My apologies, work has been crazy for the past two weeks so I got a bit behind with posting these episodes. I am posting two today, episodes 14 and 15.

Jake Tanner

Letter from Private Jake Tanner to his fiancée, Kate Henderson 30 November 1917

My dearest Kate

I often wonder how you are and how your job at the factory is going. I can’t believe you’ve been working there for nearly three months already.

Yesterday was Thanksgiving, and the army celebrated in style. We were given the day off as a holiday and had an excellent dinner of turkey, cranberry sauce, asparagus, corn, sweet potato, apple pie, cake, and coffee.  It was nice of the government to make sure we had such a good meal.

The weather has turned cold, and it snowed a little yesterday and last night. Our winter uniforms have still not arrived, and our current ones are quickly wearing out. My boots are also in a bad state because they are constantly wet, and it is impossible to dry, clean, or oil them.

Continue reading here: https://chewersmasticadores.wordpress.com/2026/01/16/the-soldier-and-the-radium-girl-part-1-the-bloom-of-youth-chapter-1-enlist-in-haste-repent-at-leisure-cont-14-by-roberta-eaton-cheadle/

Jake Tanner

23 December 1917

Most of the men embraced training in gas discipline with enthusiasm.

“It’s a step closer to the front,” said Robson.

“What are you in such a rush to get to the front for?” asked Big Mouth. Jake noted a reduction in Big Mouth’s enthusiasm for the front since Mike died. The death of one of their own lay heavily on all the men’s hearts.

Jake examined the scary-looking gas mask he’d been issued.

“You must wear your helmet and carry your mask with you at all times,” ordered Sarge.

“Again,” ordered Capitaine Moreau. “You must learn to put your gas mask on in six seconds.”

Gas mask on, gas mask off. The practice went on and on for hours. When the men finally mastered putting on their own masks to Capitaine Moreau’s satisfaction, they practiced putting masks on horses.

Continue reading here: https://chewersmasticadores.wordpress.com/2026/01/23/the-soldier-and-the-radium-girl-part-1-the-bloom-of-youth-chapter-1-enlist-in-haste-repent-at-leisure-cont-15-by-roberta-eaton-cheadle/

Jake Tanner

21 November 1917

Once again, Jake’s platoon spent the day digging. Boredom, the physical effort, and the weather colluded, and the men were edgy and bad-tempered.

“The Tommies broke through the Hinderberg line at Cambrai yesterday,” said Big Mouth.

“I heard the Tommies used tanks for the assault. I’d love to see a tank,” said Joe, his eyes alight with enthusiasm.

“Yeah, I also read they used tanks.” Big Mouth stopped work and leaned on his spade. “The USA 11th, 12^th, and 14th Engineer Regiments supported the British troops by doing railway construction work behind the trenches. Lucky bastards.”

Continue reading here: https://chewersmasticadores.wordpress.com/2026/01/09/the-soldier-and-the-radium-girl-part-1-the-bloom-of-youth-chapter-1-enlist-in-haste-repent-at-leisure-cont-13-by-roberta-eaton-cheadle/

I’m a bit late reblogging this episode as I’ve been traveling and in the bush since 2 January. I can repost from Robbie’s Inspiration through Jetpack but this blog does not play the reposting game.

Thanks for sharing episode 12, Nolcha.

“The Soldier and the Radium Girl Part 1: The Bloom of Youth, Chapter 1: Enlist in haste, repent at leisure (cont. 12)” by Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Jake Tanner

9 November 1917

Jake’s platoon was assigned a day of hard labor.

“From now on, men, it’s going to be one day of military training and drilling and one day of hard labor,” Sarge announced that morning. “We’ve all got to do our bit to help get the training center built.”

The troops spent the day digging foundations for the numerous buildings that would comprise the training center. There would be barracks, administrative buildings, hospitals, and Y.M.C.A. facilities. Other infrastructure would also be needed, including roads and telephone wires.

“The training center must be built and up and running before the next lot of recruits start to arrive,” Sarge said during the evening meal.

“I’ll be glad to get back to military training tomorrow,” Beau complained. “It’s easy compared to building.”

“It sure is,” whined Mike, “just look at my hands.” The palms he held out were studded with blisters. “I’ve got handling those five-ton iron and steel beams to thank for these.”

“Mine are the same,” Jake said, “What about you, Joe?”

Joe’s calloused palms were unmarred by blisters.

Continue reading here: https://chewersmasticadores.wordpress.com/2026/01/02/the-soldier-and-the-radium-girl-part-1-the-bloom-of-youth-chapter-1-enlist-in-haste-repent-at-leisure-cont-11-by-roberta-eaton-cheadle/

I am late reposting this. I have been struggling to reblog from my iphone. I have to do it manually on my laptop. Is anyone else having an issue with reblogging?

Thank you, Nolcha, for sharing part 11 of my book.

Jake Tanner

Letter from Private Jake Tanner to his fiancée, Kate Henderson 3 November 1917

Dear Kate

This is just a quick note to let you know my battalion is billeted in a small town in France. I am sharing a barn with the men from my platoon. Joe, Mike, Beau, and Will are still with me, and that’s a comfort.

I am glad we are living in a barn and not tents, as it has rained nearly continuously since our arrival two weeks ago.  The barns leak, but the earth floors are high enough not to flood.

The mud here is different from the mud back home. It is a yellow clay which builds up thickly on our boots and must be scraped off. I never thought I’d be spending 30 minutes a day trying to get mud off my boots and uniform.

A lot of the army supplies are still in England or stateside, so rations are a bit of a sore topic. The food is dull and repetitive, with stew and corned beef hash being staples. None of us has much money ,and we pawned just about every trinket we brought with us at the different stores in exchange for tobacco and chocolate. Some of the men resorted to smoking tea, dried clover leaves, and anything else they can get their hands on. Don’t worry, I have not done this. I’ve never been that keen on smoking, as you know.

We have started training even though a lot of our equipment hasn’t yet arrived. I hope the food situation will improve soon, as it is hard to be energetic when you are hungry.

Continue reading here: https://chewersmasticadores.wordpress.com/2025/12/26/the-soldier-and-the-radium-girl-part-1-the-bloom-of-youth-chapter-1-enlist-in-haste-repent-at-leisure-cont-11-by-roberta-eaton-cheadle-2/

Thank you to Nolcha Fox from Chewers by Masticadores for sharing part 10 in my story.

Jake Tanner

Letter from Private Jake Tanner to his fiancée, Kate Henderson 20 October 1917

My dearest Kate

I can hardly believe that it’s only been six weeks since we said goodbye. So much has happened in this short time, I feel as if a lifetime has passed.

I arrived in England ten days ago and have been waiting for transport “over there”. Yesterday, we got our orders to entrain for Southhampton Docks. ¹ I am mailing this letter to you today, and tonight I will be boarding a channel boat and crossing the English Channel to Le Havre. The next time I write to you, I will be in France. I hope the French food is better than the English food. The Tommies said the French, whom they call Poilu, eat snails and frogs’ legs. I sincerely hope I am not expected to eat either.

I am still with Joe, Mike, Beau, and Will, and they are also well.

Continue reading here: https://chewersmasticadores.wordpress.com/2025/12/19/the-soldier-and-the-radium-girl-part-1-the-bloom-of-youth-chapter-1-enlist-in-haste-repent-at-leisure-cont-10-by-roberta-eaton-cheadle/