Letter from Gunner Alfred Beaumont R.F.A. (2)

This letter was written by my grandfather to his mother as he was waiting to be sent to France.At the time his wife was also away from home, working in a munitions factory and their three children were being cared for by their grandmother.It is clear from the way in which he thanked her for all she had done for them that he was very aware that he might never see his family again.He did survive the war but his health was wrecked after being gassed and he died prematurely from the effects of his war service.

本信件为我的祖父在等待被调派至法国期间，写给其母亲的家书。彼时他的妻子亦离家在外，于一家军工厂务工，他们的三名子女则由祖母照料。从他感谢母亲为家庭付出诸多辛劳的字里行间，不难看出他已然明晰自己或许再无与家人团聚的可能。尽管他最终在战争中幸存，却因遭遇毒气袭击而健康彻底受损，最终因战时服役留下的后遗症过早离世。