Letters received by Field Marshal Lord William Birdwood, 3 January 1917 – 14 December 1917 - Part 1

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Finalised
Accession number:
RCDIG0000018
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

GENERAt HEADAUARTERS BRTTISH ARMIES 1N PRANoE. 3 Iave.. My dear Birdre hy beit thank Rease acceft Kindly Congoatulations. for lowr deeply approncte. I Whoe thad Proad Sfeel trily garned Bhould have pesel the Confiderice Speeuded Division End pur. Lnd wishive tom & all unden faie Command Iam Eerythiig good in. Mes Eoan. Delan.
Marrakech 16 Janvier 197 Lm GENERAt GOURAUD RESIDEDY SENERAt AU MAROC Mon Gensral. Oost Sur 1a terre d’Afrigue, an lond In Maroe que Je regois votre ainable lettre du 22 Decembre. Je ne pensals Das, Iorsoue J’avais 1honneur et 1e grand plaisir &’Stre votre Hote que 1e noment Stait 91 proche on 11 he laudrait quitter 1e front, Mals, puisoue 1e General Lyautey n’ avalt designe, et 9n 11 avalt Sait de na verue 1ci 1a condition de Son ac ceptation in Hinistere de 1a Querre, Je ne Douvals oue n incliner, car Je Jais en honne qui 1e connait depuis long. temps, Gue Aul ne podsdit Etre mleux choisi Chagge Dout tenir dans 1es Mains.1a. 1ourde MN N- 12G - 7 5.M.-] 5 9n on Iul a confise.7] 4 M C
Vous Saver mon General, que mes voeux ardents accompagneront, Jans 1es batailles Drochaines, 1e Dremier Corps 0 Anzac et son Chef. Veullle2 croire, Hon Cher General, & mes mell leurs voeur et pecevolr lassu- Pance de nes Sentinents 61en oord laux. an fo
Holnlea. Gork road. Guito ford. Surday, 7th & 9far 17 Surreef. Bus dear Geuiral. Many & tranks for gour were Hiid note. I was not at all dis apposnted for yore ald only told &e promatiou was possible, & I did not expect it. Shanko to gou I considee I have beere extremety well done & have no sort of grouse! I did not half express my fealinge of gralibride ts 7ou the ofther day for countars Hindreases. & for four patience & forbearance where I have not bren phessicalle able to Carrel out & myf duties as theey shourd he carried out. Seroing under jou has beem a de - lightful experience. for I was always & wre B four Empattoy & help, & I ame more Soore
tham I cas dalf that it had come to are rond for me. I Shall take advantage later on of foun kind pormission & write tTou now a again one nndiace matters of von - portavice, as they come aloney I hope fon are Keepiries fit - & are eather on leave &n post goine to get it foure Sune soocox 0n41-0 TeOaes 111 3378 36 Say [9]
16.1.] GENERA HEADAYARTERS BRTTISH ARMIES 1N PRANOE. My dear Genesal Mn arcuustocy. Audey fon mention in gun latter 1 15. unt. I so not think it is any good prisio on affortT. dim Artille. officers for M Boyul artikeny frow 1t A.S.Q. H. gosee futun I Jun wany. hope ion with 5o 20 helpin.
A1S Se presse fi shallbi. for desporate & irt for Mieen lee of all darser late i. Vallieies about m & oin ooske. Fenconan Trorsee Lkeep te sayi ke is my sooe heh han the nod stungent hich. orten lake somyg me. Sanhor how butter ag. Shope fon had Explasi him. RID
C Mten in to hniyg ae ha seoate. the m. good 1 Sor C.sx. mer Bir regst at th omus my namie & f muse ham kery write. t kucook. ArSubged - Spressiuun he &ir nstunk. 6purs te sulged I ooth men gon uuremanded in their Totarie Struggles here it is paships fustan will I reman espicially wholed B my present Bubin appt whenl th Chie. I spotse.
relessing me but he sac be cnsedered it wasmy duly. to stay whene. war kerfor, bahntly service to tecounting. he raltier. Cubth grund foum undr my feet my sulanging on m advantage it cur to himsilf & the Qumins for me the renann When Iam. Brl after all inn Laborner i woatting of his hire d he has again fot forsou thal sluwhl recew the same bayh &totn which I did bofon relinqgunst by Forsisiral command t take on th. Hheal romnyg thm him & one.
GENERA HEADAARTERS BrTTISH ARMIRS 1N PRANop. boesing for me in life genesall & it is me good toorringin & Proosdence nher to mak a football of our theie in nottining to be rord or some but Binie teanit. I sonot know why t War office did not accept theC. shrep's re. comnendation for grn K.C.B. xxx Chirp expressed surprise then I told him of the omiision I so not know if he will speak about it whulst in England, Lol.

GENERAL HEADQUARTERS,
BRITISH ARMIES IN FRANCE.
3 Jan : 17

My dear Birdie
Please accept my best thanks
for your kindly congratulations
which I deeply appreciate.
I feel truly proud that 
I should have gained 
the confidence of yourself
and your splendid Divisions
And wishing you &all
under your Command
Everything Good in 1917, 
I am
[[Your?]]  {{?}}
D. Craig. 

 

LE GENERAL GOURAUD Marrakech,  67 Janvier 1917
RESIDENT GENERAL AU MAROC

Mon General,
C'est sur la terre d’Afrique, au fond
du Maroc que je recois votre aimable lettre
du 22 Decembre.
Je ne pensais pas, Iorsque j’avais
l'honneur et le grand plaisir d'etre votre
hote, que le moment etait si proche ou il
me faudrait quitter le front.  Mais, puisque
le General Lyautey m’avait designe, et qu'il
avait fait de ma venue ici 1a condition
de son acceptation du Ministere de 1a
Guerre, je ne pouvais que m'incliner, car Je
sais, en homme qui le connait depuis long-
temps, que nul ne pouvait etre mieux choisi
 pout tenir dans 1es mains la lourde charge
qu'on lui a confiee. 

 

Vous Savez, mon General. que mes voeux
ardents accompagneront, dans les batailles
prochaines, le premier Corps d'Anzac et son
Chef.
Veuillez croire, Mon Cher General, a
mes meilleurs voeux et recevolr l'assurance 
de mes sentiments bien cordiaux.
Gouraud 

 

Holmlea.
York Road.
Guildford.
Surrey.
Sunday . 7th .XXJan.17.

My dear General. Many thanks for your very
Kind note- I was not at all disappointed
for you oxx only told me promotion was
"possible"- & I did not expect it _Thanks to
you, I consider I have been extremely well
done & have no sort of grouse! I did not
half express my feelings of gratitude to
you the other day for countless kindnesses;
& for your patience & forbearance where I
have not been physically able to carry
out my duties as they should be carried
out.  Serving under you has been a delightful
experience- for I was always sure
of your sympathy & help- & I am more
sorry 

 

than I can say that it has come to an end
for me - I shall take advantage, later on,
of your kind permission to write to you
now & again on Indian matters of importance
as they come along.
I hope you are keeping fit - & are either
on leave or just going to get it.
Your [[?]]
HV Cox

DONATED RECORDS LIST
3376
3rd Series (9) 

 

16.1.17
GENERAL HEADQUARTERS,
BRITISH ARMIES 1N FRANCE.

My dear General,
Under the circumstances
you mention in your letter
of 15th inst. I do not think
it is any good pursuing
our effort to obtain Artillery
Officers for the Royal Artillery
from the A.I.F.  If you see
your way in the future to
help us I hope you will do so

 

for I foresee we shall be in
desperate straits for officers
of all classes later on.  I saw
Des Vallieres about this
Frenchman Perrier you wished
to keep.  He says he is very sorry
but he has the most stringent
orders to take every one  he also
said he has written to you to
explain this.  I hope you had

 

a pleasant time at home

Private
It is very good of you to express
your regret at the omission
of my name.  I of course have
[[never?]] written to Maxwell on
the subject- I presume he did
not wish to press the subject-
& with men going unrewarded
in these Titanic struggles here
it is perhaps just as well
Especially whilst I remain
in my present Batn appt
I spoke to the Chief about

 

releasing me but he said
he considered it was my duty
to stay where I was performing valuable
service to the country,  he rather
cut the ground from under
my feet by enlarging on
the  advantage it was to himself
& the armies for me to remain
where I am.  But after all
"the Labourer is worthy of his hire"
& he has again put forward that
I should receive the same pay &
status which I did before relinquishing
my Divisional Command to take on
this.  I feel sorry things have gone

 

GENERAL HEADQUARTERS,
BRITISH ARMIES IN FRANCE.

wrong for me in life generally
& it is no good worrying.
If Providence wishes to make
a football of one there is
nothing to be said or done but
grin & bear it.
I do not know why the War office
did not accept the Chiefs' re- 
commendation for your K.C.B.
xxxxxxx The Chief expressed surprise
when I told him of the omission
I do not know if he will speak
about it whilst in England. Not

Last edited by:
Jacqueline KennedyJacqueline Kennedy
Last edited on:

Last updated: