I'm writing a collection of short stories and the first one is about my great grandfather's time in the artillery, in the story he is writing a letter home to his mother (gives me an excuse to tell the reader what life in the artillery was like) and I'm unsure how to word it, this is what I've got:
Dear Mum,
I am writing this from the fields of France on the 5th of September.
This is what I don't know how to say, would soldiers write the date and location like that? How is the whole thing formatted? Any and all help is welcome thanks!
You don't say, but I'm assuming he's British since you've addressed the letter "Dear Mum." You need to read some actual letters to get a feel for it. The National Archives have a selection available online you can start with: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/letters-first-world-war-1915/