Two letters from 'Harry' to his father

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Awaiting approval
Accession number:
AWM2017.6.84
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 13

22.8218 Ethelburga House, EDWARDS a CO. MINING ENGINEERS. Bishopsgate, CABLE ADDRESS, EDWARDS, LONDON.) London, E.C. COOES, MOREINA & NEAL MONEILL 480 Sept 4th 1314 TELEPHONE: SS9O LONDON WALL My Dear Father No wail from you lakly no doubt they are ddayed somewhere, like all mais, such a disorganisation has taken place we seares know where we are. I have not had any mails from Soush America for nearly a anoust, you can unagine our feetings, sil our must not complain, others no doubt. much worse. well boad the war ha now been on over a mondh the Germand. are close on to pairs, but lon before you fet the letter I feel sure the Eermans will be wondering low they are going t5 fet
back, there is we an yed sure a feat more on by the ales to cut their setreas If if is is done the norteen plans of Frane will seeret under the soil more previous war in homan boncs thaw any History. Ethasam heve this last yow agy has been intense bens of Housand ar goining the colors in less tan a year this cominy wort the colouies will have an army that will sure to mon down tho remants of the Germans if theis are any left by that time, as to the pass whe auation of He war uo was can tew I fing beliive that the Germans will rcooe among themsors & shew up jous the white they, but I am of the opinion that no uncrey should figh for u & ndon B shown in this
Ethelburga House, EDWARDS & CO., MIRING ENGINEERS. Bishopsgate, CnSL AOOACS, MCOMIROS, LONPON. Landon, E.C. COOES: MOREING & NEAL. MCNEILL. 28.0. 131 TELEPHONE: SSGO LONDON WALL. we are fylting against Serorism, uo. twit war in the Americas ever squalnd the Bartankes of the Ferman the reports from the peld is too terrible for words woman had been var agca men have & their Breasts cut of been casated children butchees can ouc scarely belewve that a whic wall would be guitty of such abromnes but tatter Here is no doubt of the wounder reports, our Hospirals are receiving men from the wont every day, and many rouch for the berrible atocitic of the Sermans, he that raises the sword shall go down by the sword, is shal not stated somewhere in the Bissk
4 it is surprising tatter allt hough the Terross of warfare is bing before us hers every hour of the day, Low cool is is been taken shere is a sort of feeling in the dand. I cantious destermination, this ol land is only starting on ths business when our looks on the type of men that ane recriting it is only a matter of time the machanical Gernan Soldier will never you an army of such imen, we werl have a mimion cnven ready in less than a year, thy are recrining pou 30 1140 Thousand wen a day an the varang- Julds round the country and many of the race courses are by used a Waming frounds, Reading has been just alive wirl koops we here that we have sa on to the wont some wrie firld Tum with bards 42 feet long the Ecem
Ethelburga House, EDWARDS & Co. MINING ENGINEERS. Bishopsgate, CASLE AODRESS: EDWARDS, LONDONN London, E.C. Cooes: MOREING & NEAL. MCNEILL. 48.0. 131 5 mou TELEPHONE: SSSO LONDON WALL. Fidd picies have had the best of ir so far, anl our soldiers acclare the Serma as worton shots with the rifke they mostly fire from the Hip wishout taking ann, but there is no doubt but what their finld picees hav played hav ds tho moment they came to close quarters they tank will we are in i & before its an over. The Brussian will kap a renard of oblideration. You of course ges al the news tere just a rapialy annoss. as we do so I shawl not bother to send you any papers as they may go asway The Kitches got back from Ireland to Reading last night and antlough war has been on anning
all the hime hey seem to have enjoy ed she my very much. They are leaving of of October they will fic on te 19 of course writs you pity they are not able to get a mis round the coutment. stine thy have I am surc enjoyed their hip very much and win be able to give you quite a lot of interestreg hours on their return in Ritch woks very wen in fact better than he did i for scot land I hope ti when le let i able to take them out a little in my car I am now able to arwe fairly well but I shall have to go cantious This war has completcly upso my affairs & its joing to be a smifte for me my Ies are very Lewy & of course i stock exchange cincans in tining busin ess never. mina as big as I can manage to get mong for family reguicinents (alright. all are wer at Home & an snd lots o hots of Lore & Bestof food hore to fraudpa wishes from 9s Son Harry Devolca
Ethelburga House, EDWARDS & CO., MINING ENGINEERS. Bishopsgate, CABLE ADDRESS: GEDWARDS, LONDON. London, E.C. CoOEs: MOREING & NEAL. MCNEILL. A.S.C. Sept 93t 1914 TEIESNONE: SSSO IONOON WILL My Dear Fasker Your two cellar on wel see by my to hand,i previous letters why I did not cable to you reimanced will daa was nows is are we talk about tenst about usmiss is to & Drean about, puposse Dead all interss &, as far is cening is concerned so we must jnot its consented to strugfle through & I san asour you its a shuifle for ime haten nows from
Ethelburga House, COMARSS A COM MIRING ENGINEERS. Bishopsgate, CASLE ADDRESS: EDWARDS, LONDON.) London, E.C. Cooes: MOREING & NEAL. MCNEILL A.8.0 131 2 TELCSTONE- SSSO LONPON WILL Hhe sear of operations is hod & I am I of opinion that The Termans will have a ecootution in their convey before this letter reaches you, but wo stone should or stale be deft unturnea to ctern als for wet Preession Mlitary Poep. we must march our army into Berlin the Parser imust so. to St. Ftelsa or be Shot Hesekemn accounts usscdt bo oney in for ws amount of Pol a Gold could eer repay tose gallant. Boys of Belfii the world is their
Ethelburga House, EDWARDS & CO. Mnina EnCIMCERS. Bishopsgate CABLE AODRESS, EDWARDS, LONDON. London, E.C. CoOEs: MOREING & NEAL. MCNEILL. A.B.C. 131 mne TELEPHONE: 3390 LONDON WALL. DeBror Herefor Germany must be wised off the cmap. as an Rimpers + te replased by States who's sapty wih be Yasure tookked ofter by s. te Partmment of Empires at HeHague as that is something of the fature He Briois Temire will & must act as guardion of the Seas and the Safetiz valvs of Frisson many would say that that expression is consover iat to the welfars of Smanor nations, ins peoples have yet
Ethelburga House, JCOMARDS A. COM MINING ENCINEERS. Bishopsgate, Cnaie PeoreS, AEOMMOS, JONPON. London, E.C. Coose, Monene A Men. MCNEILL 48.0. 131 TELEPRONE: 8390 LONDON WALL. risen 10 height of Brtish in ffounding and carying out good governeve, it Herefor tchores us to see that Law, order food Fovere ment Than be main taied in thrope, yes Dad it is a pouderous respounitie but of an inationalitus we Brinst are I am sure rady can, & will sloweder in an the family are wele Mapke & Doon $18 School for their last Sern on imsadgy I cannot affore to keep Heon to th I am indeed sorry but He was may
last a long time, & so I sean intothe Arm poig ( my and yet. them to take up morscing totl capsess Hemsetoss withig, our Brave Boys ussa attention & your firls can help then they are raad Kiches are sn at Readin & all are well infact to ld gentleman is sptend & all send Kind Regard they hae theses moust have pomal Dear Grandad Lore 18 Bess of wisles mon Suc you Doar
Aust the Editon 7an stre Marm d eray

PR82/8

Mr Edwards

19

Paper St

Annandale

 

Ethelburga House

Bishopsgate,

London, E.C.

Sept 4th. 1914.

 

EDWARDS & CO.,

MINING ENGINEERS

CABLE ADDRESS:"EDWARDS, LONDON"

CODES: MOREING & NEAL.

MCNEILL.

A.B.C.

TELEPHONE: 3390 LONDON WALL

 

My Dear Father

No mail from you lately

no doubt they are delayed somewhere, with

all mails, such a disorganisation has

taken place we scarce know where we

are. I have not had any mails from,

South America for nearly a month, you,

can imagine our feelings, still one

must not complain, others no doubt

much worse.

Well Dad the war has

now been on over a month, the Germans

are close on to Paris, but long before you

get this letter I feel sure the Germans will

be wondering how they are going to get

 

2

back, there is we all feel such a great

more on by the allies to cut their retreat

off if it is done the northern plains of

France will secret under the soil more

human bodies than any previous war in

History, enthusiasm here this last few days 

has been intense tens of thousands are

joining the colors in less than a 

year this country withe the colonies will

have an army that will sure to mow

down the remains of the Germans if

there are any left by that time, as to the

possible duration of the war no one

can tell I fully before beleive that the

Germans will revolt among themselves

& their up goes the white flag, but I am,

of the opinion that no mercy should

be shown in this fight for life & freedom.

 

Ethelburga House,

Bishopsgate,

London, E.C.

 

EDWARDS & CO.

MINING ENGINEERS.

CABLE ADDRESS: "EDWARDS, LONDON."

CODES: MOREING & NEAL

MCNEILL.

A.B.C.

TELEPHONE: 3390 LONDON WALL

 

3

we are fighting against Terrorism, no.

Civil war in the America's was equalled.

The Barbarities of the German the

reports from the field is too terrible

for words women have been ravaged

& their Breasts cut off men have

been castrated children butchered

can we scarcely believe that a white 

race, would be guilty of such atrocities

but rather there is no doubt of the

reports, our Hospitals are receiving wounded

men from the front every day and

many vouch for the terrible atrocities

of the Germans, he that raises the sword

shall go down by the sword, is that

not stated somewhere in the Bible.

 

4

it is surprising Father allthough the

Lessons of warfare is being before us here

every hour of the day how cool it is been

taken their is a sort of feeling in the

land. A cautious estimation, this

old land is only starting on this

business when one looks on the type

of men that the recruiting in is truly

a matter of time the mechanical

German Soldier will never face,

an army of such men, we will have a

million men ready in less than a

year. They are recruiting from 30 to 40

thousand men a day an the vacant

fields round the country and many

of the race course's are being used as

training grounds,  Reading has been just
alive with troops we here that we have
sent in to the front serve terrific field
Guns with barrels 42 feet long, the German
 

 

5
Field pieces have had the best of it so
far, all our soldiers declare the Germans
as rotten shots with the rifle they
mostly fire from the hIp without
taking aim, but their is no doubt. but
what their pieces have played
havoc the moment they come to close
quarters they think, well we are in it
& before its all over. the Prussian will
sap a reward off obliteration.
     You of course get all
the news there just a rapidly almost.
as we do so I shall not bother to send

you any papers as they may go astray

           The Kitches got back

from Ireland to Reading last night

and although war has been on during

 

                      6.

all the time they seem to have enjoyed

the trip very much. They are leaving

here on the 12th of October. They will

of course write you . Its pity they are not

able to get a trip round the continent.

still they have I am sure enjoyed

their trip very much and will be able

to give you quite a lot of interesting

hours on their return Mr Kitch looks

very well in fact better than he did

when he left for Scotland, I hope to

be able to take them out a little in 

my car. I am now able to drive fairly

well but I shall have to go cautious

this war has completely upsetting affairs

& its going to be a struggle for me my

[[Gsis?]] are very heavy. & of course no Stock

exchange means no mining business nev

mind as long as I can manage to get

enough for friends, requirements all right.

All are well at Home, & all send lots of

Love to Grandpa Lots of Love & best of good

wishes from your

       Devoted Son Harry

 

                                  Ethelburga House

                                   Bishopgate,

                                       London E.C.

                                          Sept 15th 1914

My Dear Father

              From your two letters

to hand, you will see by my

previous letters why I did 

not cable to you re Mesina

     Well Dad war news

is all we talk about think about

& Dream about, business is to

all intents & purposes Dead

as far as [[xxxxx?]] is concerned

So we must not be contented

to struggle through & I can assure

 you its a struggle for me

          Latest news from

 

                  2

the seat of operations is 

good & I am of opinion that

the Germans will have a resolution

in their country before this letter

reaches you, but no stone should

or shall be left unturned to eliminate

for ever Prussian Military

Pomp we must march our Army

into Berlin The Kaiser must go

to St. Helena or to Shot Meditteranean

of accounts must not be only in

Gold for no amount of Gold

would ever repay those gallant

Boys of Belgium the world is their

 

                         3

DetBeor therefor Germany must 

be wiped off the map as an

Empire & be replaced by

states who's safety will be 

looked after by the future

Parliament of Empires at the Hague

as that is something of the

future the British Empire win

& must act as guardian of the

Seals and the Safety valve of

Freedom many would say that

that expression is controversial 

to the welfare of smaller 

nations, no people's have yet

 

                4

risen to ^the height of British in

founding and carrying out

good government, it therefor

behoves us to see that Law, order,

good government shall be maintained

in Europe, yes Dad

it is a ponderous responsibility,

but of all nationalities we

British are I am sure xxx ready,

can, & will shoulder it ____

          All the family are

well Maisie & Dou go to school

on Monday for their last term

I cannot afford to keep them longer.

I am indeed sorry but the war may

 

                       5

last a long time, & so I am

going to try and get them ^into the Army to take

up nursing both [[creps?]] as themselves

willing, our Brave Boys need

attention & if my girls can help

them they are ready.

        Kitches are now

at Reading & are all well in fact

the old gentleman is splendid

all send kin regards they leave

next month

       Love from all

to Dear Grandad Love &

Best wishes from G & S

Sincere Love Harry

 

Envelope

            Australia

The Editor               Please show

      Sydney Morning Herald

         Sydney

       Australia

 

Back of envelope

 

 

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