2 Letters, April 2nd 1918

April 2/4/1918

32507/ 9York & Lancs
C Company
12 Platoon L.G.S.
I.E.F.

Dear Kate
I have just got your letter dated 24/ I also got the money alright. Postal orders are alright. I have also had a letter from Jack and one from Ethel. Ethel told me that Jack had sent Willie a shilling for his birthday, it will soon be Connie's now. The weather here is very cold we have had frost and snow and it has been raining now two days, but still we are alright, it is very quiet not like beening in France. I am always glad to get a letter from you I have not been able to write any letters lately, but if you don't get one you will know the reason so you can write a line every week. I am pleased they are all keeping in good health at home and that dad does not get any worse. I will try and write you a long letter next time I write. Could you send me a stick of shaving shop and a piece of washing soap next time you write.

With Best Love
Harry

The envelope for Kate's letter. Note the censor's stamp. The letter's content also reveals that the post to Italy took about a week as Harry had received Kate's letter from 24th March. Is it any better today?

A "shilling" was worth 5p. Twenty shillings to the pound in 1918.

April 2/4/1918

32507/ 9York & Lancs
C Company
12 Platoon L.G.S.
I.E.F.

Dear Jack
Just a line to let you know I am going on alright. I was pleased to get your letter and to hear that you both are keeping well. We have had some frost and snow out here, but it as been raining for two days. I have had a letter from home and they told me you had sent Willie a birthday present. Things are very quiet out here a bit different to being out in France. things seems to be a bit rough out there now, but I hope things will change. I will write again in a few days and let you know a bit more news.

With Best Love to you both
Harry

P.S. Could you send a few envelopes and writing paper

Easter Sunday 1918, Card to Connie.

Harry sent this card to Connie from Italy. It would have most probably have been sent with a letter to Ethel.Click on the picture to enlarge.

Maps of the Long March to the Front, November 1917

There are now available topographical views showing the route taken by Harry's Battalion when they marched from the end of the railway journey from Flanders to the Front Line in Italy, a total of over 100 miles.

Click here to view the graphics

Letter to Kate Thursday 21st March 1918

March 21st/1918
32507/9 Batt York and Lanc Regt
C. Company
12 Platoon L.G.S
I.E.F

Dear Kate
Just a line to let you know that I am going on alright and I am pleased that you are keeping well. I have had a letter from Jack and one from Ethel, they are all going on alright except for the food problem which bothers them a bit. the weather here is grand very hot during the day but very cold at night. Jack is sending Willie a present for is birthday which is saturday. I have sent him and Connie a card or two I hope they like them. I am pleased that you write often as I am always glad of a letter from you. I think I shall get a leave sometime this summer if I have good luck. I will write again soon.

With Love from
Harry

Map of the March + "View"

Jono's topgraphical view of the two days' march 16th and 17th, is now available Click Here

This card is almost certainly the "view" referred to in the letter. Interestingly, it looks as though the censor had an unsuccessful attempt to block out the location!

Click on the picture for an enlarged view.

Letter to Jack Sunday March 17th 1918

March 17th/1918

32507/9 Batt York and Lanc Regt
C. Company
12 Platoon L.G.S
I.E.F

Dear Jack
I was pleased to receive your letter and tin of salmon. It is now Sunday night and it as been very hot we have had church parade this afternoon as we where all busy this morning cleaning up. We have just finished two days march, just over forty kilos so we had a good march and I had a pair of new boots so I went through it but I stuck it. I think we shall stay here a bit now, but we might get to a different part of the line. We had a grand place for scenery when last we were in the line, well the support line we were on Mountbello Hills I think that is what they call them. The mountains on one side and we could see right over the venetian plains for miles all fine country it was these plains what the Germans wanted when they made their advance. the Italians releived us when we were in the line they do seem a windy lot as soon as they got in the Austrians started to shell a bit, they all get in dug outs and they would not move. I don't know how they would go on up Ypres. The country is alright but I don't think much to the people a lot of the Italian soldier can speak English as they come from New York or some part of the States. If you see a small book any time which would help me with the Italian Language I should be very pleased if you would send it. I am glad you are both keeping well and I hope they are going on alright at home. I think it will be hot here in summer as some parts of the day now it is awful. We are having a quite time here, well it is a picnic against France. We cant grumble at the rations we are getting out here but of course it is the same thing over and over again. they are sending them on leave from Italy but I dont expect I shall get one for another three or four months yet time for the war to finish by then. I get your papers regular now and I noticed the piece you marked out in the guardian. I am sending you a view, I have been to this place a time or two. Write back as soon as possible and let me know how you are getting on.

With best Love to
you both
Harry

"Battalion moved by march route to Castlefranco on 15th inst & proceeded to BOLZANO the following day. The second day's march was long & tedious but no man fell out on either day." Extract from War Diary for 15th -16th March" Click to view full transcript

I do find it remarkable that Harry is using "Kilos" (Kilometres) quite comfortably - rather than miles. I'm not sure that his family would be quite so familiar with them. In the U.K. today, 90 years on, we stubbornly hold onto miles.

The "Guardian" is quite an up-market newspaper. Probably Jack's choice rather than Harry's! BL

Maps of the Italian Front and Background Information

A retired Officer from the Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding), Jono Wood, has worked with The War Diaries and prepared some wonderful slides that give a picture of the topography of the Italian Front. Until this was produced I was working with a list of largely meaningless Italian place names.

Thanks to Jono we can get a much clearer image of what Harry was encountering. The plain, running down towards Venice in the South, with the mountains to the North, is clearly illustrated. We can also see how the river PIAVE looks with the several streams, as mentioned in the War Diaries.

Jono would like to dedicate his contribution to to all who laid down their lives with the BEF in Italy.
Battalion Billets in December 1917
Overview of PIAVE RIVER Front
PIAVE RIVER Front, Looking West
Map showing the Route to a new location, including MOUNT GRAPPA 16th-18th February
The route back to the MONTEBELLUNA area, 25th & 26th February

Jono has also now prepared an account that gives valuable background information on the Italian campaign. Certainly, it all becomes much clearer with the additional information.
Click here

Letter to Jack March 4th 1918

March 4th/1918

32507/9 Batt York and Lanc Regt
C. Company
12 Platoon L.G.S
I.E.F

Dear Jack
I have received your paper's and was very pleased with them I am glad that you are both keeping well. as I am alright at present. I am pleased to hear that you are able to stay at home and that the army will not require you. I have had a letter from Ethel and she says that dad does not get much better. I am glad that you have an idea where abouts I am things are still quite I hope they remain so. We are not doing so bad for food out here it would be better if we got paid more regular we have only drawn ten lires in a month that is equal to five shillings in English money, (25p - 50 cents! BL) so I think we shall have a bit to our credit, we get plenty of fruit out here oranges and apples etc. It will be Willie's birthday this month 21th but I shall not be able to send him anything. We see some fine scenery out here we are quite close to the mountains some of these take about five hours to climb and they are not the highest. it is different to flanders being out here. I think Kate will try to get a day or two off to see you she told me in her last letter that she would like to pay you a visit. Write back as soon as possible I am always glad to get a letter.

With best love to you both
Harry

Letter to Kate, March 3rd 1918 + Card to Connie!

Written on Sunday, March 3rd 1918.

March 3rd/1918

32507/9 Batt York & Lancs Regt
C. Company
12 Platoon L G S
I.E.F

Dear Kate
I am pleased you are getting on alright. I am in good health at present. I am glad they are keeping well at Ilkeston, it is Willie's Birthday this month. I hope the war will be over before it comes round again. It must be bad for you in England being so short of food it will be a good job when it is over. We are not so bad off for food out hear and cannot grumble, not in war time. I have had a letter from Jack he says that he and his wife are keeping well and that he will not be required for the army so he is alright, I am very pleased. Write as often as you can and let me know when you pay Jack a visit. The scenery here is alright we are quite close to the mountains and they look well. It takes five hours to get to the top of some and they are not the largest it would be alright out hear in peace time We can get plenty of fruit out here oranges and apples etc. but we dont get paid often enough. I think I must be a nice bit in credit.

With best love
Harry

(PS) Put I.E.F on letters not B.E.F.



We have a lovely post card to Connie where Harry refers to himself as "Dad". I have taken a small liberty in posting it here as it would, almost certainly, have been posted to Ethel. Somehow, it has found its way to the bundle of letters to Kate and Jack. I found it in the envelope addressed to Kate with this letter, so I've posted it with it!

The envelope is quite interesting. Harry has signed to say, on his honour, that the letter gives away no military secrets! BL