OSE WWI Transcriptions from the Archives

With regard to a possible invasion, I think we could put up a very good show. The coast is well entrenched all the way, together with wire entanglements, heavy guns, and machine guns. However, I don’t think any invasion is at all expected. It gives the men a lot of work to do – that is all. We have sent an enormous number of men across to Belgium since I have been here. Drafts are continually going: yet we are up to full strength. The class of men here now, though apparently not so sharp and bright as the south country men, is a bit above the average private soldier. But the ordinary pit-man is, I am sure, unequalled in density of wit. I was most awfully sorry to hear about Mr Bussell. He was my tutor after Mr Beasley, before ‘C’ set was reinstituted; but I came more in contact with him in the School O.T.C. and as coach of the XV. I can only say that the school chronicle expresses better than I possibly could what I suppose everyone felt for him. I hope sometime that we shall be able to have a large gathering of O.S.E. to celebrate a successful end to the war; and you I hope will be there, because I know that I owe you a large debt carried over from my school days. I hope Miss Sing is quite well. Please remember me to her. Yours very sincerely, Lewis Y. Seymour. 2/Liet. [Second Lieutenant] York and Lancaster Regt.

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