A young soldier from Oxfordshire, item 15

• October 29, 2018 12:57:28 Stella Watkin

   Printed extract from a book  

  42 ¦ Chapter Three

  
  

  The first battle lasted from 19th October to the 22nd of November 1914, when the 

  Oxford and Bucks counter-attacked and ended the German effort.  There were 50,000

  British and 50,000 French and Belgian and 150,000 German Casualties.

  
  

  The battle must have had a chastening effect on the young recruit's enthusiasm.  The first

  and second battle of Ypres (22nd April to 25th May 1915) were fought with the Allies

  under the control of General French, who was then relieved of the command.  He was

  believed to be too old at sixty-three to adapt himself to modern warfare.

  
  

  In 1915 Percy John's training was proceeding and movement to the battlefield

  imminent.

  
  

  29 Jan. 1915 [Postcard]

  Dear Mother

  Do not expect me as I do not know if I can get off.  But if I cannot I will send so goodbye 

  all   John

  
  

  He must have spent some time at home as there is an undated postcard announcing his

  arrival back at camp.

  
  

  On 22nd February 1915 he wrote from Cranleigh, Surrey to Flo in Malaya.

  My dear Sister,

  Thanks for letter.  We are still here.  Its about 6 miles from Chiddingfold and about 4

  from Dunsfold, and Godalming, where are big guns are, at the later, and we are often

  round Dunsfold, and Alfold, I don't think we do any fighting, now, as they say our guns

  are not ready, till the end of April, and then a month in France, before we go to the

  Front.  I shall try to get home, on pass, on my birthday, if I can has it might be the last

  in England.  We can have passes from Saturday till Sunday midnight, and we get back

  Tuesday night, wich is alright with only two days pay stop, wich is nothing, and glad to

  get out of the rank for a bit, and don't call me a man, when I am only a boy of eighteen,

  and not that yet.

  Our Battalion Commander is gone to France, to get ready for us.  But I might so on with

  my trade, for the Batt. as they have taken my name for it, and then I may stop in it then,

  I shall never go home, if dad comes back.  I shall be lost for ever.  But don't tell mother, I

  shall never stand for it after, what she is going now, and to see it all pulled un done again,

  don't tell her, has if I cross the Channel and bout there, I hear I is home, I shall never

  return.  So must say Goodbye Your Affect brother  John Franklin

  
  

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• October 29, 2018 12:51:35 Stella Watkin

   Printed extract from a book  

  42 ¦ Chapter Three

  
  

  The first battle lasted from 19th October to the 22nd of November 1914, when the 

  Oxford and Bucks counter-attacked and ended the German effort.  There were 50,000

  British and 50,000 French and Belgian and 150,000 German Casualties.

  
  

  The battle must have had a chastening effect on the young recruit's enthusiasm.  The first

  and second battle of Ypres (22nd April to 25th May 1915) were fought with the Allies

  under the control of General French, who was then relieved of the command.  He was

  believed to be too old at sixty-three to adapt himself to modern warfare.

  
  

  In 1915 Percy John's training was proceeding and movement to the battlefield

  imminent.

  
  

  29 Jan [Postcard]

  Dear Mother

  Do not expect me as I do not know if I can get off.  But if I cannot I will send so goodbye 

  all   John

  
  

  He must have spent some time at home as there is an undated postcard announcing his

  arrival back at camp.

  
  

  On 22nd February 1915 he wrote from Cranleigh, Surrey to Flo in Malaya.

  My dear Sister,

  Thanks for letter.  We are still here.  Its about 6 miles from Chiddingfold and about 4

  from Dunsfold, and Godalming, where are big guns are, at the later, and we are often

  round Dunsfold, and Alfold, I don't think we do any fighting, now, as they say our guns

  are not ready, till the end of April, and then a month in France, before we go to the

  Front.  I shall try to get home, on pass, on my birthday, if I can has it might be the last

  in England.  We can have passes from Saturday till Sunday midnight, and we get back

  Tuesday night, wich is alright with only two days pay stop, wich is nothing, and glad to

  get out of the rank for a bit, and don't call me a man, when I am only a boy of eighteen,

  and not that yet.

  Our Battalion Commander is gone to France, to get ready for us.  But I might so on with

  my trade, for the Batt. as they have taken my name for it, and then I may stop in it then,

  I shall never go home, if dad comes back.  I shall be lost for ever.  But don't tell mother, I

  shall never stand for it after, what she is going now, and to see it all pulled un done again,

  don't tell her, has if I cross the Channel and bout there, I hear I is home, I shall never

  return.  So must say Goodbye Your Affect brother  John Franklin

  
  

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