Return to Wright H J Pte 151
48 H J Wright to family 7 August 1918, Somewhere in France
My Dear Mother, Father, Sisters & Brothers,
I am going into a big fight tonight and would just like to write a few lines for one never knows what may happen. I cannot tell you where we are making our big drive but you will all read of it in the papers. Well dear parents, brothers & sisters, should I go under you will know I have done my duty and have always tried to play the game.
I do indeed feel very thankful that Charlie, Bert and Fred are back home with you. I am going into that great fight with a good heart and with loving thoughts of you all.
My fondest love to all.
I remain, your ever loving son, Henry.
49 H J Wright to Mother, 25 Aug 1918, France
Images of letter from Henry to Mother
France August 25th 1918
My Dear Mother,
Have just come out from the front line & our Division are supposed to be out for a couple of weeks spell but everything is so indefinite we may have to go in again in a few days time. Well dear Mother we had not near as much fighting as in our last advance. What do you think of the War news now old Fritz is getting it hot all along the front. I think it only the beginning of a severe fighting for him every day the Allies are pushing them back at some part & the prisoners we are capturing are enormous Guns, Ammunition & salvage of all kinds we are getting every day. One of the Battalions of our Brigade were back in the Reserve line while we were in & were amusing themselves in their spare time by firing back thousands of rounds of shells (Whizz Bang) from a captured German Gun. An Artillery Officer had obliged by fixing these Guns on a busy part of Fritz's lines & our men peppered him with his own medicine, you can imagine the Huns would be wild being bombarded with their own artillery.
Well dear Mother I was very pleased to receive your letter of 23rd June & to know you are all well, but you must not worry so much about me I will come through alright I will admit it is much different to my job at Tidworth but still I do not mind I guess it is my fate to see it through & dear Mother I am ever so thankful it has fallen to myself as the eldest of we four boys to carry on it does indeed make it much easy for me to know my younger brothers are safe home. I am applying for my furlough to Australia but of course will probably have to wait my turn. Pauline says in her letter that she is also trying to get me home so between us we may soon have satisfaction. I think I should just about go off my head at the thoughts of coming back to Aussie again. We are always hearing news of the 1914 men being relieved from the line but it seems to stop at that anyway I mean to try hard for it.
Well dear Mother I am pleased to know Charlie is going through the operation to his arm & do hope it will be a success & am also pleased to know Bert, Fred & Leslie are working, hope Leslie has changed his mind about joining up & I hope Dad is alright again, I reckon Dad ought to have a spell for good, he has done his share of graft still dear Mother I know Dad would not be satisfied with nothing to do. I still have the snap that Fred took of Dad in the garden & like it very much it brings back memories of that day Charlie & I were told to weed the peas but we went off bird nesting but when we came home for tea we had to set to & do the weeding before tea, well they were good old times & we boys had as good a home as anyone could wish for. I received a letter from Charlie, Les, & Fred by same mail as yours but I will owe them a letter, we are limited in sending letters & I want to make certain of one for you & Pauline every week. Well Mother I have made a lot of friends since coming back to the trenches but I cannot say they are nice ones they are grey in colour & have legs on both sides Some say Keatings [flea]powder is good but I think a change of flannells much better. People say "chats" will not live on a person in poor health. I must be in top top health!
Well now dear Mother I must draw my letter to a close so hoping this finds you all in the best of health & fondest love to all
I remain your loving son Henry.
Henry Wright - In Memorium
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