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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 1916 June 27th Tue.

Being one of six brothers now serving in the Forces, a man from Ivinghoe Aston, who rejoined the Navy on the outbreak of war, writes home regarding the recent naval battle of Jutland.;

“I dropped you a card after the action in case you were anxious. It was a surprise to all of us to see the papers announce it as a defeat. It was far from that, but what do they know? It was terrible, all the ships of both Navies were there, banging away. Night time was the worst, the action lasting all through the night, so you can guess what it was like, pitch black with the guns lighting up the sky, and sudden flashes as ships were struck and went down. Worst of all were the screams from the poor devils in the water, who had fought like hell, whose only reward was a big drink of salt water. You see, it is impossible in the middle of an action to stop to save anyone. I can tell you it made a lasting impression on my mind. I felt like crying yesterday when we buried the bodies recovered from the “Hampshire.” She sank about twenty miles from us, but we did not know until next morning. It was a fearful night, too, so they had not much chance. They tell us that Lord Kitchener went down below to get some confidential papers, and whilst he was down the ship dived. It seems such a pity, does it not? We saved 22 men from one ship when she sank. We must have broken half the German Navy up. Next time we will make sure, you see if we don’t. I want to meet them once again, and so does every one in the Grand Fleet. They will get victory!!”


NBT 1916 Nov. 7th Tue.

Mr. and Mrs. Ruffett, whose son, Private John Ruffett, machine gunner, Bedfordshire Regiment, was reported last week as having been killed in France, have now received a letter from a comrade;

“I regret to have to say that your son John was killed in action on October 12th. I have lost a good friend. He was very popular here amongst the boys, and will be greatly missed. He was very plucky and cool with the gun. We were in the trenches preparing for an attack on the Germans, when a shell fell in the trench, killing five and wounding two, including poor John. If there is anything I can do for you I shall be only too pleased.”

Another comrade writes;

“A short time ago I was with John, and how bright and happy we were together; he spoke to me about leave, and what narrow escapes he had from being killed or taken prisoner during the time he was fighting on the Somme. He told me how himself and five men on their gun saved the ground that they had won the day before by curtain fire. He told me they had been mentioned for bravery on that occasion. We both said how we should like to see the finish of this war so that we could come and see dear old Ivinghoe Aston again.”


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.