Excerpts of some of Harry's letters

Here are a few excerpts transcribed directly from the numerous private letters hand written by Harry to his sweetheart Olive between 1914 and 1918.

Many more along with actual images of the hand written letters appear in the book.

On guard duty at the Tower of London

This is a month after the assassination of Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo, but before war has broken out. This letter from Harry discusses travel details regarding meeting up with Olive in Harry's home town Old Hill for a holiday.

"…..I should think it would be best Dear Olive for you if you could book right through from Paddington to Old Hill as it would save you the trouble of going up those stairs at Snowhill you remember where the booking office is don’t you if you are unable to book right through I think the fare to Old Hill is 7.5 pence, do not forget what I told you about crossing the bridge at Old Hill Station. I expect she [Harry’s sister Myra] will be waiting for you by the booking office".

On guard duty at the Tower of London

Again Harry is unable to meet Olive, who worked in service at a house 20 minutes walk from where he was stationed at the Guards HQ, Wellington Barracks, London.

"…I am sorry to say that I do not think I shall be able to come at all on account of the war which has broke out in Serbia we are now under orders to be ready at any minute..."

On guard duty at the Tower of London

A little confusion as most of Harry's battallion have left Wellington Barracks unexpectedly.

"...have been awaiting orders to nmove since yesterday morning all the company moved off to Newcastle except nine of us yesterday the reason I did not go is because I was on guard and there was no one to relieve us until dome more troops come in from Wellington Barracks...we have everything packed away ready to move at any moment…

I will not be able to come now worst luck…excuse paper as we are not allowed out anywhere I happened to have this by me…tell them at home how things are. …I wrote this letter last night but before I could post it everything was cancelled...I think, myself, this is only just to get prepared if anything should happen".

On guard duty at theTower of London

Things are escalating and Harry is expecting that his battallion will be sent to the front.

"...I expect you will know by the papers tonight what part England are taking in this crisis, but no matter where I go I shall always be thinking of you..."

Warley Barracks, Brentford, Essex

Now at Warley Barracks preparing for war.

“….we were mobilised last night to get ready for active service and I suppose we shall be off tomorrow or Sunday. They have called up all the reserves and these barracks are overcrowded…there are rumours we are going with that expeditionary force to Belgium, still no matter where we go I shall go with a good heart knowing that there is someone who will always be thinking of me for I know you will dear Olive and it is a great encouragement to me to think that I have got you to look forward to should I have the luck to get through it all. I do not myself think it will last very long, perhaps they will not need us at all but we are all prepared should it be necessary for us to go…

I have no doubt that this country will be victorious I am sure that the Germans asked for it and no one in this country can be blamed for the war. Cheer up and look on the bright side, keep a good heart. Your ever loving boy Harry xxx"

Warley Barracks, Brentford, Essex

“Dear Olive … I had a bit of good luck today as they left me behind this morning after we had finished training about 3 miles away from barracks with two men who had lost their water bottles to try and find them and there happened to be a farmhouse close by. Of course we went inside to ask for a bottle of water just as an excuse as we could see there was a few apple trees so you can guess it was not water we wanted…the farmer took pity on us and filled our pockets and then gave us something to drink better than water!

Sorry to hear that your father has been called up I suppose it will go a bit hard with him as I expect he is getting on in years now, still I wish him good luck it shows he has got a good heart and a desire to do a bit for his Country. …it encourages me to think we have such men as your father in this Country volunteering to help to conquer those who have been the cause of this war.”

“It is strange how people make a fuss over a soldier just now yet in peace time they will hardly look at you… Remember me to all, with my truest and best love Harry xxx”

Warley Barracks, Brentwood, Essex

“ I shall not be sorry to leave this place as we are all packed together like a tin of sardines in the barracks and they will not allow us to go outside the barrack gate…The Prince of Wales joined us this morning and has been out training with us this morning of course we only pay compliments to him the same as we do any other officer, he is a nice young 'chicko' and seems like a school boy amongst all the other officers”.

Wellington Barracks, London

“Well Dearest I am pleased to say that everything is running quite smooth at present, in fact they have been letting 30 NCO’s and men go out for two hours since Monday last. I think that was on account of so many females coming to the barracks to see their friends…there is a rumour we go to Wellington Barracks tomorrow [Thur] I am not posting this letter until I know for certain tonight as they say we are being inspected by the King and then go over to France with the first draft probably sometime next week, of course this is only a rumour they do not let us know anything for certain until the last minute so do not be surprised if you see in the papers about us going over to Franc. I expect it will be in the papers on account of the Prince of Wales.

I must not forget to tell you I received that photo alright…I have put it inside my cigarette case you gave me twelve months ago last Christmas do you remember. And I am taking it with me so that I can look at you sometimes if it should happen that we go abroad…look on the bright side everything will come alright in the end if we keep a good heart… To ever remain your loving sweetheart, Harry xxxx”

Wellington Barracks, London

“…we are now at Wellington Barracks…I cannot tell how long we will be here…there is now four battalions here altogether, they say they are forming a brigade to go to the front. …perhaps we will be able to meet when you come back next week of we are still here…Dear Olive I am pushed for time so will close, With fondest love, Harry xxxx”

Wellington Barracks, London

“…I would have written yesterday only I was feeling very queer in fact I have hardly been able to walk about since Friday afternoon as I have been inoculated. They came round during the week wanting to know who would volunteer to be done and of course I gave my name in. This inoculation is something similar to vaccination only I think a thousand times more painful. They inject some kind of stuff into your blood. I had it injected into my arm first and it was not long before it got all over my body. The reason they do this is because it prevents one from getting typhoid fever. I am pleased now I had it done as to say I am just beginning to get right again, although I have been through the mill a bit the last two days.

With fondest and truest love from your loving boy Harry xxx. PS Excuse writing on back as it is like trying to find gold to get paper in the barracks”.

The front, location unknown

After spending some time at Lyndhurst Military Harry's battalion march to Southampton and board a troop ship bound for a destination unknown on the French or Belgian coast. This is his first letter after tasting real war.

"My Dearest Olive. As we have a day rest after about ten days hard fighting I will try and write you a few lines hoping to find you well as it leaves me at present although I think I have been rather lucky. I can hardly explain to you Olive what it has been like. I never thought anything could happen the same as I have seen this last few days. There was about eighty casualties in my own company in one day and we have lost five out of six officers. I hardly know how I got through it all myself but it was the same as before about four times as many Germans as there were us. Still their losses were far more serious than ours in fact we were told that the dead were piled up so high in front of the trenches that they could not see to fire over them. I cannot tell you all that has happened in this letter Olive but I shall never forget the sight and I do not think it is possible to go through much worse than we have done. I shall have to wait until I come back then I may be able to say more and I may say Olive I do not think it will last more than another six months and perhaps less than that. I have been getting your letters alright I think I have had about six since we came out here I also got the woodbines you sent for which I thank you very much...

With love from Harry".

The front, possibly following The Battle of Loos

Harry writes this after a considerable time fighting and apologises for not writing sooner. He also reminds Olive that he's been on the front for over 12 months.

At last I am writing you a few lines and no doubt you think it is about time as this is the first letter I've wrote since leaving Wizernes that is the name of the place we had that long rest and I can tell you since then we have been having a very warm time of it and although I have been amongst some of the thickest of the recent fighting

I am pleased to say I have pulled through alright. It is not very often I mention in a letter as you know much about what has happened out here but I can tell you dear it's a miracle how I did get through this time although I cannot go through the details of the fighting it will ever live in my memory.

We are now out for a day or two rest the first since this great battle began so you can guess how welcome it is and why it is I haven't wrote for a long time and no doubt by the time you get this letter we shall be in the trenches again.

….. I will close trusting you are quite well as he leaves me at present except a slight cold. We are just beginning to feel the pinch a bit at nights now hope I have not got to spend another winter out here. I've now had quite enough having been out 12 months now, still must be must hope for the best.

I know your thoughts are always with me all this time with truest and fondest love from your loving boy Harry XXX"

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse