Letter to Jack, 18th February 1918

Feb 18th/1918

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

Dear Jack
I am pleased to hear that you are both getting on well. the weather here is still very cold . we are very near the mountains now. I expect we shall get it hot when the weather does change. I should not be surprised if we don't have another move before long. I have been alright in Italy up to now. I hope to remain so. We cannot grumble at the quiet time we have had. Glad to hear that they are going on alright at Ilkeston. I think they would have been to see you only the train fare is such a lot of money. I was very pleased with the two papers you sent it was just what I wanted. there is some grand scenery round here it would be alright for a holiday in peace time, but I dont know when that will be. I hope it will not be long as I am ready to get back any time. What had Aunt annie to say did she stay long at Uncle Shelton's it was a very sad affair and I was very sorry. It will soon be Willie birthday again in March. but I dont suppose I shall be able to send anything as there is not much to get here. Write as often as you can.
With best Love
to you both
Harry

Willie will be two on March 23rd.BL

Scans of letter of 7th February 1918

Click on the letter for a large image.
Click on the letters for large image
To get an idea of the size, this letter is approx 7" x 10" (180mm x 250mm). The paper is very thin and Harry has only written on one side of each sheet. The letters from 29th August are on much smaller sheets of paper, approx 4.5"x 7" (11mm x 18mm). BL

Thursday 7th February 1918 - 2 Letters

Feb 7^th /1918
32507/ 9^th Batt York & Lanc Regt
C Company
12 Platoon L.G.S.
I.E.F.
P.S. (Put I.E.F. on address and leave Italy out)

Dear Kate

I have received your letter. I also received your parcel. it was in good order. The weather here is very cold at night, but it is quite warm in the day. I have received a letter from Jack he’s going on alright and said they were alright at Ilkeston excepting dad who does not seem to get much better. I was sorry to here the bad news I got about Jack Bonser and Uncle. Jack’s wife was headmistress at East Oxford Girls school and also head mistress of the Girls Night School. of course that is some years back. I don’t know how long she remained there, but I remember her quite well. He often sends me bits of thing which come in very useful. I don’t know whether I told you that I had a parcel from Mrs. Higgins at Christmas. I don’t know when I shall get a leave I don’t suppose it will be just yet as there is plenty to go before me, but anyhow I would certainly let you know. Ethel tells me what a job it is to get a bit of butter, tea or sugar. I hope you’re keeping in good health as I am very well at the present. Write back as often as you can and I will answer as many as possible.

With best love from Harry

Feb 7^th /1918
32507/ 9^th Batt York & Lanc Regt
C Company
12 Platoon L.G.S.
I.E.F.
P.S. (Put I.E.F. on address and leave Italy out)

Dear Jack

I have received your letter and I also got your small parcel alright. I was very pleased to hear that you are both keeping well and hope you remain so. The news was very sad which I have had about Jack Bonser and Uncle what had Aunt Annie got to say I don’t suppose she would stay very long especially were Aunt Polly was. I shall never forget her tongue. It does not seem that she has altered much. It must have upset Uncle a great deal when he heard about Jack’s death and no doubt it would make him worse. The weather here is still very cold at night but it is grand in the day. I don’t suppose the war will be over just yet it looks like lasting another twelve months to me, I hope I’m wrong. I think America has got to have a good to try at it before it finishes. Things look very bad in England as regards food they seem short all over of course we get our usual rations which is none to big, but we cant grumble we have missed something coming out here and leaving Flanders I hope we don’t go back again, things are very quiet out here, well they have been up to now but we don’t know how long they going to last. When in the front line we have had a fire at night and sometimes we have been in an old house so you can bet we are not bothered much by shells. I could not say where the H.A.C. is. It is a London Regt. I remember quite well when we were going in the trenches at Ypres they were just being releived. I got lost I could not get along it was up to the waist in slug and water. I came across some chaps who are also lost and they said they belong to the H. A.C. It is supposed to be a Toffs regt. Artillery is only a name they have given them they belong to the infantry. I don’t know how they went on but I found my way after wandering about for two or three hours. I shall never forget the times we had up there. I don’t know how we managed sometimes, but I don’t feel no worse for it now, but I hope that we don’t get anything like it again. We have to get our feet rubbed every morning with whale oil when in the trenches every morning it is cold at night.
Write back as soon as possible

With best love to you both

Harry

H.A.C. Refers to the "Honourable Artillery Company" - it took a moment for me to remember that "Honourable" is spelt with an aitch! Website

Thanks to all who are submitting comments. They are quite as interesting as the main blog! Click for full list of comments

Also, to find out what Harry is currently involved with, take the link to the Battalion's War Diary. War Diary (At the moment, he's just come out of the front line. Compare today's letters with the one from a week ago written when he was in the line! I'll put a scan of one of today's letters on the blog at the weekend) BL

Letter 29th January - More information

I've looked carefully at this "difficult" letter.

Firstly, the two sheets of paper are identical and are the same as the paper used for the last 3 letters.

The two sheets, if they were from the same letter, were folded separately into four. One sheet was folded long side first, the other, short side first.

The pencil appears to be the same and in a similar state of sharpness.

There is no sign of any "impression" from other pages on either sheet.

I have no other letters with with similar paper that could have an extra sheet slipped in.

Thank you for all the suggestions. They are published on the comments page. I suspect that, unless some more material appears, we just won't solve the mystery of the letter of 29th January 1918.

BL

Letter 29th January 1918 - Scans

Scans of the letter from 29th January.

I've had quite a few suggestions as to how they may be interpreted. I'll present the scans here so that you can make your own judgements. Two sheets of paper.


I am really beginning to wonder if there is a sheet missing as 1 & 2 seem to fit together as do 3 & 4, but 2 & 3? Who knows?

Letter to Jack -29th January 1918

Jan 29/1/18
32507/9th Batt Y &L
C Company
12 Platoon L.G.S.
IEF
Dear Jack
I have received your long letter and tin of salmon which was very good. I was sorry to hear the bad news about Uncle and Jack Bonser. I did not know he was died but I heard he was wounded very bad. I was glad... (turn over)... to hear that you and Kate went to the funeral it was the least you could do. I am also pleased Mrs Higgins liked the letter which I wrote. We are on that part of the line you seen in the paper and it is quite true except for the long march after but they left the rum bottle out which they never forget to take .... (new page..) ... Their is five or six parts of the river they have to cross before they get to the other side it is very wide and the farthest away from the enemy I have been when in the front line. I have not had the job yet but might get it any time a fighting patrol mostly as a lewis gun and three or four of the team...(turn over ...) with them our batt as had no luck yet, mostly get spotted. I was pleased you found Willie and Connie alright, but we can except (expect?) dad being bad I think he has been very lucky I hope he gets better. I hope the war is finished before you have to come out their are plenty of younger men.
Write as soon as possible.
With Love from
Harry

This is a strange letter that doesn't quite make sense. I've indicated the ends of pages so that the reader can make their own judgement as to any interpretation. I wonder whether there's a page missing or the rum bottle that was "left out" has something to with it. I hope the latter!

According to the Battalion's War Diary, Harry was in the front line when he wrote this. I suspect it was a bit calmer than the front line in Flanders.

A Milestone. Yesterday, 28th January, Harry's blog recorded its millionth page load! While not too exceptional in WWW terms, it is way beyond anything I imagined when I started publishing the letters.

Note for the enthusiast. "B.E.F. Italy" (British Expeditionary Force - Italy) has just changed to "I.E.F." (Italian Expeditionary Force) in Harry's letters' address. I gather this was an "official" change to reflect the involvement of the other allied armies. I've seen quite a discussion on one of the forums! BL

Letter to Jack 18th January 1918

Jan 18/1/18

9th Batt York & Lancs

C. Company

12 Platoon LGS

I.E.F

Dear Jack

I have just received your box of cigs they are very nice, of course I shared them up. I have also received a box of cigs from Ilkeston Town Hall. Things must be be very bad for you in England only allowed such small rations. I have had a letter from Kate she said she enjoyed herself at home this Christmas. Connie and Willie is about right again Connie as started school after five weeks holiday Kate tells me what a rum chap Willie gets he can say anything. I am very pleased you’re going on alright and that you are very happy. Dad keeps about the same he seems a wonderful old man. We have had some very sharp frosts out here but this last day or two it as been very mild. I think the spring starts next month and so we shall be having some warmer weather. but then I hope it is all over before summer. I should be glad if you could send me a London paper now and again. We can’t grumble at our rations to say the war has been on as long and the quiet time we have had lately I hope Kate or Annie manages to just pay you a visit it would be very nice. I will write again soon hoping this letter will find you both well

with best love
from Harry

Late Arrival! Letter to Kate 9th January 1918

Jan 9th/1917

32507/9th York & Lancs Batt
C. Company
12 Platoon L.G.S.
B.E.F. Italy

Dear Kate
I have just received your parcel alright everything was in good order. I am glad you are going on alright and like your job. How did you go on at Christmas. Ethel tells me you managed to get home for a week. How did you find Connie and Willie where they alright, well how did you find them all. I hope you enjoyed yourself. I am going to write home. It is very cold out here at night but we have some nice days. I am sorry to hear about Uncle Shelton and about Jack Bonser getting wounded. I hope he gets on alright. Write as often as you can. I think we shall get our letters alright now. I shall be glad to see you all again.

With love
from Harry


The letter was mis-filed as the date was obviously wrong. I have realised today that Harry must have just forgotten that the year had moved on to 1918.

I did exactly the same when posting the letter of 14th January! (I can edit my version, however.) BL

Click on the letter to enlarge

Letter from Italy January 14th 1918

Jan 14 1918

32507 / 9th Batt York and Lancs

C Company

12 platoon L. G. S.

BEF Italy

Dear Jack

I have received your letter. I have also received two parcels of woollen goods from Mrs. Higgins but you can’t carry a lot of stuff about we have enough to carry about. It was very good, their was a nice jersey home made which I am keeping and some socks so I had a clean and new rig out which I wanted. Your biscuits was grand and I enjoyed them. I have also had a nice parcel from Kate she said she enjoyed the Christmas alright at home. Willie and Connie as not been very well but they are going on alright now. Kate says Willie gets a rum little chap and can say anything. I am pleased to hear you are going on alright and that you are very comfortable and settled down. It is still very cold out here at night and we have had some snow. it is different to being out in France, very quiet. Write and let me know how you’re getting on as soon as possible. As Kate or Annie been to see you yet. I have wrote to Mrs. Higgins so I shall no doubt have a letter from either Mrs. Higgins or Miss Worthington. Pleased you liked the card

With best love

Harry

I think that I've discovered the "card" referred to in the letter! Ill upload a scan as soon as I'm certain. BL

Comments. Fresh Approach.

The wonderful comments received by readers have required a complete re-organisation. The original system was fine for the few comments that were being received but was not structured enough to cope with the volume that is now being sent. For the moment, there are two "Comments" blogs available. If you really don't like the "new" one, please let me know.

Please address specific comments to the post concerned. However, if the comments are generally about the whole project, it makes it much easier for me to deal with them if you add them to the latest post.

All the answers to questions that I have made have not been transferred to the new "Comments" blog. I'll try to go through and re -enter them. Apologies.

Finally, I do really welcome comments and emails. They have made all the hard work well worthwhile. However, it is more difficult to add comments received by email than those received by the Blog "comments" system.

Television Programmes on Harry's Blog

The BBC on the Regional News Programme "East Midlands Today", really launched Harry's Blog to the media

Click here to link to it.

CBC, the Canadian Broadcasting Centre visited Cornwall to prepare a broadcast on Harry's Blog. Interesting contrast with the BBC version.

Click to link to the CBC video

ABC News has published a very nice article, including comments from a range of contributors.

Click to Link to ABC News Article

ARD, the German Television Channel has made a lovely news item on the blog.

Click to link to Tagesthemen broadcast

Back in the front Line

I have today received the latest posting of the Battalion's War Diary. As could probably be predicted from the recent patrols, Harry is now back in the front line.

This section of the War Dairy is extremely difficult to decipher, but I will do my best to update the blog of the War Diaries as the entries occur.

For those that haven't followed the War Diary, Harry's Battalion made it to the Divisional Football (soccer) Cup Final last Wednesday and won 2-0. A great result! BL

BBC Programme on the Blog

BBC East Midlands Today - a regional news programme - produced an article on the blog which was very well done. At least, I think so.
Click here to link to it.

Using the Blog

The last few days have been very hectic with extensive media coverage attracting a huge number of new readers.

For new users of blogs, at the risk of stating the obvious, everything is in the reverse order from that of a "normal" journal or diary.

If you want to pick up Harry's story and follow it properly, it may make sense to start with the first archive, July 2006 and to work forwards to the present, January 2008 (Actually January 1918.) To make things even more complicated, each archive is also in reverse order - the latest material appears first!

To completely understand Harry's experiences, may I also recommend that readers follow the Battalion's War Diary explaining the situation of the 1,000 or so men that made up the 9th Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment. There is a link at the top left of the blog.

The comments received are very much appreciated and very welcome. I've collected them together in a separate blog, also linked from the top of this page. In there, I've attempted to answer any questions that readers have posed. B.L.

Letters to Kate and Jack

TWO letters written on Sunday 30th December 1917. The Battalion's War Diary records only that there was a church parade on that day, so he would have had the time to write. Reminder, the days in 1917 match 2007 so the 30th December was a Sunday for Harry also.

December 30 1917
32507 9th Batt York and Lancs
C Company
12 platoon L. G. section
BEF Italy

Dear Kate

I have received a letter from you and was very pleased, it is such a long time since I had one. I have not received the parcel yet and I hope it will come I am ready for it I think parcels will reach us all right after Christmas. It is very cold at night but in the daytime it is alright. I hope you got home for Christmas and found them well and enjoyed your holiday. Did you get the card I sent you. I have had a letter from Jack he’s getting on alright, I am pleased to hear it. I hope Connie is better when you receive this letter. Let me know how Willie is if you happen to get home. Has Annie been to see Jack since he got married. Ethel said she was very likely going after Christmas. Glad you are getting on alright at Leeds but I did not expect you would like it the same as London. I hope you have had a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Write back as soon as possible and let me know how you are all going on

With love from Harry

30/12/1917
32507 9th Batt York and Lancs
C Company
12 platoon L. G. section
BEF Italy

Dear Jack

I have received a letter from you and a box of biscuits all right. I got them on Christmas morning and you can bet how pleased I was. I have also had a letter from Kate she said she was having a holiday this Christmas the first for seven years. I hope she enjoys herself. I’m sorry to hear that Mr. Thomas’s son as got killed what date did it happen. I have had a letter from Mrs. Higgins I shall write back as soon as possible. Ethel says Connie has not been very well lately but I hope she gets on alright. I am pleased to here you are getting on all right and very happy. I hope you enjoyed yourself this Christmas. They all seem to be well again at home except Connie and I think she will be alright. Glad you liked the card I sent you. I thought it would suit alright. It is very cold out here at night but it is alright at daytime. Write back as soon as you can and let me know how you are getting on.

With best love from

Harry

Happy Christmas

Happy Christmas to all our readers. There is quite a community out there.

As you will have gathered, Harry is now in Italy. He is currently billeted in MONTBELLUNA, about 30 miles North of Venice, at the foot of the Dolomite mountains.

In the morning Harry would have watched a football match. (Soccer, for those readers from across the Atlantic.) 9th York and Lancasters won 7-1! He enjoys a Christmas dinner of roast pork with Christmas pudding, fruit and wine. The day is rounded off with a concert. (See the Battalion's War Diary for more details.)

Christmas Card from Ethel

This is the only item of correspondence between Harry and Ethel, his wife, that has survived. Harry would surely have treasured this. How it survived, how it got home? Sorry, I have absolutely no information on that. Click on the images for a larger view. The "silk" card is quite impressive.

Kate's Examination Results

More searching has turned up the vellum certificate that Kate earned in her examination in June 1917. Her brother John had written to her giving advice on how to prepare for it. (He was a school teacher before he became a clergyman.) I'll link to the scan and transcript of the letter.

The language and termininology are quite entertaining. Could the "Royal Sanitary Institute" exist today? "Inspector of Nuisances " is a wonderful job title.

Intriguingly, Jack signs the letter to his sister "with best love J. E. Lamin" not "Jack" or even "John"!

Was this just from habit after writing letters as a clergyman? Was he being a little pompous? Who knows?

Letter to Jack December 1st 1917

Dec 1st 1917

Dear Jack

I have just received a small packet from you and was very pleased with it. It was a good job it was something that would keep as it was the dated Nov 8^th. I have also received a letter Nov 14^th. The lady you are marrying I can remember quite well. Well I hope you are married by now. I can remember two lady teachers Miss James and a Miss Meredith who were at East Oxford. We have had some good marches this last fortnight which I should have enjoyed better had we not quite so much to carry. The weather has been just right for marching the roads are very level out here you can see all the big hills or mountains in the distance with snow on them the scenery would be grand in summer time. I am pleased they are going on all right and home and that you are keeping well. glad to hear about Kate. I think it is very good of them to buy you a present worth about £10 it should be a good one. We are getting on better for food now but very short of bread. Don’t forget to put Italy instead of France I hope you have a Merry xmas and a Happy new year. I’m going to try to get a card to send you for Christmas. Write back as soon as you can and don’t forget.

Yours Harry

War Diaries & Comments

The War diaries of Harry's Battalion are well worth investigation. They are written at the time by the Battalion Adjutant and give the "official" account of the progress of around 1,000 men as they go through the war. They are brief, around a couple of sentences most days.

I have transcribed them from August onwards and will continue as long as the "Blog" keeps going.

The comments that readers have put onto the various posts are extremely gratifying. I've collected them together in a separate Blog so that they can easily accessed. New comments are always welcome. If any questions are raised by the comments, I do try to answer them there. BL

Letter to Jack 25th November 1917

25 November 1917

Dear Jack

I hope you are getting on alright as I am in good health at present except bad feet after a lot of marching. My address is the same as usual, except you must put Italy instead of France. When you write I should be glad if you would send an envelope and paper. I have had no white bread lately we have been on Italian rashing (Rations?) would be glad if you could send me a parcel I have not had any for weeks. Let me know how you are getting on. I think Mr. Thomas’s son is in the same division as we are. if so he has come to Italy too. I shall be glad to get home again to see you all. Willie is getting on well and gets a big boy they are all in good health and dad is about the same. I think he is a marvellous fellow. We have seen some fine scenery on our travels. We were 4 or 5 days in the train it is alright down south of France and very pretty. Write as soon as possible

with best love

Harry

Letter to Kate 23rd November 1917

We can see from the Battalion's war Diary that Harry is marching to the front line. The distances don't sound too demanding in today's terms but it is likely that the men were carrying their normal equipment and rifles all of which would weigh up to 30Kg (66lbs). On top of this, they were not well fed and had just spent 6 months in the Flanders battlefield.

On 23rd, the distance marched was one of the shorter ones, 7 miles, and they were in Billets by 1 pm. That would give Harry the chance to write the letter.

Nov 23^rd 1917

Dear Kate.

Just a line to let you know I’m going on all right. I should be pleased if you could send some powder the next time you write the cake was grand you sent. I hope you get on all right with your fresh job.my address is the same only put Italy instead of France. Would be pleased if you could write once a week if it was only a line will write again as soon as possible.

With best love

Harry

Card from Harry to Jack November 15th 1917

Apologies to readers. A small note was wrongly filed and so arrived a little late. Fortunately Harry is Ok. and has shifted his war to Italy, arriving last Thursday, when he wrote this letter.

(A reminder - Ethel is Harry's wife)

Nov 15^th 1917

Dear Jack

I am going on all right, will write as soon as possible. Hope the wedding comes off alright. Write and tell Ethel you have heard from me. Love Harry

The Train Journey

I have at last received the copies of the Battalion's War diaries for November. We can see what Harry and his comrades were up to while we wait for his next letter.

They would certainly have seen some interesting parts of France. The Rhone Valley, Marseille, Cannes and Nice would have been a little better in peacetime!

Follow the link to the Battalion's War diary to read the detail. BL

All change for Harry's Battalion.

On 23 October 1917, orders were received to prepare to move to an unknown destination.

Commander in Chief Sir Douglas Haig inspected the Division at Leulinghem on 31 October. (See the War Diary entry for 31st October)

On 6th November the Division, including the 9th Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment entrained for the lengthy move by rail to Italy.

Today, 11th November 1917 the Division arrived in Italy and started on the long march to the front line.

Passchendaele - the final score.

I would like to copy this blunt summary of the Passchendaele offensive.

"On 26 October the Canadians set out for their ‘Road to Passiondale’ in the pouring rain. Five days later General Plumer gets even more troops at his disposal. Meanwhile the name of the village has acquired mythical proportions: ‘Passion-dale’, ‘the valley of suffering’.

On 6 November the Canadians manage to occupy the village, or what is left of it. They can make no further progress and on 10 November the offensive peters out on top of the ridge.

The result of Haig’s ‘Flanders Offensive’ is distressing: after 100 days the allies have advanced hardly eight kilometres.The human toll is enormous. 250,000 Allies killed, injured or missing, a quarter of the troops deployed. On the German side losses are just a bit lower."

12th October 1917 - 1st battle of Passchendaele

As promised, a sort of explanation of the heavy casualties suffered between the 11th and14th October.

On those days, the battalion was in the front line for the first Battle of Passchendaele. A very significant feature of the battle was the rain. Torrential rain fell on a battlefield where all the field drainage system had been destroyed in the fighting.

In the two days up to the 9th October an inch of rain had fallen, over half the normal rainfall for the month. The whole battlefield was a sea of mud. October 1917 was the wettest October that century.

While Harry’s battalion was in the front line, the main attack on the 12th October was carried out by the Australian and New Zealand troops. Their losses were enormous. They had little success. The casualties experienced by the 9th battalion York & Lancaster Regiment must have been incidental to the main attack, drawing significant casualties from the fighting resulting from it.

Some quotes from accounts of the battle may help set the scene.

http://www.flanders1917.info/ The New Zealanders account of the battle

"Recovering the New Zealand wounded from the battlefield took two and a half days days even with 3,000 extra men from the Fourth Brigade, artillery and other units plus a battalion from the British 49th Division. The conditions were horrendous and six men were needed to carry each stretcher because of the mud and water. The Germans suffered the same problems and an informal truce for stretcher-bearers came into force, although anyone without a stretcher was fired on. By the evening of October 14 there simply was no one left alive on the battlefield."

Field-Marshall Sir Douglas Haig’s account of the battle paints a sorry picture of brave men engaged in a totally futile task.

“They advanced every time with absolute confidence in their power to overcome the enemy, even though they had sometimes to struggle through mud up to their waists to reach him. So long as they could reach him they did overcome him, but physical exhaustion placed narrow limits on the depth to which each advance could be pushed, and compelled long pauses between the advances.”

Throughout the duration of the war Haig never once visited the front line to see, first-hand, what his troops endured. (My tame History teacher informs me)

Comments!!

There has been a rash of comments that were simply used to put an advertising URL on the blog.

I've, sadly, resorted to moderating comments. Any comments containing a URL will be rejected.

Letter to Jack October 27th

Dear Jack,

I was very pleased to have another letter from you I have not had many lately. I have not heard from Kate yet will you send me her address at once I think some of her letters must have got lost. We have had a busy time in the trenches since seventeenth of September till just now. We are out for a rest we have earned it we were in the trenches five Sundays out of six so you can tell, we want another draft now there is not many left now. I think there is more military medals in our company than any other in france. No 1 &2 in our gun team has got one so you see we are proud. The General said we can’t all get them if we earn them but I’m alright and I don’t bother about one. There is above twenty in our company now with them, as long as I am alright I don’t care. I was going up to the trenches last month and on the road got talking to an artillery man. It come to his home was in Oxford. he said there was some East Oxford lads with him. I told him my name but he did not know me as he went to school at Henley. He gave me a packet of chocolate a package of cigs of box of matches and two candles not a bad sort what you think. The pillbox we took over was one the Australians had taken a day or two before. The Germans would not come out so they burnt them out it was in a state. We have been on the range today firing. I did not do at all bad only I am not much good at rapid firing but at 300 yards application, fires you like, plenty of time I got 19 points out of 20 4 bulls and one inner. I was very pleased to hear that you are thinking of getting married. I should not wait a day. I should not like to be single again and I think that you will say the same let me know as soon as possible. They tell me Willie likes his mug and is very pleased with it. I got your packet alright. I should be glad when the war is over so that I can come and see you. Don’t forget Kate’s address when you write and write soon yourself
with best love from
Harry

This letter was undated. However, reference to the Battalion's War Diary makes it possible to date it with some confidence to 27th October - the day on the rifle range.

3 days in the Front Line, Heavy Casualties

The Batallion War Diary merely records the casualties for the three days from the 11th -14 October 1917. There is absolutely no account of any action or of the events of those days.

The casualties were heavy. Around 10%of the notional strength were killed or wounded - over 4 times the losses of the 30th September - 1st October when the War Diary gave a relatively detailed account of the action.

I will try to research further the background to these three days - any help would be appreciated.

This was part of the infamous Passchendaele offensive when the troops suffered great losses for minimal gain.

Radio 4 article

Sunday 7th October, Radio 4 programme, "Broadcasting House" presented an article about the blog. That day it had around 8,000 hits.

Note in the heat of the live broadcast, I exaggerated the amount of explosives set off at messines ridge. Half a million Kg of explosives were used rather than the very optimistic (pessimistic) "half a million tonnes I mentioned. (Only 1,000 times as much!)

Click here to hear the broadcast.

I've had a couple of comments from potential school users. I'd love to comment/help but can't reply to contributors who haven't registered with an email address. My direct email address is bl@pool.cornwall.sch.uk (No junk mail, please)

October 9th 1917

An incorrectly dated letter was posted her. I have moved the letter to the correct posting date, 28th October. Apologies for any confusion.

Letters to Jack, and to Kate,October 3rd 1917

3^rd October 1917

Dear Jack

Just a line to let you know I’m going on all right. In my last letter I told you we was waiting for the lads coming out well that night I had to go up the line to help them out with the guns. we brought them part way in the lumber waggons on the way we had a smash a motor lorry ran into us smashed the wheels of the lumber wagon and tipped us all out but we only got a few bumps which we are used to. Three days after, we were called up the line again of course I went this time. We had to go to the front line were it was on the Menin Road no doubt you have heard about it. We were there for three days it was awful the shelling day and night. We relieved the KOYLI about 10 o’clock and what do you think Fritz came over about 5 o’clock next morning we had an exciting time for about one hour and a half I can tell you. but we beat him off he never got in our trenches he was about two hundred strong it was a picked storming party so the prisoners say that captured, they brought liquid fire with them and bombs and all sorts but not many got back we had twenty casuals and the captain got killed a jolly good fellow too. I was pleased to get out of it but did not feel nervous when I saw them coming over. No 1 in our section was on the gun and we used our rifles. Our Coy as to go before the general for the good work we have done. We have just been given a long trousers again as we have had had Short ones all summer. I hope you are going on alright as was pleased to hear you are keeping in good health, write again as soon as possible. I am always ready for a letter. I think the mug will be very nice for Willie

With best love

Harry

Oct 3^rd

Dear Kate,

Just a line to let you know I’m going on alright. We had an exciting time and this time up the line. We had only been in about six hours when fritz’s came over to us. We had an hour and a half of it but we beat them back and they lost a good many men too not many got back I can tell you. We lost #### (pencilled out –censored?) which I’m sorry to say and about #### wounded. I think the mug will be all right for Willie which Jack is getting for him. If you send me anything it will come in very nice the chocolate is very good I should like a bit of cake, if you could afford it really gets crushed so if it is not packed careful. Write as soon as possible. I hope you’ll get on alright at your fresh place

with best love

from Harry

These letters are remarkably parallel to the account in the battalion's war diary for the 30th September / 1st October. Click to link to the War Diary

Scroll down to find the entry for 30th September

1st October - more front line action for Harry

The battalion war Diary for today, 1st October 1917 makes for more chilling reading.

The trenches were bombarded at 5 a.m. and again at 12.30 p.m. All day aeroplanes fired on the trenches and at 6.30 p.m. another bombardment started. At 7 p.m. an enemy attack was imminent, prevented by an artillery barrage. "After this, the night was quiet."

Follow the link to the war diary to read the whole account of the last two days.

9th Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment War Diary

Dawn attack, Sunday morning

Harry's company was in the front line trench. The Battalion War Diary records with chilling formality a dawn attack by the enemy.

Harry was a member of the Lewis Gun section, which gets a mention in the diary.

I'm sure that the account is exciting but I can feel nothing but fear in my stomach as I think of Harry facing the assault.

If you're following the blog, it's well worth taking the link to the Battalion's War Diary to read the official account of today's events.

We now just need to wait to see if Harry survives to give his account.

The Front Line

It can be seen from the Battalion's War Diary that today, 29th September 1917, Harry's platoon moves to the front line, relieving the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, completing the move at about 10 P.M.

Even after reading the letters many times and working on this material for months, I get an involuntary shiver when I think of Harry in these situations. I hope that the reader can share a little of this.

Letters resume - Harry wounded.

To get an idea of Harry's situation in the grand scheme of things, it is worth following the link to the Battalion's War Diary.

As you can read in today's letter, Harry is in C Company. Their movements are mentioned from time to time in the Diary. It may help to put Harry's letters into context if the dates are considered.

September 23rd 1917.

Dear Jack

I have received your letter and I got the cigs alright. You did not mention about the mug you had got for Willie it will be very nice. I will tell Ethel he has to use it. The raid you read about in the papers was made by our Battalion. B Coy went over and we, no 12 platoon C. Coy stood to. It was made to get a prisoner or two, to get information which they did, they lost one man and two wounded, it happened about five one morning. I got a slight wound in the face with shrapnel but not much it is alright now, I did not go to the doctor. There as been a big advance this last day or two but I have been left out. We get left out in turns.we are expecting our Coy out tonight. We have some rough times out here but I think the Germans have it rougher. We have to make the best of it. I should be glad when it is all over. John Bull watched us march past just over a week ago on our way to the trenches. I think we were the best batt in the Brigade, well in the division. I am pleased you’re keeping well and that they are keeping well at home. The rations have been very low lately, four and five to a loaf and small loaves too, that is the days bread. Write back as soon as possible, I’m always pleased to get a letter from you. Kate keeps sending me a small parcels which come in very nice, I hope she gets on alright at her fresh situation. I’m just going to write to Ethel.

With best love

from Harry.

Battle Of Menin Road, 20th September 1917

This was a major offensive in the 3rd battle of Ypres. The attack started at 5.40 A.M. Harry's battalion was in the second wave of troops supporting the attack. The careful planning of General Plumer, that had ensured success at Messines Ridge two months earlier, delivered some initial success this time.

This is now part of the dreadful Passchendaele experience - stalemate in the Flanders mud costing many, many thousands of lives.

The card was included in the letters. I don't know who Harry sent it to. It commemorates Harry's Division's action last Thursday. I can find a record of the artist, J.V. Breffit, not as an artist, but as an army officer. If any one knows any more, please add a comment.


Harry's letters follow very shortly.

Connie

More information has been found on little Connie, Kate's daughter.

Connie was afflicted with "Spastic Diplegia". I understand that this is now known as cerebral palsy affecting limbs on both sides. This explains the comments about Connie walking and her starting school being noteworthy.

Two years before the Harry went away to war, they lost their first child, Arthur in infancy. A year after that, Willie was born. All this time Harry and Ethel were looking after this disabled little girl.

Advance notice; Harry's letters resume next week.

Harry's 30th Birthday

Harry's birthday has shifted a little. I was always told that he was born in 1888. However, anyone carefully following the Blog, will have noticed that the year of his birth changed to 1887.

I recently discovered the record of his birth registration indicated as September 1887 and have just received a copy of Harry's birth certificate with date of birth recorded as 28th August 1887, registered, of course in September.

In the same package I received the birth certificate of Willie's older brother Arthur, Harry's other son, born 1914, died in infancy.

This means that this card would have been sent to Harry a couple of weeks ago (Blog calender).

One can only imagine how Harry would have treasured this.

I have no further information about it.


Click on the pictures to enlarge.

Letter from Jack to Kate June 1917 - with scan

I have found another letter that is, I am afraid out of time order. It was filed with other material and I didn’t recognise its significance. This letter is from Harry’s brother, Jack to sister Kate. Jack was, at the time, an Anglican Clergyman in Hull in the North of England. Kate was a nurse in London. I have certificates in midwifery and “hygiene” that could well have been a result of the exams mentioned.

It was actually written on the 7th June 1917, the day of the battle of Messines Ridge. I can't help making a link from this peaceful clergyman writing a letter in Hull about his brother, this soldier enduring terrific horrors as that day progesses.

The letter from Harry that Jack refers to is probably the letter of 2nd June.

20 Ryde St
Hull
7th June 1917

Dear Kate

Just a line to let you know that I’ve heard from Harry this morning. He would very much like to hear from you. His address is

Pte H. Lamin
32507
9th Batt
York & Lancashire Regiment
C Company
12th Platoon
B.E.F. France

He is in very good health I am thankful to say.

I hope you will get on all right with your exam. Have you seen the question papers of former years and do you know off by heart the act of parliament you ought to. I see you had another air raid not very far from London. Did you hear anything of it? I am in the best of health although very hard worked. Mr Thomas is very interested in his work in France.
With lots of love
J.E. Lamin

Click on the letter for an enlarged view.

Endsleigh Financial can help with UK mortgages

Please be patient

There is a gap in the letters at the moment which I can't explain. Maybe there was a small bundle that was lost. I just don't know. Maybe Harry had a leave during this time and so didn't write letters. All I can do in this gap is to keep you up to date with his Unit's War Diary. We can see from that that Harry is not seeing too much action.

If you're new to blogs, this may be quite difficult to follow sensibly. Unlike a standard diary, blogs work in reverse. The older material is at the bottom, the newest stuff is at the top.

More on the War Diaries

I have decide that, in parallel with the blog, I'll keep the War Diaries of the 9th Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment up to date.

There is, virtually, an entry every day so that the reader can get an overview of what was happening to the whole Battalion. This should complement Harry's letters extremely well. (They are going to restart very shortly).

Today, I have put on the entry for 27th August 1917 when they remained at "Chateau Segard". Up to know I haven't found any modern record of the Chateau. Can anyone help? It is mentioned in several WW1 documents and appears to be a training centre of sorts. Maybe it was destroyed in that war.

(Update - I have discovered that Chateau Segard is no more. The location is now a farm. All that remains of the Chateau is two pillars beside the road.)

The link to the war diaries is at the top left of this blog.

War Diaries August 1917

I am almost apologising for not having letters to post. (Almost but not quite!)

The reality is, of course, that I can't publish letters that I don't possess or don't exist.

I have transcribed the War Diary of Harry's Battalion. It can be seen that, for the month of August 1917, the 9th Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment saw little action. They spent their time in various camps in the Ypres (Ieper) area. Click here to see the War Diary transcription.

Wonderful comments from readers. 20th August

I've collected together the generous comments that readers have made about the blog and the letters. Click here to read them.

Readers Comments - Updated Version

All about Connie

Connie was the illegitimate daughter of Kate, Harry's sister. She was born in June 1910 in the Nottingham area.

She was brought up by Kate's brother Harry and his wife Ethel. That Harry is the subject of the blog.

I believe the picture on the left is Connie. It was the front of a postcard sent to Kate in December 1913 by her sister Agnes. The cryptic note on the back is interesting.




A second picture, a little older, has Willie's distinctive handwriting on the back.












Willie has said that Connie was "a cripple". I have no further information on this.

Connie died on 21st December 1929 and was buried on Christmas Eve. She died from complications resulting from her cerebral palsy.

Her grave, which she shares with her
mother.

9th August 1917, Card to Connie

This flash of colour was tucked in the grey, drab bundle of letters. It's difficult to tell when it was sent as there's no date or postmark. It must have been included with one of the letters and the content suggests that it must have been sent about this time. I admit to taking a liberty by implying the precise date.The little card was inserted in behind the flap in the muslin front.

Connie would be about 8 when it was written. Willie would have been approaching 18 months. Connie was being brought up as Willie's big sister.

I am now convinced that Connie was Kate's illgitimate daughter. Further evidence came to light which I'll post in the next few days.

The "silk cards" were very popular during the war. Many were sent home from the front. Most were hand embroidered by refugees and displaced persons.

"A souvenir from France" is slightly misleading. As far as I can tell, Harry was in Belgium. He never spent any time in France. "Souvenir!" Would he really want to remember this expedition?

Battalion War Diary of the Battle of Messines Ridge

1917

June 7th At 3.10 am (zero hour) our artillery opened up a terrific barrage on the Hun front line & simultaneously the mines under Hill 60 and the CATERPILLAR were blown. At zero +1 (minute) the first wave consisting of B Coy on the left & A Coy on the right went over, and were followed by D Coy (moppers up) & C Coy (Harry's Company) in support at short intervals. The attack progressed very favourably and by zero + 30 the Bn had reached its objective and began consolidating. Very few casualties were sustained in the actual attack.

At zero + 3hr 40mins the 8th Bn York & Lancaster Bn & the 8th Bn KOYLI on the right and left respectively, went over from our objective and reached the final objective of the Brigade.

June 9th The Bn remained in its objectives until the evening of the 9th. During this period the Bn underwent heavy shelling & sustained many casualties. B Coy also relieved the 8th Bn Y & L in the front line on the morning of the 9th. On the evening of the 9th the Bn was relieved by the 1st N Staffs Bn. The total casualties sustained were officers - killed 4 (including the C.O.) wounded 6. O.Rs - Killed 39, wounded 211. Died of wounds 9. Missing 18.

Night of 9th/10th On relief the Bn moved by motor lorry from KRUISTRAAT to SCOTTISH LINES. Capt. D Lewis took over temp command of Bn at midday on June 7th* from Lt Col Bowses Wilson, killed in action 7.6.17. Coys at O.C Coys disposal for cleaning up and re-organisation
* Added in very small writing as a superscript.


This account should be read alongside Harry's two letters of 11th June. He does mention the loss of the C.O but, amazingly, neither letter mentions the explosion of the mines. If the explosion could have been heard in London & Dublin, it must have been quite significant a few hundred yards away!

War Diaries of Harry's Battalion August 6th

I've just discovered and downloaded the "War Diaries" of the 9th Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment, Harry's Unit. These astonishing documents are available online from the Public Records Office, Kew website.

They give a day-by-day account of the activities of the battalion. I now have to decide how to deal with the information. It is fascinating to put the "official" account against Harry's letters. In the future, I'll publish the entry in the battalion's war Diary alongside the letters but I'm left with the problem of dealing with the retrospective material.

PLAN I'll publish several days worth each day, starting with the beginning of June. I'll insert a second copy in the correct chronological place in the blog. Then, as time goes on, I'll withdraw the bits that are in the wrong time slot.

PLEASE. Use the comments to help me decide if I'm doing the right thing. I have collated comments into one post that should be available in the next week or so. If you wish to have a comment included, all you have to do is write it.

1st Extract

1917
War Diary 9th Bn York and Lancs. Regt.

June 1st Bn was relieved in the early morning in the BUND by the 12th D.L.I. There were two casualties on the way to camp owing to enemy shelling back areas with gas shells. The Bn arrived in P camp at 3.30 am, but moved in the evening to bivouacs at S24 b4.5

June 2nd to June 5th Bn at S24 b4.5 Coys were inspected by the C.O. and thorough organisation of coys for the for the coming offensive was carried out.
On the evening of the 5th the Bn moved via Vlamertinge, Hruistraat and the N end of BUND to the following dispositions. Bn H.Q. HALFWAY HO. A, B & C Coys WELLINGTON CRESCENT and D Coy MAPLE TR.

The sketch map from 1915, although out of date, shows the location of Halfway House and Maple Copse. (Maple TR Above?) Click on the map for an enlarged view.

June 6th On the evening of the 6th Bn moved to assembly positions previous to the attack. Bn front being from N end of CANADA St to dead end of front line. There were no casualties whilst the Bn was assembling.


The battalion is nominally around 1000 men, split into 4 Companys. Harry was in "C" Company.

Passchendaele 31st July 1917

After the success of Messines, the troops were in the "hold" phase of the "bite and hold" strategy. From research, there is a strong opinion that it would have been better to continue with the momentum from that first attack and to press on while the Germans were in disarray, with their morale badly dented.

However, that was not the strategy adopted. Consequently, in the two week pause, the Germans had an opportunity to establish new defensive positions.

On 31st July, a new offensive was started with objective being the small village of Passchendaele. Harry would have been involved in this dreadful phase of the war.

The weather was not kind. The big problem was mud. The picture included here was taken on 1st August 1917, shows a stretcher party struggling through the mud.

Extract from the London Times 1st August 1917 "LONDON, Both British and French troops gained further ground today along their new front in Belgium, in spite of the heavy rain, which, falling since early yesterday afternoon, has turned the battlefield into a sea of mud and rendered major operations impossible."

In an earlier letter, Harry mentions going for a bath "two weeks ago".

"I died in Hell

(they called it Passchendaele); my wound was slight

and I was hobbling back; and then a shell

burst slick upon the duckboards; so I fell

into the bottomless mud, and lost the light"

― Siegfried Sassoon

Exciting new material; 28th July

I have just unearthed a tray of material that I wasn't aware existed. Most of it was from my mother's side of the family but, mixed in were several items that must have come from Ethel's belongings.

The most exciting find was this picture of Harry when he was in the army.



I can only think that the photograph was taken at the training camp but if any expert out there would like to correct me (or even confirm that view) I would be most grateful.


Harry is on the front row, extreme right. The photograph has had a tough journey. I've tried to make the best of it but decided to post it now rather than waiting for an "ideal" version.

I now have version that is "tidied up". Many thanks to John Murray.

Note;

1. The letters in the stained glass - could be "Rugeley".
2. The chap with a wrist watch on the front row. Very rare in 1917.
3. Harry's belt is upside down!


I'm also collating all the comments into one place. They have been, without exception, very pleasant, kind and encouraging.

27th July -Messines Ridge letter scans

For new users of blogs, at the risk of stating the obvious, everything is in the reverse order from that of a "normal" journal or diary.

If you want to pick up Harry's story and follow it properly, it may make sense to start with the first archive, July 2006 and to work forwards to August 2007. (Actually August 1917). (To make things even more complicated, each archive is also in reverse order - the latest material appears first!)

Today I upload scans of the letter written a few days after the main assault at Messines Ridge.

This letter to Harry's brother Jack was written on June 11th. The main assault that was described in the letter took place on the 7th June but the battle continued until 14th.

Click on the letters for an enlarged view.




Note that the last page is on a completely different type of paper!

22nd July; More on Messines Ridge

I need to let the reader know that we have a gap in the letters. I don't think that Harry didn't write any, I suspect that a small bundle was lost or removed. I know that this is slightly against the spirit of the blog, but the family at home would probably have had the comfort of letters.

I have, thanks to a helpful reader, found the location of Harry's Unit for this battle. It would appear that Harry had achieved objectives by the 11th, when he wrote two letters.

Click on the map for an enlarged view.

Harry was part of the 23rd Division. Two large mines, shown as small circles on the map, were detonated just ahead of Harry on the morning of 7th June. Their objective was likely to be "Hill 60" or "Mount Sorell".

As the explosions took place at 0310, the cameras of the day were almost certainly incapable of recording the event. However, I have included a link to a movie of a similar mine exploded a year earlier before the Somme Offensive. Click here

Five live Interview Friday 13th July

BBC Five Live broadcast an interview on their Drive Time programme last Friday.

Click to Listen

Letter to Kate, 14th July 1917

July 14/1917

Dear Kate

I have received your parcel it came in very nice. we were just getting ready to move when I got it, we went in lorries so I did not have to carry it far I can tell you there was not much left as me and my pals were short and we could not get anything where we landed. It is a country place a few miles behind the firing line. The weather is lovely, we are all enjoying the ride. I’m in good health but we have had a rough time this last week or two going on working parties at night digging trenches and one thing and another. One night we were between our lines and the Germans but we all came out alright. It’s a bit rough but it might be worse. My address is the same. Will write again soon. Glad to hear they are all right at home.

Yours truly

Harry

These parcel are just right plenty big enough.

6th July 1917, Letter to Kate

July 6 1917

Dear Kate

I have received your letter was very pleased with it. I have received some nice letters from Jack he seems in very good health only very busy. Letters are very nice out here. Don’t send any cigs we get plenty out here you could send chocolate or biscuits anything to eat. envelopes about half a dozen. Ethel tells me Willie gets a rum chap always running away and getting into things. Write back as soon as you receive this letter. Address 32507, 9th Batt York and Lancs C company L. G. Section 12 Platoon BEF France. I think this is all just now will write again soon


yours truly


Harry

Five Live Broadcast

BBC's Radio FiveLive boadcast an interview to update listeners on Harry's progress to date.

Click to hear the broadcast

Scans of Early letters

The first letter from Rugeley Camp to sister Kate. I've had several requests to include scans of the letters. In "quiet" periods, I'll upload them. This one was written in the relative comfort of the training camp.