Monday 17 March 2008
Photo of Football Team
Ethel's father (John Caleb Southahall)is the man kneeling on the right hand side of the picture.
The team is believed to have been in the Church League.
The team is believed to have been in the Church League.
The Band of R.A.M.C.
This photo was taken between the years of 1912 and 1915 before the unit went to France
Introduction to Franks letter 14th Aug 1914
Introduction to Franks letter 14th Aug 1914
The following letter was Franks first letter to Ethel after the regiment was posted to Burton on Trent and just some 10 days after the outbreak of war.
It is interesting to note in the letter he writes that his hope for a peaceful end to the war before Christmas. I’m afraid he had to endure 4 years of the most terrible war in history.
The following letter was Franks first letter to Ethel after the regiment was posted to Burton on Trent and just some 10 days after the outbreak of war.
It is interesting to note in the letter he writes that his hope for a peaceful end to the war before Christmas. I’m afraid he had to endure 4 years of the most terrible war in history.
Franks letter 14th Aug 1914 Franks letter 14th Aug 1914
14/8/14 (written on the paper of YMCA, Burton on Trent)
3rd NMFA, B Section
RAMC
Christ Church Schools
Uxbridge Street
Burton
Dear Ethel
We are now stationed at Burton, and you have my present address until I should let you know different. Burton is not so bad, we arrived here this Wednesday afternoon and we are staying at schools. Hope this letter will find you well and much brighter. Sorry I had to rush by you in such a manner, hope your mother did not think anything, did not have a chance to speak to her. Well Ethel I feel very lonely without you, I am afraid I shall have to try and get used to it. I was told today I should be a lucky chap if I had my xmas day at Willenhall. Well I hope long before then things will arrive at a peaceful end, it depends a lot on the big battle now raging. I suppose Ethel you feel very strange knowing that you may not see me for some time. Still we have strong faith in one another now. I have more in you now than ever I had, when I was always with you. But it is so, and it takes a lot of worry off ones mind when they know they can trust their own dear Sweetheart in their own absence from her, it being perhaps a long stay from one another yet she will be faithful.
You are loved by my whole heart and soul, ever I shall think of you in our absence from one another, and am confident of the same returns from you. Hope dear Ethel you are not fretting because of me, knowing we love each other from the depth of each heart will bring along happiness which will take away part of the former sorrow, both looking forward to a speedy meeting, having good courage in one another at all times, and in what part I may be forced to serve. Pleased am I that you were so proud of me when in the field at Bentley, in spite of all being in the field, you had hopes of getting a last kiss for a time. Florrie Ash will not have courage like that if she goes with David years, sticking by my side as long as you could being with me until I left the district, all that put more love, faith, courage, and made my heart glad with my loving Ethel.
Do you wish me to write all letters to Market Place, expect you do. Hope you get them all, if Federation get hold of them will they always give you letters if you are not in. Let me know all this in your letter which I shall be waiting every post now you have my address. Excuse spelling and writing if there be mistakes because I am writing in such a hurry. Goodnight my Loving Darling.
I am XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXX and shall always
XXXXXX remain your loving & Faithful Boy
XXXXXX Frank
XXXXXX think they are all real 15/02/08 by Staffordshire soldiers great war
14/8/14 (written on the paper of YMCA, Burton on Trent)
3rd NMFA, B Section
RAMC
Christ Church Schools
Uxbridge Street
Burton
Dear Ethel
We are now stationed at Burton, and you have my present address until I should let you know different. Burton is not so bad, we arrived here this Wednesday afternoon and we are staying at schools. Hope this letter will find you well and much brighter. Sorry I had to rush by you in such a manner, hope your mother did not think anything, did not have a chance to speak to her. Well Ethel I feel very lonely without you, I am afraid I shall have to try and get used to it. I was told today I should be a lucky chap if I had my xmas day at Willenhall. Well I hope long before then things will arrive at a peaceful end, it depends a lot on the big battle now raging. I suppose Ethel you feel very strange knowing that you may not see me for some time. Still we have strong faith in one another now. I have more in you now than ever I had, when I was always with you. But it is so, and it takes a lot of worry off ones mind when they know they can trust their own dear Sweetheart in their own absence from her, it being perhaps a long stay from one another yet she will be faithful.
You are loved by my whole heart and soul, ever I shall think of you in our absence from one another, and am confident of the same returns from you. Hope dear Ethel you are not fretting because of me, knowing we love each other from the depth of each heart will bring along happiness which will take away part of the former sorrow, both looking forward to a speedy meeting, having good courage in one another at all times, and in what part I may be forced to serve. Pleased am I that you were so proud of me when in the field at Bentley, in spite of all being in the field, you had hopes of getting a last kiss for a time. Florrie Ash will not have courage like that if she goes with David years, sticking by my side as long as you could being with me until I left the district, all that put more love, faith, courage, and made my heart glad with my loving Ethel.
Do you wish me to write all letters to Market Place, expect you do. Hope you get them all, if Federation get hold of them will they always give you letters if you are not in. Let me know all this in your letter which I shall be waiting every post now you have my address. Excuse spelling and writing if there be mistakes because I am writing in such a hurry. Goodnight my Loving Darling.
I am XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXX and shall always
XXXXXX remain your loving & Faithful Boy
XXXXXX Frank
XXXXXX think they are all real 15/02/08 by Staffordshire soldiers great war
Introduction to Frank's letter of Aug 4th 1914
Introduction to Frank’s letter of the 4th Aug 1914.
We should like to include some background information about Frank’s regiment, in an attempt to make the first paragraph in the letter easier to understand.
It had been planned for some time that the TA unit would attend a training camp at Rhyl and that they would march from Walsall to Rhyl. In the first two days the covered a distance of 34 miles.
It was on the 4th Aug that Britain declared war on Germany (same day as letter was written).
It was at this point the regiment had an urgent recall to headquarters to prepare for mobilization.
Frank had been looking forward to attending this camp at Rhyl for some time and was very disappointed that it didn’t take place.
We should like to include some background information about Frank’s regiment, in an attempt to make the first paragraph in the letter easier to understand.
It had been planned for some time that the TA unit would attend a training camp at Rhyl and that they would march from Walsall to Rhyl. In the first two days the covered a distance of 34 miles.
It was on the 4th Aug that Britain declared war on Germany (same day as letter was written).
It was at this point the regiment had an urgent recall to headquarters to prepare for mobilization.
Frank had been looking forward to attending this camp at Rhyl for some time and was very disappointed that it didn’t take place.
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