Roberta Writes – Reblog: “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

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/

Roberta Writes – Reblog: “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.~~

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Roberta Writes – Reblog: “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

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.~~ ¹I 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/

Roberta Writes – Reblog: “The Soldier and the Radium Girl Part 1: The Bloom of Youth, Chapter 1: Enlist in haste, repent at leisure (cont. 9)” by Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Thank you to Nolcha Fox from Chewers by Masticadores for sharing part 9 of my story.

Jake Tanner

16 October 1917

It was raining. It was always raining in this godforsaken place, miles away from home.

Jake was sitting propped up against his bulging backpack, with his inadequate covering tucked around his shoulders. The rough grey wool of the army-issue blanket reeked of mold and felt clammy to the touch, but small discomforts like these had ceased to bother Jake days ago.

The light of his small piece of candle flickered and danced in tribute to the icy wind sidling through the gaps caused by the ill-fitting tent flap. Fat droplets drummed steadily on the waterlogged canvas exterior of the tent, and Jake shuddered at the thought of the icy rivulets he knew were streaming down its sides. The trenches he and Mike had dug to stop the water from flooding their sleeping quarters had already been full to overflowing the previous night.

Continue reading here: https://chewersmasticadores.wordpress.com/2025/12/12/the-soldier-and-the-radium-girl-part-1-the-bloom-of-youth-chapter-1-enlist-in-haste-repent-at-leisure-cont-9-by-roberta-eaton-cheadle/

Roberta Writes – Reblog: “The Soldier and the Radium Girl Part 1: The Bloom of Youth, Chapter 1: Enlist in haste, repent at leisure (cont. 8)” by Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Thank you to Nolcha Fox for sharing Part 8 of my WIP, The Soldier and the Radium Girl.

Jake Tanner

9 October 1917

For seven days after leaving Halifax, the convoy traversed the continuously heaving ocean. Aside from twenty short minutes a day stretching their legs and taking the air on deck, the men passed the time playing cards in cramped, confined conditions.

Throughout this time, the confinement chaffed at Jake. Being below deck was like being jailed in a mausoleum with no natural light, airflow, or freedom of movement.

From time to time, a terrible yearning to get out of this horrible place rose within him, making swallowing difficult and constricting his airways. Sometimes a scream fought to escape, and he clamped his jaw tightly shut, holding it back. If he started screaming, he might never stop.

Stormy weather struck two days out of Halifax, and the ship had rolled and lurched ever since. Many men were struck down by seasickness, but, thankfully, neither he nor Joe was affected. Mike took to his bed early on, and they took him water and food at mealtimes.

“No soup.” He pushed his lunch away again today. “The smell makes me sick.”

His hand trembled as he pointed at a small basin. Jake held it under his chin as he retched weakly.

“Water,” he whispered. Jake held the cup to his mouth, and he drank a few sips before sinking back onto the lumpy pillow.

“I’ll eat his soup,” Joe took the bowl and started shoving spoonsful into his mouth. “You’re lucky to get this,” he said to Mike. “You should see the swill we get. Boiled pork and worse yet, boiled rabbit. English food!”

“The foods not the worse part,” Jake added. “The British and French officers are the most stuffy and pompous assholes I’ve ever met.”

“How’s the voyage going?” Mike’s papery voice was reedy.

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I’ve closed comments here so please leave them over at Chewers.

Roberta Writes – Reblog: “The Soldier and the Radium Girl Part 1: The Bloom of Youth, Chapter 1: Enlist in haste, repent at leisure (cont. 7)” by Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Thank you to Nolcha Fox from Chewers by Masticadores for sharing part 7 of my WIP, The Soldier and the Radium Girl.

Jake Tanner

30 September 2021

The ship had crawled up the coast for five days, reaching its destination the previous evening. Once on the ocean, Jake found his sea legs quickly and looked forward to the periods when his platoon was allowed on deck, and he could look at the dark body of water that heaved and churned relentlessly. He found it endlessly fascinating.

Mike was not as fortunate and experienced ongoing seasickness.

He’d languished in his narrow bunk until Beau goaded him into going up on deck with Jake and Joe.

“You would be seasick, Mike,” Beau laughed. “You’re not only the runt of the litter, but the weakling, too.”

After ten minutes of walking up and down the deck, inhaling the tangy ocean air, he’d admitted to feeling much better. “I’m glad you made me come outside.”

Their interludes on deck were far too short, and the trio spent a lot of time playing cards, shooting the wind, and talking about “over there” with their contemporaries.

Continue reading here: https://chewersmasticadores.wordpress.com/2025/11/28/the-soldier-and-the-radium-girl-part-1-the-bloom-of-youth-chapter-1-enlist-in-haste-repent-at-leisure-cont-7-by-roberta-eaton-cheadle/