Updated picture of Connie & Willie

I have found a photograph of Willie and Connie that is in much better condition than the one originally used. It must have been taken about this time, looking at the age of the two of them. I have inserted the "new" picture in the post that introduces Connie.
Click to link to the post.

2 Letters - 22nd February 1918

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 now how you are getting on.

With best Love
Harry


Feb 22/2/18

32509/ 9th Batt
York &Lancs Regt.
C Company
12 Platoon L.G.S.
I.E.F.

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 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.

Letter to Jack, 18th February 1918

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

Willie will be two on March 23rd.BL

Scans of letter of 7th February 1918

Click on the letter for a large image.
Click on the letters for large image
To get an idea of the size, this letter is approx 7" x 10" (180mm x 250mm). The paper is very thin and Harry has only written on one side of each sheet. The letters from 29th August are on much smaller sheets of paper, approx 4.5"x 7" (11mm x 18mm). BL

Thursday 7th February 1918 - 2 Letters

Feb 7^th /1918
32507/ 9^th Batt York & Lanc Regt
C Company
12 Platoon L.G.S.
I.E.F.
P.S. (Put I.E.F. on address and leave Italy out)

Dear Kate

I have received your letter. I also received your parcel. it was in good order. The weather here is very cold at night, but it is quite warm in the day. I have received a letter from Jack he’s going on alright and said they were alright at Ilkeston excepting dad who does not seem to get much better. I was sorry to here the bad news I got about Jack Bonser and Uncle. Jack’s wife was headmistress at East Oxford Girls school and also head mistress of the Girls Night School. of course that is some years back. I don’t know how long she remained there, but I remember her quite well. He often sends me bits of thing which come in very useful. I don’t know whether I told you that I had a parcel from Mrs. Higgins at Christmas. I don’t know when I shall get a leave I don’t suppose it will be just yet as there is plenty to go before me, but anyhow I would certainly let you know. Ethel tells me what a job it is to get a bit of butter, tea or sugar. I hope you’re keeping in good health as I am very well at the present. Write back as often as you can and I will answer as many as possible.

With best love from Harry

Feb 7^th /1918
32507/ 9^th Batt York & Lanc Regt
C Company
12 Platoon L.G.S.
I.E.F.
P.S. (Put I.E.F. on address and leave Italy out)

Dear Jack

I have received your letter and I also got your small parcel alright. I was very pleased to hear that you are both keeping well and hope you remain so. The news was very sad which I have had about Jack Bonser and Uncle what had Aunt Annie got to say I don’t suppose she would stay very long especially were Aunt Polly was. I shall never forget her tongue. It does not seem that she has altered much. It must have upset Uncle a great deal when he heard about Jack’s death and no doubt it would make him worse. The weather here is still very cold at night but it is grand in the day. I don’t suppose the war will be over just yet it looks like lasting another twelve months to me, I hope I’m wrong. I think America has got to have a good to try at it before it finishes. Things look very bad in England as regards food they seem short all over of course we get our usual rations which is none to big, but we cant grumble we have missed something coming out here and leaving Flanders I hope we don’t go back again, things are very quiet out here, well they have been up to now but we don’t know how long they going to last. When in the front line we have had a fire at night and sometimes we have been in an old house so you can bet we are not bothered much by shells. I could not say where the H.A.C. is. It is a London Regt. I remember quite well when we were going in the trenches at Ypres they were just being releived. I got lost I could not get along it was up to the waist in slug and water. I came across some chaps who are also lost and they said they belong to the H. A.C. It is supposed to be a Toffs regt. Artillery is only a name they have given them they belong to the infantry. I don’t know how they went on but I found my way after wandering about for two or three hours. I shall never forget the times we had up there. I don’t know how we managed sometimes, but I don’t feel no worse for it now, but I hope that we don’t get anything like it again. We have to get our feet rubbed every morning with whale oil when in the trenches every morning it is cold at night.
Write back as soon as possible

With best love to you both

Harry

H.A.C. Refers to the "Honourable Artillery Company" - it took a moment for me to remember that "Honourable" is spelt with an aitch! Website

Thanks to all who are submitting comments. They are quite as interesting as the main blog! Click for full list of comments

Also, to find out what Harry is currently involved with, take the link to the Battalion's War Diary. War Diary (At the moment, he's just come out of the front line. Compare today's letters with the one from a week ago written when he was in the line! I'll put a scan of one of today's letters on the blog at the weekend) BL

Letter 29th January - More information

I've looked carefully at this "difficult" letter.

Firstly, the two sheets of paper are identical and are the same as the paper used for the last 3 letters.

The two sheets, if they were from the same letter, were folded separately into four. One sheet was folded long side first, the other, short side first.

The pencil appears to be the same and in a similar state of sharpness.

There is no sign of any "impression" from other pages on either sheet.

I have no other letters with with similar paper that could have an extra sheet slipped in.

Thank you for all the suggestions. They are published on the comments page. I suspect that, unless some more material appears, we just won't solve the mystery of the letter of 29th January 1918.

BL