Happy Christmas to all readers of Harry's blog. It's sad that Harry won't be home for Christmas 1918, to spend time with Willie, Connie and Ethel, back in Ilkeston. At least, the fighting is over and there is a future to look forward to.
May I personally thank you all. This last year has been an amazing and unforgettable experience for me. I look forward to 2009 with eager anticipation. Bill Lamin
Happy Christmas
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
8 comments:
Merry Christmas. Thank you for sharing Harry's letters with us.
Looking forward to reading the book now.
Mr. Lamin,
Thanks for sharing Harry's story with all of us. I wish you a Happy Christmas and a wonderful 2009.
Bill - Happy Xmas and New Year to you too. This project I know has been very time consuming but yet so rewarding. Again - thanks for bringing it to us - I look forward to keeping up with Harry in 2009 - Shirley
Bill - What a wonderful Christmas present it is to all of us to know that Harry will be returning home to his family. Thank you for what an incredible effort you placed to bring us his story. I hope that 2009 brings you continued success in telling the story and that 1919 brings Harry some well deserved happy times as well. John in Ohio
Bill,
Thank you for all you have done to stimulate interest in and educate us all about World War I, through the letters from you're grandfather. You have described a simple man who clearly endured pain and hardship that none of us can imagine. Initially, I was naive enough to think they would all board the nearest train or ship and return to England, but I see that they must have other plans for him. I imagine he and the others still in Italy are very disappointed about missing Christmas with their families.
It would appear that demobilisation lasted until April/May 1919 - info. from a short book on the railways in WWI.
Troops had to be brough home from a very large area, and, of course there was also the occupation, temporary or "permanent" of areas formelt enemy territory - though that work would largely have been given to "regulars".
Wishing you a very happy new year, I know I shall have one - got my book on order! I can't wait.
Very best wishes to you and yours
Linda
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
My grandfather also spent quite a few months in France after the war ended. Many of his letters from that time detailed his irritation at the mismatch between what the recruiter told him and what actually happened when the war ended. As I recall, he barely made it back to the US in time to start the fall semester at college in 1919.
Post a Comment