Wadsworth - Letters from the trenches: the First World War by those who were there

First published in Great Britain in 2014 by
Pen & Sword Military
an imprint of
Pen & Sword Books Ltd
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Copyright Jacqueline Wadsworth 2014

ISBN: 978 1 78159 284 7
EPUB ISBN: 978 1 47384 529 9
PRC ISBN: 978 1 47384 537 4

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To Ralph, Frances and Catherine

Contents

List of Illustrations

Acknowledgements

I am grateful to the following publications and organisations for publicising my requests for First World War letters: the Bristol Post, Bristol and Avon Family History Society, Down Your Way magazine in Yorkshire, Herefordshire Family History Society, Inside History magazine in Australia, Thornbury U3As Family History and Great War groups in South Gloucestershire, Your Family History Magazine.

I must also thank the Glenbow Archives in Calgary, Canada, and St Ives Archive in Cornwall for their contributions; my husband Ralph Dunn who read each chapter as it was written, and whose First World War knowledge has been invaluable; and my editor Jen Newby for her sound advice and unfailing encouragement.

Introduction

Whats the use of worrying?

It never was worthwhile, so

Pack up your troubles in your old kit-bag,

And smile, smile, smile

(First World War marching song)

O n the rare occasions when my grandfather, Edwin Wood, spoke about his time in the trenches, he told this story. Every morning he and his friends would pass a dead mans arm sticking out through the trench wall, and each morning they would shake its hand: Alright mate? One hundred years later this may sound rather disrespectful, but for the men who lived through those grim times, what better way of coping than by allowing themselves an ironic smile?

This down-to-earth stoicism made a big impression on me as I carried out my research for this book. While we bow our heads in sorrow when we contemplate the awfulness of the war, there was no place for such indulgence then. Soldiers may have hated being forced to march miles in the sleet and rain to flooded and stinking trenches, only to see their comrades being blown up by shells. But that was life it was their normality and they just had to get on with it. The same was true for women back in Blighty, who had to look after their homes and families whether their men were alive or dead.

Most of the material in this book was contributed by people who contacted me after I appealed for First World War letters through newspapers, magazines and family history groups. Initially I had assumed that correspondence would come mainly from museums and archives (and they have certainly played their part). But the response to my request from individual families was overwhelming people got in touch from all over Britain and as far away as Australia, South Africa and the United States. My own uncle produced photographs and letters that I had no idea existed! Everyone was keen to share not only letters, diaries, notebooks and photographs, but personal stories and memories too. Therefore, this book is as much about those who wrote the letters and kept the diaries as the documents themselves.

By far the most popular theatre of war was the Western Front, however I made sure that correspondence from Mesopotamia, Gallipoli, Italy and northern Russia was included too. Similarly, most of the letters were written by soldiers, but I have not forgotten seamen and aviators, nor women who are featured in several chapters to illustrate the vital role they played in factories, hospitals and in keeping the home fires burning.

I have made no mention of military decorations, although some men in the book did receive them. My view is that there must have been an enormous number who deserved recognition but went unnoticed, and I thought it fairest to present everyone as equals.

The book opens in Bristol a typical provincial city where the early excitement whipped up by war reflected what was going on all over the country. I chose Bristol for two reasons. Not only was it where my grandfather and his brother, Edwin and Fred Wood, grew up and enlisted (their story is included), but I also live on the outskirts of the city, so the reference library and record office were near at hand. Observant readers will spot clusters of letters and newspaper reports from these marvellous archives dotted through the book.

Letters from the Trenches has been the result of team-work. Although those who have contributed letters and diaries may not know it, their help and interest provided me with a great deal of support as I sat in my small study bashing out the chapters. They shared their own First World War research, sent me photographs, checked text relating to their relatives, and were always encouraging. On more than one occasion my spirits were lifted by a bright and breezy email asking Hows it going?

So in return, in a special section called Lest We Forget, I have listed every man, woman and child whose letters and diaries appear in this book a small tribute to our forebears who lived through and died in the war that should have ended all wars.

Jacqueline Wadsworth, 2014

Chapter 1

War is Declared
The Home Front Prepares for Conflict

None of us imagined what this little war was going to lead to

Maude Boucher on hearing Austria and Serbia were at war, July 1914

Bristolians are on the tip-toe of excitement

The Bristol Evening News when war was declared, August 1914