OSE WWI Transcriptions from the Archives

01 : B. F. Bailey – 1 st Royal Bucks, B.E.F. – 27 Dec 1916 Dear Mr Sing,

Thank you so much for your kind letter, I should have written earlier but your letter arrived on the eve of the Beaumont – Hamel show and when it was over they gave me 10 days special leave to go and see my son and heir – it was rather strange, he was born the very hour and day that our battalion left the parapet to attack (Nov 14 th ), so I am having him christened “John David Beaumont Bailey”, he is a fine little fellow, and weighed over 8lbs when he was born and is gaining weight rapidly; ¾lb a week. But the object of this letter is not only to thank you for yours, but to ask if you will be a Godfather to my little son John; it’s like my impudence to ask you, I know, but still I am a father now, and I can only say that I could wish him no better friend or adviser, it will be a great comfort to me if I hear from you that you are able to give your consent and will help me to lick him into shape! Margot is staying with Mrs Davis, Darrick Wood, Orpington, Kent. If your answer is ‘yes’, would you let her know, and if you are in town and able to get down for the christening Jan : 11 th , Margot would be delighted. If you let her know that you are coming for lunch all will be ready, and she would send a conveyance to meet your train. The padre of my regiment will be home on leave and is going to officiate for us. E.P. S t John and I am asking my brother Cuthbert to be as Godfather too. We are all anxious that 1917 should see an allied peace, but we must see it properly through so that little John and his generation don’t have a repetition of this struggle. With best wishes, Ever yours Bernard Bailey

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