Letters From the Trenches: A Soldier of the Great War (17 page)
Read Letters From the Trenches: A Soldier of the Great War Online
Authors: Bill Lamin
Tags: #World War I, #Autobiography, #Personal Memoirs
This wonderful letter from Harry to Jack gives us, for once, a great deal of information. He introduces some new characters that I know nothing about – since there is no
one left alive to ask, readers will have to draw their own conclusions. Aunt Polly sounds like a dragon, but who knows? Aunt Annie is unlikely to be Harry’s sister, Sarah Anne, although she
was always known as Annie. As mentioned, Jack Bonser would have been Harry’s cousin or another quite close relation. He seems to have died from wounds, and his death to have had a profound
effect upon ‘Uncle Shelton’, who is possibly his father.
The sentence ‘I don’t suppose the war will be over just yet...’ was picked up from the blog and, with a picture of Harry, used on a set of postage stamps for the British Indian
Ocean Territories commemorating the ninetieth anniversary of the end of the war.
The front line sounds bearable, certainly in comparison to the Ypres Salient. A fire on the cold nights would have been a luxury; in Flanders, however, a fire, or anything that gave away the
presence of troops, such as the flare of a match to light a cigarette, would have immediately attracted a lethal attack from rifles, machine guns, shells or trench mortars – or all of
them.
We then come to Harry’s best description of Flanders, written months after he left that theatre of operations. Perhaps he feels more comfortable describing it now he’s no longer
there. The HAC he mentions (Jack has obviously asked him about it) is the Honourable Artillery Company, then, as now, a London-based Reserve unit which, despite its name, raised a number of
infantry battalions during the Great War, as well as fielding artillery batteries. The horror of being lost in waist-deep ‘slug’ can only be imagined. Harry’s hope that ‘we
don’t get anything like it again’ shows how much better the conditions are in Italy.
Trench foot was a serious problem among the troops and was addressed with regular inspections and the daily application of whale oil. In the muddy conditions of Flanders, and elsewhere, soldiers
would be, understandably, reluctant to remove their boots and socks for the duration of a tour in the trenches which might be for up to two weeks. For that period, their feet would be constantly
cold, dirty and wet, and liable to develop an infection that would, literally, rot the feet. Severe cases could lead to amputation or even death. Until the policy of inspecting and oiling the feet
was adopted, the ailment had been a significant problem in the trench-bound armies.
Meanwhile the battalion continues to train – and to drill...
14th
[February]
Divl. Rifle Range allotted to the Batn. Practices in the musketry course part 1 continued. Remainder of the morning Coys at disposal of Os. C. Coys
for Arms Drill, Saluting Drill and Platoon Drill. Lewis Gunners into Coys for range practice, arms drill etc. Signallers and Scouts under their respective officers. In the afternoon one good
instructor and twelve men per Coy. (worst shots) reported to the Miniature
[i.e. 25-yard]
Range under L.G.O.
[Lewis gun officer]
. The 3rd replay for the Divl. Championship between
69th & 70th Brigade took place on the Divl. Football Ground MONTEBELLUNA, resulting in a victory for the 70th Brigade. Score 70th 3 goals 69th 1 goal. 10 N.C.O.s previously detailed,
reported with 2nd/Lt W DARRELL to the 128th Field Coy R.E. for instruction in knotting and lashing. On the evenings of the 12th and 13th of this month, a party of artistes styling themselves
‘THE TIMIDS’ gave two excellent performances in the large hall of the Hd. Qrs Billet. The troop
[troupe]
was entirely composed of members of the 70th Field Ambulance.
The 9th Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment was part of 70 Brigade which, with 68 and 69 Brigades, made up the 23rd Division, itself part of the Second Army.
16th
[February]
Battn. marched to LORIA and took over billets from the 12th Battn EAST SURREY Regt. Battn. moved off at 8.30 am. Route Posmo
[?]
– C.
MORA – BUSTA. Dinners on arrival in Billets. Battn. in billets at 2 pm.
17th Battn. moved to VILLA FIETTA near CRESPANO. Taking over billets from the 19th Battn. Middlesex Regt. (Pioneers) Dinners on arrival in billets. Battn. in billets at
3pm.
18th Coys at Os. C. Coys’ disposal for inspection & thorough cleaning of billets and equipment. Signallers under their own officer. The Scouts under the Scout
Officer climbed Mount GRAPPA where a detachment of Italians (65th Div) made them welcome and gave them a loaf of bread each!
During the rest of February and into early March, Harry was able to write several letters, while the battalion remained in billets and continued with training.
Feb 18th/1918
32507 / 9th Batt York & Lancs., C Company,
12 Platoon L.G.S., I.E.F.
Dear Jack
I am pleased to hear that you are both getting on well. the weather here is still very cold. we are very near the mountains now. I expect we shall get it hot when the
weather does change. I should not be surprised if we don’t have another move before long. I have been alright in Italy up to now. I hope to remain so. We cannot grumble at the quiet time
we have had. Glad to hear that they are going on alright at Ilkeston. I think they would have been to see you only the train fare is such a lot of money. I was very pleased with the two papers
you sent it was just what I wanted. there is some grand scenery round here it would be alright for a holiday in peace time, but I dont know when that will be. I hope it will not be long as I am
ready to get back any time. What had Aunt annie to say did she stay long at Uncle Shelton’s it was a very sad affair and I was very sorry. It will soon be Willie birthday again in March.
but I dont suppose I shall be able to send anything as there is not much to get here. Write as often as you can.
With best Love to you both
Harry
Feb 22/2/18
32509/ 9th Batt, York & Lancs Regt., C Company,
12 Platoon L.G.S., I.E.F.
Dear Kate,
I have received your parcel alright and it is very good. I have had a letter from Jack and one from Ethel I was pleased to hear that they are going on alright and that
Jack is quite happy in his married life. Ethel tells me what a rum chap Willie gets and is a very good talker. he can say anything. I should very much like to see him and Connie. They tell me
that dad does not get much better but he is getting an old man. I think he will be better as the weather gets warmer, well I hope so. Write back as often as you can and let me know how you are
getting on.
With best Love
Harry
Harry’s father would have been seventy-three years old at the time – certainly a good age in 1918.
Feb 22/2/18
32509/ 9th Batt., York & Lancs Regt., C Company,
12 Platoon, L.G.S.
Dear Jack
I received your letter yesterday and was very pleased with it. The salmon was alright and tasted a treat. I have seen nothing of the Batt you spoke of out hear, you ask
me in your letter last time. I was pleased to hear that they were going on alright a
[at]
Ilkeston and in good health. I am also feeling well myself. I am glad that you are getting on
alright and I wish to be remembered to your wife. Ethel tells me that Willie was quite willing to go back with you last time you went home. he must be a rum chap. Kate as just sent me a cake so
I am alright.
With best love to you both Write back as soon as possible.
Harry.
A cake, tinned salmon – everything was indeed ‘alright’. The war diary, however, is still concerned with training, and especially musketry:
28th
[February]
‘B’ and C Coys training in hill fighting on the MONTELLO. ‘A’ and ‘D’ Coys at Os. C. Coys disposal for Company
training. Field Firing Range allotted to ‘A’ and ‘D’ Coys from noon to dusk. Specialists under their own Officers. During the month a marked improvement has taken place
in the men’s shooting.
In his next letter Harry, rather touchingly, commiserates with civilians at home now enduring food rationing:
March 3rd/1918
32507 / 9 Batt York & Lancs Regt., C. Company,
12 Platoon L G S., I.E.F
Dear Kate
I am pleased you are getting on alright. I am in good health at present. I am glad they are keeping well at Ilkeston, it is Willie’s Birthday this month. I hope the
war will be over before it comes round again. It must be bad for you in England being so short of food it will be a good job when it is over. We are not so bad off for food out hear and cannot
grumble, not in war time. I have had a letter from Jack he says that he and his wife are keeping well and that he will not be required for the army so he is alright, I am very pleased. Write as
often as you can and let me know when you pay Jack a visit. The scenery here is alright we are quite close to the mountains and they look well. It takes five hours to get to the top of some and
they are not the largest it would be alright out hear in peace time We can get plenty of fruit out here oranges and apples etc. but we dont get paid often enough. I think I must be a nice bit
in credit.
With best love
Harry
(PS) Put I.E.F on letters not B.E.F.
Willie will be two on 23 March. A plentiful supply of fruit, especially oranges would have been an astonishing luxury for an East midlands man. Harry must be describing the
scouting expedition to the top of mount Grappa, mentioned in the war diary entry for 18 February. It seems, too, that Jack has had confirmation that he won’t be conscripted.
For this letter to Kate, Harry used a ‘green envelope’, which were issued only sparingly to soldiers and were much coveted. instead of Battalion Headquarters reading and censoring a
letter, the writer sealed it in one of these envelopes and signed the declaration on the front; it was then sent unread. The letter might be checked by a censor away from the front, although
probably only a small proportion were, which in turn meant that a soldier could write quite personal details without fear of local embarrassment.
A ‘green envelope’, showing the declaration that Harry signed.
Harry’s next letter to Jack rehearses much of what he had written to Kate:
March 4th/1918
32507/9 Batt York and Lanc Regt., C. Company
12 Platoon L.G.S., I.E.F
Dear Jack
I have received your paper’s and was very pleased with them I am glad that you are both keeping well. as I am alright at present. I am pleased to hear that you are
able to stay at home and that the army will not require you. I have had a letter from Ethel and she says that dad does not get much better. I am glad that you have an idea where abouts I am
things are still quite
[quiet]
I hope they remain so. We are not doing so bad for food out here it would be better if we got paid more regular we have only drawn ten lires in a month
that is equal to five shillings
[£0.25]
in English money, so I think we shall have a bit to our credit, we get plenty of fruit out here oranges and apples etc. It will be
Willie’s birthday this month
[23rd]
but I shall not be able to send him anything. We see some fine scenery out here we are quite close to the mountains some of these take about
five hours to climb and they are not the highest. it is different to flanders being out here. I think Kate will try to get a day or two off to see you she told me in her last letter that she
would like to pay you a visit. Write back as soon as possible I am always glad to get a letter.
With best love to you both
Harry
Clearly Harry is not pleased with the pay situation. He should be receiving 7 shillings (£0.35) a week with a deduction of 1½d (£0.006) for
‘insurance’. (Who says that the military mind has no sense of humour?) By keeping back some of his pay, the Army would have been ensuring that Harry was saving well over a £1 a
month – more than £50 at today’s values.
The war diary, meanwhile, is still detailing training, as well as a few sporting activities besides some more serious work:
6th–12th [March] Bn. relieved the 9th Yorkshire Regt in the line on the MONTELLO (Right Sector, Divl. Front), becoming Support Bn in the Brigade. Musketry, live
bombing, grenade throwing, firing the Lewis Gun and training in Bayonet Fighting Course were carried out whilst in those billets.
Specialists were trained under their own officers. A Cross Country run was held on the 10th inst and various football matches were played between companies and platoons.
On 10th inst Working Parties were supplied to the Right Front Line Battalion, to improve the Second Line.
Then, in the middle of March, the battalion, having received new orders, left the Piave front, setting off on a lengthy march to the west, to take its place on the Asiago
Plateau in the Dolomite Mountains.
