Slipping Past the Censor

This week we’re following up on our Second World War military mail with some from the Great War. Rarely do ones from this period tell us much of what was happening. Often it’s just: date, field post office, officer’s signature and the censor’s mark. The soldier’s name and service number would usually count as a bonus!

However here we’ve got one that slipped past the censor. It gives us a glimpse into the shock which awaited those chaps who’d hitherto had no experience at all of the realities which awaited them. This particular example was sent from the front to a camp in Hatfield. The sender is a rifleman writing to another in a different company but both were part of the 17th Battalion, the London Regiment.

Dear Bert, just a line in answer to your most welcome letter. Thanks for the address, G Garwood got wounded  in the leg. We were in the big battle, I saw plenty of sights i will never forget. Write more next time.  Jim

There’s a note on front with the place name removed. More than likely by the officer that signed it (who looks like E. Chandler?)