Mary Heberden
Extract from a WW1 letter dated 19 November 1917
From Mary Heberden in Cheltenham to May Muggridge in Beckenham
“You were se very kind in letting me know all Mr Taylor was able to tell me about my son’s death on July 10 … Sergt Taylor … was with my dear son when he died … He could not hear the right address … He added “I must say he was a brave soldier and died a hero” … I think it is so very nice of him to write and I am thankful to know that … Again thanking you for so kindly writing …”
Books for PoW
Extract from WW1 letter dated 11 August 1917
From May Muggridge in Beckenham (UK) to David Henry Taylor, PoW in Germany
“My dear David,
Just a short letter to tell you I have sent some books off this morning to you … When you get these books will you let me know the next subject you would like … I have been looking up trains and expect to go by the 1.50 pm from London Bridge, due Littlehampton at 3.42 … Goodbye.
May.”
Extract from WW1 letter dated 22 October 1917
From May Muggridge in Beckenham (UK) to David Henry Taylor, PoW in Germany
“My dear David,
I was hoping to hear from you this weekend, but I have not so far … Saturday afternoon I did shopping and wound wool … A few days ago I wrote to Batsfords asking if the books had been dispatched … But that Frouds Historical Essays were then being bound … I will see them tomorrow and ask …”
Red Cross enquiry
Extract from WW1 letter dated 20 August 1917
From Red Cross international committee in Geneva to David Henry Taylor in Germany
“Dear Sir,
We shall be glad if you can give some news of yourself, as to your health etc … If you are not well enough to write yourself, perhaps a fellow prisoner would do so for you …”
May to David PoW
When May knew that David was a POW (Prisoner Of War), she started to send letters to him about her daily work.
Extract from WW1 letter dated 20 August 1917
From May Muggridge in Beckenham, London to David Henry Taylor in Germany.
“My dear David,
Things are going on as usual, business all day, gardening, mending and bazaar work each evening … Business: we are taking over another company which makes the fifth within the last few years … Gardening: our potatoes are a grand success … we transplant cauliflowers and parsnips … Yesterday I went to see Mrs Taylor and found her most excited … She had received a postcard from you … She would not let me take your postcard away with me so I learnt it by heart…”
David is Prisoner
One month after the official disappearance of David, Fanny receives a telegram from Geneva (Switzerland), she quickly wrote to her daughter to tell her the news.
Extract from WW1 letter dated 5 August 1917
From Fanny Taylor in Balham, London to Ethel Linn in USA
“My darling Ethel,
Last evening I received a telegram from Geneva Switzerland saying Lieut David Taylor reported prisoner Karlsruhe. RedCross … Now dearie we must try and look on the bright side, and pray that all will be kind to David …”
Wounded and Missing
15 days after she received a letter from Edward Campbell about the disappearance of her son, Fanny sent a letter to her daughter with good news … David is alive!
Extract from WW1 letter dated 27 July 1917
From Fanny in Balham to Ethel Linn in USA
“My darling Ethel,
I see in this week’s Weekly Times … that David is a prisoner in German hands … I do hope they will be kind to all of them … I am fairly well … Hoping all is well with you all …”
Unfortunately, Ethel receives another letter from her mother three days later with a bad news…
Extract from WW1 letter dated 30 July 1917
From Fanny in Balham to Ethel Linn in USA
“My darling Ethel,
I feel so sorry, we had the paragraph in the Weekly Times wrong … So as far as we know he is still wounded and missing … So I must wait … But in my own thoughts he is killed … The box of chocolates I sent to David on the 6 of July has been returned marked Missing … I know I am not the only Mother who son is gone …”