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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 Oct. 23rd Tue.

On Saturday week, Mr. & Mrs. Marsh, of the Stanbridge Railway Crossing, received the sad news that their only son, Private Sydney Marsh, Australian Force, was killed in France on September 21st. Lieutenant C. Hoge writes to his parents;

“It is with a sad heart that I have to try to express to you my heartfelt sympathy for the great loss you have suffered for the cause in the Great War. Your son, Syd. Marsh, died a soldier’s death, for he was killed in action. It was about 9 a.m. on 21st Sept. at his post in front of ----- -----, which we captured from the enemy on the previous day. I hope you will have some consolation from these facts. Death was instantaneous, and he now lies in a soldier’s grave about 2,600 yards east of -----. Also your loss is our loss, for he was a soldier and a man and was so esteemed by all ranks in No.3 section. We lost a comrade when you lost your son and our sympathy is yours.”

Private Marsh had gone to Australia at the age of 19, and before joining the Army had taken over nearly 700 acres of land. Nearly 150 of these were under cultivation and mostly cropped with wheat when he joined up, and after training in an Australian camp he was stationed for a while in Egypt. After the close of the Gallipoli campaign he then went to France, and was twice wounded. He had spent the last week of August on leave at home with his parents, and had returned to France on September 2nd.


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.