A Card to Jack. 27th October 1918, Letter 29th


Sgt. Sam Avery said...Hello Harry:
Just a line to let you know we've arrived at Neufchateau and look to be here for the winter. The French are instructing us. We use a full-sized trench system to work out problems of defense and attack, and we show the French a thing or two about how N.E. boys use the rifle to good advantage. The British have set up a school at Bazoilles to teach us how to come to grips with the Boche using just bayonets and our hands. Some stuff, what? Stop by for a read if you get the chance. Regards, Sam
November 01, 2008

G. Tingey said..."31 casualties" does NOT refer to the number of DEAD. It refers to "Killed, Wounded, and missing (in action)" Please remember this. It still applies, incidentally.
November 01, 2008

Jacky said...Sorry but I have just tried to access the History Today site but it does not seem to be available. I'm trying to find out if there are any remembrance services being held in or near Timisoara in Romania this year.... Could you possibly help please Derry, or anyone for that matter?
Thanks in anticipation.
October 31, 2008
Apologies Jackie and Derry - and anyone else who was in difficulties here. Somehow, I managed to put in a "@" instead of a "." in the web address. Click here for a valid link to "History Today."

historytoday said...Hello, and well done on this blog
Its an excellent concept and certainly one of the best First World War sites I've come across so far. On our blog we have a new World War I section with complete listings of remembrance events happening across Europe from November onwards, if you are interested
Derry Nairn History Today Magazine
historytodaymagazine.blogspot.com
October 30, 2008

Anonymous said...In some ways, I think we here & now are more tense about this particular upcoming week: his real family just see more of the same on the horizon, with a constant level of associated worry; we, his '2008 family' if you will, know the war is coming to an end, and we're worrying more right now on that account, not wanting to see our Harry lost in the final stretch.
Hang in there, Harry! We're all praying you make it home safely!
October 30, 2008

Anonymous said...Only 31 is perhaps a relative comment given the scale and previous statistics in this war. Take a trip to Flanders sometime and be very glad you live now and not then.
So glad to see a letter following the standard issue postcard.
October 29, 2008

Cecilia in Michigan said... We tend to think of 31 casualties as a large number, but in a war where tens of thousands of men could be obilterated in one battle, that's not a bad number. According to Wikipedia, there were only 374 British troops lost. The Allies lost 5800 men, as opposed to Austrians, who lost 100,000 men. Today, Oct. 29, the Austro-Hungarians are asking the Italians for an armistice, according to Wiki.
October 29, 2008
Of course, the number of casualties is irrelevant if one of them is your husband, father, brother, lover. The trap of working by numbers can be horrific. Haig and his Generals would accept 100,000 casualties, calculating that they would still have 400,000 men left as a functioning army. Never a thought to the pain, anguish, grief and despair attached to each and every casualty. BL

Anonymous said...After reading the battalions diary, it seems as if the combat was much more fluid than the more static combat of earlier in the campaign. Was this typical of things towards the end of WW1?
October 30, 2008
Italy was totally different theatre of war to Flanders. Harry makes it clear how, despite the weather, conditions are so much better. In this phase of the fighting, the allied troops are moving forward rapidly, taking ground from the Austrians. BL

Anonymous said...A couple days before this there was a work detail of 400 men. So the battalion's actual strength was at least that high. The diary says "only 31 casualties", which would indicate the author at least considered them light.
October 28, 2008

Robert said...For the book it might be interesting to includes snippets of news from the newspapers to get a better idea of what Harry was reading from home - and about what folks back home thought about the war.
Best, Robert
October 28, 2008

Dino said...and now we're quite near to the end.
Harry, stay clean, there's only few days, and it will be over.
Dino, an Italian very proud of english that fought a mad war for us
October 28, 2008

Rocco said...-Especially as the war progressed, it was rare indeed for a Battalion to be at full establishment. It was not unknown at times for Battalions with a nominal strength of over a 1000 men to go into fighting with perhaps only 200. (The Long Long Trail).
- If this was the average situation, 150 prisoners and 31 casualties indicate that the 29th oct. was a very hard day.
- it seems to me that Harry is hiding the truth to tranquillise his family
October 28, 2008

Jacky said...I only stumbled across Harry's blog 2 weeks ago and after frantically catching up on 17th October have been checking every day for more news from him (internet down here in Romania yesterday for some reason). This card has made me go cold; just imagine how he felt being allowed only to send that and, as you say, probably realising it means something serious is about to happen. Only a few days left - please, please let him get home safely from this horrible mess. Jacky.
October 27, 2008

Jono said...Jackie,
There is some narrative on the very latest military situation in Phase 5 description with slide illustration as at today, 27th, and more to follow.....
Click on JW Overview of the Italian Campaign in menu bar on left..... hope it helps JW
October 27, 2008
Jono has posted an excellent narrative on his site. This really helps to fill in the details outlined in the Battalion's War Diary. Thank you Jono! Click here
C.A.R.O.? BL

Anonymous said...Today is dead the last soldier of the IWW; he's name was Delfino Borroni.
For everyone can read italian here is the article http://www.corriere.it/cronache/08_ottobre_26/borroni_morto_1dc9ba5e-a3a0-11dd-8d2c-00144f02aabc.shtml
and here a touching video http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=9kfvQO47B_U
October 27, 2008

Sgt. Sam Avery said...Hello Harry:Landed in Le Havre the other day, now on the way to someplace called Neufchateau. Should arrive in a couple of days. Stop by for a read when you get the chance. Also, take a look at some film footage from the boys in Neufchateau.
Regards, Sam
October 26, 2008

David McGovern said...The fact that signature and date are the only things allowed to be added, suggests that the card was used by the army to prevent soldiers letting slip information that might risk an imminent action.
It may have been standard procedure when on short notice to move.
October 26, 2008

Rocco said...The 10th Army (Italian- British) began the attack on October 24th at Grave di Papadopoli (see Google earth) -north east of Catena where the Btn is reported on October 27th. On the night of 26th the 7th British Div.-Gen.T.H. Shoubridge- could install half a dozen bridges over the Grave to cross the Piave river. As Harry is dating his postcard on Oct. 27th, we can expect, I argue, that in a short time he'll cross the river running ahead to Vittorio Veneto
October 26, 2008

Jackie said..Can someone tell me what battles are ahead for Harry? I'm getting worried for his safety. Thanks.
October 26, 2008

Andrew said...holding my breath..let this not be the last bit of correspondence. good luck Harry.
October 26, 2008

G. Tingey said...The Battle of Vittorio (Veneto) has already started, and had been in progress for 3 (THREE) days, when Harry sent that postcard. He is at least 10km back behind the then lines, which were advancing over the Piave river.
October 26, 2008

erathwomen said...And here I've been thinking that Harry is so close to being out of it. This is an odd card but I suppose he didn't have time to write a letter but wanted to let them know he was alive.
October 26, 2008

Letter to Jack, 17th October, Book Deal.


Dino said...and now we're quite near to the end.
Harry, stay clean, there's only few days, and it will be over.
Dino, an Italian very proud of english that fought a mad war for us
October 28, 2008

Kittybriton said...I see from the papers this morning that the Italians launched an offensive in the mountains two days ago, but progress is slow. Stick to it Harry, and may God Himself watch over you.
October 25, 2008

Leah J. F. said... If you get a chance, watch the Canadian film "Passchendaele" staring Paul Gross. It really puts you there, and will give you a taste of what Harry and all the other soldiers who fought in WWI went through.
Lest we forget.
October 24, 2008

G. Tingey said...Silarnon: Read the preceding posts.
Battle of Veneto, 24th October - Austrian collapse. Armistice and cease-fire on that front on 4th November. OK
October 23, 2008
Of course, Harry knows any of this. And, we can't consider his future. We don't know what happens to him. Silarnon is quite right about the peace treaty. The terms were not agreed and signed until June 1919. BL

Silarnon said...It's very exciting that Harry is at last coming up on the cease-fire, though I wonder when the fighting will actually stop for him.
And there would still be uncertainty about whether he gets to go home, with the peace treaty not signed until June next year.
October 21, 2008

G. Tingey said...CORRECTION! After 19/12/1915 when there was a bad landslip cutting the Dover-Folkestone railway line....Most TROOP trians went to and from Folkestone, and most of the Ambulance trains went to and from Dover.
A lot more information on this, which affected all troops, unless they were on "the Staff" (and had special trains) can be found in an out-of-print book.
ISBN: 0 85361 2781 "The South-Eastern & Chatham Railway in the Great War.
Harry would have experienced all of this, including the free travel warrants, and the free food made available at the two London Termini used (Charing X & Victoria)
October 21, 2008

Paul Harding FAIA said...V. is definitely for Vicenza, not Venice. Venice is a series of islands and is remote and out of the way. I spent 10 weeks in Venice and the Venetto Province during grad school so I know the area quite well.
October 21, 2008
Thank you Paul. I was just assuming...BL

Doctor Pion said..."However, I am very keen not to lose the simplicity and directness that seem to have worked so well in the blog."
A suggestion. I've read a few books that achieve that goal by separating the original text from the much more detailed commentary. One key is to use a completely different typeface in addition to physically separating one from the other on adjacent pages. You can read the original historical material straight through or digress into the explanations without having to jump from chapter to chapter.For example, you could have the War Diary itself (with maps) frame the letters to put them in context ... but always making the letters the prominent part of the story.
October 21, 2008

lom said...well done on the book deal, I too shall buy a book, I just love this blog
October 21, 2008

G. Tingey said... From the other pages - referring to Harry's trip home on leave ...
The postcard shows Ilkeston GNR station. But from London, he would most likely have come from St. Pancras on the Midland Railway, to the other Ilkeston station, in the Erewash Valley - probably changing at Trent. There is also reference to the cross-channel shipping routes.
The principal embarkation port was DOVER, with some coming via Folkestone. Dover Marine Station had been opened, just as war started, and was requisitioned entirely for military use. The SECR didn't get it back until after the war was over.
There was also the huge military port at Richborough, with a train-ferry, but this was not used for personnel.
Some wounded were landed at Queenborough/Sheppey, but normal troop-transit was Dover only, with Folkestone for special purposes.
October 20, 2008

JW said...Dear All, 'Phase 4'has been opened via the JW ,Overview of the Italian Campaign in the side menu.
Things have been 'steady' for a while, albeit with c.14000 artillery shells a day during July being fired up in the Asiago sector by the British alone, still great danger for Harry and the boys when in the line.
Open page, go to bottom and click on the 'Ph 4-Things are bubbling' link for some insights.
October 19, 2008

Pamela said...
Great news about the book! I shall definitely buy a copy. Congratulations.
October 19, 2008

John Meier said...For Bill Lamin: Congratulations on gaining the book contract. Well deserved. Let us know when you will be ready to autograph the first edition.
For G. Tingey: Thanks for the look ahead.
Vienna, VA
October 19, 2008

Anglers rest said... I am so glad to hear that Harry's story will be published. I'll be getting a copy as soon as available - congratulations. October 18, 2008

Anonymous said...Congratulations on the book: I'll be getting a copy as soon as I can! And hang in there Harry: we're all praying for your safe return home!
October 18, 2008

Anonymous said...I do hope we hear of Harry's fate before the book comes out.
October 18, 2008

Steve said...That will be a world seller.
These are memories from the normal guy that cannot be lost, and a book is the perfect solution. I will buy it.
October 16, 2008

Hook said...As it looks, Harry will be in or near the center of the upcoming final Battle of Vittorio Veneto. Let's hope the best
October 16, 2008

Sgt. Sam Avery said...Hello Harry: So glad to hear you are getting on alright. I've landed in England with the 103rd and am now on the way to Bordon. From there we continue on to France. Stop by for a read if you have the chance. Regards, Sam
October 16, 2008

G. Tingey said...Try looking HERE for what's coming up:
and HERE for a summary ....
October 17, 2008

Anonymous said...It seems Harry doesn´t feel comfortable marching through the landscape and for the situation of the soldiers. Luckily we now know war will end soon. I hope he´ll come home healthy.
October 17, 2008
Of course, Harry has no idea when the war may end! BL

Anonymous said...Still really enjoying the blog- thanks. Keep sending letters Harry! I would like to hear that you survived the war & all the illness that followed the war! October 17, 2008

Blogger Kittybriton said... Chin up, Harry! I don't think the Hun can keep it up too much longer. The only way I can see that they could keep the fight going beyond next summer is if they forge a new alliance.
October 17, 2008

Back from Leave. Letter to Jack, 1st Oct 1918

We should all be aware that, of course, Harry had no idea when this war would end. He may have had a local awareness of what was happening in his small part of Italy, but would have absolutely no real idea of how the war was going. He was a Private soldier.

Just to be helpful, the armistice was NOT signed on November 11th in Italy. November 11th was the Western front's big day. BL


Jack has said...This is wonderful and I feel I'm not going to get much else done now I have discovered your blog! We have recently relocated to Romania for a year and decided to drive over so that we could stop in Ypres on the way over. It was a very emotional experience which fuelled my interest in everything about WW1, and we were very lucky to bump into 2 men from the Western Front Association (Essex branch) who gave us lots of information and suggested I look on the web. I don't think your site was specifically recommended but I am chuffed to have found it. Can't wait to read more about Harry and see what happens to him, bless his heart. Thank you SO MUCH for doing something so valuable and interesting on the net; there's some much pointless rubbish on it! All the best. Jacky. Mandy in Manitoba, Canada said...What a precious gift you've given to the world! More valuable than even the brightest jewel. For this is the jewel and so much more. Thank you for sharing and thank you to your grandfather and thank you to those who kept his story, his letters, safe all these years.
October 11, 2008

stefanie said...I just found your blog through a link on another blog. What a brilliant thing to do! I'm hooked and I haven't read anything but this introduction page. I'm inspired by the family literary thread that would cause Harry to write so many letters, those before you to preserve them, and you to pour so much of your time and energy into organizing, researching and presenting them as a gift to the world in such a creative fashion. Thanks!
October 11, 2008

erathwomen said...It's been 10 days...I hope Harry is ok....
October 11, 2008

G. Tingey said... NO - ON THE AUSTRIAN/ITALIAN Front, the (local) Armistice was 4th November.The Entire war stopped on the 11th, but there would not have been time for Harry's regiment to pack up, and go over to Belgium in the intervening 7 days.For more information see:here and here October 6, 2008
Rosemary said...I'm holding my breath now as the end of the war is in sight and I'm hoping Harry makes it home to the family.
I agree with the comment before about I wonder what Harry would think if he knew what an inspiration he is so many decades on? October 04, 2008

Nick said... I always feel humbled when I read the latest from Harry..In an age when most people are complaining about the price of petrol and why they aren't getting a pay rise this year, its hard to imagine the sacrifices Harry's generation made.I also feel its worth sparing a thought for our troops today, fighting what are becoming increasingly forgotten wars - something that I am sure the labour government are relieved about!

Anonymous said...The problem with foresight: holding my breath, and praying Harry makes it safely through the next forty days.....
October 01, 2008

Anonymous said...The cease fire was 11 November 1918. So today (2nd Oct 1918) there are 40 days remaining of the war.
Will Harry survive...
October 02, 2008

Anonymous Sgt. Sam Avery said...Hello Harry:I'm sure you enjoyed your leave. I'm now somewhere at sea between Halifax and Liverpool heading Over There to join the great adventure. Expect to land in about a week. Drop by and read a bit if you have the chance.
Regards, Sam
October 03, 2008

Anonymous said...Seven more weeks until the Armistice. Keep your head down, Harry!
JDMeier USA
01 October 2008

Kurt Sims said... "I shall have to make the best of it" I wonder what he would have thought if somebody told him 90 years on he could inspire others. Amazing blog sir, I love every minute of it and continue to hope for Harry's safe return.
September 30, 2008

Bronn said... Heyy :) Thought I'd leave a comment, since I'm doing my English GCSE and I'm writing about the war.
This is such a great idea, and a real help to me, I enjoy reading about Harry, I feel so involved in his life.
I may just have to let you know what grade I get in my coursework now, since this site has been my biggest research point . Thank you, and keep posting :)
xxx
September 30, 2008
Bronn, What lovely comment. Thank you. I'm sure we'll all be keen to know about your grades. BL

G. Tingey said...
Armistice on that front on Novemebr the 4th, after Austro-Hungarian collapse at battle of Vittorio (October 24th)
374 British casualties - that's killed AND wounded.
How big was the British force in Italy at that time - how many men?
September 30, 2008
I believe it was 3 Divisions. About 50,001 men but if anyone knows better.

374 casualties WAS minor compared to Flanders, but if one of those was your husband, father, grandfather..... BL


Anonymous said... Harry sounds a bit down to be back to the guns etc. It must have been strange to come back from leave. To anyone interested in this era I strongly recommend the WW I series by Anne Perry.
~S
October 01, 2008