Series 1: Letters from Gordon Parkinson, 1916-1918.
Most of the letters are addressed to Gordon’s older brother, Bob (Robert Arthur), with several addressed to his father, (Robert John “Johnny”), or to “family”. A few are addressed to Gordon’s mother, (Katherine Ellen (Hull)) and to younger brothers Dick (Cecil) and Bill (Charles Wesley). Note: in most cases, envelopes are included with the letters. Arranged chronologically. F.4 England (Witley Camp, West Sandling Camp). December 26, 1916 – March 26, 1917
Letter 23. To father. December 26, 1916.
Letter 24. To father and everybody. January 3, 1917.
Letter 25. To father. Moved to Witley Camp, Surrey England. D. Co. 161 Battalion. January 5, 1917.
Letter 26. To mother, to father, and notes to Dick and Bill. West Sandling Camp, Shorncliffe. January 15, 1917.
Letter 27. To father. West Sandling Camp, Shorncliffe. 4th Reserve Battalion. January 28, 1917.
Letter 28. To Bob. Witley Camp, Surrey. D. Company, 161 Battalion. February 13, 1917.
Letter 29. To father. Witley Camp. February 17, 1917.
Letter 30. To father. Witley Camp. February 26, 1917.
Letter 31. To Bob. Witley Camp. March 4, 1917. [letter torn along crease]
Letter 32. To father. Witley Camp. March 10, 1917.
Letter 33. To Bob. Witley Camp, D. Coy, 161 Battalion. March 19, 1917. [quarantined with mumps]
Letter 34. To father. Witley Camp. March 26, 1917.
F.5 Witley Camp, Surrey, England. March 27- July 16, 1917.
Letter 35. To Bob. Letter opened by censor. Gordon comments on his father blowing up the town with fire crackers. March 27, 1917.
Letter 36. To Bob. April 1, 1917.
Letter 37. To father. 823753 D. Corp., 161 Battalion, Witley Camp, Surrey. April 8, 1917.
Letter 38. To Bob. April 12, 1917.
Letter 39. To father. C. C. 823453, 161 Battalion, Witley Camp. April 29, 1917.
Letter 40. To father and family. May 1, 1917.
Letter 41. To father. May 14, 1917.
Letter 42. To Bob. Opened by censor. May 18, 1917.
Letter 43. To father and family. May 22, 1917.
Letter 44. To Bob. Opened by censor. Last page missing, Gordon comments on machine gun capabilities. June 2, 1917.
Letter 45. To father. June 11, 1917. [missing envelope]
Letter 46. To Bob. June 15, 1917. Opened by censor.
Letter 47. To Bob. June 25, 1917.
Letter 48. To Bob. July 4, 1917. Visit to Nelson’s Victory, Fortsmouth.
Letter 49. To Bob. July 12, 1917.
Letter 50. To Bob. 823753 Scout Section, 161 Battalion, Witley Camp, Surrey. July 16, 1917.
F.6 Witley Camp, Surrey, England. July 20- September 30, 1917.
Letter 51. To father and family. July 20, 1917.
Letter 52. To father and family. July 26, 1917.
Letter 53. To Bob. July 31, 1917. [paper discoloured dark brown top and bottom]
Letter 54. To Dick. To Bob. August 3, 1917.
Letter 55. To Bob. 823753 Scout Section, 161 Battalion. August 16, 1917.
Letter 56. To Bob. 823753 Scout Section, 161Cdn. Inf. Batt. August 20, 1917.
Letter 57. To Bob. 823753 Scout Section, 161Cdn. Inf. Batt. Witley. August 25, 1917.
Letter 58. To Bob. Witley Camp. August 27, 1917.
Letter 59. To Bob. August 29, 1917. [paper discoloured brown on top and bottom right corners]
Letter 60. To Bob. September 8, 1917.
Letter 61. To father. September 13, 1917.
Letter 62. To Bob. September 18, 1917.
Letter 63. To father. September 21, 1917.
Letter 64. To father. September 30, 1917.
F.7 Witley Camp, Surrey, England. October 7, 1917- March 26, 1918.
Letter 65. To Bob. October 7, 1917.
Letter 66. To Bob. October 12, 1917. [paper discoloured brown upper right side]
Letter 67. To Bob. October 16, 1917.
Letter 68. To Bob. October 24, 1917.
Letter 69. To Bob. October 29, 1917. Bob is turned down at the medical board.
Letter 70. To Bob. November 12, 1917.
Letter 71. To father and family. Program of the Reunion of former member’s of 142nd London’s Own Battalion (November 14, 1917). November 16, 1917.
Letter 72. To father and family. November 25, 1917. [missing envelope]
Letter 73. Postcard to Dick. Christmas 1917.
Letter 74. Postcard to Bill. Christmas 1917.
Letter 75. Postcard to mother. Christmas 1917.
Letter 76. To father and family. December 2, 1917.
Letter 77. To Bob. December 4, 1917.
Letter 78. To father. December 16, 1917.
Letter 79. To Bob. December 24, 1917.
Letter 80. To Bob. January 1, 1918.
Letter 81. To Bob. January 9, 1918.
Letter 82. To father and family. January 16, 1918.
Letter 83. To Bob and family. Visited Edinburgh. February 5, 1918.
Letter 84. To Bob. February 13, 1918.
Letter 85. To Bob. February 21, 1918.
Letter 86. To father and family. Moved to C. Co. 4th Reserve Bramshott, Surrey. Granton stamp March 26, 1918.
Letter 87. To Bob and family. Visited London. Leaving for France the next day. March 26, 1918.