Primary Source WW1 Letters 1917
Arthur's Primary Source First World War letters home 1917.
January 1917
February 1917
March 1917
May 1917
June 1917
July 1917
August 1917
- Cold weather, worried about men freezing in trenches, utter desolation of the front, new years eve with the rats, may have to move again ...
- Glad to be moving, flats in London hard to get, happy in his little wooden hut ...
- Glad to be away from the front, complains about the price of fuel, has a hot water bottle in bed, maybe the war will end in October, fed up with the weather ...
- Bitterly cold, Arthur is feeling his age, very basic quarters, gives his chauffeur some socks, glad he turned down the job of Commandant ...
February 1917
- Money talk, still freezing cold, volunteers falling ill, Arthur is caught in a gas attack without his mask, borrows the Commandants bed ...
- Coldest winter since 1870, 7 or 8 men short due to illness, 2nd anniversary of leaving London, complaining about those in easy war jobs, able to keep warm in dugouts, still enjoying his tea and cake ...
- Spring has arrived, shellfire rattling windows, gas alarm, very short of volunteers ...
- Arthur likes Lloyd George's speech, a missing parcel of tea and biscuits, new arrests in Ireland ...
March 1917
- Arthur's brother recovering from dysentery, a German spy in the Vatican ...
- Arthur is pleased about the Russian Revolution, feels sorry for the children, thinking of taking some leave in April ...
May 1917
- Back in London, shopping, making wedding plans and wants a nice quiet wedding ...
- Advises Mother to invest in War Loans, wife to be doesn't photograph too well ...
June 1917
- Back at the front line, two men die in his car, thinks the war might go on to the end of next year at least ...
- Mothers money invested in War Loan, social gossip ...
July 1917
- Arthur has bank overdraft worries, investment income problems ...
- Arthur's nephew wants to learn to fly, remote chance of war ending this year, waiting for a row in Ireland ...
August 1917
- Arthur is not happy with his quarters, talk of wedding presents, worries about the war lasting another year or two perhaps ...
- Arthur's intended is flat hunting in London, section soon to be moved, soon to be on leave ...
- Arthur talks of not returning after his next leave ...
- Sad news, a big casualty list, Pope trying to arrange peace, nice quarters in a farm house ...
- Nephew to join Royal Flying Corps, good news from Italy ...
- Arthur hears of progress by French and Italians, possible settlement in Ireland ...
- Arthur disappointed not to be going to Verdun ...
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