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4th October 1914; Citadel Cairo Egypt
Introduction I don’t know I have much to say about the Place because I have seen much of the town what I have it is as I said in my last letter letter missing it is wonderful but the smell it is rotten. They all sit outside in the sun smoking their long pipes but I don’t know what they smoke but it stinks. But anyway we are not allowed to go out @ nights or @ the daytime only on biss & I have [been] out three times with Mr BENNET so I have seen a bit by day. I shall be able to tell you about the thing when I come home.
8th October 1914; Citadel Cairo Egypt
Your letter to hand of the 7th; letter missing & glad to hear you are all getting along alright. I see by your letter that you are still receiving money. You did not tell me where it had come from. I don’t think it is half my pay because it should be more than 24/-, any way you must take all orders that come, refuse nothing. Have you had anything from the Prince of Wales fund yet, if not you might see about it & chance your luck of getting a bit more . You must have all the money that comes to you & what you don’t spend will do for a holiday when we meet again. endearments follow
I have a look at Cairo @ night but I think the best place is in Barracks for a Gentleman. They talk about Paris, well to my mind this place wins. I suppose they have to make their living some-way but they say it id worse after ten o’clock & that is the time we have to be in. Me & Pem [ISHERWOOD] & LEWIS are going to see the Sphinx on Sunday all being well. I don’t know as to whether we shall go by Donkey, Camel Train or Lorry. I suppose we shall get there. It is starting to get cold @ nights but still the same hot sun in the day. Your Mother should be here for flys. She would grumble. They are a pest, they are worse when you are getting your meals all over the stuff & the bread we are getting - god love my poor teeth - the crust is like a board. I could just eat my Saturday tea, you will know what that is but it makes no difference. I can’t have it. more endearments follow
24th October 1914; Egypt
Your letter to hand; letter missing, opening endearments I see also that the mills are doing bad, that looks bad for the coming winter I am sorry to hear that Pa is not doing so well as he expected but I suppose it will have its time.
I want you to let me know how much money you have received for August & September so that I can see if I am getting my right pay here, which is not very much to live on not according to the prices here but I don’t care one bit as long as you are doing alright.
5th October 1914; Egypt Cairo
Your letter to hand letter missing, opening endearments Now that you have weaned Mary you will be running off to work (perhaps) but that is left to yourself but don’t forget that I want you to be in the pink when we do meet again. I have had a letter & some cigarettes from Frank COOK - small merceys thankfully received & two packets from Mertha so you see everybody is thinking about me. I wrote to G HOTHERSALL last week & Harry GILMOUR. Mrs NASH & Fred WOOD but I am going to cross it off it costs too much money & my pay is not so much. That reminds me, you say you have got the lowest rate of pay, well so far as we can get to know that is 10d a day for you & 2d for Baby. I left you half of my pay as I told you & my pay is 2/4d a day & 6 pence on top of that will be 2/10d , for September you will. or should have, received a third of my pay for 19 days, that is perhaps that 24/- which as far as I can reckon is half of my pay for 18 days & what about September allowance; was that separate for September, if so you are all right. Let me know as I told you Kit in my last letter & for this month is that 18/- a week in addition to the separation, if so you will not do so bad. Now please let me know in return to this letter & then I know how my pay stands that’s a love. If you do that I will know that you still love me.
You talk about going to camp for 2 weeks, it is not in it with this it will take months to make up for all this lost time. Pem ISHERWOOD told me that you were all coming over, if that is so let it be soon, let me know when you get that money & if it is alright from the Barracks that will help you a bit more. You see I have not forgot you. I think of you every night when I lay on my hard bed which I am getting used to very nicely.
I have just been down town, me & LEWIS, to have our photos taken so I will send you one perhaps next post.
You will remember me trying to compose that Bugle March, that one that they shout in, well I have managed it so the mess have presented me with a penny trumpet. You should hear the men shout when we play it. the adjutant says it is the best he has heard & wants me to send it to Booseys, London, & get comments on it but I am a bit shy so I don’t think I shall bother.
I tried to join the Egyptian Army last week @ 16£ a month but they will not have me because I am married, they have to be in 7 years before they are allowed, so that is off.
I don’t think I like Cairo much because it wont do for a shy young man like me, will tell you more when I see you.
On 5th November 1914 Britain officially declared war on Turkey. The pro-Turkish Khedive of Egypt was in Constantinople at the time. He was deposed in his absence and his pro British Uncle, Prince Hussein Kamel Pasha, proclaimed as Sultan. He entered Cairo on 20th November and two companies of 4th East Lancs Territorials were part of the welcoming guard of honour
14th November 1914; Cairo
Your welcome letter to hand, I mean two; one of which seems to be hers of 3 November. I see that you are expecting getting into some fighting, well we might & might not & as for myself I don’t think I shall have to go so don’t worry love. I shall be able to do my bit if the worse comes to the worse.
I see you want me to put my love on one sheet & the other for viewing. I am sorry Kit but I can’t split it up, you will have to satisfy them with telling them what I say.
expressions of longing for home follow
I am just breaking the time on our half day holiday; that is Wednesday afternoon & Saturday afternoon, with playing hockey & football. it is not so bad in hockey only for knocking lumps of flesh off. I’ve not done bad, only two lumps off the leg and one on the arm, but am better now. I had a letter from your Bill & he says he is working his machine [Dobson Automatic Reacher-in]. I am sorry I can’t do any biss here for him as they do nothing only grow the cotton here. It is a treat to see the plants & watch them pick it off. they put it in bags & the camels carry it off to the packing room to bale it, so that is something fresh. I have had a letter from Mr WOOD & he wants me to bring turkey back & he will provide the sausage (German). The choir boys sends me their best respects & hope to see me soon but we shall have to wait. I got my “Weh Tel” alright & tell Mother I thank her for it. If you want to send me something, you remember them underpants I got @ Wolfondale the two “Stepples” I could do with a pair. I have only 1 pair but I don’t use them, well not as yet but it is getting cold now, but never mind I will try & get a pair here now the vaccination is over they wants us to be inoculated, do you advise me to have it done, if so I will go through it again. closing endearments
6th January 1915; 4th East Lancs Regt, E L Division
Just a few lines to let you know that I have received your Christmas Box alright, you could have sent nothing better, everything in the box was in good condition. I had a look in when I got it & put it in my box, had a walk out to give some orders & then I came back & when I saw the mince pies you should have seen me get them down it did not take long I tell you & jolly good they were. You are a darling wife, you must love me truly as you would not send me a box like you have done. I have not had no loaf yet but I shall do before I go to bed, for my supper. It is a grand change to have of stuff from home the meals here are rotten. I get more tired every day, the same over & over again. I don’t think I shall eat any more potatoes when I come home, we get them every dinner time & you know how I like them, once a week is enough & the bread is like eating stones. My teeth is sticking it champion. there is a lot of men with them and you should see them laugh with two or three broken off, but never mind it will all be over someday & then we shall be able to talk over the times when we were parted.
You said in your last letter you did not want me to send any more of those table cloths, well I can’t get one if I wanted, I don’t think, so I have bought an Egyptian cover for the piano, so the box you sent me will just do for send a few things I have home & you can give them to those who they are for if you like. I will let you know a week before I send it so that you will know then it is coming.
I got a bottle of Awbridge Cough Mixture here in Cairo for my cough & do you know what they charge for a 10 penny bottle as they sell @ home? Only 2/-, no so bad is it, but I had to get something & went for another last night but can’t find another in Egypt so I suppose it will have to go as it came. Don’t worry love it is mending.
6th February 1915; 4th East Lancs Regt, E L Division
I have not much news to tell you because just @ present I am in a mix-up with my Ration Mess money & of course if I had you here I could have got you to give me a lift, but it will all come out in the wash.
We are still under canvas Marquees on the Heliopolis racecourse according to Bill Kennedy, we have not got to fight the Turks yet.
the rest of the letter are expressions of longing for home, wife & baby
18th February 1915; 4th East Lancs Regt, E L Division, Cairo, Egypt
Letter acknowledges one of 4th Feb, now missing, and is thanks for the contents of a food parcel - pies, loaf & toffees - page 2 is missing
4th March 1915; 4th East Lancs Regt, E L Division, Cairo, Egypt
Covering letter for a box of gifts and curios for the family; including Alabaster eggs & stands, Cleopatra’s Needle & small pillar - still in the family’s possession
On 16th April the 4th East Lancs went to Port Said for Suez Canal guard duty. They were however only there for a fortnight as on the 6th May they embarked for the Dardanelles. It had become obvious that the naval forces could not win through and that land forces were needed. The first Gallipoli landings, by British, French and Australian troops, took place on the 5th April and met with determined resistance from Joe Turk. According to the BERTWISTLE War Diary the East Lancs landed on 9th May after a 3 day journey from Port Said, Bill Kennedy names the transport ship as Galeka
27th May 1915; 1/4 East Lancs Reg, Med. Expy. Force
Dear Wife, Your letter to hand dated the 6 May & glad to hear you are all doing well, as for usual I have nothing to tell you but a line or two will put you @ rest. I suppose you will know where I am & I am quite well, remember me to all, not forgetting the Lady. From Your Ernest.
Two undated signature pages of letters in pencil on paper torn from notebooks were, by their context, written from Gallipoli
...be digging a bivouac in the back yard or a trench & live the life of a hermit it is a grand life always in the open only for the fear of shells etc. it would be alright, but I am going along alright & still on the same job & quite satisfied as I have not much work to do only to see that the men get plenty of something to eat, so I think I will close. Remember me to all, not forgetting my queen & you. From Yours Ever - E
...god that we shall meet again & soon & the letters you send love are alright, you never complain, that’s what a soldier’s wife should do.
Tell Father that he should not take any notice of rumours or he might hear that I shall be a Colonel, the only thing I hope is that FRANKLAND pulls through for he was badly wounded & should be home by now [Letters from Maple Street first mention FRANKLAND convalescing 16 August 1915 and home on 1st October 1915 - “and he doesn't look bad considering”]. I don’t know that I have anymore to say only remember me to all @ home. With love from your Soldier Laddie - Ernest
The War Diary shows the East Lancs to have been involved in trench warfare throughout their time in Gallipoli. How much information was allowed by censorship to reach England is unclear but one letter survives which can hardly have brought comfort to the anxious relatives in Blackburn
17th August 1915; From the Dardanelles
Yours to hand dated the 28th & sorry you have had to wait so long for a letter but I don't know as to whether it is my fault or not I think it must be the ship & you say that I don't mention my packets of fags that's in the letters, I thought I did, & I am sorry but I have received everything you have sent up to yet so that's all right & with regard to your Jim's wife I got one about that time but there was no letter inside to say who it was from well you can just imagine how I kept wondering who sent them but could not tell the writing on the envelope but anyway tell her I got them & smoked them & that will be all right.
I am glad to hear you are making the best of the weather & hope you keep it up as for me I am just about fed up with being out in the open, just fancy 3 month & never had a cover over my head & might you laugh to see us, rabbits are not in it for getting under cover especially when a shell comes, first sound and we are off in our holes.
The next time you see Mr GOWEN you might tell him that all my teeth have come off the plate in front and it is a rotten job eating with the back plate.
I see you keep asking me if I want something, well I want a lot but I can't get it & that makes things a lot harder but sometimes I feel I could eat something good but it is not worth sending from home although we are not doing bad now we get rice & milk & currants & raisins & it is quite a change but butter I have not seen for 4 months so I don't think I shall want any on my bread when I return but one gets fed up with things here. I would go anywhere if I could just have a look at you & home for a few days it will be like being married over again only for the little girl bless her, it would just do you good Kit to hear me laugh @ her wouldn't it. I know it would, I feel I would just like to hear her, but never mind I have not given up hope yet there will come a day.
You mention something about the flys in one of your letters, well they are a pest just @ present. I have got both hands bandaged up with knocking my hands in the trenches and the dirty flys that have been on the dead bodies come on the cuts & now I have got them festering, it is a kind of small septic poisoning but only in a small form, but it is rotten all the same but you don't need to worry its nothing much so I hope you wont ask about the flys again. Don't ask me to tell you Sis about the things I see & are because one is enough to suffer in it.
I am just beginning to think I am going to be away on another birthday if things don't alter. I had a chance of improving my position well it only meant another 1/- a day in my pay but I don't want to rob anyone I am quite satisfied with my job & I am quite @ home & should have to run more risks, so you was not here with me to ask your opinion so you can tell me if I did right, my position that I am waiting for is with Mr BENNET that is the best paid job & if I don't get it well I shall remain the Sgt Drummer.
I don't know that I have much more that I can say only that I am in the pink not counting my hands, oh by the way I think I asked you to send me a tin of health salts & shaving soap & a photo of you & Mary but you may perhaps not have got the letter yet but to my mind you should have got it & I have sent my watch as well so I am waiting for the next post & see what it will bring.
I think I will finish now Kit as there is quite enough for one mail & I call it taking advantage of the uncensored letter so I will close remember me to my little girl & you Sis I could just do with holding you in my arms just for a minute, the other night I had you in my dreams & you gave me one of your sly glances the sort you give when I am begging but it did not last long enough & finished. I think this is all this time.
From Yours for Ever, Ernest
The War Diary records a respite from Gallipoli from 10th September - 5th October, thanks to being sent back to Alexandria on Regimental business
14th September 1915; From On Board the Knight Templar
I am having a trip to Alexandria for the mens’ kit bags & I can tell you that when the Colonel sent for me & told me that I was to embark for Alex I was struck dumb. I looked @ him & thought he had gone off his mind but anyway it was right for I am sailing now & expecting to reach Alex tomorrow all being well. I can tell you it goes down bad with a few & I shall get to know about it when I return, but all the same I calls it an honour to be chosen & for the whole Brigade too, but I am glad to get away from the sound of the guns & etc. It will be a very nice change for a week, in all they say I shall be away for 4 weeks. I can tell you one thing & that is with my mind being clear from all worry of the battlefield I can do nothing but sleep & how nice it feels to have a nice bed & bread & butter, a thing I have not had since the middle of April.
What will Pem ISHERWOOD say when he sees me, he will go mad and the people will think we have gone off our chump for the time being. He wrote to Mr BENNET a little time back & told him to kiss me for him so now he will have the chance. I only wish it was England & then I would sing my head off but anyway now that I am an old soldier I am waiting for the time to come & hope that while I am away the Turks will finish & that would be the best move of all, for the Peninsular is an awful place one can't tell until he has been in it with this & the number of men we have lost as you will have seen by the papers. All our officers have left us only Mr BENNETT, all gone sick, some for home, I call it a down right shame to leave us at the mercy of strange officers, even ROBINSON our Colonel, he told us in Egypt when we got orders for the Dardanelles that I will look after you & bring you home safe & it looks like it but never mind we have got through so far without him & we shall go the same if not better. Whenever there was fighting going on you could not get him out of his hole but he could chew the rag if anything went wrong the soft D-- excuse my strong talk but I feel I must, now that I am away from it for a few days, but I feel my place is with the lads, if I don't shoot with the lads I see that they get their food all right, but it is a bit risky sometimes as I have felt the whiz of the bullets but all the same it is nice to have your mind clear. I wish I could meet you when I get to Alex & call it home.
By the way I shall not receive any letters until I return to my regiment so I shall miss all my birthday presents & cards but they will all be waiting for me as Mr BENNET will look after them.
I don't know that I can tell you much more only it looks like we are going to spend the winter in the trenches, poor lads, when I left it was getting cold @ nights & I had just given them all a blanket each, so you see I don't waste much of my time & as for going back well I will have to as duty calls & I must obey.
Remember me to my little lassie & tell her not to forget her soldier daddie in the Dardanelles who will be coming to have a play with her someday. I am writing to LEWIS to see if he can't come down & have a look @ the old warrior before I go back, before finishing I might say that I am in the best of health, could not feel better, hoping this finds you all the same.
The stay in Alexandria ended on 27 September. He rejoined his battalion in Gallipoli on 6th October 1915 and remained there for the rest of the year
25th December 1915; Xmas Day From the Dardanelles
Well it is Christmas here today & the sun is shining lovely. Things are going on just the same. Joe Turk as no respect for the day & work goes on just the same so I think we shall have to call it an "Ideal" day & we are having a bit of plum pudding & spud pie for dinner & but no apple sauce. It would buck things up a little if we only have had a mail but I think all the boats have got last as we have not had a parcel mail for over a week or so, anyway we have got to make the best of things & thank God I am in the best of spirits & am happy so that helps one a lot.
I waited up till about twelve thirty to see if Father Xmas would come but no luck & when I awoke this morning all that I found was a pot of tea so I wished myself a Merry Xmas & got out of bed, & then I heard our band of the Division playing Xmas music & very nice it was. It bucks things up when (one) can hear a bit of music & when we leave this place who is going to march in front of the band, I don't think it will be me but there will be enough of them at home to welcome us when we come but when, no one seems to know, someday I hope.
In the event the order to withdraw came on 28th December 1915 and the Battalion spent a fortnight on Mudros before returning to the comparative safety of Egypt
2nd January 1916;
no address but he was on Mudros according to the War Diary
no address but he was on Mudros according to the War Diary
My dead Sis, Your letter to hand dated 13, 17,& 21 not so bad for one mail is it & also your parcel the contents of which is choc, loaf & salmon thanks very much.
I am glad to hear you are still looking alright the photo is not a bad one, but it is short of me to set it off. I could like to have mine taken now that I have got all my hair, you would laugh, I look like I have just done about two years but it is healthy & you can keep it much cleaner. I am sorry you fell over the foot C but you did not tell me what you said, did you see stars. I see that our Will’s going to do his bit yet - tell him he will have to be sharp. You might tell Aunty Jin that I thank her very much for her kind offer but I am in want of nothing. You was right when you underlined Xmas fun. I don’t know that I can leave this job not as I have got it for good. Sorry I can’t help you with the Xmas tree. I would not mind having a look at it (perhaps I shall soon). You would have some fun I bet. I am sorry to hear over your Bill & I hope by the time you get this he is knocking about again, remember [me] to him.
With regard to my promotion you can send all my letters now with R Q M Segt instead of the old title & I am pleased to say that I am far from danger but I can’t say more, but don’t worry it is a good move & if I don’t write for a few days you will know I am in the best of health & doing well, so when you write as I said put in the corner of the envelope c/o GPO London & then they will follow us. Don’t stop writing. Excuse me answering your letter in what you might call a nut shell it is for the best.
Back in Egypt 17/18 January the next posting was Shaluffa by the Suez Canal
8th February 1916; Shalluffa
I fancy you will wonder where we shall be next, goodness knows. I see that you are working again. I wonder what you will be doing with it, saving it for when I return I suppose, but don’t over do it Sis. I can imagine how you feel, that you want something to break the time, but I want you to be in the very best of health when I come so you will do as I ask wont you love.
I will give it to Grandma B teasing my little girlie, just tell Mary to tell her I will go for her when I come home. That’s the way to bring her up Sis, I mean with regard to the bed part, I shall want it all to myself (nearly) for a few weeks (that is if it is soft) wont it be a change. You used to say the camp was a long time, but what price this. Anyway if we keep waiting, we shall meet again someday & it may not be long for one never knows
27th February 1916; Shaluffa
I see by your letters that you have guessed the place where we are & a lot better it is. I don’t care if I never hear the sound of guns again.
I am sorry I can’t send baby a picture as we can’t buy them here on the sandy desert miles from nowhere, but if we ever get in a town again I wont forget, that’s if I can think on as my memory is playing bad with me just @ present, I can’t remember anything as is told me unless I book it down but I am a little better of it now. I fancy it is with the hot sun down but I have had plenty of work lately but now I am getting more rest so I feel better. It is nothing to worry about Sis; I get through my work just the same.
paragraphs follow asking Sis not to work too hard in case it has a detrimental effect on Baby
4th March 1916; Shaluffa
[Much of the letter is confusion about a pair of gloves arriving in a parcel from pa, which he later realises are the ones she got and which he no longer needs now he is clear of Gallipoli]
. . . I am sorry now that I sent to you for them, but I did not know as we was going to leave the Peninsula.
We have just had a three days sand storm & it is rotten as everything you eat & drink is full of sand , not bothering about getting your eyes full. Good Saturday night & here I am miles from nowhere with sand all around for miles, but it makes it a little better to see the big ships pass by here.
The War Diary notes that his discharge came 5th April 1916. He embarked on the HMT Arsova from Alexandria on 18th April and arrived in Plymouth Sound on the morning of 29th April. He took a 9pm train from Plymouth and, after an overnight journey via Crewe and Preston, walked in the house, 10 Maple Street, at 10am on the morning of 30th April 1916, after an absence of a year and nine months. But, as Kipling once said: There's no discharge in the war, and he is next located serving with the East Lancs in Southport.
Postmark 22nd November 1917 from 93 Tulketh Street, Southport
Just a line to say that I got back safe & sound & I also got your letter this morning.
I quite enjoyed my flying visit very much it did seem so nice to have you sit so near me & telling me all that was going on while I am away & to walk in the house & be loved as I was. Ah well it was worth it and I fancy I shall try it again sometime but not this week as we have got plenty of work with the drafts going away. I feel jolly tired tonight, I fancy it must be being C C fire beater. closing endearments
2nd January 1917; from 93 Tulketh Street, Southport
I have got an awful temper this morning, nothing can go right, the reason is we have just got news that we are going to move & the place is Ripon as if we wont do here. Ah well Lissie I am afraid I shall have to see if I can get a night at home before we move. I am so sorry that Mary can’t paint me a picture but tell her not to worry as I will wait until she gets a big girl & I come home to stop so that I can help her to do it.
10th March 1917; No.42 Camp Ripon
The final extant letter is mainly endearments and hopes for the future without any news about the war or local events
Myself & THOMPSON thought of going out to tea today in Ripon, but just our luck working until 5.30 so we had it at home so the cafe was two short for tea. Anyway we did not do bad here, we only had home made bread (from THOMPSON) & we started with fish (kippers one) after we had fowl (eggs) so we are not doing too bad, but don’t forget Lissie that we have to pay for them what with the breath & what they give us, well, we are living but only just. But I mustn’t grumble sweetheart because I am in England & not far from you.
I must not forget to tell you that I have had a letter from LEWIS & they have got their ration money dropped to a shilling a day, so that is not much to live on. How would you like it Lissie, could you manage to keep me on so much, anyway, Mrs H LEWIS thinks it is not enough but you can’t have it everyway, he is @ home & I think that counts a lot, I don’t know what to do whether to go in for it or take my chance here & go where they send me. I am afraid they may send me a working somewhere now that I am C II unless I get sent to a draft & still remain a soldier. If I applied to H Livesey’s foundry I could perhaps get sent there, that’s if they made an application for me. Anyway I think we had better let it take its chance & see what will come.
Trivia is followed by the usual longing for home
I never lay down @ night & forget the one I would very much like to be with, but the time is drawing near when we shall see what will be the result of this parting or the times we have spent apart & the sooner the better, as I think sometime that with having been away so long that you will be forgetting what it is like to have me @ home always.
I hope by the time you get this Mother will be better & you will all be sailing along very nicely. Remember me to Mary & I would (like) to have a look @ Doris to see the change. Goodnight Sis from your ever loving E.
At some stage the family moved temporarily to Copt Hewick, a village just east of Ripon, in order to be together for the remainder of the War. After the war they returned to Maple Street, Ernest found work with the Co-operative funeral service, brought up his two daughters, Mary and Doris, enjoyed summer holidays at Blackpool and performed in local concerts as an amateur baritone, despite the bronchial cough developed in the trenches. He died at 91 Brownhill Road in 1953. Lizzie lived until 1971, with the company of daughter Doris who never married and lived until 2002 at 11 East Lancs Road, Brownhill. The elder daughter Mary married Albert ASPDEN of Darwen in 1938. History to some extent repeated itself, with Mary being left at home with a baby son to look after, while Albert served with the RAF during the second World War; but her husband, unlike her father, was never sent on active service overseas. The family moved away from Lancashire in 1957 and Mary died in January 2005, age 91.
Buglers and Drummers of the East Lancashire Regiment
Elizabeth and Ernest Bertwistle with their Daughter Mary
Elizabeth and Ernest Bertwistle with their Daughter Mary
From 10 Maple Street, Blackburn
27th Oct 1914;
I have just got back from LEWIS's, I went with Mrs FRANKLAND so we had quite a party. Fancy six children among us. It seems none of us are getting the pay allotted to us. I wrote up about mine to Manchester and I will enclose the reply so that you can show it to LEWIS and FRANKLAND if you wish. We keep hearing that you will have to go to the front before long, let us hope not.
3 Nov 1914;
You might have to fight by the time you get this unless Turkey alters her mind, but we will hope for the best. I feel sure you will come back all right whatever happens. I am sending the Weekly Tel(egraph) this week. Mary Alice is like a dog with two tails because she has had a letter from you. Your father comes every day to see if we have heard from you, so if you like you could write one page so that I could let him read it. I don't like to let him read my love letters.
(Baby) went to our Bill's till dinner time then she went to LAWRENCE's till 3.30 then I fetched her home and she slept about two hours and then I took her to your house and it did suit Grandma. Your mother is not well, I think it is her stomach and it is upsetting your father.
6th Nov 1914:
I went to the theatre yesterday afternoon to see Gypsy Love, it was quite a change and we have a good do to come in, Mrs LAWRENCE is drawing her fortune tonight [tea leaves or playing cards] , I don't think she will forget you. You mention in your letter about me going to work. I think I shall as soon as there is any. I saw Belle the other Sunday, they are stopped till further orders. Jimmy has got work at the station so that will be better than nothing.
17th Nov 1914;
There are all sorts of tales going, one is that you are coming home and then going to the front. There is a letter in tonight's paper from Capt. BROADBENT describing some of the things he has seen. It is very good. I don't know how you go on for war news over there, we don't get to know much here. When you've read the paper through you know as much as you did before you started. The paper lads shout the same thing every day, "Great German losses".
24th Nov 1914;
(Baby) says Harry LAWRENCE has to buy her a "doll doll" at Xmas. From all accounts the war will not last much after Xmas, everybody is looking a lot brighter. There are no concerts or balls going on here, everything is very quiet, we are saving up for when you come back. Your reserve battalion had a good send off, I believe they marched to the station close on a thousand strong, so we shall have some terriers when you all come back. Harry METCALF has joined and gone with them to Southport.
27th Nov 1914;
According to the paper tonight they are fighting not very far from you. I hope you are all right. I have heard today that one of the band is dead so you must look after yourself and come back all right.
Your mother was telling me on Sunday that I don't worry about you half as much as she does. Auntie was there so she started telling her that the Turks were invading Egypt. Your mother said her lad wouldn't have to fight because he didn't carry a rifle, so we told her you would be worse than fighting, you would have to go with the ambulance and you would have nothing to defend yourself with. She nearly had a fit. Never mind, I don't think you will get hurt, but all the same we are all looking forward to the great day when you come marching home.
4th Dec 1914;
I got your letter asking for a pair of pants so I will send them on as soon as I can.
9 Decth 1914;
We are going to your house [Eastwood Street] on Xmas day after tea. Mary and I, Harry and Willie and their ladies, I don't know who else. Harry is stopped, Willie is on short time, Mary Alice is stopped; so of course they are all on the road to the workhouse.
11 Dec 1914;
I called at the barracks this afternoon and saw J THOMPSON. He says they have had no word of any kind from Egypt about your money.
16th Dec 1914;
I had Mrs FRANKLAND and Mrs LEWIS to tea yesterday. Mrs FRANKLAND has got a new long coat and Mrs LEWIS is going to get one so I think I will get Auntie to make me one, it will be a bit of something for her, I don't think she has anything in.
The paper lads are shouting that the German fleet has been shelling Scarborough, so they are getting pretty near.
I had all your family last week, Mary Alice came Monday and Friday, your mother on Wednesday, Willie and Lily on Saturday and Harry on Sunday. Harry is working short time this week. Chris has never been heard of since the battle of Mons, his wife has not heard from him for 15 weeks.
19th Dec 1914;
Glad to hear you are going to church, it will be very nice I am sure.
23rd Dec 1914;
We are all going to Eastwood St on Xmas day to tea and paying for it. Your Harry is in some glee I can tell you. He is stopped again this week so he is cleaning up like a lark so your father said this morning. Willie is on full time again but Mary Alice is at home yet.
26th Dec 1914;
I thought I would write and tell you about Xmas. Auntie Jinnie brought baby a nice basket with chocolate eggs in it on Xmas Eve and Annie gave her a little horse and cart . . . She got a box of chocolates off Auntie May. We went to your mother's for tea. Mary Alice went to STANCLIFFE's to tea. Harry came across this morning to ask us to go again tomorrow to eat up. The town is full of soldiers on Xmas leave . . the first lot of KITCHENER's army are going to the front as soon as the new year comes in so they should help things on a bit. I have heard that the 4th East Lancs have been fighting so you must let me know if that is so.
In mid December the Battalion moved to Abbas Hilmi Barracks, Cairo. Christmas was marked with church parade, good meals and a concert.
30th Dec 1914;
Your father has lost a lot of blood through his nose bleeding. It is lucky he has got rid of it. It has left him rather weak but I don't think he is any the worse for it. His arm does not get any better yet and he is always cold. He has the bed downstairs yet and a fire and even then they have to put the bottle in to get him warm, so he is not so grand. He came this afternoon to tell us you had written to Willie but not to him, he says he wont send you anything again.
3rd Jan 1915;
I had Willie and Harry and their ladies to supper on new Year's Eve. We had a very nice time. They stopped till nearly twelve. Baby stopped up to hear the gun. It was a lovely moonlight night, but New Year's day was awful windy. You will see from the papers that we lost a battleship through the storm.
13th Jan 1915:
The reason I have not written is on account of rumours that you were on your way home and I have been waiting to hear from you. I think it is the Artillery who have to come home to go to France. We sent you a parcel last week. May baked the cakes, your mother made the pies, your father packed it and I put the fags in and paid postage.
Little Freddie, next door, his father listed last week. I saw Edith PRESCOTT yesterday and she asked me to thank you for your card. She told me to tell you to look out for Arthur, he is talking about listing.
14th Jan 1915;
I am sorry you have to sleep on the floor but it is better than being at the front. It is awful to read about the fighting.
18th Jan 1915;
I took Mary to your house last night and when I got there what do you think; there was Harry and his lady sat talking to pa and ma, then Willie and Lily walked in, then Mary Alice and family. Mary Alice has been ill, she's got indigestion. She got a bottle from the doctor and she felt better. Last Sunday being wet she stopped in and had toffee nuts chips and fish. Strange to say she was worse on Monday. She went to the doctor again and he told her to have milk food. On Sat night she had meat pie, nuts toffee chips and fish so she gets a lot of sympathy. Trade is mending up and food is going up.
20th Jan 1915;
I have sent you a parcel with some cough toffees in and if your cold is better they will do if you get another. The bar of chocolate is from Polly HITCHEN she gave it to me to send with kind remembrance.
25th Jan 1915:
Trade is mending a little, Mary Alice has started work on two looms, Harry is working short time, but Willie is on full time. Your father keeps about the same and so does your mother. You mentioned good fires in one letter, you should see the fires we are keeping at present. I never burnt as much coal in all my life but the weather has been so damp and cold and Livesey's 1/6d helps to pay for it. Everybody is quite lively today over the North Sea battle. I suppose you have heard that the German airships are going to pay us a visit, well they say so.
27th Jan 1915;
I have just been to Aunt Clarrie's to pay for my coat and she says she has had two letters from you. She has a letter part written but is stopped for news. She told me to tell you that Aunt Ann is so proud because you have written, she tells everybody about you.
According to the papers today the Turks are not far from you so it looks as if you will see a bit of fighting.
On 28th January 1915 the battalion moved to Heliopolis and carried on training and marching. Meanwhile it had been decided to try and force the Dardanelles, as a purely naval operation, to open a supply route to Russia
1st March 1915;
He (your father) still keeps about the same, he is better when the weather is better but very starved when the weather is cold and it is colder now than it has been all winter. There is no war news from France today but Freddie's father has written to Mrs SLATER and he says that the war wont last long. He can't tell them anything more he's not allowed. Let us hope it is true.
I am beginning to think that they will send your lot to attack Turkey but I'm only guessing.
4th March 1915;
You should have been here last week to learn how to wash. Some young women were advertising Toro at the club so we all went and learnt how to wash without rubbing. We all bought some and it’s all right. I would send you some but it needs boiling water and you might not be able to get that.
8th March 1915;
We have just got to know that Uncle Harry (DOBSON) is dead. He died in the workhouse infirmary on Thursday and they have only just found out that he had any relations. Our Will has gone up with Mr TALBOT to see about burying him. He was here a fortnight ago and looked very well so it has given us quite a shock.
I hope you are no worse for your night out with Mr BENNET, I want you to see as much as you possibly can of the place and then you can tell us all about it when you come back. I don't go out much and it isn't very lively stopping in and reading war news about men being killed and ships being sunk and as for anybody running off with me, well there's nothing left to run off with, all the men who are worth anything have listed so I am afraid I shall have to wait patiently for you. About the stout, I am not vexed I don't care what you drink if it will do you good.
11th March 1915;
Mrs GILL at the top of Eastwood St is dead the funeral has just gone past. We buried Uncle Harry yesterday, Talbot made the coffin and they brought him to the door in the hearse, we had one carriage and came back and had tea at our house. There was only just the six of us and Jinnie made the tea and looked after baby. They sent a lovely wreath from the Co-op. He is buried on the top of his father and mother just beside the church.
Our Bill has got his first order for his patent. Livesey's have made the drawing frame, Wards are making the frame for the machine and our Jim has to make the little machine. The Dobson Automatic Reacher-in. Jack WARD (of Ingham Street Works) is finding the money in case anybody tries to do him out of his rights. I am afraid it will drive Annie off her dot, she is telling everybody they are going to have a motor, a lobby and a scullery. I'm sure she isn't there at times.
Baby is telling everybody that Dada is coming home in the summer to take Mary to Blackpool, I am afraid it wont be this summer.
13th March 1915;
Your pa has been too busy this week to come and see us, he is making a dog kennel for somebody with Willie's assistance. They are going to put our skirting boards round for us next and then we are going to have the beautifiers. We want to be fine before you come home.
17th March 1915;
I have to thank you for the photos for Auntie Jinny and May. I haven't seen Annie yet, she was out when I took hers.
I suppose you will have seen in the papers that we are under the lighting order, it is dismal at night, all the shops have their blinds half drawn, the trams have got green blinds most of the shops close at night.
21st March 1915;
The recruiting sergeants are very busy about the town, cousin Robert [DAWSON] is one so your father said. They are visiting all the mills, they got 30 on Wednesday at Roe Lee. They have bands parading every night and the Athletes Volunteer force, better known as the Last Gaspers, parade once or twice a week.
I see you are expecting being moved, I think that you will have to follow the warships in the Dardanelles. I don't know, that is only my idea. Bertha is nearly all right again, she hasn't been out yet. Your father doesn't alter any, he has only been once this week, and his bit of work seems to have knocked him up. He will perhaps be better when the weather mends. Your Harry is working overtime nearly every night and at weekends. Our Bill has got orders for six machines and they are trying to have them ready for Easter. I don't think I shall go to Blackpool this time but I shall take baby to the fair all being well.
24th March 1915;
I have seen a photo of you sent to his wife by Quarter Master Sergeant ROWLANDS.
You know a soldier is a very important person nowadays and everyone wants to do something for them and give them something.
I wish I could send you a nice oven bottom cake, we are having them to tea and some fish cooked in the oven, we are looking after ourselves I can tell you.
27th March 1915;
I haven't seen Mary Alice but she has sent word three times that she is coming to tea before she goes back to work. Baby likes her coming, Mary pulls faces at her and Mary Alice lets off with that laugh of hers, baby titters again, she shakes all over her body when Mary Alice laughs.
30th March 1915:
There is always something to feel sad about, the German devils have sunk two passenger boats and over 100 people drowned while they stood by and laughed. Nothing is too bad for them. Mrs O’HARE has got word that one of her brothers is missing. You say that Harry LEWIS is vexed because his wife has gone to work. I think she has done right, you have no idea what it feels like at home, nobody coming in to dinner or tea, everyday and Sunday all alike. There are lots of women going to the mill who don't need to do because their husbands are away, so that they wont have time to think and study about it.
We had the new artillery in town on Saturday and I went to see them go back and I thought what it would be like if you were only coming home. I think Blackburn will go mad when you all come back.
It had become obvious that naval forces alone could not win through the Dardanelles and that land forces were needed. The first Gallipoli landings, by British, French and Australian troops, took place on the 5th April and met with determined resistance from Joe Turk - wholesale slaughter when the River Clyde disembarked troops at Cape Helles. On 16th April the 4th East Lancs went to Port Said for Suez Canal guard duty. They were however only there for a fortnight as on the 6th May they embarked for the Dardanelles and landed safely at Cape Helles on 9th May.
From 10 Maple Street, Blackburn
3rd June 1915;
Just a few lines hoping you are well. I am doing a bit more sick work at the mill. Baby is very good to leave now, in fact they say she is better without me. You see she thinks I should always be nursing her and playing with her. I hope you are still living, you were all wiped out on Monday. I don't know who has been setting the tales out, but it has been pretty lively here this week. First you were all wiped out, then A and B company. They are driving Mrs FRANKLAND off her dot, she came down yesterday morning to see if I had heard anything. Your mother is the same and your father was all over the town to see if he could get to know anything. It keeps us all upset. We shall perhaps get to know something before long. The mill doesn't seem as hard as it used to do so that shows that I'm getting stronger. I am not short of money at all but I want to have some in hand for when you come back. We don't know how things will be then. Everything keeps going up, meat is now 1/4d a pound. I hope it wont be long before I hear from you, it seems a long time since I had a letter but I know you will write when you can. I must close now and put my dinner up. It seems strange getting up by myself at half past five. Hoping you are still alright.