1916 Toronto. Letter to Lily from Rosa (Lily’s sister and Lou’s mother)expressing her worry over Lou’s silence
• Letter 13: 10 Feb. 1916 Toronto. letter to Lily from Rosa (Lily’s sister and Lou’s mother) with the cable explaining Lou has been wounded and will be in hospital in England two months
• Letter 14: 11 Feb 1916 England. Letter to Lily from Lou about his skull fracture from shrapnel
• Letter 15: 18 Feb. 1916 Toronto. Letter to Lily from Jessie
• Letter 16: 8 Mar. 1916 Winnipeg. Letter to Lily from Cecil Duff, Lou’s brother
• Letter 17: 16 Apr. 1916 Toronto. Letter to Lily from Harry Richey, Lily’s brother