I'm not sure why Harry couldn't write a letter. We can see from the Battalion's war diary, that they were on half an hour's notice to move out. Probably, everything was packed and so the Field Service Post card was the easiest solution.
I'm not sure that all readers will realise, but it would be quite clear to Harry that some serious action was imminent.
A card to Jack. Not good, but better than nothing. 27th October 1918
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Can someone tell me what battles are ahead for Harry? I'm getting worried for his safety. Thanks.
Jackie
holding my breath..let this not be the last bit of correspondence. good luck harry.
The Battle of Vittorio (Veneto) has already started, and had been in progress for 3 (THREE) days, when Harry sent that postcard.
He is at least 10km back behind the then lines, which were advancing over the Piave river.
Harry didn't know it, but the Austro-Hungarians would be sueing for an Armistice on that front by 3rd Novemeber - only 9 days to go ....
And here I've been thinking that Harry is so close to being out of it. This is an odd card but I suppose he didn't have time to write a letter but wanted to let them know he was alive.
Hello Harry:
Landed in Le Havre the other day, now on the way to someplace called Neufchateau. Should arrive in a couple of days. Stop by for a read when you get the chance. Also, take a look at some film footage from the boys in Neufchateau.
Regards,
Sam
The 10th Army (Italian- British) begun the attack on october 24 at Grave di Papadopoli (see Google earth) -north east of Catena where the btl is reported on october 27. Only the night of 26 the 7 British Div.-gen. T.H. Shoubridge- could install half a dozen of bridges over the Grave to cross the Piave river. As Harry is dating his postcard on oct. 27 we can expect, I argue, that in a short time he'll cross the river running ahead to Vittorio Veneto
(Rocco)
The fact that signature and date are the only things allowed to be added, suggests that the card was used by the army to prevent soldiers letting slip information that might risk an imminent action.
It may have been standard procedure when on short notice to move.
Jackie,
There is some narrative on the very latest military situation in Phase 5 description with slide illustration as at today, 27th, and more to follow.....
Click on JW Overview of the Italian Campaign in menu bar on left..... hope it helps
JW
Today is dead the last soldier of the IWW; he's name was Delfino Borroni.
For everyone can read italian here is the article http://www.corriere.it/cronache/08_ottobre_26/borroni_morto_1dc9ba5e-a3a0-11dd-8d2c-00144f02aabc.shtml
and here a touching video http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=9kfvQO47B_U
I only stumbled across Harry's blog 2 weeks ago and after frantically catching up on 17th October have been checking every day for more news from him (internet down here in Romania yesterday for some reason). This card has made me go cold; just imagine how he felt being allowed only to send that and, as you say, probably realising it means something serious is about to happen. Only a few days left - please, please let him get home safely from this horrible mess. Jacky.
Keeping the Home Fires Burning for you Harry. We're all proud of you.
May the world's young men never be thrown away in such a scale again.
This blog brings a chill to 2008. Was it worse to wait, not knowing when the next letter would come, or would it be worse to endure the 24 hr media of today?
SF
This blog is so much fun to read!
This is better then the Twilight series!(:
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