Great Uncle Jack | a life in letters
My great uncle Jack (John William Kingsland) was called up in August 1917, on his 18th birthday. He joined the Seaforth Highlanders as a private. His father was a travelling Congregational minister and Jack lived in Devizes. He had done very well at school and postponed going to university to serve. He was sent to the Western Front on the 18th May 1918 and was in the front line that September. He wrote many letters to his parents (about 80)and kept a war diary, written in shorthand, about half of which has been transcribed. He was in action at Valenciennes, was injured and died about 6 days later. His parents wrote trying to find out about his injuries and the telegram, telling them he'd been killed, arrived at 9am on Armistice Day. They received about 150 letters of condolence, some from his fellow soldiers, and these letters give an idea of how the middle classes dealt with grief. The collection of artefacts also includes medals and correspondence from authorities (including the bill for engraving his name on the war memorial); we can be contacted if people would like to see the material.
CONTRIBUTOR
Richard Tillett & Clare Bonney
DATE
/
LANGUAGE
eng
ITEMS
1
INSTITUTION
Europeana 1914-1918
PROGRESS
METADATA
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Letters from Great Uncle Horace
7 Items
Horace Walter Brumbridge was my Dad's favourite Uncle. He was on HMS Sentinel in 1914. The two letters shown here were written to Horace's sister, Rose Violet (my dear Vi - my paternal Grandmother), November and December of 1914. One envelope is stamped Censored. The folded notepaper has 2 Union Jacks printed on the front. Cigarettes were clearly a welcome comfort in icy seas off West Lothian in winter, and there are other snippets giving insight into his daily life. Reference is also made to old Bess back at home (in Horace's brother Walter Brumridge's Dairy, in Albion Road, St Peters, Broadstairs), who was visiting wounded Belgians every day.\n My Dad also noted that Horace was on submarine HMS E31. On a Google search, I found a photograph of the crew of E31, c.1918 and feel sure that Great Uncle Horace is on the back row, fourth from the right. Also there's an account at Wikipedia about HMS E31 : HMS E31 was involved in a curious incident when she was operating with the sea plane carrier Engadine in the North Sea in an air raid on the Zeppelin sheds at Tondern on 4 May 1916. HMS E31 surfaced and spotted Zeppelin L 7. She dived to avoid attack. While at periscope depth, it was observed that the Zeppelin was losing altitude as it had been hit by shells from the light cruisers Galatea and Phaeton. HMS E31 surfaced to shoot the Zeppelin down and rescued seven survivors. ??? Horace Brumbridge died Dec 1924 (aged 29/30 years), when my Dad was aged 8 years. I recall my Dad (who died Feb 1986) saying that Horace may've been affected by the 'bends' ? Unconfirmed. || Two letters written from HMS Sentinel, Nov/Dec 1914. A photo of Horace Walter Brumbridge in uniform. Unverified photo from website www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk which may show Horace in the crew of E31 c.1918 || || My Great Uncle Horace Brumbridge || Photograph || Great Uncle Horace Brumbridge, aged 19 years || || Letter || 55.97022920000001,-3.1760380000000623 || || Photograph || Found at website: www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk || Crew of E31 c.1918 || || Wrist watch from Great Uncle Horace to Gordon, my Dad || Inscribed watch || || Horace W Bumbridge || Medal || Horace's Medals
Our Great Uncle Jack plus unknown compatriot
1 Item
Taken at an unidentifiable location: Jack Elkins, on the left, with unknown compatriot
Great Uncle Horace
18 Items
Letter to his siter Blanche,dated Feb 19th, saying he did not want to go to France; Photo of Horace in uniform; Photo of Horace's war grave; Explanation of where in Belgium the grave is || Horace Hawtin, brother of Blanche Hawtin (married to Ernest Newman, see separate story). Horace was in 11th batallion, The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Rgt). He died on October 10 1918, only 21 years old. || || Letter from Horace || Letter || Front || || Front || Photo of Horace Hawtin || Photograph