Letter of 05 June 1918

In the village where he was billeted, George met a French girl and got her to write in French to his sister Alice (who perhaps was studying French in school.) The first part of this document describes the background, the second is a transcription of the original French, the third is a rough translation into English.

[NOTE: Original spelling is preserved. Accent marks in the French are omitted. Words which I couldn't read are indicated (???). Words whose transcription is doubtful are indicated by (?) following the word.]

Extract from George Anderson's letter to Alice, (???) May 1918

"...The French Madamoiselle next door wrote a letter to you last night in French. she was certainly tickled when I asked her to do it and she wants you to write you one in return. Now listen Alice I could not promise you her picture for you know the French girls are worse than the Americans, they won't let em get out but if this small vocabulary of French I parle-voo works for I will get one mabe [last word underlined]...."

French text of letter and note

Je vieux t'ecrire ces quelques lignes pour te donner mes nouvelles qui sont toujours bonnes et la sante est de meme. Je souhaite bien de tout coeur que vous (???) tous de meme.

Je suis donc depuis deux moix loges dans cette meme maison, ou je suis d'ailleurs (on ne peut mieux) le travail vas pas trop mal. Nous sommes tres (???) loges en compagne'l(?) du betail, chevaux, vaches, etc. Je suis on ne peut mieux, avec tout la famille le pap, la maman, et deus demoiselles. Il pays n'est pas trop mal. Heureusement(?) nous avons biens des amusements, entres autres--la musique, le cinema, la danse ou toute la population prend parte.

Enfin, chere petite soeur, je ne sais pas de nouveau a te dire. L(???) ext que j'ai hate de vous revoir. En te quittant je t'offre tous mes meilleurs (???) accompagne.

Cette petite lettre est ecrite par une francaise qui habite a 1(?) kilometre du front, vous pouvez donc juges (???) nous entendons le canon incessament. J'ai egalement comme vous un frere au front depuis 4 ans. Blesse serieusement de (???). Nous avons eu le malheur d'avoir le boche dans notre pays pendant 20(?) jours en 1914. Nous savons ce qui est la guerre. Helas, c'est bien triste. Enfin, esperons(?) a une fin(?) prochaine. J'habite avec mes parents et ma jeune soeur, et exesuses(?) la (???) de fermiers.

J'espere donc Madamoiselle que ces qulques lignes vous (???) (???) sans trop tarder, et que vous me (???) l'honneur d'une petite lettre, cela me fera une bien. (???) (???) Je vous assure pays la ferez (???) a votre frere que me l remettra puisqu'il n'est possible de dire le pays que j'habite. En vous quittant, je vous prie d'accepter tous mes sentiments bien affectueuses,

Rough translation

I want to write you these few lines to give you my news, which is good; my health is the same. I wish with all my heart the same for all of you.

For the last two months I have been staying in the same house, and the work is not too bad. There are three of us; we sleep with the horses and the cows and the other animals. I could not have done better, with all the family--the papa, the mama and two young ladies. The country is not bad. Fortunately, we have plenty of things to keep us entertained--music, motion pictures, dancing where the whole population takes part.

Well, dear little sister, I have nothing new to tell you. I really am anxious to see you again soon. In closing, I offer you my best wishes, etc.

This small letter is written by a Frenchwoman living 1 km from the front, so as you can imagine, we constantly hear the sound of the cannons. Like you, I have a brother at the front, for four years now, seriously wounded in the ... We had the misfortune to have the Germans in our land for 20 days in 1914. We know what war is. Alas, it is very sad. We hope it will end soon. I live with my parents and young sister and we lead the lives of farmers.

So I hope, Madamoiselle, that these few lines will reach you without long delay, and that you will honor me with the gift of a small letter. You may write me in care of your brother who will transmit the letter to me, since I cannot tell you where I live.