General Chat

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Writing to his parents at Nafferton under the date of December 29th 1915, Pte B Monkman , 9th Platoon C Company, 1/5 Yorkshire Regiment says, -‘We have had a turn in the trenches once more; we went in two days before Christmas and spent Christmas Day and Boxing Day in them. I think we were in about the worst part of the line, so you may be sure we were all pleased when our time was up, although we had nothing to look forward to, only huts that are wet and muddy inside and when we step outside we are over the boot tops in mudand water, but we have to keep a stiff upper lip and stick it. We are in the trenches opposite some of the best shots in the German Army; they are very active at sniping and trouble our men a great deal. On Christmas Eve the Germans opposite had a band playing and were shouting and singing all night. The next day they put up a board on which was written ‘A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS’ but I can tell you it is a Christmas I shall not forget for some time, for I had the misfortune to lose a pal of mine; we also lost our Captain – Captain Scott; everyone misses him, he was liked by all in the battalion and it came as a great shock to us. We have had a good few cases of frost bitten feet – or as we call it out here – trench foot, but I am keeping fine up to now. We require all our spare time to snatch a little sleep after being on the look-out for the Huns, or else on fatigues of different kinds, so you may hear from me only once in about ten days’

Puts overcooked sprouts into perspective doesn't is She!!

we seem to take so much for granted dont we hun them poor lads fighting for their countries far away from home. it makes you wonder if its all been worth it doesnt it? susie

I have a book of letters from the first world war - and its so sad when you read some of them - especially when the daddy writes to his small children telling them to be brave and look after mummy etc - really does put things in perspective

Sheila You have got me thinking and I have just remembered that I still have some letters in the loft that my Father sent to my Mother in the second world war. I must get them out and have a look. After Mum died it felt a bit like prying so I didn't read them but couldn't bear to throw them away either but I don't suppose it would hurt to read them now. Chrissie x

Writing to my grandmother (whom he hadn't yet met) in 1918, my grandfather described Christmas Day: "This is Christmas day, the fifth in France for me, and almost as bad as the first one, the only difference is that we are able to have our meals without old Fritz’s shells and bombs going off all around us. We are having a very quiet time of it too as there is nowhere to go and nothing to do, and rations for today were very bad as there was no fresh meat and no vegetables of any description, so you can guess what our dinner is like. I think that it is very unfair that soldiers in England should get 12 days leave and us out here only two days off the works after four years fighting and risking our lives for our country what do you say? The weather has been very wet out here lately and I have not had a dry thing on me for the last five days," as stated earlier, this puts things in perspective. nell

Thanks Sheila, just a note to all teachers out there Please keep these memories of our brave men and woman going in the schools they all deserve our greatest respect. Love Debs.

Been looking through the book further - Bernard Monkton was injured the following year and was brought back to the UK to recover - which he did , then he went back to the Front - and I am pleased to say that he DID survive the war.