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.