32507/9th Batt york & Lancs
C. Coy 12 Platoon
I.E.F, Italy
Jan 2/1/1919
C. Coy 12 Platoon
I.E.F, Italy
Jan 2/1/1919
Dear Jack,
I am sending you a few lines just to let you know that I am alright and keeping in good health. It is a long time since had a letter from you, but I got the pipe alright which you sent. I am glad that you and Agnes are keeping well, and I hope you a have had a happy Christmas although I expect you have both been very busy Christmas was very quite out here, but I enjoyed myself in a way, not much money but we had a good dinner. We are in a little town called Arzignano it is a very damp place as it lies in a valley between the mountains. I dont know when I shall get home but I hope it will not be long. All men going on leave now are alright for if they get work while at home they can stop so it makes it better for them. About all the miners have gone, some which came up in April 1918 have got away. Let me know next time you write if you got the cards I sent. I am glad to hear that they are all keeping well at home and are keeping free of the flu. I guess you must have a busy time in Hull with so many prisoners of the war coming in. Everything is so dear out hear the money now is thirty lires to a pound, we used to get forty at one time but still things are no cheaper rather dearer Willie must be getting a rum chap as Ethel tells me some funny tales about him in her letters. Write as often as you can and let me know all the news, I hope soon to be able to write you from England. Wishing you both A Happy New Year
With Best Love to you both
Harry
No real sign of any movement towards home. The "Spanish" 'flu was rampant in the winter of 1918 - 1919, causing an estimated 25 million deaths - a greater toll than the War. But Harry's got his new pipe. BL
Harry
No real sign of any movement towards home. The "Spanish" 'flu was rampant in the winter of 1918 - 1919, causing an estimated 25 million deaths - a greater toll than the War. But Harry's got his new pipe. BL
3 comments:
An American woman named Elizabeth Tyler went to France with the Red Cross in Aug. 1918 as an interpreter and to help resettle displaced persons. After the war, she stayed on and wrote some wonderful letters home to her family. Sadly, she died of bronchitis, probably part of the flu epidemic, in Feb. 1919.
It's good to see that Harry has got his pipe. I hadn't realized it, but thinking about it of course, anyone who went to fight would have had to leave their job. Presumably things would be easier for the first home, so I hope you get back to work alright Harry, and the army doesn't keep you dithering overseas forever!
During the winter of 1918/1919 American troops were settling in to their duties in Siberia and Northern Russia. It was a maligned and largely forgotten part of WWI and The Soviet-American conflict that would take up much of the century. My blog based on my Great-grandfather' journals can be found here.
http://aefinsiberia.blogspot.com
if anyone is looking for a another first hand military history account please check it out.
Post a Comment