Letters of the First World War: “Excuse the writing”

Posted on April 23, 2014 by Miranda Brennan
Picture 310

Cap badge of the King’s Royal Rifle Corps, Stephen Brown’s regiment. Image © Imperial War Museums INS 15490

Aged 17, Rifleman Stephen Brown wrote his third letter home from the army in the autumn of 1914.

As October and November wore on, the mobilisation process was continuing, and teenage Stephen’s battalion, the 5th of the King’s Royal Rifle Corps, was moved to Sheerness.

Soon afterwards, he was scheduled to join the regular battalions who had returned from India to Britain in order to then join the British Expeditionary Force in France. As he waited to find out more about when he would join the front, he wrote to his mother.

We’ve been blogging Stephen’s letters to his mother in sequence:

Transcript of Stephen’s third letter

“Dear Mother

Just a line hoping you are quite well as it leaves me I have not received your letter[.] Dear mother I have not sent the allowance because I thought I would get a pass but they stopped them because of the chaps stoping [sic] over thier [sic] time but I shall ask for one and if I get it I will come home if not I shall start making the allowance I can get out in town now and go about with Frank I am getting my photo taken and will send one or two home

I have picked up with a nice young Lady

I have picked up with a nice young Lady down here I will send her photo home when I get some more I hope you are quite well give my love to aunt Tot and kitty I hope all the Little ones are quite well give my love to all the children tell Freddy that he must grow up and be a soldier

I hope you will answer soon send some fags and will be much obliged I will be with Frank on Monday and will tell him that I had your Letter this is all this time I remain

Your
Loving
Son

Stephen

Excuse the writing
Done on the quick
Dont forget to answer”

Piecing a narrative together

It would be wonderful to find out more about “Frank” – presumably a pal of Stephen’s – or even the name of the “young lady” he claims to have “taken up with”.

Each Wednesday we’ll be blogging Stephen’s sequence of letters home as part of our Letters of the First World War series.

Lives of the First World War is launching in a few weeks, and we hope to find out more about Stephen and many more like him through public contributions.

Were any of your family in the King’s Royal Rifle Corps? 

Look out for Stephen’s next letter home, and the next part of his First World War story, next Wednesday. 

Posted in Letters of the First World War | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Easter ‘comfort gifts’ for Sussex soldiers

Posted on April 21, 2014 by Miranda Brennan
Saturday 14 April 1917 , Hastings and St Leonards Observer. Image © Johnston Press plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD, digitised by the British Newspaper Archive.

Saturday 14 April 1917 , Hastings and St Leonards Observer. Image © Johnston Press plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD, digitised by the British Newspaper Archive.

Over Easter in 1917, local people in Sussex organised gifts for soldiers. Local papers published an itemised list of who received socks.

The Hastings and St Leonards Observer from 14th April 1917 lists who contributed to the Sussex Soldiers Cigarette and Comforts Fund, and also names each soldier who received ‘an Easter gift’ from the fund.

Easter gifts from the home front

Easter gifts included socks and cigarettes. Easter 1917′s collection involved two gifts of 9,000 cigarettes each, which were sent to the 7th and 8th battalions of the Royal Sussex Regiment.

In one or two cases mufflers have been forwarded in place of socks

“In one or two cases,” notes E. Gertrude Adams, who acted as secretary for the fundraising, “mufflers have been forwarded in place of socks”.

Below is the list of specific names the paper reported as having received socks and cigarettes. Most names are not given in full, but perhaps someone you know of or may be researching when Lives of the First World War launches might be listed. Perhaps you even have a letter among your family mementoes where these gifts are mentioned.

Saturday 14 April 1917 , Hastings and St Leonards Observer. Image © Johnston Press plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD, digitised by the British Newspaper Archive.

Saturday 14 April 1917 , Hastings and St Leonards Observer. Image © Johnston Press plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD, digitised by the British Newspaper Archive.

Posted in Life Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

An Easter war wedding

Posted on April 18, 2014 by Miranda Brennan
Yorkshire Evening Post, Tuesday 27 April 1915. © Johnston Press plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Yorkshire Evening Post, Tuesday 27 April 1915. © Johnston Press plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

‘War weddings’ were commonly reported in local newspapers throughout the war. Was a war wedding in your family featured?

As the First World War failed to be ‘over by Christmas’, late April 1915 brought the first wartime Easter holiday. A number of ‘war weddings’ were published in local newspapers around the country.

A report of an army officer’s 1915 Easter wedding in the Yorkshire Evening Post contains some atmospheric detail, along with images of the bride and groom. You can read a transcript below.

“A hat of pale oyster”

“A WAR WEDDING NEAR HULL.

 An interesting military wedding took place to-day in the Parish Church at Dalton Holme, where the 12th (service) Battalion of the East Yorkshire Regiment is encamped. The bride was Miss Ethel Stephenson, eldest daughter of the late Mr William Stephenson, M.R.C.S [member of the Royal College of Surgeons] (London) a well-known East Yorkshire antiquary; and the bridegroom Captain John Winchester Springhall, the popular adjutant of the battalion, and the only son of Mr. Robert Springhall, of Southampton, late of His Majesty’s 15th Foot.

An arch of swords was formed by the officers outside the church door

“An arch of swords was formed by the officers of the battalion outside the door of the church, and the village street was lined by the rank and file. [...]

“The bride wore a travelling dress of navy blue gabardine, with hat of pale oyster shade. The bridesmaid was Miss Joan Warburton, who wore a ruby-coloured coat and skirt, with black picture hat.

“Major F.H. Lock, of the East Yorkshire Regiment, was the best man. The band of the East Yorkshire Regiment, under Mr James Hurd L.R.A.M. [Licentiate, Royal Academy of Music], was present.

“After the ceremony a reception was held by Colonel H.R. Pease and the officers of the 12th Battalion. [...] The presents, which included a handsome silver salver [a flat tray] from the colonel, were very numerous.”

A window into their life stories

This article is an interesting research starting point. It provides a snapshot of a day in which several figures who worked or lived together during the First World War came together to make up the wedding party or attend as guests.

We can say for certain that at least three of them will be commemorated on Lives of the First World War as they were servicemen enlisted in the armed forces and so have Medal Index Cards which will be used to create Life Story pages for them on the site.

Searching the records

A look at the records which will be available on Lives of the First World War when it launches this summer reveals the following Life Story pages. We can learn their first names in full and in some cases the beginnings of clues about their war experiences:

  • Quarter Master and Honorary Lieutenant / Temporary Lieutenant Colonel JW Springhall: It seems the bridegroom, John, was promoted after his marriage. His medal index card mentions that he is recorded under “Mentions in Despatches, Meritorious Service Medals and Territorial Force Efficiency Medals”.
  • Major Frederick Heathfield Lock: The best man, presumably a friend of John’s, is also comemmorated on Lives of the First World War. He is listed as having been awarded a Silver War Badge, which means that he was invalided out of the army at some point due to either illness or injury.
  • Bandmaster JLT Hurd:  James Hurd led the regimental band, who were present at the wedding.
  • Lieutenant Colonel Harold Robinson Pease: Colonel Pease, who hosted the reception and presented the couple with a fine silver tray as a wedding gift, also seems to have gained a promotion since the wedding. He is also listed as gaining a Silver War Badge.

War weddings and local news

How about you? Are you aware of any news clippings your relatives may have featured in?

When Lives of the First World War launches, these may form a good starting point for uncovering more about their stories.

Posted in Life Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Letters of the First World War: “I am getting on alright”

Posted on April 16, 2014 by Miranda Brennan

 

The first page of Stephen Brown's second 1914 letter to his family. Image © IWM (Documents.145); Text © Brown family c/o IWM

The first page of Stephen Brown’s second 1914 letter to his family. Image © IWM (Documents.145); Text © Brown family c/o IWM

In his second letter home, 17-year-old Stephen Brown settles into the army as war breaks out.

After his emotional first letter home, which we posted last Wednesday, it seems Stephen Brown’s mother forgave him whatever he did to upset her.

His next letter home the following month later, is thought to have been written in August 1914, in the days immediately following the declaration of war.

In it, he describes how all soldiers on leave or in reserve troops are to be ‘called up’ for active service. Stephen also wonders whether his ‘Uncle Bob’ – presumably also a soldier  –has been called up yet.

The letter was sent from Winchester, where his barracks were. At such an early stage of proceedings, he seems unaware of any details on where overseas he may be sent.

You can read a transcript below.

“I am getting on alright”

[No date, 4th – 9th August 1914]

“Dear Mother

Just a line to let you know that I am getting on alright I hope [you] are the same I am sorry I did not write before we are so busy that I have had know [sic] time.

thank you for forgiving me I know I don’t deserve it

We are confined to barracks so I can not [sic] get a stamp but I will send a shilling home next week as it is settling up week that is they keep so much back each week out of our money and give it back the first week in every month I hope Tommy and arche [Archie?] Hammond are all right give my love to Kitty, Lillie, Maggie, Freddy and Ted I hope Dad is quite well.

My money is 4/6. But I get 3/- a week and [the] rest on settling up week give my love to Mrs Hammond. I thank you for forgiving me I know I don’t deserve it tell auntie Tot and uncle bob that I am getting on fine is Uncle Bob been called up we are calling all our Reservists up and those on leave this is all at present

I remain your

loving son

Stephen”

A second page of kisses

Stephen devoted the remaining page to postscripts, mostly of kisses for different family members. He then added a third page, also filled with kisses.

Stephen Brown letter 2 p2

Page 2 of Stephen Brown’s second 1914 letter home. Image © IWM (Documents.145); Text © Brown family c/o IWM

“XXXXXXX for Mother

XXXXXXXXXX for Lillie

we are calling all our Reservists up and those on leave

XXXXXXXXXXXXX for Kitty
XXXXXXXXXXXX Fred
XXXXXXXX Maggie
XXXXXXX Ted
XXXXXXX Dad

with love to all

Love to Aunt Tot Uncle bob aunt kitty and Freddy Johnson

Hoping you will send an answer [...] Will send a few toys next week”

Page three: “With love to Lillie from Steve”

Stephen Brown letter 2 p3

Page 3 of Stephen Brown’s second 1914 letter home, covered with postscripts and kisses. Image © IWM (Documents.145); Text © Brown family c/o IWM

Was ‘Lillie’ a sister Stephen was particularly close to, perhaps? She gets a second mention on the third page, and more kisses as he finally signs off:

“With love to Lillie from Steve XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

give these to Lillie for me

hoping to Be home for a weekend soon Goodbye with love”

Revealing more of Stephen’s story

Each Wednesday we’ll be blogging Stephen’s sequence of letters home as part of our Letters of the First World War series.

When Lives of the First World War launches this summer, Stephen’s Life Story page will showcase all these letters, and you will be invited to contribute anything else you know about him, along with any other sources of evidence.

The same goes for anyone else you are looking to commemorate who served in uniform or worked on the home front during the First World War.

Look out for Stephen’s next letter home – we’ll publish scanned images of the next part of his story next Wednesday.

Posted in Letters of the First World War | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

A newspaper clipping and a story of shell shock?

Posted on April 14, 2014 by Miranda Brennan
Hull Daily Mail, Monday 24 April 1916. Image © Local World Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Hull Daily Mail, Monday 24 April 1916. Image © Local World Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD and digitised by the British Newspaper Archive.

What First World War story lies behind this 1916 Easter newspaper clipping?

On Monday 24 April 1916 the Hull Daily Mail published a report of the Easter bank holiday celebrations in Hull, which were largely cold and rainy.

Near the end of the report is a short mention of a Private George Newman, who served with the East Yorkshire Regiment. A transcript is below.

“Soldier recovers speech”

“E. YORKS SOLDIER RECOVERS SPEECH

Private George Newman, of the 8th East Yorkshires, recovered his speech in the excitement of seeing Crystal Palace score their winning goal against Clapton Orient on Saturday.”

Looking for the life story behind the words

The most logical reason why Private Newman could not speak before this dramatic moment, though it is not mentioned in the report, is probably linked to shell shock. Mutism was a common symptom of severe shell shock suffered by soldiers during the First World War.

Mutism was a common symptom of severe shell shock

Perhaps Private Newman’s military records might confirm part of this story. There is certainly a Medal Index Card for a Private George Newman of the East Yorkshire Regiment.

The public launch of Lives of the First World War might well present an opportunity for us to find out more about who he was, and his war experiences.

The story is only a snippet, and may have been exaggerated for dramatic effect  –  there is no knowing whether it really was the goal scoring moment that triggered George finding he could use his voice again.

Discovering more about George Newman

But perhaps there are people out there who know more about George, or who have heard this story as a family anecdote.

  • Was he a big fan of football?
  • How old was he?
  • Did he have any children?
  • Did he continue to struggle with mutism or shell shock?

Perhaps you know more, and when Lives of the First World War launches this summer, you could share your knowledge with the world.

Posted in Life Stories | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Letters of the First World War: Stephen Brown, 17

Posted on April 9, 2014 by Miranda Brennan
Stephen Brown 1st letter

Stephen Brown’s first letter home from the army. Image © IWM (Documents.145); Text © Brown family c/o IWM

Stephen Brown joined the army in July 1914, a month before the First World War broke out. He was 17 years old.

This is the first in a series of letters Stephen sent his family. We’ll be blogging the letters that tell Stephen’s First World War story every Wednesday in our ‘Letters of the First World War’ blog category.

A transcript is given below.

Joining the army

Stephen’s service record shows that he enlisted on 3 July 1914 in the Special Reserve of the King’s Royal Rifles (war was officially declared in August).

I am very sorry for what I done at home

Writing his first letter home from Winchester, Stephen seems more concerned about a family matter than the possibility of war. Perhaps he did not even fully appreciate the likelihood of the war’s outbreak. The letter is undated, but was clearly written very soon after he enlisted.

It seems he has done something to upset his mother before joining the army. Perhaps  he has gotten himself into debt – he mentions ‘paying her back’ out of his army pay.

His handwriting is large and quite childlike, and the entire letter is one sentence, perhaps dashed off during a break.

Transcript of Stephen’s first letter

“Dear Mother

Just a line to let you know that I am getting on all right in the army. I hope that you are all well as I am myself I am very sorry for what I done when I was at home and will pay you back when I get some more pay I like the army very well for I am going to join the Regulars when I have done my time in the reserve then I shall be able to pay you back for I get 30 /- as a bounty I hope you and Dad will forgive me for what I done when at home I cannot write no more at present for I have to do some more work trusting you will forgive me

I remain your Son

Stephen Brown

Uncovering stories through letters

On page 2, Stephen repeats his address, and adds as a postscript: “I hope you will write me an answer”.

When Lives of the First World War launches, we will be inviting you to upload digital scanned copies of mementoes such as letters, documents and diaries.

If you have any letters in your family collection, we would love to see these added to Lives of the First World War when we launch the platform this summer.

Posted in Letters of the First World War, Life Stories | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Medical advancements in the First World War

Posted on April 7, 2014 by Miranda Brennan
Private Denis Bailie after his surgery to repair a gunshot wound to the jaw. Image © Royal College of Surgeons.

Private Denis Bailie after his surgery to repair a gunshot wound to the jaw. Image © Royal College of Surgeons.

Alongside the horrors of trench warfare, the First World War led to advancements in medicine and surgery. Did anyone in your family receive groundbreaking treatment?

Private Denis Bailie was serving with the 1st Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment when he suffered a gunshot wound to the face, seriously injuring his jaw. He was 22 years old.

Denis survived the injury. The record of his Silver War Badge, which was introduced in 1916 and awarded to soldiers who were invalided out of the army, tells us that he was honourably discharged in 1917.

Developing new surgery techniques

The photographs above show Private Bailie after he underwent groundbreaking surgical procedures to restore the use of his jaw and repair the disfigurement.

The record of his Silver War Badge tells us Denis was honourably discharged in 1917.

Denis was a patient of Dr Harold Gillies, who in June 1917 established the Queens Hospital in Sidcup, where he pioneered new plastic surgery treatments for disfigured soldiers.

Using an innovation known as the tubed pedicle, Dr Gillies used tissue from the patient in his reconstructive operations, rather than attempting skin grafts from other people or animals. This reduced the chance of rejection significantly, along with cutting down the risk of later complications.

Revealing the stories of the Sidcup patients

On 1st August 1916, Corporal William J Abbott was shot in the left side of his face while serving with the Northamptonshire Regiment.

Corporal Abbott was a little under twice Private Denis Bailie’s age at 41. Like Private Bailie, he became a patient of Dr Gillies, undergoing reconstructive surgery to repair the wound. The photographs that were taken once healing had begun are below.

Both William Abbott and Denis Gillies survived the war. There are many parts of their stories which, with your help, could be uncovered when Lives of the First World War launches.

  • Were they married, or did they go on to marry?
  • Did they write any letters to relatives about their injuries?
  • Are there any more images of them out there, other than these hospital headshots?
Corporal William Abbott after his surgery. Image © Royal College of Surgeons

Corporal William Abbott after his surgery. Image © Royal College of Surgeons

Posted in Life Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Researching the stories behind From Street to Trench

Posted on April 4, 2014 by Matthew Fidler
Frank Middleton's note to his mother

Frank Middleton’s note to his mother

In our first guest blog, IWM’s Charlotte Czyzyk writes about researching the life stories behind the brand new From Street to Trench exhibition.

For the past year, I have worked as a Researcher on the special exhibition From Street to Trench: A World War that Shaped a Region, which opens at IWM North in Manchester on 5 April. The exhibition focuses on the lives and experiences of people connected to the North West of England during the First World War, both those who served overseas and those who remained at home. I have encountered so many incredible stories during the research process.

One of the most moving pieces on display in the exhibition is a scribbled note by Frank Middleton (pictured above) to his mother, to apologise for leaving to join the army without saying goodbye and asking her not to cry.

Frank Middleton’s note

“Dear Mother

“I go away today … please don’t weep”

Last week I got paid up at the Starch works, but did no[t] like telling you. On Monday I went to join the army and [first?] I go away today but don’t [k]no[w] where to, but will let you know. Please don’t weep, same has [sic] I am now, I know that I am doing wrong but its [seams?] to that I had to go.

From your loving Son

Frank”

Researching the life story behind the note

Frank wrote home again on many occasions, the last time just two weeks before he died – we know from Frank’s medal index card that he was killed in action on 16 June 1915.

Using the data sets available on Lives of the First World War, I have been able to piece together additional information about Frank’s life – that Frank was born in 1891 in Rochdale, Lancashire to Martha and Charles Middleton; that he had two sisters; that he worked as a quilt weaver and labourer in Eccles and that he joined the army just after Christmas in 1914.

Finally, his service record told me that he was believed to have been buried by the Middlesex Regiment, 8th Infantry Brigade. However, his grave must have later been lost, because looking at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission database, his name now features on the Menin Gate memorial to the missing in Ypres.

Help us to uncover more about Frank’s story

Now that the exhibition has opened, I look forward to taking my research further by piecing together the stories using the Lives of the First World War digital platform. It would be wonderful if together we could fill in the missing pieces of Frank’s story – does anyone have a photograph of him to share? Do we know anything about his interests and hobbies? When Lives of the First World War launches, we’ll need your help to uncover the stories of thousands of men like Frank Middleton.

The From Street to Trench exhibition launches Saturday 5 April 2014 at IWM North in Manchester. Find out more about the exhibition.

Posted in Life Stories, My Research | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

New IWM exhibition – From Street to Trench

Posted on March 31, 2014 by Matthew Fidler

IWM’s new exhibition, launching Saturday 5 April at IWM North, will reveal hundreds of remarkable First World War life stories from the North West.

Two soldiers from the Lancashire Fusiliers in a flooded communication trench. Image © Imperial War Museums Q 4662.

Two soldiers from the Lancashire Fusiliers in a flooded communication trench. Image © Imperial War Museums Q 4662.

The largest exhibition of its kind, From Street To Trench: A World War That Shaped A Region brings together over 200 personal objects, films, sound recordings, photographs, artworks and letters. The displays include items from IWM’s unrivalled national collections and from personal public donated items, many of which have never been on public display before.

From poet Wilfred Owen and Clement Attlee who went on to become Prime Minister, to Victoria Cross recipients and first-hand accounts by civilians on the home front – this exhibition helps to uncover the remarkable experiences of individuals through previously unpublished and personal items.

Help us to uncover more about their stories

Many of the personal stories behind the objects in the From Street to Trench exhibition will be remembered in Lives of the First World War, and we need your help to expand on what we already know and preserve their stories for future generations.

Can you help us to uncover more about the life stories of people like Cheshire soldier John Davies, whose VC medal will be on display in the exhibition, when Lives of the First World War launches this Spring?

Read our blog post on researching the life stories behind the exhibition.

Posted in News | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Letters of the First World War: stopping a bullet

Posted on March 28, 2014 by Miranda Brennan

Is there a story like this in your First World War family history? For Mother’s Day we take a look at a popular story from 1915.

Mother's Letters - Nottingham Evening Post - Saturday 18 September 1915

Nottingham Evening Post, Saturday 18 September 1915
© Local World Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD and digitised by the British Newspaper Archive.

“His mother’s letters in his pocket saved his life”

On 18 September 1915, the Saturday edition of the Yorkshire Evening Post published the following:

The bullet, striking him on the breast, was diverted by the letters

“MOTHER’S LETTERS SAVE SOLDIER’S LIFE.

“A packet of his mother’s letters in his pocket saved the life of Private C. Murrel, who, fighting in the Gallipoli, was picked off by a sniper’s bullet, which striking him on the breast, was diverted by the letters, went down his ribs, and came out at his thigh.

“He is progessing well in hospital.”

Stories of bullets miraculously stopped by miniature Bibles, letters, and other personal items are very common, and were widely circulated during the First World War.

Looking for evidence

It is possible that the Nottingham Evening Post was exaggerating. This snippet of news doesn’t mention a first name or a regiment, so it is more difficult to track who “Private C Murrel” was.

The name could be spelled wrong, too. Possibly he was a Murrell or a Murell. (In Wales, the Abergavenny Chronicle also reported the story, and spelled his name “Murrell”, noting only that he was “of an English regiment”.)

On the other hand, perhaps Private Murrel (or Murell) was a relative of yours. Do you have any family stories you could share when Lives of the First World War launches?

Perhaps you even have the letters themselves, complete with bullet hole!

With your help, we hope to uncover as many stories as possible on Lives of the First World War.

Posted in Letters of the First World War | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments