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Date: January 27th 1919
To
Mother and Father
From
Walter Liddiard
Letter

No. 65 Jandrain (Belgium) Jan 27/19 Dear Mother & Dad.- Well here we are again and nothing much to report I am billeted in a house with two others, there are just an old couple in the place and a son that comes home every week-end. They treat us pretty well, we have the best room in the house only the first few days, we had no stove and it was mighty cold, but the old gent put one up for us so we are better off now. Those first couple of days were pretty crimpy, the first night I slept right on the cold tiles (they are all tile floors in Belgium) the next day. (I had to stop and have some coffee and bread and butter with honey, with the old folks) As I was saying, the next day I got after them and got a straw mattress I must have caught a cold that first night as I had a bad sore throat and felt pretty rotten for a few days. The people were very good to me and gave me hot milk three times a day, two big cups full each time. I am feel-ing pretty good again now. Their bread here is very good, quite light in color and tastes fine, they make their own butter in the house We have two cows, some pigs, chickens, a dog and cat. I had two fried eggs one morning , they certainly tasted good, but they cost about 15 [?], so they are a luxury. I have just received another letter from you of Dec. 29th, Am glad that you had a nice Xmas and that you received some more letters. That was lucky receiving letters from both Tom & I and also [?]. Norris, it was nearly as good as getting presents. It would help to make you more contented and make Xmas more enjoyable Thanks for the news-papers clippings re the War Gratuity Pay, the scheme isn't perfect as the 'colonists' or 'Times' points out, but still it will give us a little more money. As far as I can make out, I'll receive 4 months pay [?] to $280, that will sure be acceptable, but I'm not worrying about the money, what I want most, is to get home and get my discharge I've done enough roaming to last my life-time, I'll be content to stay right at home after this I haven't seen anyplace I liked better. I received a letter from Phoebe today also, they are all fine, they had received a letter from [?] and Tom. I wrote to Tom yesterday. Well I must close now and get to bed as the candle is nearly burnt out. Bon Nuit Your loving son Walter

Original Scans

Original Scans