This month we are remembering those who have fallen in battle, fighting for freedom and peace.
Below we have a letter written home during WW1.
It was written by Rifleman Sidney W. Smallcombe, 62807, to his family on October 8th, 1918
He was 17 years 7 months when he enlisted in 1917. He served with the Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire Regiment)
My dear Mother and Father,
Just a few lines hoping they will find all at home in the best of health as it leaves me the same. Well I can’t make it out. I have wrote two letters home, and one to our Steve, and one to our Lill, and I have not had an answer to any of them yet, but I don’t think you have forgotten me have you.
Well it is my birthday today, and I (am) 19 as I suppose you know. What do you think of the war news. What with Bulgaria giving in and Turkey thinking of it I reckon it won’t last the year out. Well the winter is coming on us now, and I can tell you we begin to know it and all. It is a week since I have had any letter from anyone.
This is all I have to say so I will close and remain your loving son,
Sid
X X X X X X
He was killed in action in Picardy on 11th October just three days after he wrote that letter.
The telegram to his family probably got home before his letter which I still have.
Dad and I went to see the memorial at Vis-en-Artois to those who died, he has no grave.
Rifleman Sidney W. Smallcombe was Chris Willis’s Grandmother’s older brother, and she never forgot “Our Sid”.
