LETTERS

From 'Letters to a Soldier', 1915 to 1919 ...
Those of May to December 1916

From P Shaw, Beechwood Mossley, M/c
Oct 1/16

Dear Cecil,

We all wish you many happy returns of your birthday and sincerely hope that long before your next, you will be home again and the war over. We are sending you a few extras in your weekly parcel - or rather parcels, for we have had to divide the articles and send them in two lots; together they include box of pals’ biscuits, cherry cake, grapes and pears, apricots and cream, chocolates, pastilles, cigarettes and cigars and a box of 50 Three castle cigs. from Elsie. Alec will send you his contribution of cigs in next parcel so that you won ’t be getting them all at once. You will be sorry to hear that Mr Campbell has succumbed to the attack of anthrax, supposed to have been caused by a shaving brush. He died about 8 o’ck yesterday (Saturday) morning. Hopes had been entertained that he might recover as the recent reports were encouraging but he became worse again on Friday. We got your PC dated the 22nd - nothing else from you this week.

What about the “Tanks" - Grand idea this to cope with German frighfulness - usual Sunday papers being posted with this letter. We are on normal time again today.

Best love from all - Father

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From P Shaw, Beechwood Mossley, M/c
Oct 7/16

Dear Cecil,

This morning we posted your weekly parcel containing - plum cake, parkin, pears and cream, home-made toffee, health salt, cigars and cigarettes and one pair socks. Also an extra box of Gold flake cigs as a birthday gift from Alec. We got your letter dated the 27th Sept and were glad to hear you keep well. With this letter we are posting you the “Reporter", "Oldham C." and “City News". You will find in the latter an article (marked in blue) on Sir E Donner which we thought might be of interest to you. On Tuesday I attended Mr Campbell’s funeral; Mother and Elsie also went to the chapel which was largely attended as you will see from the two local papers.

Mr Campbell will be greatly missed in Mossley and much sorrow is felt at his rather tragic end Mr Taylor of Stalybridge will conduct the funeral service tomorrow at Abney.

We have not yet seen any Zepps in Mossley, but the other day two aeroplanes flew across the valley in the afternoon. Elsie was lucky enough just to see them. Alec has just had a letter from Sherwood. He reports that Thompson was all right after the advance.

Love from all - Father

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From P Shaw, Beechwood Mossley, M/c
Oct 14/16

Dear Cecil,

Yesterday we posted your weekly parcel containing plum cake, biscuits, pears and cream, sardines, health-salt, apples, cigars, cigarettes and some Quinine and Phosphorous tablets. The latter should be of service to you in helping to overcome the neuralgia you complain about. It is a medicine that seems popular in the army.

We were sorry to get your letter to Elsie reporting that you had been suffering in this way, but hope you are now right again, but in any case the tablets taken according to directions will do you good. Auntie Emily was quite delighted to receive your letter and photo.

Mother is away at Auntie Bessie’s for a short time and will be writing you from there. I enclose you a letter written on the Ist Aug. and sent to No 6 Con. Depot and returned to us as undelivered. Another one has been returned and sent back to mother. This she will probably re-post to you from Liscard. As yet, neither of the missing parcels has been returned but we may get them later.

Bert Barlow asked me for your address a day or two ago. He had been asked to get it for Shaw Dawson who, as you know, has been in Salonika.

Love from all - Father

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From P Shaw, Beechwood Mossley, M/c
Oct 21/16

Dear Cecil,

We posted your weekly parcel yesterday. It contained plum and sponge cakes, mixed biscuits, tinned strawberries and cream, Windermere toffee, one apple, health salt, cigars and cigarettes and a returned letter (undelivered) written by me to you whilst you were at the Canadian Hospital. I am sending these letters on as they are returned so that you will see what was said at the time. Sorry we had to leave some apples out of the p’cl as we had reached the weight limit. Mother has been staying with Auntie Bessie about a week. She will return on Monday. I think Alec has not yet been called up and we don’t care how long it is deferred.

I attended the funeral of Mr Thos. Mills, JP on Thursday. He died after a very short illness. He had taken it very much to heart about his son being killed. Much sympathy is felt for Mrs Mlls and family. I have heard that Mrs Campbell will be allowed to remain at the Manse for 6 mos and will be paid Mr Campbell’s salary for that time.

Charlie Yates has just turned up here to see Alec. He is home for a few days afer his first trip to Canada as a wireless operator. He likes it very well. Many of the passengers carried their life belts about with them on board owing to the submarine scare now on again. Thanks for your letter received during the week.

Love from all - Father

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From P Shaw, Beechwood Mossley, M/c
Oct 25th/16

Dear Cecil,

I herewith enclose you a £1 Treasury note as requested in your letter to Mother which reached here on Monday, the day she returned from Liscard. Please drop us a line on receipt so that we shall know you have got it alright.

We are all pleased that you are still being kept at the Depot. Since you went out you have had a rough time, and you have done your bit if you see no more fighting.

The news jrom the Western Front is very good today - a big haul of prisoners at little cost. Some people still think the war won’t last through the winter, but of course one can’t say. If the Germans like to continue it at all costs they could keep up the defensive for some time. The monotony, and the long waiting is very tedious both for the lads at the front and those at home. But we must all try to endure. I am told Lt Walsh is in a London Hospital suffering ftom nervous breakdown. Mother wrote to Marion from Liscard asking her to come over and see us again soon. `

Love from all - Father

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From P Shaw, Beechwood Mossley, M/c
Oct 28/16

Dear Cecil,

Very sorry to get your letter saying you are in Hospital with Trench Fever. We trust you are improving and shall be anxious until we get your next letter reporting progress. You will perhaps be sent to England when fit and get a good long rest over here. It is awfully disappointing to us when we hear about any parcels going wrong and especially when they don’t reach you. Mr Hammersley wrote you a friendly letter weeks ago and this has now been returned just lately undelivered. Carruthers was up here with Bernard on Thursday and told mother this. We sent of your weekly parcel yesterday and a remittance (registered on the 25th. lf you are in need of anything special during your illness, I mean Hospital comforts of any kind please let us know at once.

The Quick Edge contingent all seem to be catching it just now. Walsh, yourself and young Radcliffe are all in hospital. I think a great many of Shaw Dawson’s lot also have been ill. We hope you are quite comfortable and nicely quartered.

Your last parcel contd plum cake, box biscuits, apples, Eccles cakes, apricots, mint
toffee, cigars and cigarettes.

Love and sympathy from us all - Father

Editor's note: C Shaw was kept in hospital with trench fever some time afer his wound was better.

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Medal Card Herbert Cecil Shaw, Private 20th Battalion Royal Fusiliers; 2nd Lieutenant South Lancashire Fusiliers

27th May - 24th June 1st July- 29th July 4th August - 26th August 3rd September - 23rd September 1st October - 28th October 3rd November - 25th November 2nd December - 30th December

Letters to a Soldier, Introduction