First World War Letters from Lance Corporal Henry Reginald C...

Estimate

£50 - £70

First World War Letters from Lance Corporal Henry Reginald Clark, 6th Platoon, B Company, New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 1916. A collection of correspondence from Lance Corporal H.R. Clark, 25/95, of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, written during his service in Egypt, 1916. This lot includes three autograph letters with envelopes, three field service postcards, and three picture postcards. The letters, written to family members, provide personal reflections on training, life at the front, and a brief period in a military hospital. Excerpts include: 1st April 1916: Writing from a training location, Clark describes the harsh conditions: “Our lot landed here a month ago and have been doing some very solid training since. I can tell you it is no joke marching through loose sand under a hot sun, with a full pack up, weighing about 80 pounds with rifle and ammunition. The flies here are an awful nuisance and are our worst enemies at present, for they carry all kinds of disease.” 8th June 1916: Anticipating a return to the front line, he writes: “I expect we will be going back to the front line again soon; at any rate, I hope so, for there is always something to see in the trenches, plenty of excitement and (music?).” Reflecting on the war's impact on England, he adds: “I expect everything is changed in London since the war. You say, Vi, that the Zeppelins have not visited England lately, it must be that the fleet gave them such a shake up.” 15th June 1916, Military Hospital: Writing from a hospital bed, Clark reassures his family after falling ill: “You will look when you see that this is written from the military hospital, but old Fritz has got one on to me this time. On the 13th, while in the trenches, I and a lot of my unit were ordered into hospital with German measles and influenza, but you don’t want to worry, for I will be back with my company again in a few days’ time.” He reflects on the dangers faced by his comrades: “As you thought, all our home leave is stopped indefinitely on account of the big advance. The fighting is very heavy down our way, but although a lot of my mates have been knocked out, I have got off with only a few scratches and a bruised left shoulder so far.” Footnote:Henry Reginald Clark was born on 26th November 1893. New Zealand Expeditionary Force, New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 3rd Battalion, B Company. Embarkation details - Unit embarked from Wellington on 5 February 1916. He is listed as wounded in the field in France on 1st October 1916 and rejoined his unit on the 6th October. Appointed T/Sgt on 27th October. He served in the Raglan Home Guard in WW2. His full service records are available online.