Christmas Day in the trenches

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All Saints Road, Birmingham, Christmas, Gloucestershire Regiment, Grand Theatre, Wilfrid Edwards

For Christmas Day, I am sharing one of the letters that Wilfrid Edwards, serving with the 5th Platoon, B company, 1st Gloucesters, sent to Lillian Wiggall in Wolverhampton in December 1916. Among other things, he asks what pantomime is showing at the Grand Theatre this year, and talks of singing carols at her back door. This letter gives an indication of what life was like for some of the men serving overseas during the Christmas period.

We would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our readers and very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Dear Lill

Just a few lines to let you no that I received your cards and papers quite safe. It was a good joke, the youngster with the old chap. The other card was very good. Thanks very much for your kind thought. What sort of weather are you having in Blighty. I see by the papers you are having heavy snow in parts of the country. We are having it very wet and cold out here. I shall be glad when it is over. We shall be in the trenches by the time you receive this. I dont no what you would say if you were to see me like I am dressed now. We do not look like soldiers, look more like rag time rag pickers. Well Dear Lill you will soon have christmas now on you. I wish I could sing carols at you [sic] back door. I would wake all the people up for miles around All Saints road.  Dear Lill look here as I have said before its two [sic] good of you to trouble about me so much. You say you are sending me another parcel. My Dear Lill Will you thank all at home for what they are doing. Give them my best wishes for Christmas, I wished I could send a christmas card or two but there is no shops here, not a house in sight, only what has been blown down. I say Lill, what is the Panto at the grand this time. I used to like to go to the Alex at brum, it’s a real panto out here, I can assure you. Don’t be surprised to see me at your back door one of these days. We get good money out here when we are out of the trenches but you cannot buy what you like, only cigs chocolate and burscuits [sic] so you can tell. My Dear Lill if I should never come back you will know that I think of than any Girl I have ever met. My message is of Love to you. I wait the dove an answere [sic] from you. Dear Lill now doubt you will think me very forward but I cannot help putting it down. Dear Lill do you ever come accross [sic] any Glosters on your travels. Well Lill I think I must now draw to a close thanking you very much for your kindness So Good Night and God Bless you With best Love

I Remain

Yours Ever

Wilfrid Edwards

XXXXXXXXXX

 

 

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Soldier’s Wives and their Christmas Dinners

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children, Christmas, Prince of Wales' Relief Fund, women

There was a letter published in the Express & Star on 28 November 1916, from “A Local Soldier’s Wife”, that stated the following:

Sir, Now, soldiers’ wives of Wolverhampton, wake up! Are we going to have our allowance on Saturday before Christmas Day so as to get a Christmas dinner for our children, or have we got to wait for the Post Office to open after Christmas, and have our Christmas dinner for the New Year?

It is all right for the wives and children who have got their husbands at home and have their wages on Saturday. Is not a soldier’s wife and children entitled to a Christmas dinner while their husbands are fighting for their King and country? Trusting some of your readers will think of the soldiers’ wives and children who were without a Christmas dinner last Christmas through waiting till after Christmas for their allowance.

This letter triggered a huge response from fellow readers. This included a rather tongue-in-cheek letter from “A Great Bridge Soldier’s Wife”, which suggested on 30 November

that all soldiers’ wives with the 17s. 6d. allowance try to get admitted to the nearest workhouse on Christmas Day, so that our half-starved kiddies may be sure of a Christmas dinner. It’s a sure thing they will not get one in their own homes. We are used to meatless days and sugarless tea, soon it will be fireless grates if we are left to struggle much longer on this miserable pittance

She ends by talking of their pride in their husbands, saying “they would carry on with a lighter heart if they knew their wives and kiddies were getting enough to eat.”

Not everybody viewed this suggestion in the tone it was intended, however. “Another Soldier’s Wife”, whose letter appeared on 2 December 1916, stated

Sir,- I quite agree with “A Local Soldier’s Wife” about trying to get our allowance before Christmas Day…But why at the nearest workhouse, as “A Great Bridge Soldier’s Wife” puts it. Very useful institutions indeed, and a good suggestion; but would our husbands out in France like to think we had got to tramp all the way to the workhouse with our little ones to get our Christmas dinner?

She suggested the Prince of Wales’ Relief Fund could provide assistance, as “What is it called a relief fund for, if it brings no relief to soldiers’ children at a time like this?” A letter from “A Penn Soldier’s Wife”, published on the same date, talked of heir six children under 10, saying that she would “look or a Christmas dinner of some kind if we have to steal it.” Mrs T. Jones of The Leasowes, Compton, however, was more practical, stating that she had “taken the matter up, and trust it will prove successful.” At this point, due to the volume of letters received, the editor of the Express & Star announced that no further letters would be published on the subject.

Unfortunately I have been unable to confirm whether this appeal worked, so I don’t know whether the wives and children were able to have their Christmas dinners. On behalf of Wolverhampton Archives, however, I would like to wish all our readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

 

Christmas Cheer: Wolverhampton People Share in Canada’s Gift

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Canada, Christmas, distribution, Express & Star, food, Wolverhampton Police Force

An article in the Express & Star on 22 December 1914 tells the story of an interesting spectable that morning:

It was cold and frosty this (Tuesday) morning, almost characteristic of the Christmas of which we are wont to read in sundry annual published at this time of the year, when a crowd, composed mainly of women, appeared in the police yard at Wolverhampton, armed with every conceivable and inconceivable form of receptacle.

These “receptacles” included sacks, baskets and bags. The reason for their appearance was to receive a proportion of the gifts of food that had been allocated to Wolverhampton by the Dominion of Canada. Of the 50,000 cheeses from Quebec, 25,000 cases of salmon from British Columbia and 100,000 bushels of potatoes from New Brunswick, Wolverhampton had been allocated a dozen cheeses, 8 cases of salmon (each containing 48 tins) and 24 sacks of potatoes.

The recipients had been nominated by the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Families’ Association as “deserving local people”.The police undertook the distribution (ably assisted by some of the local Councillors), and the individual allocation was based on their individual needs. According to the newspaper, “the smiles of gratified satisfaction on the faces of the recipients were good to see.”

 

John Thompson boiler makers

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children, Christmas, John Thompson Ltd, Royal Artillery, Sopwith, Territorials, Western Front, Worcestershire Regiment

John Thompson works at Ettingshall

John Thompson Ltd were another local firm who became heavily involved in the war effort.

Along with a large proportion of their male staff, two of the Thompson brothers, William and John, were away on active service during the First World War. William Thompson was a Captain in the Territorials, commanding ‘G’ Company of the 7th Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment. John Thompson was a Major in the Royal Artillery, commanding a battery of Field Artillery on the Western Front. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. This meant that the operations of the company were left to the older Thompson brothers, James and Albert.

Among the products manufactured by the company, a Mr J. T. Davis developed the first all-steel cowl for radial aircraft. This was produced in vast quanitites for the War Office and used in Sopwith Aircraft. The company also had a large contract for “Sponsorways”, which were fitted into tanks to enable riflemen to fire. In addition, the company produced petrol tanks and steel cordite boxes for the Admiralty.

But John Thompson Ltd also demonstrated a pastoral side. For example, in 1914, they sponsored their first children’s Christmas treat, primarily for those whose fathers were away on active service or who were working long hours in the factory. This mean that 350 children received gifts of toys and sweets at a tea party. This demonstrates that rationing had not yet affected many local companies at this point in time.

Jesse Hill

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archives, Christmas, France, Jesse Hill, letters, Peel Street, photographs, postcards, Sergeant Noble, South Wales Borderers, trenches, weather

Private Jesse Hill

Private Jesse Hill was one of the many who did not survive the war. Hill was a member of the 2nd Battalion South Wales Borderers, 13 Platoon, D Company. He was killed in action in France on 29 January 1917. At Wolverhampton Archives we have a collection of his letters, photographs, and memorial cards, gathered by his wife and deposited by a relative, so we are able to learn more about him.

Hill lived with his wife Margaret and their two children, Harold and Jesse, at 13 Peel Street, Wolverhampton. In his “Soldier’s Small Book”, it states Hill’s trade was as a fitter, and his height was given as 5 feet 2 1/8th inches. Apart from details of his next of kin, the rest of the book has not been completed.

Postcard “To My Dear Children”, addressed to Harold and Jesse

Hill wrote regular letters and postcards to his wife and children, including an embroidered postcard. In his letters to his wife, he described the conditions in France and in the trenches. On 1 January 1916, he asked “how did you enjoy your Xmas. I expect you enjoy it a little better than I enjoyed mine for I was on Guard on Xmas Day.” In one of his last letters, dated 15 January 1917, he had “only just come out of the trenches and I can tell you weather his [sic] terrible snowing and freezing very hard.” Again on 14 Dec 1916 Hill described how “this weather is a bit off here plenty of mud about.” Hill also referred to home, stating on 1 Jan 1917

I have met a few Wolverhampton boys out hear [sic] one of them you no [sic] yourself and that his [sic] Mrs Moseleys Oldest Daughters Husband the Painter he was in the R. E. But they have put of a lot of them in our Mob.”

One of Private Hill’s letters

His letters also strove to reassure his wife, such as on 9 January 1916, “I don’t want you to upset youself about my lot because I am doing my bit for you and the children.” Again in December 1916 he said that “Dear Maggie I expect I shall go up line shortly but don’t trouble [I] shall be alright.” These words are quite poignant, coming as they do, with the benefit of hindsight. An undated letter to Hill from his brother and sister states that “I do hope you will come out alright it is awful I wish it was all over…I think those who make war should fight it.”

The next news that Margaret Hill received was from a Sergeant J. Noble, written from the No 10 General Hospital in France 4 Feb 1917:

It is my unpleasant duty to inform you that your husband no 27383 Pte J. Hill age 32 was killed at his post of duty about 2 pm the 29th inst. He had been with me for only a few months yet he was one of my most reliable men, always cheerful under adverse circumstances and indeed a great credit to me…As you can see by the address I am also wounded, but thankful it is no worse. Believe me everyone in the Platoon + Company sent their deepest simpathy [sic] to you, and trust you will bear up under this great berevement [sic].”

Margaret, although clearly upset, responded on 11 Feb 1917, saying that “it is one consolation to think he died for his King and Country, let all those in his Platoon know that I desire to thank them for their sympathy.”

Card “In Loving Memory”

As an aside, it will be noted from the memorial card above that there seems to be a discrepancy in Hill’s age, with his Sergeant believing him to be aged 32 when he died. The details in his Soldier’s book also conflict with this, as he is described as having enlisted on 10 December 1915, aged 28 years and 2 months, which would make him 29 when he died. The most likely birth entry for him on Freebmd is one registered in December 1887, so it seems probable that his Soldier’s book was correct.

Merry Christmas from the Front Line

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archives, Christmas, embroidery, France, front line, museum, postcards

These delicately embroidered postcards were sent mainly by British and American servicemen in France, as a pretty and affordable means of sending messages home. They are generally known as “WW1 Silks”. They gained in popularity during the First World War, but declined substantially from 1919 onwards (perhaps because of the bad association and memories of war) and are not found after around 1923. Most of the postcards are patriotic and feature British, French and American flags, symbols and greetings. They were apparently embroidered by French and Belgian refugee women, and then sent to factories to be mounted on the cards.

Insert of ‘Merry Xmas’ postcard

These postcards were collected from various locations around the country, and were donated to Wolverhampton Archives last year. They have since been transferred to Wolverhampton Art Gallery. The card above shows colourful flowers held in the mouths of two small birds, with stems of holly and mistletoe above. Many of the postcards had a silk mesh forming an envelope for inserts with message, in this case “To my Pal Bruce, from Daddy.”

‘Christmas Greetings’ postcard

This card has more of a war theme, with an airplane displaying “Christmas Greetings” across its wings, and the French and British flags displayed. But the cards were not just used for Christmas messages, as we also have examples of cards sent as a love token, for birthday greetings, or for other purposes.

‘X-mas Greetings’ postcard

This final Christmas-themed postcard has a floral pattern with mistletoe, and the pouch for the insert can clearly be seen on the front. It is an unfortunate fact that many of the men who sent these postcards may not have survived the War. However, the fact that the postcards were kept, and have survived to this day, is testament to how important and precious these messages from the Front were during this difficult period in history.