14 November 2007 05:51
On Saturday evening I received a call from the local hospital to say that
my father, Bill Lamin, passed away peacefully in his sleep. He fought a
long batt...
12 years ago
Letter from Italy January 14th 1918
chicsson said...My dad would tell about his experience's from normandy in ww2, but only the laugh's they had. He never spoke about the other thing's that happened. This helps to imagine what he went through.(Obviously not as bad as the Somme and Ypres)
- chicsson said...
This should be made compulsory reading in history classes in all schools.
veda said...lovely blog.
thanks for it!
http://afishcalledveda.blogspot.com/ - Lena said...
Hello!
The letters have reached up to us in Sweden (read about them in my morning paper), in Boden - not so many miles below the artic circle. Read one letter - and I just want to read more!!
/Lena - Orlando Bloom said...
Hi mr lamin!!
This blog is soooo good!
You are without a doubt the best ICT teacher in the whole world!!
And my blog is now nearly as good as yours!
I can't wait to see you in the next ICt lesson and i am definatly going to buy the book if you do one.
From your favorite student in ict!
MRS ORLANDO BLOOM!! aka emma (dotty folder) 
Icarus said...3 days have passed and I'm getting worried for Harry. Maybe it's because I recently read Sebastian Faulks' "Human Traces" (yes, another masterpiece, but different from "Birdsong"). There was a war going on up there, it was no piece of cake, just different from Flanders.
So, I'm clearly into Harry's story.
What impresses me endlessly, always has, from my Grandfather's letters, to Harry's via those published in works by WW! historians like Lynn Macdonald is the ordiary soldiers' humility & modesty. NEVER A SINGLE COMPLAINT. Sensitive, but tough as nails, because of the times they lived in. Imagine how it would be today if 3 million or so young Brits were called up to face that horror & misery. I mean conscripted, not the professional army. What they are enduring in Afghanistan in particular today should also be a lesson to all the softie corrupted whingers in hoods back home. It never ends, does it? Best wishes to you. - Paul S said...
I live in Texas, but grew up in Derbyshire UK not far from where Harry lived - one of my best friends was a Lamin (wonder if he was related to - or even descended from Harry). I hope Harry makes it back - too many didn't. I used to be a boy scout and we always paraded in November for Rememberance Sunday (similar to US Memorial Day). I didn't get it then, but now I know Harry was going through one of the worst times in history, yet everything is always "alright". Good luck Harry.
- Anonymous said...
I just found out this through google and now I am a regular visitor
It's too good to resist- saturni_ana said...
I came to this place thru an article i read about it in the most famous newspaper of my country, Spain! I think this is a very interesting idea, and i hope to read and learn more about ww1 here!
Love XXX - harvs said...
this is a great thing you are doing here,i am an ex soldier and know what its like to get letters from loved ones,i find it strange that harry dosnt mention ethel in his letters to jack and kate,only willie and connie,also he dosnt mention any packages from her either,the card seems to be the only thing.keep up the great work mate.
- Anonymous said...
I have only recently discovered this wonderful blog and now I am hooked. Thank you so much for sharing this with all of us.
- Jay west Ozz said...
It goes straight to one's heart to read the repeated thought of "write soon", or "tell me of home".
How I wish too that I could send a hug back. The person from "Vietnam", put your letters and info out.You suffered so much. Let us publically honor you and send our love to you.
Thanks a million for this blog work. - Jan Taco said...
It might be interesting to know for you,that also the Dutch media payed attention to your project.
Nowadays this is the way to booster enthousiasm for history in general.And to demonstrate the impact of war on ordinary people.
Yours, JT 
Michele said...Whew! I was getting worried about Harry! Thank you for the letter! I hope the card is the one Harry speaks of in his letter. It would be great to see that!
- Anonymous said...
I think this is meant to be titled "Letter from Italy January 14th 1918".
Apart from that(lol!) keep up the good work!! - Anonymous said...
hello Harry from Canada
I heard about your letters on CBC TV.
What a brilliant idea.
I spent the last weekend "catching up" on your experiences. I am glad that you are safe and sound in Italy at this time.
I look forward to hearing from you again soon.
Regards
Al - Seagrave said...
Hi,
have you seen?
The german magazine wrote an article about your blog.
http://www.spiegel.de/netzwelt/web/0,1518,528449,00.html - Pete said...
Please do show us the card! This is a wonderful idea and a great new way to experience history! I wish I'd thought of it!
I hope you don't mind, but I've written a brief article and added a link on my blog: www.history-geek.com
Pete - Leah said...
This letter has a rather different tone than the others, and there are more grammer mistakes than normal. I think that Harry's fingers were cold while he was writing the letter to Jack, he said it has been snowing a bit. He also is sounding very tired, and who can blame him, he's had a tough run. Hang in there Harry! The war is almost over, you'll be coming home soon!
- Anonymous said...
Wow he sounds so calm about it, and to think that millions of people are dying.
- matt said...
hello im a brit living in germany (ex forces german wife ect ect)im so glad that you had this idea of posting these letters ive been wondering all day if a new letter would come,, as being ex forces some of his letters remind me of the ones i sent from different parts of the world not word for word but very much the same once again thanks ,,,,matt
- Hazzard County Gal said...
Hey there,
I have only recently discovered this blog but have been following for about a week or so now and I have to say it is absolutly amazing what you are doing. I have always been fascinated with the war front, and have gone on several trips with my school in past years where I have been to the places Harry has written about. It really brings that experience to life again knowing that he had probably walked the ground I walked on those days before me.
I am advertising this on any sites I go on, Facebook, Myspace, everything as I think more young people my age need to read it and understand what a sacrafice was made so that we dont have to experience those kind of horrors again. Thank you very very much for doing this and I sincerely hope that Harry gets home safely.
Many Thanks
Kerrie Hudson, Age 18
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
The story of Harry that we read yesterday on Corriere della sera newspaper is beautiful and moving.
We are an italian couple that in last two years followed the tracks of a soldier of 96th infantry regiment that died in an attack near Gorizia (in the est area of North of Italy) in 1916, 15 of August. We followed the track in the same mainf that you follow Harry's movement, using the regiment diary that gave us detailed information about locations, dates, timing and movement of Concetto Suma.
The Bank Foundation 'Fondazione Monte di Pietà' and Handcratf Association 'Confartigianato Vicenza' recently have published the history of the war of Concetto Suma. During our researches following infantry man tracks we took a lot of pics and here you can see some of these WW1 places pictures at this address and take further information about Concetto Suma
Congratulations for Harry'story!
Francesca ed Enrico
06 January 2008 02:14
I'm using wordpress...you can play with the dates so that they match exactly...see www.france1917.com.
08 January 2008 05:24
Missing words, sight unseen might be:
reconnoitre
soundings
13 January 2008 04:02
Thanks to Chris and others. The new scan from the PRO has solved all the problems. BL
bellissimo lavoro, complimenti
pagine di storia da ricordare
Doriano
Venezia Italia
13 January 2008 05:32
I downloaded the picture of the entry and played with the brightness and contrast so the words show up better. I believe/guess that the first missing word is "reach" as in "reach the enemy's line" and the second blank might be "any" along with either "boat" or "chart" as in "lack of any boat"
Just my best guesses.
13 January 2008 11:10
Thanks to Justin and others. The new scan from the PRO has solved all the problems. BL
Fantastic series of blogs - well done.
I think the war diaries really do add colour and understanding to Harry's letters. Just one thing; have you thought of publishing a glossary of common abreviations used in the diary? I have found it hard to understand some of the entries because of this.
Keep up the great work.
13 January 2008 20:43
A good idea. Time is a problem at the moment. There are WW1 glossaries available on -line for the moment. Try http://www.anu.edu.au/ANDC/res/aus_words/wwi/annoted1.php BLGood job. I live in the area. Some hints for you. Dec 3rd 1917: MONTELLA is wrong -->MONTELLO
Jan 12th 1918 VENGAZZUA is VENEGAZZU.
Bye bye, Alex
17 January 2008 02:21
Thank you corrections made. My transcription was at fault. BL
Congratulations for the great job. I live in Montebelluna and my grandmother (born in 1896)used to tell me about the British soldiers posted here during the great war. They used to exchange their abundant chocolate and marmalade (very rare in wartime Italy) for fresh milk and "polenta". The British troops also played the very first football match in this town as witnessed by my grandmother and described by Lamin.
A few years ago the local parish published the diary of the Montebelluna priest during the world war 1 years who gives a vivid account of the arrival of the British troops here.
I recommend the following book to learn more about the British troops in Italy: "The British Army in Italy 1917-1918" by John Wilks & Eileen Wilks - Pen & Sword Books Ltd. -Barnley. I really look forward to reading more of Lamin's diary.
Luigi Pellizzari
Montebelluna - Italy
13 January 2008 12:54
I think ADMS is probably Assistant Director of Medical Services
08 October 2007 13:56
I to believe it stands for Assistant Director of Medical Services
I found it on the following link.
http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/GREATWAR/2004-06/1088332207
Keep up the great work. My 10 yr old is really interested in the blog and if it teaches him anything about WW1 and it's horrors, all the better.
Thank you, both contributors BL
09 October 2007 03:35
I have never been a history buff, but this blog highlights the importance of learning about the past.
03 November 2007 21:33
the mention of the Micmac camp on the 15th and sixteenth is intriguing.
The Micmac tribe is a native Canadian tribe in New Brunswick & Nova Scotia.
I wonder if there is a Canadian connection here, specifically with a Maritime regiment.
Dave P (Canadian Maritimer)
29 November 2007 08:51
Es una página excelente.
Le agradezco su publicación.
Desde Catalunya (spain).
Un saludo : Miguel-Ángel Cerveró.
08 January 2008 02:09
Dave P [Canadian Maritimer]: The Battle of Vimy Ridge was THE defining battle for Canada, getting her out from under the shadow of Great Britain [which had gotten Canada into the War anyway]. This Battle, from 9-12 April 1917, is remembered with a memorial [actually Canadian territory] in Northern France not too far from Calais [see http://www.warmuseum.ca/cwm/vimy/index_e.html].
Five hundred of the first 32,000 troops sent from Canada were Newfoundlanders -- were they Maritimers?
I don't know if they were stationed at the same place as Harry Lamin, but the Canadian War Museum's site says that many Canadian troops were stationed in the eastern Mediterranean ... maybe that includes Italy, where Harry seems to "be" now.
frogprof
08 January 2008 15:58
By the way, Dave P, I hope I wasn't insulting your intelligence -- if you knew all about Vimy ridge already, my apologies! :)
frogprof
08 January 2008 16:00