Keep the Home Fires Burning - detailing wartime life in the towns and villages mentioned.

NBT 1915 June 1st Tue.

Private George Cutler, K.R.R., is a prisoner of war at Wittenberg, Germany, and sends a postcard to his brother;

“Dear brother. I am quite well. Received parcel and letters quite safe. Please send small parcel weekly if you can; butter, cheese, onions, cigarettes, and anything else you can afford. Tell Arch and Pratty I would like to hear from them, and tell them not to forget the fags. Best love to mother and father and all at home. George.”

(Private Cutler has been a prisoner since last October, and until now news has only been received from him once.)

NBT 1915 Dec. 14th Tue.

Private Mark Cutler, 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards, writes from France;

“The weather is far from pleasant, and the trenches are in a condition that would have filled our hearts with delight years ago, when we were in search of material for mud pies, etc., but all my enthusiasm in that direction has evaporated. I do not appreciate it now as I should have done then. One thing, it would do your heart good to see the cheerful way the boys take everything. Of course, it is characteristic of a soldier to grumble, and grumble he does, but not at his hardships. It is the petty official tyranny commonly known as ‘red tape’ that Tommy dislikes. I am sending you a little sketch drawn by one of my chums. It is a real picture of the trenches and not at all exaggerated. As you know, our rations come regularly to us in the trenches, including rum. This rare and refreshing beverage is highly appreciated by one and all. Of course, it has a nasty habit of not putting in an appearance as regular as the remainder of the rations. Rumour says that it falls off the cooker, but as it is a weekly occurrence we don’t mind.”

(Private Cutler has been in the fighting line since the outbreak of the war, and in one of his letters home tells how a shell burst near him and knocked him down. Private Sidney Norman, of the East Surreys, is in hospital in France after being gassed, and describes the Germans as ‘most wicked.’ Private Joseph Maunders, of the Herts. Territorials is in hospital in Newcastle on Tyne with a bullet wound to the left shoulder.)

NBT 1916 Feb. 8th Tue.

Private Sidney Norman, of the 2nd East Surrey Regiment, has been drafted from France to Salonika, and writing home to his mother says;

“You wanted to know if I drink beer now; there is not much chance as it is sixpence per pint here. I have not touched any for over six months - the only strong drink I have now is a drop of rum, which we have given us, but we don’t get that very often. I don’t know how you find things at home about being dear, as out here a two pound loaf of bread costs one shilling, butter is 4s 2d per lb., cheese is 3s 6d per lb, eggs are 5d each, ‘fags’ are so dear we cannot afford to buy them, so you will see what money we do get is wanted for a little extra food, and to get that we have to walk five miles up the mountains. We don’t get much time to go as we are trench digging from 8a.m. to 5p.m. every day, Sunday included, as we are in a great hurry to get the trenches ready. We expect the enemy over this way any time, but they will get a surprise when they do come, as there are thousands of troops waiting for them. I write to you as often as I can, but I do not get much time. I have not yet received the parcel Nellie sent last December, but there was a ship load of mails destroyed that we ought to have had here. If you can send a small parcel I shall be pleased to get it in a wooden or tin box instead of cardboard, but don’t put anything in like apples or oranges that will go bad and spoil other things. I could do with some tobacco and ‘fags,’ especially as we are very short of them.”