by Bill Lamin
It might be helpful to clear things up about the family addresses: so far as I can tell, Ethel and Willie are living with Annie at Whitworth Road in Ilkeston, although Harry and Ethel’s main home is in Mill Street (Whitworth Road is about a mile from Mill Street, and was then a little more upmarket). Connie, still not walking properly, is at a boarding school in Liverpool, Jack and his wife are still in Hull, and Kate in Leeds.
Harry’s question about ‘thousands listing’ is interesting. Work is short and some ex-soldiers, finding the transition to civilian life difficult, are re-enlisting into the forces. That apart, he is fit and well, but seems to be concerned with the finer things of life, asking Kate for handkerchiefs and hair cream (pomade, which he spells ‘Pomard’, was a popular dressing for men’s hair). He has managed to get the job he wanted, officers’ servant, and perhaps wants to smarten up.
32507/ 9th Y+L attach Royal Munsters Fusiliers.,
A.P.O. Box R, L 1., I.E.F Italy
July 1
Dear Kate
Just a few lines to let you know that I am alright and in good health I dont think I shall get leave yet a while well I am sure not, there are so many men with 18 months without a leave, I expect one before Christmas anyway now that peace is signed I hope it will not be long before we are all at home I am still doing officers servant and cooking and we are still sleeping in the open field so we get plenty of fresh air night and day I am pleased to hear that they are all going on alright at home, and I should like to know if Connie can walk yet she will soon have been their a year now it is a long time I am glad to hear that Willie is keeping well and all at home. I hope Annie will be alright when married well I think she will be. Write as often as you can and let me know all the news and if you hear anything about demob in the papers Jack as wrote [i.e. has written] to the office out hear about leave and [I] told him in my last letter not to do so as it was no use to write hear at all. I have never got the papers you were going to send and yesterday I got two of your letters together. Write as often as you can and let me know all the news and when Annie is getting married.
With Best Love
Harry
P.S I would be very pleased if you could send me a few cheap handkercheifs as I have not got any at all and also a tin of Pomard.
32507/9th Y+L attached Royal Munster Fusiliers
A.P.O. Box R. L. 1., I.E.F, Italy
July 1
Dear Jack
Just a line to let you know that I am alright and keeping in good health. The officer here as just had a letter from you asking him about leave, as I told you in my letter it is not a bit of good writing here as there is so many men with 18 month in without leave dont write here again whatever you do for I shall be surprised if I hear anything about leave for another four months at least anyway now peace is signed I hope we shall all be home for good before long. I am still doing officers servant and cooking for him but I dont know how long it will last, I think I have kept the job well I think I told you in my last letter that about a dozen of us were sleeping in a field in the open so we have plenty of fresh air night and day we have been [sleeping] out now for about five or six weeks. Do you think you will be able to get home for Annie wedding, I hope she will be alright I hope you enough [enjoy?] yourselves in the country it will be a nice change for both of you. Write as often as you can land let me know how you are getting on and if you see anything about Demob in the papers its about time they started about it. Is it true that there are thousands listing [enlisting] every week in England again. I have had a letter from home and I am pleased to say that they are all getting on well could you allow Ethel 10/- a month of the money and begin the first week in July if so let me know. I will write again soon
With Best Love to you Both
Harry
From August to December 1919, Harry’s letters paint a picture of a man anxious to quit the Army and go home at last, but resigned to his fate, only too well aware of how slowly military bureaucracy can move.
August 6/1919
32507/9th Y+L attached Royal Munster Fusiliers
A.P.O. Box R. L.9, I.E.F. Italy
Dear Jack
I was very pleased to received your letter. And to hear that you had a good time when on your holidays. I dont think I should bother any more now about writing as I expect I shall get a leave before September [is?] out I might get one any time now, as I have nearly twelve months in [since his last leave], and it is a long time to go without leave especially when then war is over. I expect I shall get out of the army about next spring if all goes well. All the men who joined up before July 1st 1916 are getting released from the army as soon as possible, so I expect when this lot is gone I shall be amongst the next. If I hear anything about a leave I will write and let you know as soon as possible. I am very pleased you paid a visit to Ilkeston and found them well but I hope Annie’s face is better. I guess Will gets a rum chap what had he got to say to you Ethel tells me he gets no better always up to some tricks. he was going to send me a parcel last time Ethel wrote all sorts of things bobbins etc. The weather hear is very hot. I think it is the hottest month of the year. I expect we shall be out of Italy by november. so if that is correct I shall have had two years in Italy quite long enough. Write as often as you can and let me know all the news. I will write again soon.
With Best Love to you both
Harry
(P.S) Address same only L.9 instead of L.1
32507/ 9th Batt Y+L attached Royal Munsters Fusiliers
A.P.O. Box R. L9 I.E.F. Italy
Aug 8/8/19
Dear Kate
I have received your letter and was very pleased with it. I have also had a letter from Jack. I have told him not to bother now as I expect coming home on leave next month perhaps before. It is very hot out here this month and we are still out in the country, but I dont get much time off. Write and tell me how Annie is getting on I have not had a letter for a long [time]. I had a letter from Ethel telling me she had gone back to Mill street but both are keeping in good health Willie must get a rum chap as he is always up to some tricks I shall be glad to get home again but trade is very slack. I think I shall manage to get out of the army by about April next year. it might be before, well I hope so. Let me know what Annie said about Connie and if she is keeping in good health. If I hear any thing about leave I will let you know at once. Jack told me in his last letter that he enjoyed his holidays very much and that he found time to visit Ilkeston. Did you get the letter about me asking for one or two cheap handkerchiefs. Write as often as you can, but if you have not sent any handkerchiefs I should not bother [to send them now].
With Best Love
Harry
(PS) Address same only L9, instead of L1
32507/9th Batt Y+L att Royal Munster Fusiler
A.P.O. Box R. L9., I.E.F Italy
August 19th/1919
Dear Kate
Just a line to let you know that I have received your letter, I have also received one from Jack. Ethel told me in her last letter that Annie had got married I am very glad that it is all over. I think she will be alright. I was pleased to hear that Mr Leverton was their and Annie Bonser [a relation of Harry’s mother]. I dont know when I shall get a leave but I hope it will not be long, write as often as you can and let me know all the news. It has been very hot this month out hear. We dont get to know much about demob I expect they will soon start now write as often as you can
With Best Love
Harry
Aug 23rd
Dear Kate
Just a line to let you know that I have received your letter. I am pleased to hear that the wedding came off alright and that it is all over. It as been awful hot out hear this month and we have had no rain for a long time. The grapes are just about getting ripe, well in another weeks time they will be getting them. I hope to be on leave very soon as it will very soon be a year since I was at home. so I think it is time I had one I will let you know as soon as I hear anything about it. I am pl
eased to hear that they are all keeping well at home. I have been transfered to the Munster Fusiliers now so my proper address and No will be at the bottom of the letter. Write as often as you can and let me know how you are getting on. What did Annie think to Connie when she went to see her does she get any better. I will write again soon
With Best Love
Harry
Address
40843 Pt Lamin, 1st Gar [Garrison] Batt
Royal Munster Fusiliers
A.P.O. Box R L9
I.E.F. Italy
Harry’s permanent transfer to the Royal Munster Fusiliers means that he has been allotted a new regimental number.
40843, 1st Gar. Batt., Royal Munster Fusiliers
A.P.O. Box R. L9, I.E.F. Italy
Aug 23rd
Dear Jack
Just a line to let you known that I am alright and keeping well. I have heard nothing about leave yet but I hope to be home in September sometime, if I have good luck. I am very pleased to know that you found Ethel and Willie well. I have been transferred to the Munsters altogether now, so I have got a fresh No. It as been awful hot out here this month. we have hardly known what to do. The grapes are just about to ripe I expect in another week or so they will be getting them. I am pleased to hear that Annie wedding came off alright and I hope she will be happy. I expect Willie will miss her for a bit but they will have to make the best of it.
With Best Love to you both
Harry
August turned to September, but whatever Harry’s hopes for leave, they were not rewarded.
40843/1st Garr Batt., Royal Munster Fusiliers,
A.P.O Box R L9, I.E.F. Italy
Sept 10th
Dear Jack
Just a line to let you know that I have received your paper and letter. The explosion you speak of was at the dump we are guarding but it was nothing. it might have been worse I think one Austrian prisoner got killed of course biggest part of the men here belong to A.O.G and have seen no fighting at all so it would be terrible to them. I dont know when I shall get on leave now as it is stopped for September expect for special leave when a man goes on leave from here he does not return but stops in England. You can please yourself whether you write for a special leave but whattever you do dont write to this end. if you could not get any thing from the war office dont write here I would rather wait six months I expect I shall be home for Christmas. Write as often as you can and let me know all the news. Glad to here that you are both keeping in good health. Ethel address is 19 Mill Street. I think it is all this time I will write again soon.
with Best Love to you both
Harry
If you write for leave tell them that I have only just been transferred to the 1st G RMF as this Batt as seen no fighting at all. It is twelve months now since last leave.
Harry’s PS seems to indicate that he is anxious for the authorities to know that he has seen action, unlike the 1st Garrison Battalion of the munsters, which had been sent to Italy to provide guards for headquarters, ammunition dumps, airfields, and so. On through October and November, into December, and still Harry has no leave, and no news of his demobilization.
Harry’s letter to Jack, showing his new regimental number.
Oct 2/10/1940843
1st Garr Batt., Royal Munster Fusiliers,
A.P.O Box R L9, I.E.F. Italy
Dear Jack
I have received your letter alright and I am very pleased to hear that you are going on alright. I think it is a good job that you got the furniture before the railway strike [in Britain, September to October 1919] came off as you might have lost it altogether. I don’t think it is hardly worth while writing now, but you see it is a long while without leave thirteen months, and the war finished as they have been going at six months from Fuime out of the Y & L. I have seen some of them on the train at a place called Alexandra [Alessandria, a city and province in Piedmont, north-west Italy; the city lies about forty miles (64km) south-south-west of Milan]. I went down for a day’s outing there and they were just going back off leave, they tell me what a fine place it is. There is a big do on at Rome next week and some of the R Cs [Roman Catholics] have got a chance to go for 7 days. I wish I belonged to the R.C. I might have had a chance I should have liked to have seen Rome before I left Italy. I hope to be out of this country before November is out and I might stand a chance of getting demobilised before Christmas. I would be satisfied then. anyway we shall have to wait and see as leave as been stopped here to let the men get home that jioned [sic] up before 1st July 1916. I think they have plenty of work at Trumans now but I don’t know whether I shall go back or not. It will not be very nice at first being shut up after being out in the fresh air for about 3 years. Well theres one good thing to be thankful for The place I visit is the chief place in the province of Alexandra and about as big as Nottingham. Write as often as you can.
With Best Love to you both
Harry
Harry is a little unhappy about leaving the rest of the 9th York and Lancasters. In his own way, he is complaining that while he hasn’t had a leave for thirteen months, some of his battalion have had a leave after only six months’ service.
One of Harry’s envelopes to Kate, showing the censor’s stamp.
Oct 9/19
40843/1st Garr Batt., Royal Munster Fusiliers,
A.P.O Box R L9, I.E.F. Italy
Dear Kate
Just a line to let you know that I am getting on alright, but have heard nothing yet about leave. There are some men with two or three months in more than I have got [i.e. have served for two or three months longer than Harry] but I hope to be home before Christmas. I was very pleased to hear that Connie was getting on alright and to hear that she was very happy. I should like to hear of her walking. I mean paying her a visit the first chance I get. If I hear anything about coming home I will write and let you know. I have just wrote to Annie its the first time I have wrote since she was married. I hope it finds her alright. It is now nearly fourteen months since I was home so I think it is about time I got home if it was only for a leave. Ethel tells me they are doing better a[t] Trumans so thats a good sign of more work. Write and let me know how you are getting on. All the men who came up before 1st July have gone home except one or two and they are going home next week so it looks a lot better. Will write again soon.
With Best Love
Harry
Oct 24/1919
40843/1st Garr Batt., Royal Munster Fusiliers,
A.P.O Box R L9 I.E.F., Italy
Dear Jack
I have just received your letter and was very pleased with it. I am glad to hear that you and Agnes are keeping in the best of health, as I am in the pink only this last day or two I have had the tooth ache but I think it is a cold. I have had a letter from Ethel and they are all keeping well at Ilkeston. You ask me if I was cooking. No I have finished cooking and am doing guards and escorting Austrian prisoners but I can do it. I could have had a job yesterday cooking for two officers but I am not having it. never finished till 10 o clock at night and up about 7. you have no time for anything cant get out at all and they think no more about you when you have done it. of course the foods all good but in the camp were we are we live well. you can buy eggs and get all sorts of tin stuff from the canteen so we don’t do amiss. I hope to get home before Christmas if not on demob I hope to get a leave it will be three years come Christmas. Dec 28th since I joined up. I don’t know when we are moving out of this country but I hope it will be soon. i will let you know if I hear any thing. They keep getting rumours about that we are moving but they never come off. Write and let me know all the news send a newspaper next time you write.
With Best love to you both
Harry
Oct 30/10/19
40843/1st Garr Batt., Royal Munster Fusiliers,
A.P.O Box R L9, I.E.F. Italy
Dear Kate
I was very pleased to receive a letter from you and to hear that you are keeping in good healt
h. I am sorry that Connie does not get on with her walking but we shall have to make the best of it. I have wrote to Annie so I expect I shall get a letter before long. There is no signs of me getting demobilised yet as there is some men here yet that come up here in April 1916. If I could get a leave, I could easily get demobed when I got to England but the thing is getting there as there is no leave going from here, only odd ones they are only men for demobilisation, but any way I hope to be home for Christmas. Write as often as you can and let me know all the news. I had a letter from Ethel and she said that Willie as had a cold but he is a lot better now. I hope he keeps in good health. The weather hear is very cold at night but the sun gets out well during the day. I will write and let you know if I hear anything about getting home.
With best Love
Harry
Nov 18
40843/ Royal Munster Fusiliers,
A.P.O Box L1 D Coy., I.E.F. Italy
Dear Jack,
Just a line to let you know that I am in good health, but am wanting to get home, and there seems no sign of it yet. the last train from here went 5 or 6 weeks ago. goodness knows when the next is going. It is over fourteen months since my last leave and I belong to the 1916 men, but in December. Young lads are getting home, 1918 men, on compassionate grounds. I would be glad if you would try and get me a leave by writing to the war office. dont write hear as it would be of no use, as only special leaves are going, if you write do it at once as we might be moving any time. I think I have earned a leave as it was 17 months before I got my first leave. I have been moved from the village Rivalto and I am now at a place called Auquato [Arquata Scrivia]. Let me know if you write to the war office. I am pleased to hear that they are all keeping well at Ilkeston and to hear that Annie is keeping well, but they all want to know when I am going to come home as all the other chaps as got out of the army who joined up when I did. Write back as soon as possible as it is a long time since I had a letter. Hoping that this letter finds you all in the best of health.