Primary Source First WW1 Letters 1915
Arthur's WW1 letters home from the Western Front in 1915
First World War Letters February 1915
- Arthur doesn't like being saluted "by every Tommy", on parade in front of the King and Queen at Buckingham Palace ...
- Waiting to embark, receives his allowance of 10/- a day but also having to spend lots of his own money ...
- Arthur arrives in France, has to hunt for his chauffeur "a very decent & smart little man", U Boats cause a problem in the Channel ...
- Arthur sees General Joffre, talks about damage at Senlis and Creil, hears the guns at Soissons, doesn't enjoy drinking Champagne ...
- Car washing, snow, driving with no lights, a car crash, helping the wounded, exhaustion ...
- Describing a bombing raid by a Taube, and a long very long day and night ...
- Arthur worries about being shot, carries soldiers who have frozen feet, talks about the ruination of the French villages …
- The young women of the town not behaving as they should, German prisoner says that they have already taken Paris & Warsaw ...
- Arthur tells of a German air raid, chats to a nice American girl ...
- Arthur gets some new boots, doesn't like bombing, has to collect 4 officer casualties ...
- Arthur finds a German bomb and attempts to post it home ...
WW1 Letters Home from the Front Line April 1915
First World War Letters Home from the Frontlines May 1915
Great War Letters Home from the Front Line June 1915
- Arthur gets to use his French language skills, the Headmaster of Eton makes an unpopular speech...
- News from East Africa, some summer clothes from home required ...
- Bad weather in the Vosges, good news from Russia perhaps ...
- New commandant, troops landed at Dardanelles ...
First World War Letters Home from the Frontlines May 1915
- Summer clothes arrive, another accident for the convoy, Arthur has afternoon tea and enjoys band practice ...
- Italy joins the war, more air raids and a lucky escape for Arthur, Lord Charles Beresford visits, news of a train crash in England ...
- A close shave for Arthur, the story of the man and his dog, a unique visit to the front line trenches, Arthur is mistaken for a spy ...
Great War Letters Home from the Front Line June 1915
- Arthur receives a letter from his future wife, also talks of the Lusitania ...
- Complaints about the post, the Man and his dog are killed, Arthur visits a wounded friend ...
- Thinks of moving to Australia after the war, depressed at the continuance of the war, introduced to Lord Charles Beresford ...
- Arthur is very busy, artillery like a continual thunderstorm, German prisoners, the nerve-racking wait for news from loved ones, depressed over his work ...
- Counter attack by the "Bosche", money changes hands, worries about his mother's German maid ...
- Family money troubles, complaining about the Government's lack of preparation for the war ...
WW1 Letters Home from the Front Lines July 1915
First World War Letters August 1915
- Arthur talks of investments in Mexico and Argentina, criticises the Government, criticises his sister and brother in law in particular ...
- Talks of his future in laws opening a hospital, prepares logs for winter fuel ...
- Talk of Vatican and politics, society talk, Arthur's friend in Switzerland helps trace missing soldiers, more German prisoners arrive ...
- Arthur is very busy, watches a battle, lack of progress in Flanders ...
- Arthur's nerves are under strain, lack of sleep, German air raid and casualties, one of the section is killed in action, looking forward to some leave ...
- Battle of The Linge, funeral of comrade, bad news from Warsaw ...
First World War Letters August 1915
- A friend is interned in Germany, Joffre not pleased, Vatican problems ...
- Arthur is back from a short spell of leave, visits his in law's hospital, more new boots ...
- Arthur trying to trace missing friends, turns down becoming an officer, requests a keepsake from home ...
- Arthur not mentioned in the paper, indulges in some sightseeing ...
WW1 Letters Home from the Front Line October 1915
- Arthur's friend marries £5,000 a year, Balkans in a mess, income tax too high ...
- Moved to another village, sadness at loss of friends, not looking forward to winter ...
- Back at base, Balkan's and Dardanelles a mess, Hamilton praises Australian and New Zealand troops, Zeppelins over London ...
First World War Letters November 1915
- Arthur is ill, wants to get away to recover ...
- Arthur on sick leave, Kitcheners new role ...
- Still waiting for his travel pass, convoy on the move again, Commandant to leave ...
- In Paris, in hospital, told to take a break, contract finishes 1st December anyway ...
WW1 Letters Home December 1915
- On leave in London, manages to get a first class ticket to Dublin, loses a friend ...
An example of an envelope containing Arthurs letters.