August 25, 1919 Paris Train ( From Lille ) and Berg. Gladbach

Bill is on leave and writes to his mother in Teeswater. He has travelled from Cologne to Brussels to Antwerp back to Brussels to Ostend via Ghent and Bruges and along the coast from Ostend to Blankenburghe and Zeebrugge. Now he on on the Paris train via Thorout, Roulers, Courtrai, Turcoing, Lille, Douai, Arras and Albert passing through the war areas most damaged. He describes the bleak landscape in north-eastern France prior to reconstruction and describes and photographs German fortifications long the coast before they were dismantled.

 

  Note: the rest of the letter is written around the beginning of September 1919 when Bill returned to Berg. Gladbach, Germany.

 

 

Note: Photos mentioned in this letter will be posted separately