tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31636059.post8346120742142113081..comments2023-06-05T16:00:41.868+01:00Comments on WW1: Experiences of an English Soldier: Two Letters - 26th November 1918Pte Harry Laminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04673086195442900581noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31636059.post-87621552615397438942008-12-01T20:12:00.000+00:002008-12-01T20:12:00.000+00:00"Interior economy" is posh army speak for "general..."Interior economy" is posh army speak for "general housekeeping", i.e. tidying up the billet area - what the US armed forces would call "policing" them - and generally improving the look of them. Whether this was done as occupational therapy imposed by authority (as was probably the case in this instance), or just some soldiers' basic human instinct to improve their living environment, or a way of dealing with stress in between periods in the line, it's amazing to see photographs of billets in rear areas even on the Western Front where little gardens were laid out, edged with stones, and planted with vegetables.<BR/><BR/>From this distance, it is hard to guess whether, at this point after almost a month of peace, the daily routine as recorded in the Battalion diary was a still fairly strict regimen designed to maintain discipline in case of a resumption of hostilities, or a cover story for allowing the troops to take it easy. My guess is that there was probably a bit of both - probably largely dependent on the attitude of individuals at different levels of the chain of command (both officers and NCOs)in each battalion or company.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31636059.post-43964258947939177882008-11-27T20:37:00.000+00:002008-11-27T20:37:00.000+00:00In the Battalion War Diary for Nov. 28: "interior ...In the Battalion War Diary for Nov. 28: "interior economy". Anybody have any ideas what THAT might be?!?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31636059.post-83102867223297033332008-11-26T02:00:00.000+00:002008-11-26T02:00:00.000+00:00I can't begin to tell you how thankful I am that y...I can't begin to tell you how thankful I am that you made it through Harry. And I'm sure the family are equally happy to hear your news.<BR/>It would be nice if Jack can get a pipe out to you pronto, and perhaps some of your favorite baccy for Christmas?Kittybritonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14220277401017282618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31636059.post-42287059368525206422008-11-25T22:27:00.000+00:002008-11-25T22:27:00.000+00:00Any idea what's going on with Connie? I thought sh...Any idea what's going on with Connie? I thought she was at Harry's home with Ethel; perhaps a hospital or school of some sort?<BR/><BR/>Harry's almost chatty in these letters. I'm wondering if he included Kate's letter with Jack's because he was running short of envelopes and/or stamps, or if (though I doubt this) the army limited the number of letters a soldier could send at a time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31636059.post-58035622594368718652008-11-25T19:12:00.000+00:002008-11-25T19:12:00.000+00:00I´m from Brazil and a discovered this blog only so...I´m from Brazil and a discovered this blog only some days ago. I would like to thank you for your idea to show to the world HARRY amazing history. Ludimar Menezes Brasília - Brazil 11/25/2008Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31636059.post-62091039972037866572008-11-25T17:25:00.000+00:002008-11-25T17:25:00.000+00:00I'm not sure that there is a re-enactment society ...I'm not sure that there is a re-enactment society for Harry's Regiment alone. But the men featured are from The Great War Society - more general. So you're probably right the leather jerkins are for artillerymen. However, the older soldier with a red neckerchief is one of the people I met in Derby at the beginning of October. He features quite a lot on their website and so it should be easy to get a name. His mate - who was in full Yorks and Lancs fig - doesn't leap out of the photos at me, however, he could be the soldier with an artilleryman looking at a boiling kettle. If so, he has the uniform that, I guess, Harry would have worn during the winter in Italy.<BR/><BR/>Great photos!peregrinatorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14281063374202561979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31636059.post-57398876009547284022008-11-25T09:03:00.000+00:002008-11-25T09:03:00.000+00:00Is Connie not living with Ethel now? I notice tha...Is Connie not living with Ethel now? I notice that Harry is asking for her address and an update of her progress.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31636059.post-31555086562116635572008-11-25T08:49:00.000+00:002008-11-25T08:49:00.000+00:00After re-reading his letter to Jack, I believe tha...After re-reading his letter to Jack, I believe that he did send an earlier letter, with one to Ethel, "in the green envelope I sent it to Ilkeston."Janellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12018811755496508540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31636059.post-14385675979417183422008-11-25T08:41:00.000+00:002008-11-25T08:41:00.000+00:00What a relief to hear from Harry. I have imagined...What a relief to hear from Harry. I have imagined that he was ill or injured. It seems odd that he hasn't written to his family, until now. Could some of the correspondence have been lost? Poor Harry, his letters to his brother and sister convey sheer boredom and homesickness. He and his cohorts deserve a trip to Venice, only 57 miles away, though too far, I suppose, in post-war times nearly a century ago. It will be interesting to see what the future holds for Harry and the battalion.Janellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12018811755496508540noreply@blogger.com