The last few days have been very hectic with extensive media coverage attracting a huge number of new readers.
For new users of blogs, at the risk of stating the obvious, everything is in the reverse order from that of a "normal" journal or diary.
If you want to pick up Harry's story and follow it properly, it may make sense to start with the first archive, July 2006 and to work forwards to the present, January 2008 (Actually January 1918.) To make things even more complicated, each archive is also in reverse order - the latest material appears first!
To completely understand Harry's experiences, may I also recommend that readers follow the Battalion's War Diary explaining the situation of the 1,000 or so men that made up the 9th Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment. There is a link at the top left of the blog.
The comments received are very much appreciated and very welcome. I've collected them together in a separate blog, also linked from the top of this page. In there, I've attempted to answer any questions that readers have posed. B.L.
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57 comments:
Hello,
I'm an Englishman in New York and heard about Harry's blog on the BBC world service. You sir are performing a wonderful and important service to the rest of the world. I have read the entire series of letters this morning (not much work done today) and am entirely captivated by Harry's experiences. I have just finished reading Tolstoy's War and Peace which in many ways documents a war 100 years previous to Harry's. It is uncanny yet depressing to see the parallels in the day to day life of the soldiers in both conflicts; from the illogical and unnecessary troop movements, to the tragic and horrifying deaths on all sides. I am profoundly grateful to have never had to participate in war and part of this is due to people like Harry and yourself who document the real truths and not the propaganda. As these truths are told over the centuries I hold some hope that we as a species will eventually war no longer. As a boy I was taught that war was glorious, I now know that it is exactly the opposite and will teach my children the same.
Thank you for this amazing work – really thank you.
Another excellent book of letters from WWI is 'Letters from a Lost Generation' Its a book of letters sent to and from Vera Brittan by her brother and his friends during the war.
Its extremely moving (got through so many tissues reading it!) and, as stupid as it sounds, you forget that the authors don't know the outcome. A very poignant book.
Hi!!
This is an excellent site, that presents the First World War from the perspective of an Infanteer serving in hell. My family lost members in the so called war to end all wars, and my father and uncle fought in the second world war. I myself served with the British Army for over 40 years, and nothing that I have seen in that time can compare to the hell and intensity of both wars - in todays climate, the casualties and conditions borne by our forebears would not be acceptable and the media would be anti-war as the US Media was after Vietnam. I am now hooked and will be following this particular blog to its conclusion. A well designed, unique and thoughtful site. By the way, I saw the link in todays Daily Mirror.
Hi Bill - You don't have to approve this for publication as its more personal in nature.
Superb piece of work. More power to your elbow and great success in the project.
The last time we were in contact was over Acorn 3020's etc for the school.
Oh and I think I still have a analogue / digital converter for the BBC that you once made ...
Well done
Ian Fraser
( ex Teacher Heamoor School Penzance - now escaped and running a small IT business in Scotland )
sales@ayrshirecomputers.co.uk
To Anonymous who wrote that
"as a boy I was taught that war was glorious." In many ways, the US Civil War was a precursor to the 1914-1918 war. William T Sherman was one of its great figures, and is famous for saying this:
"There is many a boy here to-day who looks on war as all glory, but, boys, it is all hell."
General Sherman 1820-91: speech at Columbus, Ohio, 11 August 1880
Hi, I'm from south Malaysia. I heard about this blog from the BBC World Service via BBC Singapore. It's very interesting reading the stories. Keep it up
Hello,
I have just sat and read this all of the way through this morning after seeing a report on Sky News...I want to thank you for sharing this with us, and for the time you have taken in giving the extra information alongside in order to put this all into context. Early on in the blog you mention Sebastian Falks' Birdsong. I read that book years ago, and more than any other book it evoked the feeling of horror, dread, futility and fear in WW1 - I felt I could almost have been there. This blog is giving me that same feeling, and as I read it I share your feelings of horror and fear for Harry in his situation.In getting to know Harry and the characters in his life in just this small way, there's also a feeling of the love he has for people, the need to hold onto that feeling in a time of hell, and the necessity of it as being key to getting through it all (I don't know if I've described that very well, but I hope you understand what I mean). All of these men having to fight this filthy war, whether it was necessary or not, is incredibly sad.
It is such a shame that the correspondence between him and Ethel has disappeared, what an extra dimension that would have brought to this.
The story of Connie has touched my heart. Of Harry and Ethel raising her, Kate not having her, and of the plight of Connie herself.
Anyway, I'll stop rambling now! I just really wanted to let you know how much I appreciate this.
Kind regards, Deborah Moran
whats happened to harry after xmas?? i cant wait to find out, im captivated by the letters, keep up the good work!
What a brilliant concept and excellent site. I read about this in the Daily Telegraph yesterday andd immediately went to the site.The personal aspects of this will bring home 'in real time' the horrors of WW1 and the courage of so many young men like your Grandfather.
The impacts are still felt today and the sacrifices must never never be forgotten. My paternal grandfather was about the same age as Harry & enlsted day one of the war, badly wounded at Battle of Loos in 1915 , patched up and a year later sent back to the front line still with shrapnel in his back! My maternal grandfather gassed and died young post war when my mother was a baby. Great uncle died at Arras aged 21. My maternal grandmother lost at least 4 other relatives during the war. It is so dfifficult to comprehend the impact of the conflict not just on the servicemen but also their families . This was the generation that largely, when faced with tragedy dealt with it , put it out of their minds and got on with their lives.
Your research and your site has a historic importance which should not be underestimated
gent.mo amico,
i miei più vivi complimenti per il blog e, soprattutto, per la sua volontà di riportare alla memoria e alla conoscenza di un vasto numero di persone la figura di un uomo che onora la sua famiglia e la sua patria
un fraterno saluto
m.iodice
italy
Hello
I found your blog site from an article in yesterdays Daily Telegraph. I have not read it all yet but shall back track and read it all.
My Grandfather was in first trained at Oakham with the horses and sent to Egypt - when they were brought back to England he was then trained as a machine gunner and sent out to France - I wish I had spoken to him about it but it was something he never brought up.
I shall continue reading your entries.
Thank you and kind regards
Sue Farr
Hi,
I am an Italian woman who is relaly impressed and moved by the letters you are posting. My maternal grandfather was amongst the 17 and 18 years' old boys who were sent by the Italian army to fight the austro-german forces on the same front as your grandfather, after the defeat of Caporetto of 24 October 1917. The defeat, due mostly to the awful inadequacies and appalling inhumanity towards the troops of the Italian army's top brass, had the consequence of pushing the frontline very close indeed to Venice, deep inside the Italian territory. The fear and despair thorughout the country were great and a great number of new recruits, icnluding "kids" such as my grandfather (then barely seventeen) were sent to fight. Luckily the shock also induced a radical change at the top of the army and the disastrous General Cadorna was replaced by a much more effective General Armando Diaz, who also introduced more efficient and more humane methods and attitudes in the army. I suspect that your grandfather's battalion was sent to Italy in the immediate aftermath of Caporetto's defeat to help sustain that crucial front. I like to think that he and my grandfather may have lived for some months and fought relatively close to one another. Unfortunately I have no letters of that period from my grandfather (who survived, went on to become a judge and lived to the age of 87) but I remember his tales of the war period very vividly.
Thanks again and good luck
Antonella
Hi heard about this blog via the Daily Telegraph newspaper. May I congratulate you on a wonderful job. The reading is most compelling, and the extra information that you provide is exceptional. I never cease to be amazed at the bravery of ordinary folk such as Harry in times of hell such as these.
Keith Ingram - Croydon Surrey
I read about this blog on an Italian newspaper and went through all the posts for the whole afternoon.
This blog comes at the right time as I am working to organise a trip to recollect and bring home my grand-grandfather's remains that appear to be buried in Poland, in the cemetery of Ratowice.
Congratulations for the great job you are doing!
Cheers
Francesco
Hi, I am just one of the many readers who spent the enitre afternoon reading Harry's letters and I want to compliment with you... being from Sanremo (italian riviera) I can picture the beauty of the landscape mentioned by Harry during his train journey from south France to Italy...
Hi,
Thank you so much, finding this so interesting. My grandfather served in the Durham Light Infantry during WWI, he was wounded at the Somme. I too have postcards he sent to my grandmother. Your grandfathers letters are giving me more insight into what he might have experienced, as he never talked about it when he was alive.
Looking forward to reading more. Thanks again for sharing Harry's letters, and learning about your lovely family during this time.
Warm Wishes
Eileen
Hi,
I read about your blog in the Calgary Herald today and have immediately read all the letters and information on the site.
I'm originally from Scotland and have been in Canada for about a year now. What's interesting is that Paul Gross, Canadian actor turned director/producer (most famous for being the Mountie in Due South) has just filmed a movie out here called Passchendaele,based on the letters his grandfather sent home to him. The movie focuses on the "Fighting 10th" a battalion raised here in Calgary.
You say that you can't accept URLs in the comments, so I will simply say to google Passchendaele the movie for access to the blog which was created during the filming.
What's interesting is that you are both working with similar material, and have given that to the world, just in very different ways!
Keep up the good work on the blog - it's fascinating to have such a personal take on such a huge historical event. Thanks!
Read about this on an italian newspaper today. Very, very fine. I've been wanting to know more about WWI since I read a war diary some months ago. I'll be around. Thanks a lot.
kind regards
marco biagetti
I read about the blog in today's National Post (Canada).
It is absolutely brilliant.
Thank you so much for sharing these letters, and the history of your family. I have a lot of catching up to do.
It is on par with Edwin Campion Vaughan's "Some Desperate Glory" and the fictionalized account of Frederic Manning's World War I experience in "Her Privates We."
Thanks again.
Your blog was also featured by The Age today. (Australian Newspaper)
http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/war-still-raging-90-years-on-in-blog-time/2008/01/05/1198950127422.html
Thanks for doing this.
Good morning. I read of this blog on a newspaper of us; like many I spent the whole morning reading the letters of your ancestor. I’m so happy these letters have survived and I think your grandfather would be proud of you: the Jews say one isn’t really dead as long as his name is remembered. War exalts both the best and the worse qualities of men, and I think such letters talk to us about the noblest part of our soul.
---
I live near Udine, Italy, in a region that was theatre of war. We have plenty of war cemeteries, Italian, Austrian Hungarian, English, American, from the first and the second WW. It’s always moving for me to discover Italian names in Austrian war cemeteries, and then Austrian names in the Italian ones: so devoid of sense is the war.
Many thanks for this fantastic contribution to the understanding and comprehension of this aspect of our relatively recent history.
Having recently been involved in a WW1 archaeological dig in Jordan the utter reality of that war was profoundly brought home to me. Indeed one of the things I found was a simple pen nib inside the remains of a tent circle, which evoked emotional and deep empathy with a serviceman writing home from the battlefield. Readers may be interested to find out more about our investigations of the WW1 conflict in Jordan, which may be found starting at http://garp2007.blogspot.com/2007/10/pre-dig-info.html
I notice you said you found the Battalion war diaries on-line from the National Archives at Kew. A couple of years ago I did some research on my own grandfather's WWI service and visited Kew in person. It is an amzing experience - which I would recommend to anyone doing similar research - to physically hold the pieces of paper, be they batllion war diaries, or in this instance his joing up papers with his own signature and handwritingon the top. To anyone not as fortunate as you to have handwritten letters, the next best thing may well be to see the handwritten evidence of their ancestor's war service at Kew.
Hello, Bill.
Greetings from "across the pond". I was fortunate enough to have read about your blog in yesterday's issue of The Washington Times.
It is truly a remarkable service to students of history that your work has provided - and a tribute to those who have served in any war.
Males in my family have served during every major war from the Revolutionary War to the War of Northern Agression (a.k.a. the Civil War)to today in Iraq and Afghanistan. My son (Damien) proudly serves as a military officer.
Someday a similar blog may appear about Damien's exploits ... after all, we have carefully saved his email!
Keep up the great work, and thanks again for bringing a part of history alive.
I was interesting until I noticed the text ads and more below each post. Yes you might have had a relative who served and yes you might have transcribed his letters, but to profit from his experiances is really quite amazing. You must be very poor, financially and morally.
Hi, I'm from Brazil I heard about this blog from the g1(http://g1.globo.com/Noticias/Tecnologia/0,,MUL250001-6174,00-SAGA+DE+SOLDADO+I+GUERRA+MUNDIAL+E+RESGATADA+EM+BLOG.html)
nice work friend.
hii
im only 15 and im already sucked into it. Its amazing to read the history of the war and i cant wait to read the rest.
Totally Captivated... I've just read the entire blog in half an hour!
I can't wait to hear what becomes of Harry, although I can't help but fear the worst.
My great, great Uncle dies months before the end of WW1 somewhere in France. He fought for the Australians (not entirely sure why - as he was British...) so the mention of the Australians and New Zealanders tugged a few strings!
I'm only 22 and have recently discovered this about my family. We have a long line of servicemen in the family - my great uncle in the Royal Navy (WW2) and my dad (for 22 years, luckily no wars served.) To have this perspective is fantastic - you mention the tug as Harry faces 'going over the top' I'm sure I'm not the only one that feels the same as you.
It's a totally humbling experience to share these letters with you... thank you for letting us.
Of course a HUGE thank you to Harry and the men that fought that hellish war in order for us to live xxx
WW1 if there ever was a war that is so emotional for me it is this miserable one. I am from the highlands, two great uncles died from gas in france,my granfather was in the dardenelles (gallipoli).
I served with the british army in the 80's, it is in my blood as it is in every monument in every village in Scotland.
From my family I say
Damn you to hell General Haig and god bless you LLoyd George where every you sleep to night.
That's really great, thanks from Brazil!!
Hi... I just found out about this terrific and wonderfully informative site via Yahoo! England. I am currently living in California and cannot wait to see the next installment.
Keep up the good work.
While I am enjoying reding Harry's letters/stories, I came in late (via the media) so i am playing cath up. To say you made it 'complicated' by setting things up in reverse order is putting it mildly. With all due respect, this is a poor way to attract readers.yes you get those who really want to read the blog, but common sense dictates setting it up to read top to bottom not bottom to top. I hope i am many would would like it set up a bit more normal. Thank you.
Hi Bill. Greetings from Mexico. Great idea and great material. I arrived to your blog, luckily, just by chance, didnt see it in any newspaper, radio program or TV. I served only three months in the army at the age of 18 and when I sent letters to my family they said it seemed we did not had anything to eat, because all my comments were related to food. I deeply understand what Harry felt and why he asked once and again food to his relatives. It is a shame that we have to learn to appreciate what we have only when we see it lost. We, the world, should learn to make love, not war.
Hi,
what a great idea - a great educational tool as well as very interesting.
However, I can't seem to find the first 6 months or so of 2007/1917. Am I looking in the wrong place or are they not there?
Thanks
Thea
WOW.
What a pleasure to see and read about so much History. (Only wished it was around when I was at school).
I am just glad that it had loads of media coverage or I might not have found it.
Thanks for all you amazing work.
G'day!
Just came across this Blog quite by accident - not through any advertising in news or media - wonderful!
Please "keep us posted!"
Hello,
I am very intrested in reading this blog as my grandfather who was also born in 1887, and served with 6th Battalion, Yorks & Lancs.
Joining as a volunteer in 1914. I shall follow daily to see what became of Harry. My grandfather survived the war and lived until 1958.
A truly wonderful story,
Thank you.
I've just spent the last hour reading Pte. Harry Lamin's blog after reading about it on Digg. It is beautiful. Thank you for sharing this piece of history.
What a wonderful blog. It's very hard to find WWI books or material in my country. I really appreciate for sharing this information with us. I'm hooked and I'll keep following this blog until the end.
God bless you
Tanzania, East Africa
I have just now discovered your website and will be following your blog. The comments from readers about the horrors of war reminded me of a trip my husband and I took a few years ago. We took his father to east France to the burial site of his brother who was shot down in WWII. As I watched my father-in-law kneel at the white cross and cry, I thought of the rest of his family and mentally multiplied his sorrow by their number. Then I saw the sea of crosses all across the hills around me and multipled that sorrow again by that number. Even though I did not personally know even one of the people buried there, I cried with my father-in-law for all those soldiers and their families. "Those who refuse to learn from history are doomed to repeat it." How many times will man have to repeat history?
Great blog! Keep up the good work.
He will survive ... he must have a son, Bill´s father. There is no letter for his wife, so he has no one in 1917 ....
I have only just found your blog and begun to work my way back through it but already I feel I must thank you for taking the time and trouble to share these letters and information with those of us that are interested.
I am a New Zealander and my husband's father served in WWII through the North of Africa, and right up through Italy and was away from NZ for the entire war, seeing horrific action in places such as Cassino.
My husband's maternal grandfather served in WWI in France. Sadly we know very little of his time away, as one of his sons destroyed his diaries and letters etc but we have been lucky enough to have been given all his medals which we had mounted along with other items like buttons, hat badges etc and photos of him. At the time we mounted these things I was reading Sebastian Faulk's 'Birdsong' and it aroused my curiosity about my grandfather-in-law's WWI experiences. The descriptions were so vivid that I at times wondered how he had managed to return home and pick up the pieces of a 'normal' life.
I have requested information about his service here in NZ and so far have not learnt a lot. He was invalided out with a leg wound to Britain and spent time there recovering before eventually returning to NZ. He was lucky in that he still had grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles living in the UK and was able to also visit them once well enough.
Enough rambling though - thanks for helping us to imagine a little more about what his experiences may have been like. I will try accessing the Kew website mentioned, who knows maybe the NZ battalions and info on their action may also be included.
It is important that the realities of war are remembered and that each generation is made aware of them. Thank you sincerely.
I look forward to reading through the rest of the blog. Regards from New Zealand.
Ho letto con estrema apprensione le lettere di Herry che hanno suscitato in me sentimenti di paura e di ecitazione asseconda dei suoi avvenimenti.
Non riesco a capire perche le sue lettere sono indirizzate esclusivamente alla sorella e al fratello citando in esse la moglie e il figlio, senza scrivere a loro.
Così ho pensato che 90anni fa non tutti sapessero leggere e scrivere quindi Ethel poteva essere una di queste persone, ma poi rileggendo con attenzione mi è sembrato di intuire che Henrry scrivesse in alcuni accenni di avvenimenti riguardanti la moglie e il figlio come se li sentisse regolarmente...e qui poi mi sono persa.
Cmq. è un blog bellissimo che fa riflettere e mette a paragone delle realtà a distanza di 90anni.
Spero ke in molti leggano queste lettere e capiscano la sofferenza che hanno dovuto sopportare tantissime famiglie oggi come allora.Il passato ritorna rimostrando molti aspetti passati nella guerra di oggi.
Un calorosso abbraccio dall'Italia
ciao Grazia
Thank you for your wonderful insite into history. You may have started a trend for others to follow.
My paternal grandfather served in the Italian army but never really talked about his experiences and to my knowledge no letters exist. He immigrated to the US shortly after the war where he met and married my grandmother.
There was one comment about the Italian officers that I do know my grandfather can relate to. Many of the stories that my father could get out of him were the of the bad commanding officers.
I'm looking forward to reading more about your grandfather and to do more reaserch on mine.
Thank you
John A Rossetti
Hola,
Supe del blog a través del Comercio de Perú. Estoy realmente impresionado por la modalidad de la presentación de las cartas de Harry y las emociones que ellas transmiten. Me acercan a los ex combatientes que conocí en Argentina, donde vivo.
Santiago Audisio, La Pampa, Argentina
Hello,
I am reading your blog from Peru. Yesterday I knew about it because was in the front of the main newspaper of my country, you can see at:
http://www.elcomercio.com.pe/edicionimpresa/html/2008-01-09/ImpresaIndex.html
I really was not aware about the details of the 1st world war, but I find that the suffering of the soldiers and their families is always the same everywhere. It is very important the information you are sharing with the people because it let us know how close the tragedy of the war can be to us, and to do all that we can do to avoid it happens not only to us but to everybody
Found your blog in a Burlington Free Press article in the Burlington, Vermont paper. My Grandfather Morrison was in the 3rd Div. of the Canadian 1st Army from 1915 to 1917. He was gassed and was returned to Canada in 1917. Have been working with a friend in Ottawa, Canda to find out what battles he was in. His outfit was in the Battle of the Somme in June/July 1917. They were also stationed in or near Ypres.
Always interested in English history as the Pierces were from England and I and my family were stationed at RAF Sculthorpe, Fakenham, Norfolk from 1959-1962. We lived in Huntstanton on the Wash. Great job on reproducing this blog. Keep up the good work. Linwood Pierce.
I learned about your blog from the Washington Times article opn January 5, 2008. The timing of finding out about your blog coincides with my recent fascination with World War One and dovetails in with the books I am reading regarding The War To End All Wars. I am captivated by the letters and can't wait to read the next letter.
Hi, I am writing from Lima, Peru. News about your blog had a big picture on the front page of El Comercio (the most important Peruvian newspaper) today, January 10th. It quickly got my attention since my grandfather on my mother's side also fought in WWI at the age of 15, he was born in 1901 in Italy. I have always wondered how much of his personality was determined by his brief experience at war. He was taken away from the battlefield by his own father, who considered he was too young to be fighting. Both of them almost got killed when leaving the front lines. A few years later he traveled to Peru to work, got married, had kids, and died in an accident while climbing a mountain at age 45. I never got to know him. I wish I had some letters like the ones from Harry to know my grandfather a little more, all I've got is what my grandmother told us, but I think she kept most of the sad stuff to herself...
Congratulations on the blog. Keep it up!!
Thanks for posting these!
I just found you via an article through the Stars and Stripes.
Not that they gave the webaddress :(
But thanks to Uncle google I found you and instantly added you to my linkroll, so you don't get lost in my Bookmark folder ;)
Greetings from a German in Kuwait :)!!
Hello Bill
An article on Harry's letters appeared in last Wednesdays New Zealand Herald. About five years ago I became interested in tracing what happenes to my grandfather, Boyd Burnet Geake who was killed on 1 Jul 1916 on the Somme. I was able to pinpoint his last steps over the top to within a couple of hudred yards and spent an emotional time retracing them. The amazing coincidence is that he also served in 9 Bn Yorks and Lancs! I note that you are publishing the Battalions war diary in the blog. I would be interested in accessing myself for the period from the formation of the unit up to Jul 1916. Can you give me a steer as how to access it. Congratulations on you brilliant idea and thank you for sharing it with so many of us
From Dryden, Ontario, Canada -
CBC TV did a story on your blog this morning. Congratulations on a fascinating project and subject.
As a long-time genealogist, I find it all truly fascinating.
Regards from Northwestern Ontario -
Bruce W.
hello Harry
I am the studant portuguese
I am to make a work on 1º world-wide war...
une quetion...
how were passed there the days??
how it was the time ?
I wait for a reply
tiagofialho1@hotmail.com
thank
good bye
Hi,
Just a rapid comment to say that there is great work done here and that I have found the link in a Spanish newspaper (El País)
Dear Sir:
Hello from Kingston Ontario Canada!! I'am the wife of a military chaplain here in CFB
Kingston. I found out about you
and your blog through CBC news,
while I was searching the internet, yesterday afternoon.
I have since then read all your
postings, and I am here in the edge of my seat waiting for more!!
My daughters from ages 14 to 9,
are as well fascinated by Harry,
his life, his family and especially little Connie. The girs have grown attached to her.
Funny she lived so long ago, but
her young couragous life, still
can affect another little girl,
almost her age, 90 years later here in Canada.
Thank you for sharing this with
us, and opening our eyes, on how
people seemed almost more stronger in character and courage in those
times, where life was harder.
My husband as a chaplain , was
commenting last night, that com-
pared to Harry's experience, some
of the complaints he deals with
sometimes, seem not so urgent! Maybe because life was tougher than, people were stronger in dealing with life's trials and tribulations.
Anyway, thank you for this incre-
dible experience that you are
working so hard to share with
everyone,
God Bless you, Mrs. McKay
Greetings from, just beginning to get cold Canada!!!!
My husband is a chaplain in the Canadian Forces, and we have been
following Harry's journey for almost a year now. It has been a
great blessing for us to read all of Harry's letters, and to read all the other details that you add to them. We feel like we are part of his family, as if we are a long distant cousins, or just close friends waiting to see what he is experiencing in the war. We are so concerned for him, and we are hoping that he will soon come home!!
So thank you for all your hard work and the time that you take to share this with us!!! I feel that we will be better people for it!!!
God Bless you and your family, the McKay's
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