Letters Of Remembrance

[choux]

I have been listening to some of the letters sent during World War One as broadcast on the BBC World at One programme. One I have copied out for you as a stand alone letter.

'Written on a scrap piece of paper by Private Albert Ford to his wife Edith:

"My darling, if this should ever reach you it will be a sure sign that I am gone under and what will become of you and the chicks I do not know. But there is one above that will see to you and not let you starve.

You have been the best of wives and I loved you deeply, how much you will never know. Dear heart, do think sometimes of me in the future when your grief has worn a bit and the older children I know won't forget me and speak sometimes of me to the younger ones.

Dearest, if the chance should come your way, for you are young and good looking, and should a good man give you an offer it would please me to think you would take it, not to grieve too much for me.

I should not have left you thus bringing suffering and poverty on a loving wife and children, for which in time I hope you will forgive me.

So, dear heart, I will bid you all farewell, hoping to meet you in the time to come if there is a hereafter. Know that my last thoughts were of you in the dugout or on the fire step of my thoughts."

Albert was killed in action on 26th October 1917. His last letter was treasured by Edith until her death, she never re-married, and as she lay dying in February 1956 she said she could see Albert in the corner of her bedroom.'

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m00010yp (from 33.15). There follows another from wife Lil to her soldier husband Harry Lacey Nelson (from 35.04).

[emmie]

i expect there are lots of letters like that, sad, poignant, and beautiful in it;s construction.

[emmie]

thank you for posting it, lest we forget..

[hellywelly4]

That is so sad, choux, but thank you for sharing it.

[marval]

Thank you for sharing that choux, it is a timely reminder of how many never came back. And of all those families left behind to grieve.

[Bigbad]

In (I think) 2014, there was a 4 part TV series where actors dressed as, and read extracts from letters from soldiers.
There was also extracts from a lady who ran a restaurant.
It was very moving, and I think I blubbed my way through most of it.
I’d love to see it again, but have never found the DVD.
There is a book that the series was based on, if you are interested.

Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

[Mamyalynne]

Beautifully articulated words of love x

[kvalidir]

Oh that has just slaughtered me choux, so intimate and so sad x

[Patsy33]

From the heart. So sad..

[ducksie]

I'm so glad you put words to how it hit me kval, I don't think I could listen to the link or would have been able to watch the program bigbad mentioned

[maggiebee]

Went to a talk last night where the speaker shared letters from the front in 1918. Very moving.

[bainbrig]

Wonderful, choux; thank you.

Another WW1 tale guaranteed to get my tears falling is the thought of the German and English troops singing ‘Silent Night’, each in their own language, at Christmas 1914.

[choux]

I am sure that Albert was the best of husbands, a loving father to his chicks and a true gentleman. Edith must have thought so too.

[retrocop]

If any one missed this concert it is worth looking for.
There were some readings by real celebrities and were very moving when final letters home before a 'push' were read out and the authors were killed.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-32670639

[hereIam]

Albert and Edith, names so reminiscent of that time. I firmly believe she saw him waiting for her in the corner of her room, reunited at last. Once again, tears blinding me !

[retrocop]

This is the full concert I referred to above. It is 3 hours long but a letter read by Jane Horrocks is at the beginning. Very sad.

[retrocop]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
It's not the full concert but the clip which is 3 minutes long, Fair play to Jane Horrocks. She was cracking up at the end of the letter but carried on to the end. A real trooper

[hereIam]

Thanks retro. She was brilliant wasn't she … What a brave, wonderful letter. A son to be proud of.