The contents on this page remain on our website for informational purposes only.
Content on this page will not be reviewed or updated.

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 1915 Nov. 2nd Tue.

Lance Corporal Arthur Large, 1/5th Beds., writes to his parents regarding military life in the Dardanelles;

“We are doing different work now. Twenty-four of us have been sent away from our regiment to help make bombs, and we are amongst the Australians and New Zealanders. They are a fine set of fellows, have a cheerful word for all, and always seem to have a happy look on their faces. Since I have been here I have met all kinds of men amongst the Australians, New Zealanders, and Indians. There are many kinds of the latter, including the Ghurkas - such short little fellows, who seem as happy as the days are long. There are also Egyptians and Maltese, but these are not soldiers; they do all kinds of fatigue work, including digging, making dug-outs, etc. They seem to do more singing than work, making us roar with laughter. The Indians amuse us most, however. They do all the transport work with mules. If we want them to help us always reply ‘Ma finished,’ meaning they have finished work, even if they have only just begun. When you meet them they say ‘Salaam, Sahib,’ meaning good morning or good night, and they can say in plain English, ‘Hullo, Johnny.’ If they meet you with a water can full of water, they want a drink. I was fetching two 3-gallon cans of water yesterday, when one asked me for a drink. I let him have one, and I really thought he would never stop. In the end I said ‘That’s enough, Johnny.’ I found that he had drunk nearly a gallon and a half! They can say ‘Very good English,’ and ‘Turks no good’ quite plainly. They are a fine set of men, always at work, and are of the greatest help to us out here. Sometimes they give us pancakes, which they call ‘the patties.’ Cannot say what they made them with, but they are fairly good, and I am going to have one for tea with some golden syrup. From my little dug-out I can see the sea, which is only a few hundred yards away. I can see part of our Navy too, and a sunken Turkish ship with just the funnel and mast showing plainly. Suppose it has had one of the iron pills from our Naval guns to put it there.”


NBT 1918 May 21st Tue.

Frank Sharpe, who won the Military Medal last year, has now added a further bar. He joined the Beds. Territorials when war broke out, and has served in Gallipoli, Italy and France. Regarding his latest award, the Major General commanding his division writes;

“I wish to place on record my appreciation of your gallantry and devotion to duty on nights 1st and 2nd April 1918. When information was required, you volunteered to go out and after prolonged effort and great personal risk of capture you succeeded in bringing back valuable information. Your fine example inspired all ranks.”


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.