The Letters of Sidney Smith, 1914-1916.
There are over 20 letters written to his family.
YEAR
Letters
Letters addressed from ….
addressed
to..
Brief summary of contents
1914
5th May
16th June
Palace Barracks, Holywood, Belfast
Mother and
father
Bert, his
brother
21st July
Mother and
father
7th August
Mother,
father,
brothers and
sisters
1915
Description of location of barracks, comments
about poverty in Belfast
Describes his training in musketry, states that he is
one of 50 recruits, he reflects on his decision to join
the army.
Confined to barracks but wants to send a photo
home, finishes musketry course and just misses
out on being recognized as a marksman
Mobilisation is imminent – he is about to be sent to
France
BEF War Office, London
Brief summary of contents
5th
January
Mother and
father
22nd
February
BrotherBert?
3rd May
Mother and
father
23rd March
Mother and
father
Mother and
father
26th July
Received a Princess Mary Xmas box, refers to
stormy wet weather and the mud in the trenches.
Letter includes a doodle of the Kaiser
smoking a cigarette
Believes his friend, Sid Chenery is either dead or a
prisoner of war following the Battle of Mons. He is
pleased about the arrival of his friends- Maurice
Caliby( spelling varies across letters) and Sid Pratt
and is anxious to reassure his family that rumours
of being wounded are incorrect. Refers to
continuing bad weather but also alludes to Nelson
and duty.
States that he has been in the trenches for 3
weeks and that there has been considerable loss
of life. Mentions use of the ‘ green envelope’ and
also the Field Office Post Card.
M.Caliby is wounded. He thanks family for all his
gifts and letters
States that he has had a rest from the trenches but
has not yet been granted any leave home. He is
1st
August
Mother and
father
26th October
Mother and
father
Mother and
father
30th
November
Envelope
dated 16th
Dec
Mother and
father
17th Dec
Mother and
father
28th Dec
Mother and
father
1916
looking forward to Xmas.
The first time he refers to any details about his
location and battles. He states that he has moved
from Hill 60, but also that he has done 56 days in
the trenches .He is given a few days rest. His new
location will be around Arras ‘ to the right of the
line’
His comments suggest that his company have not
yet seen an increase in numbers from the ‘ new
army’. He reports that the Germans have blown
three mines resulting in the death of one of his
comrades. His friend Sid Pratt is wounded
The letter is incomplete and there is a sheet
missing
He is expecting leave but this has not yet been
confirmed. He refers to duty and patriotism
He thanks everyone for the parcels from home including a watch, photographs and woodbines.
Again he refers to his duty whilst also making
reference to the numbers of dead
There is a reference to everyone experiencing a
‘rough time’ in England. He includes a
head and shoulders sketch of a soldier smoking a
cigarette and the words ‘ half a mo Fritz’
Refers to the weather conditions and the effects on
the trenches ‘ up to our knees in mud and water’.
He sends Xmas greetings to his family
Reports that the soldiers have not received a
second gift from the Queen. He thanks his family
for their continued support, parcels, Xmas cards
and letters.
BEF War Office, London
Brief summary of contents
6th
March
2nd June
10th June
30th June
Mother
Mother and
father
Mother and
father
Mother and
Father
States that he has been ‘moving’ and apologises
for gap in letter writing. He fears the call up of
married men but states that he is not downhearted
Sends thanks for recent parcels, which included
some eggs.
Sends thanks for parcels and anticipates the arrival
of his brother Bert Refers briefly to the latest
actions in the war.’ we have had a rather rough
time now lately as no doubt you have seen the list
of casualties in the papers by now ‘
Reassures his family that he has seen Bert ‘ he
looks well’ and that Bert is trying to move from A
Envelope
dated 4th
July.
Mother and
father
9th July
Mother and
father
29th July
Mother and
father
17th August
2016
Letter from
his mother
Undated
letter
Mother,
Father,
sisters and
brothers
company to B company so that the two brothers
can be together.
Some pages of this letter are missing and so it is a
little confusing. He talks about ‘dodging pieces of
lead and iron and never knowing when you are
going to die’ but also refers again to duty and
patriotism
Reassures his family that both he and Bert are well
but also states that. ‘thousands of poor souls are
hurled into eternity ‘. Refers to the ‘good cause to
rid this earth of the uncivilized pests which we are
in contact with’.
This is the last letter as he dies on the 31st July
1916. Reports that Bert is missing in action but
reassures his mother that ‘ he may be wounded
and sent to hospital’. States that their last meeting
was marked by a show of brotherly affection ‘ we
had a long talk together and we shook hands when
we parted and wished one another the best of luck’
Is waiting to hear news about the brothers and
asks Sidney to send a card as soon as possible.
The letter is returned unopened
Thanks his family for a letter dated 27th (no month
or year given) He is pleased to know that Bob has
a job ‘ because everything is so dare (sic) oweing
to the war’ and he hopes that the troops will be
successful in the Dardanelles. Interesting farming
reference used when talking about is hopes for the
war.