General Chat

Just won another bid on eBay - for books of letters from Yokshire lads sent to the Front. during WWI and the Boer War. Below is an extract of one of the letters - THIS is the type of thing that made me bid for the books.

It is horrible rough out here, and I was looking forward so anxiously for a few days leave. I see you are getting some severe weather at home; well it is terrible here, and so very cold; a lot of our men have got frozen feet. I must tell you that on Wednesday last we were looking forward to some hot stew, which was made in a dixie. Well, the cook had nearly got it ready, and six of us were under a hedge waiting for it. But it was not to be, as while we went to get our tins a shell came over and sent our dixie of stew and the bit of fire we had made to blazes. So we had no dinner, only a biscuit. We all said it was hard luck, and then went on our way. It was a good job we were out of the way of the shell, or something else might have happened, but you can be sure we are soon out of the way when the shells start coming over. In another letter, dated November 27th Pte Trigg says, “Last night four of us were sleeping in a house with all the windows, part of the walls smashed in and two or three doors off. There is a stove that has escaped the shells, and we are going in for a rare feed tonight – quite a banquet – we are going to have. We have bought something that looks like steak (5lbs between us), also some potatoes, onions and tomatoes. We have cut up a petrol tin for a frying pan. I am going to assist with the cooking and in about an hour from now I shall have a good substantial meal.” You do realise of course that their 'steak' was probably horse

A CRANSWICK SOLDIER AT MODDER RIVER The following letter from Corporal T. Curtis (son of Mr John Curtis, retired Naval Petty Officer, residing at Cranswick) of the 9th Lancers, with Lord Methuen’s column at Modder River, throws an interesting light on the demands made upon our cavalry in South Africa: - “The General, Lord Methuen, in his brigade orders, says the battle of Modder River was one of the hardest fights in the annals of English history. Our losses have been cruel, and the work very hard. A day’s work is from 2 am until 8 or 10 o’clock at night, and we are the only cavalry regiment with the column. Both men and horses are fairly done up. As for the ‘9th,’ I must say that we have been the luckiest regiment under the sun. our casualties, one killed and several wounded. We have been in the thick of shot and shell and our horses are wounded in great numbers. My squadron was almost cut off at Honey Nest Kloof, and my horse was shot in the jaw. I possess the bullet as a curio

she, Thanks so much for putting these letters on. Many of us will have had relatives that served in the great war, though there are numerous books on the subject, nothing can bring it home like these letters. They are priceless. Wish i was your neighbour, coffee mornings with you would be so very interesting. love terri xx

hi did,nt someone on tips or research the other day say that their ancesters had changed their name to trigg from trick or vice versa about the turn of the century, marcie x

yeah - thought I saw that too marcie - will track it down and contact them - would be nice if it was the same family and I could give them copies of the letters :-)

Lesley - that is a great idea - :-)

Is there anything you can share with us Lesley? My dad was in WW1. He never talked about it, but did name our house 'Delville' after d'Elville Wood which I have since learned was the site of an horrific battle. I've just seen the funny side of that, but he and mum did have over fifty mostly happy years. Norah in Hampshire

This is a letter that my grandad sent to my grandmother. I couldn't read all of the words, it was very fient. It sounds as if my grandad's pay wasn't being sent to her and they were hungry. It also seems as if she wrote to the papers. I will have to look some time and see if it was the local ones. Sunday April 21st 1918 Dear Alice and Children Just a few more lines in answer to your last Sat's. I received it today so you will see it has taken a week to get me this time. I was very sorry to hear about pooor old Norman & Mould, I didn't know they was in ????????. I also another of my pals that worked with me at ???????? has gone ????? well. I am pleased to say that my pay has come through at last . I am ?????? as I have what I am entitled to. I have seen about you getting some of it, I have had £5 remiited to you through York but they tell me some of my pals that have done the same that it takes 3 or 4 weeks before you get it and I have heard that the limit they somehow pay at once is £3 but anyhow you will have that to find out, but I do hope you will get it before Whitsuntide as I know how badly you need it and if I am lucky enough to get a pay soon I will try and send a little by post to carry on with. Yes you was quite right in saying what you did through the paper it is time they did increase the allowances as if it isn't half enough to clothe and feed six, the price as things are, but I am glad that I shall be able to send you a bit at times. If you shall have a Sunday paper you might send it me with the Chronicle as we cant get papers now at all. Well dear I will close now only I was so glad to be able to write and let you know about my pay being through so excuse this being so short but will write again early in the week, so no more this time with lots of love to you all from your ever loving husband XXXXXXXXX Ted XXXXXXXX

oh Margaret - thank you for sharing that with us - these books i have on their way to me are all to do with Yorkshire - maybe we will find some mention of the gentlemen you Granda mentioned

She Forgot to say, grandad did survive the war. Margaret