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Date: October 1st 1916
To
Sister
From
Ralph Gale
Letter

[letterhead and printed-form content from the letter has been italicized in bold]

Kriegsgefangenenlager
Friedrichsfeld (bei Wesel), (Rhld.)

Oct 1st 1916

Voici mon adresse:
Envoi du Prisonnier de Guerre
Mr Ralph C Gale
No Mle 53721 Baraque Detachment 55
Camp des Prisonniers de guerre
Friedrichsfeld (bei Wesel, Rheinland).
Les indications ci-dessus sont à reproduire dans l’adresse de la reponse.
Défense d’écrire á l’encre. Ecrire très lisiblement.

Dear Sister:

Received your letter yesterday, mighty glad to hear from you was wondering why you didn’t write and tell a fellow the news

A cranky old school marm again. I think if I remember rightly only a few short years ago you looked with disdain on the poor school teachers (ha-ha) that was when you were a freshette

How do you like your boarding place I hope you were lucky enough to get a good one, you know how awkward it is to change but if it is not a good place you can probably stand it until Christmas, mamma wrote me you were boarding at a Mrs Alexander Galis. It sounds like a good name “bye the way” I wonder if she didn’t use to be Bessie Kelly, if so I know her quite well, she use to teach a Youngs Cove a long time ago when I was young if so give her my best regards and tell her I would like to write her a letter and tell her not to allow any old bachelors to hang around just because the teacher boards there

I was very glad to hear Everett Wasson and Rofle Nevers were alright I did not see either one of them the day of the scrap but heard of them from other fellows. We had some lively time for eight hours on June the second I shall tell you more about it later.

Well Alma I have not received your box yet but do not worry I shall get it soon, you shall have to thank Miss Purdy for the chocolates. I got a box from Eva Mott you thank her for me and tell her I am sorry I cannot write. I got a letter from Lucile Nevers you will have to write to her I think I shall have to make you my private secretary in Canada during my turn as prisoner of war a least you might tell all my friends how pleased I am to get letters

Well Alma I have not more news to write I am real well. Kind regards to Bessie and Alex. Tell Alex to keep a job for me in his landry when I get back

Lots of Love
Ralph

P.S. be sure and get this new address

Pte Ralph Gale
4th C.M.R. Battn.
Prisoner No. 53721
Detachment 55
Friedrichsfeld
Rhineland

Original Scans

Original Scans

German P.O.W. letter Friedrichsfeld Camp, Pte. Ralph Gale Collection, 1916, WWI