Extracts

Extract from WW1 letter dated 9th October 1918
From David Henry Taylor in Holzminden to War Office
“Sir, Will you kindly remit the value of the value of the articles of kit mentioned below, which I lost when I was captured at Nieuport, Belgium, on July 10th 1917 …
Pistol & Holster & Lanyard £3.14.4
Ammunition Pouch £2.9
Prismatic Compass & Case £2.10.9
…
£25.17.1
I am, Sir, Your obedient Servant …”

Extract from WW1 letter dated 1st October 1918
From David Henry Taylor in Holzminden to May Muggridge in Beckenham (UK)
“My Dearest,
Just had two lovely letters from you … Talking about cooking, sausages form one of the stable items of diet here & as you know these things when frying are apt to burst & the fact of them being tinned seems to make them especially explosive, so that the elite here politely refer to them as “bangers” … explodes blowing off a red hot piece into the next man’s face or neck who immediately yells … upsets his porridge, stew, or whatever he happens to be stirring, into the sausages & then calls down the Wrath of Heaven …”

Extract from WW1 letter dated 25 September 1918
From May Muggridge in Bognor to David Henry Taylor in Holzminden
“My dear David,
Here we are sitting on a lovely beach with the sinking sun shining on our faces & scarcely a cloud to be seen … These 2 folks who gave us a concert last night want me to go a palmist on the pier. They have both been & say he is good … I have not promised to go, but perhaps I will tomorrow …”

Extract from WW1 letter dated 28 August 1918
From W. Rushbrooke in St Olave’s Grammar School to David Henry Taylor in Holzminden
“Just a line, my dear David, not so much because I have anything to tell you and because your mother has just sent me your address and this is the best acknowledgment I can give … It is 3 years since you called last, I believe: at least 1915 Nov 18 is the date I have entered for your last visit … I am ever most truly …”

Extract from WW1 letter dated 8th July 1918
From David Henry Taylor in Holzminden to Ginger (Ethel) Linn in USA
“… in two days time I shall have done twelve months “time” & am already looking forward to going to Holland, so much so that I have taken up Dutch … It’s a lovely language, the first thing to learn being that g is pronounced hg with a guttural sound…”

Extract from WW1 letter dated 12 June 1918
From May Muggridge in Beckenham (UK) to David Henry Taylor in Holzminden
“My dear David,
This is your Birthday, and how I wish – . Never mind, I guess I shall have you next year … Yesterday I had your letter of the 16th may which I did not expect till quite the end of the week … I think the censors must be putting in some overtime as letters are getting through quicker than they used … About the beach bungalow, … you are a genius at drawing plans …”