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FROM THE CONTEMPORARY LOCAL NEWSPAPERS OF NORTH BUCKS (BUCKS STANDARD, NORTH BUCKS TIMES, WOLVERTON EXPRESS)
With today’s internet a wealth of official information is available regarding those who served.
In an age before local radio and television, families often allowed letters to be published in the local press from their loved ones on active service.
However, for their descendants the letters reveal a more personal aspect, graphically describing the experience of the people and providing an insight into their personalities.

NBT 1917 Feb. 6th

Whilst home on leave, Private Albert Rayner, of the West Australian Forces, has described his voyage. He embarked at Perth, and his vessel then sailed for Durban, South Africa, where 3,000 tons of coal were taken on board. Whilst this was being undertaken, leave to go ashore was granted, with free luncheons given, and free rides on the trams to see the sights of the city. More coal was taken on at the next stop, Cape Town, and shore leave was again granted, with free tram and rickshaw rides. At a port somewhere on the west coast of Africa other ships with troops aboard then joined the vessel, to form a convoy to England. In Australia he had worked on a farm, and said that despite a splendid harvest, thousands of bushels of wheat had to be left to rot, since there was a shortage of vessels to get the corn to England.

ALSO AVAILABLE IN BOOK FORM AS ‘LETTERS FROM THE FIRST WORLD WAR’ FROM WWW. LULU.COM,
PRODUCED WITH THE INVALUABLE EXPERTISE OF ALAN KAY & ZENA DAN.