Shropshire Routes to Roots

4. Letters home

Learning from personal correspondence

Christmas card from Flanders, 1916 Larger image, in a new window [29kb] [Shropshire Archive reference: 5310/C/5]

Christmas card sent from Flanders by Private W.J. Higley in 1916. It reads "From Wilfred, To my dear sister Cissie".

Christmas card sent from Britain to the Front, 1916. The patriotic message inside reads; "As waves the flag of Empire's pride, On land and ocean blue, So do the thoughts of thee abide, As ever - loyal and true. From Ada to Wilfred."

Christmas card from home, 1916 Larger image, in a new window [39kb] [Shropshire Archive reference: 5310/C/8]

It's possible that someone in your existing family has examples of personal correspondence from a family member dating from the First World War. The only way for soldiers at war to keep in touch with their families back home was through letters and cards. Christmas cards featuring patriotic themes were very common. There was also a standard card which the soldiers could fill in. It contained almost no personal information, being designed to prevent the enemy from gleaning any information about the soldiers unit and position.

Ask your family if they have any letters, cards or photographs from a soldier who was in France and Flanders or any other theatre of war.

Letter to W.J. Higley from his father Larger image and transcription, in a new window [74kb] [Shropshire Archive reference: 5310/C/14]

Letter to Private W.J. Higley ASC, from his father George Higley of Preston Street, Shrewsbury. Dated November 4th, 1917. Wilfred Higley died of wounds on 13th November, 1917. This letter was returned.

• See if you can read the letter. Click on the link below the image to see a larger image and a transcription.

Its not only letters and cards which can give us a lot of information about an individual soldier. The envelopes in which they're delivered can tell us a lot. Look at this envelope. Notice the service number and the name of the soldiers unit.

Envelope addressed to W.J. Higley in France.

Addressed to France Larger image in a new window [30kb] [Shropshire Archive reference: 5310/C/15]

Last Letters Larger image, in a new window [23kb] [Shropshire Archive reference: 5310/C/15]

Reverse of the above envelope. It reads, "These last letters that Wilf received, and sent back from France. Out of his pocket. Ciss."

Ciss was Wilfred's sister. She often wrote to her brother and cousins in France and Flanders. Families would also send warm clothing and food to their men at the front.

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