Feature Letter of August 21st, 2025
Evans, Stanley William
[Written by Gunner Stanley William “Bill” Evans to his wife Helen and son Howie in Acme, Alberta, following his arrival in England on his way back to Canada at the close of WWII.]
No.1 Repatration Depo.
21/8/45
Dearest Helen and Howie,
Well my loves I haven’t writen you for a long time but I have a good excuse as I left Holand about a month ago and ever since I have been told I would be sailing for home the next day. So I hope you will excuse me. But I am leaving on the 27 of this month. So I hope you will be waiting for me honey yes you can tell Howie dady is coming home at last I took a 9 day leave here in England and a few days after I landed, I went to Burmingham with Roy Sholtes from Oidsbury as he is on the same draft as I am He is from the same Reg. as I am and we get along oK. I shor hope you can read this this is the third pen I have tried and this one isn’t much good The main thing is I hope you still love me because honey I shor do you and I hope this is the last time I will have to put it on paper. And I won’t ask you to answer this as I hope I am not away long enough to get it. I shor hope you are all well honey. And just what will we do as soon as I get home there is so much to do that I don’t know what to figure on doing first. I think I will leave it to you to figure out o.K.
I wrote Mom. When I was in Belgium. So I suppose you have heard I was on my way home I won’t believe it till I get there I don’t see how it can be but remember what I said when I left. I said I would be back. I though many a time since that I had told a big lie. Well my love I am just about out of writing space. And I can truthefuly say now I hope to be home soon (AND WILL BE) All my love dearest wich you will have soon,
Your husband
Bill & dady,
XXXXXXXXXOOOOO
Why Support Canadian Letters & Images Project
As we move away in time from past conflicts and as our veteran population declines, it becomes increasingly difficult for Canadians to understand the sacrifices that men and women made, both on the battlefield and on the home front, during wartime. The Canadian Letters and Images Project has been sharing their stories, and Canada’s story, for the past quarter century.
These are the experiences of Canadians as seen through their eyes and their words. This is history in the raw, without a lens of interpretation added through time. I invite you to spend some time reading their letters, seeing their faces in the photographs, or listening to an audio letter, to appreciate why their experiences must be preserved for now and for future generations.
Donations, large and small, ensures that The Canadian Letters and Images Project can keep this important content freely available for this generation and for future generations. Please help us to preserve their stories.
Donate
