Billie - 29th April 1915

Dear Jess,

Many thanks for your letters which we received last night as we came out of the trenches.  We also received a big parcel from George St and Catherine St so have just written to the aunts thanking them for it.  It is jolly decent of them to send us these things and we duly appreciate their generosity.  We also had Thompson's parcel which was quite a surprise, so you might thank him for same and one of us will write to him in a day or two. 

We had a very exciting time in the trenches again.  One of our aircraft came flying over the German lines about 50ft in the air and they opened fire at him with a terrible volley of rifle fire.  However we do not know whether he was hit or not, but he got away all right.  Well the next day one of their chaps came over on the same only he kept at a pretty safe height.  However we opened fire at him and then one of our aviators came up and soon put him to flight. 

I think we told you about them trying to put a flag beside our second barbed wires when we caught one of them.  Well this time one of our Captains planted a flag on their wires thanking them for pins &c which we captured off the prisoner and said we would call the game a draw - one each, but would be pleased to continue the game.  Well the next night they took the flag down and put one up in its place but they dared not bring it past their barbed wire.  Well last night while it was still light, to be exact at 6 p.m. our other captain set off and crawled up the hedges &c and collared their flag.  It took some time to do it but he did it fine.  We watched him the whole way through periscopes and we expected them to spot him at any minute, but evidently they did not see him, although he was only 50 yards from the parapet of their trench.  When he got in with it we cheered and gave them a combined "Where is your flag Fritz?"  I bet they were jolly wild as they don't half swank about their snipers.  Written on the flag was "God strafe England". 

They were a different regiment in front of us this spell and from their ways &c they must have been the Prussians.  Our Artillery blew some of their trenches up and I can tell you I would not have liked to have been on their side.  The shooting was fine and the explosion was terrible.  They replied at us, but did no damage only set some houses &c on fire with their bombs. 

We are billeted just behind the firing line again in huts painted to represent roads &c.  Just to our left is a village and the Germans are busy shelling it now and have succeeded in setting fire to the church.  This village we passed through some days ago and is one mass of ruins. 

Tell Sarah we have received all her parcels and letters up to the present and are jolly pleased with them.  John is writing to her tomorrow.  These parcels you all send us are jolly fine I can tell you. 
It is a lovely day here today, the sun is scorching hot so we had a bathe in a pool this morning and we needed it seeing we had not had a wash for 4 days. 

Pleased to hear that Pater's cold is a bit better and hope that he is quite well by now.  Hope Mother, Sarah, Janey, Joe, Thompson and yourself are quite well.  John wrote to Joe while we were in the trenches this time so he will have got it by now.  Pleased to hear Jack Huggins is out here, we must keep a look out for him.  Oh when sending a parcel you might put in a tin of Nestles milk and a packet of cocoa.  These come in jolly handy when we are in the trenches.  You might add the right amount of sugar to the cocoa. 

Well I think this is all for the present.  Cheer up and don't let them get downhearted. 

Your loving brother

Billie. 

Sorry to hear about Miller Irven - it is hard luck.  You might send me another writing pad. 

Billie - 26th April 1915

Dear Thompson,

Just a line to let you know we are again in the trenches.  We came in on Saturday [24th] and have had a very warm time of it.  The last time we were in we had four days' rest; at least it was supposed to be rest but we were all pleased when it was over.  We had to go digging every night all night at different parts of the line right in front of our trenches, digging and making new tracks.  It is a very risky business, I can tell you. 

John would tell you about the chap who has been recommended by the General.  Well we have had an officer also recommended, so that was not bad for the 2nd time in the trenches.  You should have seen us comming into the trenches this time, each armed with as much bread as we could carry.  We each had a sand bag full of grub (not army issue), blanket, wood, coal and full equipment.  We were done up when we got in the trenches. 

Oh, one of the nights when we were digging we were all recalled and set off to look for snipers who are busy behind our lines.  They wait for water parties &c and then let them have it.  The place is alive with spies and snipers and the best part of the farmers around here are in touch with the enemy.  Oh if we only catch one, he will have a rough time of it.  While we were hunting for the snipers the Germans got to know somehow and turned a machine gun on us and we had to lie full length in a ditch until it had all passed over.  It was a warm time, I can tell you.  You could hear the bullets singing over your head and it was a good job for us they had not got the range. 

I am sitting in my dug-out writing this and you should see us.  We were heavily shelled yesterday and I suppose they will start the same time today, they usually do. 

Thank them all at home for the parcel which arrived all serene, the drinking cups are just the thing.  We brought the eggs and tongue in with us, so are living all right this spell in.  After this spell in we get 4 days' rest and go further behind the line.  We will be relieved on Wed [28th]; so I will send a card home as soon as we are. 

The weather here is very changeable.  Enclosed you will find some flags for Janey, that is if the censor lets them go through.  I had a letter from Jenny B., also one from Jackie.  I also had one from our managing director, a nice letter asking if I wanted any socks or anything at all sending out, as he would be pleased to send me something.  I had a notion to say "Yes, my wages" but changed it and said I had plenty of socks &c but if he sent me any luxury I would duly appreciate it.  He told me my pal at the shop had joined - he is married - and several of the others. 

Well how are you all, well I hope?  Is Janey busy spring cleaning?  I hope you are all well, also all at home.  Remember me to Gertie and your father.  Cheer up and keep them all alive. 

Fancy not having a wash for 4 days, you ought to see me now. 

Your loving brother

Billie.

To Censor Kindly replace flags after censoring this letter. 

John - 25th April 1915

My dear Mother,

I received the parcel safely on Friday for which I thank you very much indeed.  We have brought the majority of the grub into the trenches with us and it is most acceptable, especially the eggs. 

Things are very quiet round this part of the line, the Germans don't fire unless we do, so you see we keep fairly quiet.  The Saxons sent a kite into our lines the other day and it just shows the news they really get for on the kite they had written "We have sunk all your ships why don't you give in?  We don't want to fight.  Return this when the wind changes".  What do you think of that for swank?  I think if they knew the real state of affairs they would give in, not us.  I suppose they will find out someday and then there will be an awful row. 

Billie has just got up and had his breakfast (1p.m.) and he is asleep again, so you see it does not worry us much being here.  He said he wondered where he was when he woke up this morning because he had been dreaming all night that he was at home.  He had the best sleep for some days so that is all right.  I hope Father is quite better, sorry to hear he had a cold.  I am writing to Joe tomorrow.  Shall write to Aunts later. 

Love to all

John

A Note on Billie's Letter

One thing in reading these letters is the contrast that can sometimes be made between the messages the brothers are sending home.  This is particularly marked here, where we have two letters in consecutive days from John and Billie while they are stationed very close to each other.  So John is telling Thompson:

"We all expect the war will finish this Summer but from what we have seen of it I don't see how that can happen..."

while the next day, Billie is more confidently writing to his mother that:

"from all accounts the war will not last much longer." 

Whether this what Billie believed or simply a wish to give an upbeat message to his mother I cannot say. 

As best I can tell, the "football match flag" capture that John relates is not the same as the capture that Billie writes about, unless the story has become garbled in the retelling (the numbers involved do not match, and the details of interest such as the football flag and the patent revolver are not shared), so it's an interesting coincidence that both letters detail a capture, mention the shelling to the left, describe the rations in the trenches, and respond to enquiries about laundry. 

This letter, like several, is undated.  I have settled on the date of 22nd April with a degree of confidence, however, as a few of the letters (including this one) have the date received marked on them.  John's letters either side of this one have both postage and receipt dates, and each took 3 days to reach their recipient, so since this one was received on the 25th April, 22nd April is the most likely date of postage - possibly a day either side. 

Billie - 22nd April 1915

Dear Mater,

Many thanks for parcel and letters which I received on Tuesday when we came out of the trenches.  The parcel was jolly fine and tasty; the meat was jolly fine also the oranges, they were a treat such large ones.  Thank Jess for the diary I thought it would be all right to read after the war is all over. 

We had a very exciting time of it in the trenches.  On our left the second night we were in there was a big bombardment and an advance. It was great to hear it.  However the next day they had a bit of their own back and gave us such a shelling it was indescribable at first but you got used to it after a time.  They blew some of our trenches up and dug our right, but I am pleased to say they did no damage. 

The 3rd night we were in, our platoon had a great capture; four of them were out on listening patrol when two chaps came crawling up to them.  Well they thought they were our engineers but challenged them when one of them let fly with a revolver at our chaps from 6 yds range.  They were that near to our chaps that they could not move their rifles to get at them or they would have given the game away and they would have all been wiped out.  One came down one side and the other on the other side.  Well one of our chaps on the right was near enough to the other chap to be able to touch him, so he caught hold of his wrist just before the other one was challenged and started to wrestle with him.  Well he got him down and though the chap was so startled that he dropped his pistol, so the chap picked it up and brought him in with it at his head.  It was a very smart capture and the chap has been recommended by the General.  The other chap who fired when he was challenged managed to get away. 

The one who was captured was about 20 years old and seemed to be well off but he was very cute.  When he was wrestling with our chaps he was talking in French, but when they got him in he said he did not understand French.  However they soon frightened him into telling quite a lot of information.  He said that he had been told that the English shoot all prisoners and when he was taken to H.Q. he kept saying "No shoot mister".  It is all the more credit to our Battalion seeing they wanted a prisoner here for a long time to see who were against us at this part of the line, and one General offered £50 to any of his chaps for a prisoner but I don't know whether our chap will get it or not.  The funny part of it is, the chap that brought him in could not find the trigger of the revolver as it was a patent, but he braved it out, and one of the others got to him with his rifle and bayonet for safety. 

We are about a mile behind the firing line now, and in a big barn and we spend the nights going in front of our line making new trenches.  The German snipers are awful, they are all over the shop and an awful lot of spies.  Last night when we were digging an officer and a sergeant went out after a spy and they shot him just as he was crawling up to shoot some of our chaps.  Oh, when they went out the night after that a German was captured, they found some flags which they were going to stick in front of our lines inviting us English to a football match.  They are very daring young chaps and will do anything for bravado. 

Well from all accounts the war will not last much longer.  Oh you might send me some more boracic powder in a strong tin box if you can.  Well I think I've told you all the news at present.  We played one of the other platoons at footer and we licked them 4-2.  We are having a big match on tomorrow.  Did Pater get his letter?  About our washing, we have none - only our socks.  They have started when we go for a bath, to issue clean underclothing, so we throw the dirty ones away as our valise is something frightful to carry and is the curse of all the chaps, regulars as well. 

Well I must close now hoping that you, Father, Jess, Sarah, Janey, Joe and Thompson are all quite well, also all at Greenwell House, George St and Catherine St. 

Your loving son,

Billie. 

Kindly thank Aunt Sally for the loaf, it was a treat.  We were fed on Bully Beef and biscuits after the first day in the trenches.  You ought to have seen a pudding I made out of biscuits and marmalade, all boiled together, as the biscuits are too hard to eat in their ordinary state. 

John - 21st April 2015

Dear Thompson,

Thank you very much indeed for your letter of a few days ago.  I am pleased to say we are both A1 after a fairly hard time. 

We have just come out of the trenches after a four days' spell.  The weather was simply glorious while we were in so that made it rather decent.  The routine in trenches is as follows: all night we work like niggers making our places shell-proof, and during the day we sleep and eat.  On the whole we had a very quiet time. 

Yesterday they had a good go at us, but fortunately they did not do much damage.  A shell blew a hole in a dug-out and knocked some sand bags off the parapet.  On Sunday night we had an exciting time.  One of our patrols captured a German right in front of my part of the trench.  Two of them came down to plant a flag in our barbed wire - at least that is what the chap said.  Of course we did not believe him, but it was quite true.  Next night our scouts went out and found the flag, and you couldn't guess what was on it - "Invitation to a football match".  It would have been a good joke if it had come off but it didn't.  The chap we got was in a blue funk and fully expected to be shot.  He said their officers had educated them that way, so you see what they are.  The prisoner was armed with an automatic pistol and was jolly well equipped. 

We had our parcels from home this morning and they were most acceptable; we had nothing but biscuits in the trenches.  I mean we had no bread.  Of course we get cheese, jam, bully beef and once we got butter, so manage somehow to make some meals.  The socks will come in useful; we both want a new pair.  With regards to our washing - I don't quite see how we can send it home, seeing we can only have one shirt and vest each. 

When we go for a bath they give us clean clothes so we manage all right.  Yes, we can spend English money here.  By the way all the grub in our parcels was in splendid condition, and we are having most of it today. 

I expect you will enjoy your motor rides now, more than in the bad weather.  I would give something for a spin through the lakes now. 

We all expect the war will finish this Summer but from what we have seen of it I don't see how that can happen - but of course our part of the line is very quiet, it is mostly on our left where the movement is taking place.  I am pleased to hear that Mother is cheering up.  To my mind we are as safe here as at home because it is only the chance shots that hit, and when you have seen what I have, you will become an absolute Fatalist.  I have some very interesting things to tell you when we come home. 

I must close now.  I hope you are both well.  Thank Janey for her letter; it was handed to me last night before we left the trenches so you see we are looked after. 

Love to all

John. 

I hope your father is keeping well. 

John - 16th April 1915

Dear Mother,

I hope you are keeping better.  Billie and I are both keeping jolly fit.  The weather has been glorious these last few days.  I only hope it lasts out.  We are having an easy time lately leading the simple life.  Every meal is like a picnic; we have them under a tree in a field.  There is no news at present.  The papers arrived safely and were most welcome.  Next time you send a parcel please send me some toothpaste, any sort will do. 

Must close now - it is past time. 

Love to all at home

John

John - 11th April 1915

Dear Father,

I was pleased to hear you managed to get a few days rest at Easter.  We did not even have Easter Monday [5th April] off, we had a much more profitable way of spending it, we spent it in the trenches.  Things were very quiet round our part, the only thing that told us there was a war was the fact that the bullets came whistling over our trenches.  The Germans wasted hundreds of rounds of ammunition while we never fired a shot.  They don't like our chaps to be quiet, it makes them uneasy, they think we are up to some game and they snipe all the time.  We were in for 24 hours and had no casualties so we were fortunate.  Everyone kept his head down I think that was the reason. 

I was pleased to hear Mother is keeping better, now the weather is coming she can get out quite a lot seeing there is no one at home to look after.  We are quite comfortable here in the barns, we are used to sleeping in barns now and don't mind it in the least.  The rats keep us awake sometimes but that doesn't worry us.  We get heaps of sleep.  We turn in about 8:30pm and get up about 7am. 

I must close now hoping all are well, and that you are not working too hard.  Love to all at home,

John

Photos

I have added photos of the brothers to their accounts - you can view these by clicking on their names under "Contributors" on the side of the screen. 

The Family Before The War

Mr & Mrs W.J. Thompson lived at 24 Sunny Hill, Whitehaven.  Grandda Thompson was a Boilermaker with Vickers at Barrow and lived there during the week returning home by train on Saturdays.  They had six children. 

Janey Thompson before her marriage to J Thompson Ray was a teacher at St. James's Infant School.  Thompson's name being the same as the family name was entirely coincidental as her was not related to the family.  This caused some confusion as extended family members referred to Grandda as "Uncle Thompson" and to Thompson as "Uncle Ray". 

Sarah Thompson was a dressmaker with work rooms in the town. 

Jessie Thompson was a teacher at the National School. 

John Thompson was a teacher in Birmingham and a member of the Territorial Army. 

William J. Thompson had been apprenticed as a Jeweller and Watchmaker with Uncle Tom Langstaff (believed to be on Lowther St) and then went to work in London.  He had a beautiful voice and in London intended to pursue his musical career.  He had lodgings in Peckham. 

Joseph I. Thompson was serving his time at [the then-new chemical works at] Lowca and as such would have been in a reserved occupation.  He not only volunteered at the beginning of the War but lied about his age to enlist. 

Typist's Note

In 1974 my sister, Sara, and I were clearing the attic at No. 20 Victoria Road after the death of our aunt, Miss Sarah Thompson, when we found three notebooks in which our Mother Jessie Kennaugh (nee Thompson) had copies the letters her brothers had sent home from the trenches.  Then in 1988 when my grandson, Christopher Preedy, was visiting the Somme Battlefields as part of a history project, I borrowed the books to copy the letters for Chris. 

I am very grateful to Mrs May Lawton (May in the letters) for all the help she has given me in compiling the letters.  Born in 1900, she was very much a contemporary of her cousins and well remembers the last time they were on leave together in early 1915; at that time Billie frightened the young Gus by jumping out at him (in fun) wearing his gas mask &c.  May also remembers helping to make bread and cakes &c which were sent weekly to the boys and also reading these letters when they were first received. 

In September 1989 May gave me the letter which Joe sent to her on 27th May 1916 and referred to on pages 132/3.  I have included a photocopy of that letter and the enclosed pansy at the end of the letters. 

From the British Library, Newspaper Library in London I have been able to obtain a photocopy of the article in the Whitehaven News of 24th June 1915 to which John refers in a letter dated 29th June 1915 on page 30.  A photocopy of that is also enclosed. 

The typing errors are entirely my fault.  Some of the names may be misspelt as it has been rather difficult to decipher some of the writing which, after 75 years is beginning to fade. 

Jessie Preedy (nee Kennaugh)
March 1990

Billie - 8th April 1915

Dear Jess,

Just a line to let you know we are going on all right.  We have received all the parcels all right up to the present and they have all come in jolly handy.  We are down at the bse again I think for ten days but of course we don't know for sure. 

The weather here has broken again.  While we were in the trenches it poured with rain the whole time and it has been very cold and showery ever since.  We are billeted in a barn at present instead of a schoolroom and it is not half a show.  We get admission up  ladder through a hole in the roof; part of it comes on top of you.  I think I gave you all the details of our time in the firing line. 

Oh before I forget you might ask Mother to send me two pairs of socks as soon as possible as some one pinched two pairs of mine while out drying.  You might also see if you can get me a small folding drinking cup, you can get them from any of the big firms.

We have to put our address in the body of the letter now in case it gets into other hands.  Remember me to all I must close now and get on parade.

Hoping all are well. 

Your loving brother

Billie

Comments on Billie's Letter

"P.C." = "Postcard". 

"Thompson" = J Thompson Ray, a brother-in-law of the Thompsons who wrote these letters.  I will be publishing a family tree showing the relationships shortly, along with some other explanatory notes.  In the meantime, the similarity in names caused me a lot of confusion in reading these letters, so wanted to clear that up for readers. 

Now a brief but slightly complex note on dating.  My copy of the text of this letter is dated "late March or early April 1915".  Since the text of the letter refers to the day as being a Sunday, the best fit for date is Sunday 28th March 1915 or Sunday 4th April 1915.  Sunday 21st March or earlier can be eliminated since Billie refers to a letter John wrote from France - presumably that of 23rd March, which is the earliest one surviving, and seems to be the first John wrote, since he reports the journey to France.  Similarly, Sunday 11th April 1915 or later can be eliminated since Billie wrote another letter before then that reports that he has returned from the front line, where he was located when he wrote this current letter. 

Chris Preedy

Late March or Early April 1915

[Probably 28th March]

Dear Jess,

Many thanks for the card and letter from Liverpool.  Pleased to hear you had a nice time. 

I suppose John told you in his letter that we are going into the trenches again but in a different part of the line.  Well we set off on Friday at 6 p.m. and got into our trenches about 12.  It was the worst march we have had yet.  We were in full pack which weighs about 65 to 70 lbs; then we had blanket, sand bags, firewood coal and a loaf of bread each.  So you can imagine what it was like doing about 6 miles in this; where it should have taken abut 2 hrs it took us about 6 as we had to go along the line and could only approach a little bit at a time.  When we were half way there it started to pour with rain and we got soaked through, but it was so fine yesterday that we got all our clothes dried.  The Germans must have known that our trenches were being relieved as they gave us such a reception.  In one place we had to lie flat down and it was a good thing we did, as they turned a machine gun on to the road.  All around here is alive with spies, so you cannot wonder at the enemy knowing the trenches were being relieved. 

However we got in all right and are having not at all a bad time.  We had tinned meat and vegetable rations issued out yesterday and they sent us a supply of bully beef, biscuits and spuds.  The spuds we make chips of and they are all right; we are getting quite experts at the game. 

They shelled the trenches yesterday and it was jolly exciting I can tell you.  You hear the shell discharged and it come whistling along to you and then there is an awful explosion but I am pleased to say they did no damage.  We work all night and in the day when off sentry duty we sleep.  We spent the whole of last night filling sandbags to put over our dug-outs and above the parapets.  You ought to see the dug-outs.  There is a parapet built high with loop-holes, then a narrow passage for going round the trench, then comes the dug-out.  It is built up of clay and sand bags, at one end it is about 30 inches high and tapers off to about a foot at the back, and all on the roof are sandbags.  The more sandbags you have on the roof, the safer it is in case of shell fire. 

They have been shelling our aeroplanes this morning but the aviator made a fool of them and they could not hit him.  The weather today is very hot.  Just imagine not having a wash or a shave until we are relieved which will not be for a few days yet. 

John and I both wrote to Father last week.  How are Pater and Mater keeping?  I hope both are well also Janey, Sarah and yourself.  How is Thompson getting on with his motorbike?  I expect he will be an expert by the time we get home.  Remember me to all the aunts.  Did Sarah get her letter I sent a few days ago?  John had a letter from our Joe last week. 

You should have seen us while we were resting the other day, we got a cricket match up - we had a sock filled with rope for a ball, sticks for wickets and a stick for a bat.  It passed one afternoon off fine.  Then another day we arranged an angling competition, 1d an entry and there were 4 prizes.  Gobbo and I had to fish again for the 3rd and 4th prizes so we arranged that the first catch took both.  I won and got 4d.  It was good fun.  Cotton won a jam tin.  We were allowed 15 minutes.  Oh I forgot to tell you the fish were minnows in a pool in front of our barn.  It was a sight for any of the picture shows or papers.  We often have little concerts in our barns after we have snuffed out the candles at nights and we have some jolly good ones at that.  We are quite a merry little party. 

While out digging last night I came across a big German shell that had not been exploded.  I reported it and it was moved out of the danger zone.  I will send you a P.C. when we get out of the trenches to let you know how we are getting on.  Now cheer up and keep up all their spirits at home as we are quite all right. 

Must close, hoping you are all well. 

Your loving brother Billie. 

Just fancy today is Sunday but you would not think so out here.  Remember me to Mr Ray hope he is quite well.  Cheer up.