LETTERS

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

From P Shaw, Beechwood, Mossley, M ’chr
Dec 2/16

Dear Cecil,

We have not heard from you since last Friday week (8 days ago) until this morning when we got your letter advising us you had been discharged from the Convalescent Camp as being fit again. We were all sorry to get this news as we think you have had a rough time one way and another and kept hoping you would be put permanently on light duty of some kind like Garnett. But I suppose we must make the best of it - there is not much choice in the army - and hope that you will be as fortunate in the future as you have been in the past. It has been a great relief to us whilst you have been out ofthe trenches.

But what about getting leave home. I see Mr Lloyd George promised in Parliament a day or two since that all men who had been a long time out were to be granted leave. Do your best to get home a bit if you can as we should so like to see you.

Dr MacDonald is at present over on two weeks leave and Charlie Brooke from the Town Hall is also over after having been out two years in Gallipoli and France. It is an awful nuisance these parcels and letters getting astray or delayed They have been sent on regularly and it is annoying when they don’t reach you. I am writing to the Stationary Hospital and No5 Con Depot to send on to your present address any parcels or letters that may be lying there for you.

Today ’s parcel contains - plum cake, box Crawford’s biscuits, dates, humbugs, health salt, cigars and cigarettes, and a good big scarf knitted by mother. We do not know whether you have still got your body shield if not, must we send you on another? Please say in your next letter. Also would trench gloves and a woollen waistcoat be of any use? Do not forget to ask for anything you are in need of. We want to do all we can for you, but feel almost helpless. Would it be any use writing direct to the C/O 20th Bn asking for leave? When next you change your quarters it would perhaps be best to telegraph at once to prevent parcels being sent astray. The charge is 2d per word so it is nothing to cry about.

Hoping the missing parcels will have all reached you and with best love and wishes from all that Providence will continue to smile on you.

Your aff Father

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From P Shaw, Beechwood Mossley, M/c
Dec 9/16

Dear Cecil,

We have received two letters from you during the week and Alec wrote you on Wednesday acknowledging same. Glad to hear that you are gong on alright, but we should all be delighted to see you home on leave, unless by staying there you have a chance of a permanent job outside the trenches.

We are sending your weekly parcel by this post containing - plum cake, biscuits and cheese, sardines, cocoa, quinine and Phos. tablets, cigars, cigarettes and a parcel from "Abney". In three or four days we will end you another parcel containing some of the Xmas fare, and another next weekend with the remainder. It will be some consolation to us - if you have to spend your Xmas out there - to know that you will all try to make the best of things as you find them. Let us hope you will be entertained as sumptuously as last year. You will find herewith a letter from Shaw Dawson sent on here to be forwarded

Love from all, your aff Father

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

Dear Cecil,

We were pleased to receive your letter yesterday addressed to Elsie. Very glad to hear you are getting strong again and that you seem so cheerful under - shall I say - such adverse circumstances. As mentioned in our last we are dividing the Xmas parcel in two, to keep within weight limit. The first was dispatched this morning and contained - plum pudding, tinned turkey and sausage, box chocolates, box almonds and raisins, apples, tangerine oranges, the usual cigars and cigarettes, and a few extra for Xmas (Lee Meriol brand - very nice ones). The second parcel will go tomorrow and will contain Elsie’s Christmas cake, large pork pie, box fancy biscuits, mince tarts. We hear the Parcels Branch at the M’chr PO are a few days behind with the work thro’ weight of traffic but we are hoping these things will reach you in good time for Xmas and that you will have as far as possible a happy time. Another Dayfield body shield was sent off yesterday. Mother hopes you will use it as many lives have been saved by its use. Look out for a few Christmas Annuals by book post.

With love and best wishes for Xmas

Your aff Father

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From P Shaw, Beechwood Mossley, M/c
Dec 18/16

Dear Cecil,

Your letter of the 12th just received. Are glad to hear that you will be writing regularly for the next few weeks. We take it that you will be staying there at least for that length of time and can assure you this thought puts us all in an easy frame of mind for the time being. Alec also will be alright till Christmas and the New Year holidays are over as he has not yet had his 14 days notice. Sorry we had to leave the biscuits out of last parcel owing to its having been too heavy, but they will be included in this week's parcel. We had just room to put in the leather gloves. These will be useful when you are on sentry duty or any kind of rough work They cost only 3/6 so if they are not suitable you can perhaps sell them or make an exchange with someone. lf you would like a less clumsy pair, let us know and they will be sent on.

Hope you got Aunt Jane’s parcel sent on from the Depot. We think all this "peace" talk means something. Germany and Austria look like having a split.

Love and best wishes for Xmas. Father .

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From P Shaw, Beechwood Mossley, M ’chr
Dec 25/16

Dear Cecil,

You will no doubt have got Alec’s letter written four or five days ago telling you that he had been called up and was to report on the 2nd January at Devonport. He would much like to see you before he goes if it is at all possible for you to get leave.

We shall be quieter than ever when he has gone and our earnest hope is that these peace overtures will lead to a settlement very soon. Many people are getting tired of the war, except those who have not much at stake, and those who are profiting by it. The brave lads at the front are paying most of the penalty and for their sakes I think the sooner hostilities cease the better. The Central Powers are being badly punished I believe and will have to come to terms very soon - unless we make them too hard. We will keep hoping for the best. Alec went to Smith’s yesterday to tea.

Marion got a letter from you on Saturday. She promised to come here to tea on New Year ’s Eve. She said you were feeling a little seedy again, we trust it is nothing serious, but whatever it is, look ajter yourself and report to the doctor. We have been expecting a letter from you (not having heard anything since the 12th) but at this season of the year there will probably be delay.

Our last parcel was sent on Saturday and contained - Home-made currant loaf and cheese, box Christmas biscuits, Steak and Kidney pie, mince tarts, tray [?not sure of this word] chocolates, cigars, cigarettes, tobacco and a wool helmet worked by mother. Some ofthe cigars are “Havannahs", out of a box from Boumphreys. From this firm we have also got the usual Xmas goose and are sorry you are not here to have a share. The turkey and sausage sent you in last week’s parcel might be some compensation.

We trust you will have as good a time as you had last Xmas, when your officer gave you quite a nice little banquet. Here we are having a rather gloomy Xmas. You away, Alec going, weather very cold with plenty of fog, rain, snow. We must try, however, to keep up a feeling of hope and patience and look forward to the good times coming. All join in the Season’s greetings and hope to see you early in the New Year.

Your affte Father

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From P Shaw, Beechwood Mossley, M ’chr
Dec 30/16

Dear Cecil,

Your letter to Elsie dated 20th inst received here on Thursday. It was with mixed feelings that we heard from this letter that you are again in Hospital - Sorry that you are ill, of course, but glad that you are being cared for and out of immediate danger. All parents are naturally very anxious when their sons are fighting. We are pleased that you reported sick at once as a stitch in time saves nine and you want to come out when the war is over with your health unimpaired. As there is uncertainty about getting the parcels, ie whilst you are moving about so, we will keep them back as you wish us to, until such times as you again get a permanent address. Write of course when you want these resuming. Alec has been saying good-bye to his friends this week and is reporting for off on Monday night. Personally it does not seem to trouble him, and no doubt the training will do him good. Marion is expected here tomorrow for tea. Mr Walsh’s leave is about up and he is to report on Jan 2. Please write often - we feel a bit anxious - and don ’t care how soon "peace" comes.

With New Year’s greeting,
Your aff Father

Editor's note: To quote from my father’s notes -
On Christmas Day he got a wonderful present. The Ward sister told him "It’s blighty for you Shaw".
Either in the train or on the ship an ‘old hand’ warned the other sick and wounded that the army would send a convalescent soldier to a hospital far from home, (perhaps to reduce the number of visits they got from relatives) so when asked, Father said he came from London and was sent to a hospital in Manchester! As a result it was easy for Marion to visit him. On at least one occasion she was taken by Bernard Clementson on his motorbike and sidecar.

On New Year’s Eve Cecil sent a telegram from Snow Hill Station, Birmingham

“Have been since the 29th on the journey. Came in via Havre and Southampton where I was lucky enough to catch the Manchester train".

Cecil would have arrived home late on the 31st December. Alec left for Portsmouth on the evening of lst January.
Cecil had not been on leave for over a year and had been in France since November 1915.

There are now no letters until late February so presumably Cecil was able to visit or be visited regularly.
While Cecil was in England he at last applied for a Commission as an Officer. His unit, the 20th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers, was formed from professional men from the Manchester area and by now large numbers had been Commissioned as Officers, mainly into the Northern Regiments of the New Army. There was considerable need for experienced Officers to train and lead the large numbers of conscripted soldiers.

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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