Harry's war starts here.

Harry has received his call up to the army. He has to travel from Ilkeston in Derbyshire (Between Nottingham and Derby) to Rugeley army camp in Staffordshire. Travel could well have been by train. A railway expert is currently researching the most likely route that was available in 1917.

The first letter is dated from the postmark as 7th February 1917. As promised, the letter from the training camp will be published on the evening of Wednesday 7th February 2007 - Exactly 90 years after it was written. (7th February 1917 was also a Wednesday, so the days of the week will coincide.)

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Would you consider scanning the letters and putting the images of the letters up online as well?

Anonymous said...

As I drove home today I was rivited to a radio broadcast featuring this blog and these wonderful letters. I look forward to following them. Thank goodness they were saved!

ps. I was listening to "The World" on "National Public Radio." Dallas, Texas. USA

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing your family and a look to our past. My English heritage runs deep through my Texas roots
I just became aware of this site and will be catching up with the postings. The blog was introduced through a computer site.
Dallas/ Ft Worth Texas

Anonymous said...

I listened to BH yesterday. I'm looking forward to catching up on the year!
I too would be interested to see the original letters.
Thanks for all your efforts.
Bob

Anonymous said...

Seen this in the Daily record today. Exellent!

taz said...

I had seen your storie on MSNBC, I think that it is great anytime we can take a look in the past. You have made your grandfather come alive again and that is great. I also just purchased a book called Behind The Lines by Andrew Carroll, it is a book of letters from as far back as the Civial War. Can't wait to see the outcome to this blog.