www.greatchartatwar.org.uk Sample Letters from the Soldiers
A taste of the letters from the men on active service...

If you would like to read more of these letters please contact me: dave@greatchartatwar.org.uk

There were 3 Skinner brothers and two Skinner Cousins from Great Chart who served in WWI.
Here is a sample of their letters to the Friends of Great Chart:

L-Sergeant Albert Edward Skinner
KIA Palestine 4 November 1917

                                                No. 1811 Lance-Corporal A. E. Skinner

                                                                         B Companys Platoon

                                                                         Kent Battalion

                                                                         3rd Infantry Brigade

                                                                         1st Welsh Division

                                                                                         Bedford

6/ 6/15

 

Dear Friends of Great Chart,

 

A few lines thanking you very much for writing outfit and handkerchief and views of Great Chart. Glad to see that Great Chart Parish is doing their little bit for “Dear Old England” hoping we shall all return again. I see by the “Roll of Honour” that 63 is a very good total for a small Parish like ours. I see that most of them have joined “The Buffs” and a good Old Regiment with a lot of honours and hope we shall gain a few more to add to the Honour list.

 

I found that when I was home last week that Great Chart was not like it was a year ago the Cricket Ground does not look the same no matches this year still hope we shall see it look well after the war is over and have some good games again Thanking you all for the gifts of remembrance.

 

Good luck to all of you

         from yours truly

         L/C A. E. Skinner

 

Private Douglas Skinner

 

                                            1762 E Coy 1/5 East Kent Regt. The Buffs

                                                                                 Kamptee C. P.

                                                                                 India

 

Nov. 1915

 

Dear Friends of Grt. Chart

        

                                 A few more lines to you all hoping these few lines will find you all still in the best of health as all the “Boys” are all still A1.

 

Dear Friends of Grt. Chart I am writing these few lines to thank you all very much for so kindly sending out the most delicious cake to me: you will all like to know mine was in a very good condition thanks to the Army & Navy Stores for packing it so neatly. One or two cakes I see were all gone, they were green with mildew I can’t say what made them go like it, but still they had a piece of cake as we went in (Co) shares. Dear Friends I expect by the time you get this letter that we shall be gone to “somewhere” as we are going on Saturday most likely. I wish you all a Happy Christmas & a Bright & Prosperous New Year, and I hope that the terrible slaughter will soon end, but it don’t look as if it will yet for a month or two yet, cannot call it a proper war on the enemies part.

 

I also received your picture-post-card which also looked rather good. There is not any thing to say about India this time but expect to tell you a little more when I write again to you as I expect we shall see a little more of the world.

 

We are rather busy this week so you must all excuse short letter & bad writing.

 

Well dear Friends I must close my letter now thanking you all once again for so kindly remembering us. Believe me

 

I remain

 

                                                                     yours truly

 

                                                                               Pvt. D. Skinner

 

Christopher George Skinner

 

 

                                                               Sapper C Skinner 196163

                                                               198th Quarrying Company

                                                               Royal Engineers

                                                               A.P.O. (28)  B.E.F.

                                                                                                        France

 

25/ 7/17

 

Dear Madam and all at Gt. Chart

 

Just a line in answer to the parcel which I received quite safe and I was very pleased with it. We have had a little rain out hear but not much it is very warm with it. I expect you are very busy haying over there now they are out here and I hope you will have a good Harvest and I should like to have been over to help get the hay in but still hope too next year. Should like to be over to the Harvest thanksgiving this year but still I dont expect we shall be able to as we are busy over hear. Hope this will find you all quite well as it leaves me alright. I think this is all for this time   Yours truly

 

C Skinner

 
And a letter from their Cousin

Gunner A W Skinner

58416

Gnr A W Skinner

77 Hvy Battery Regt

Mesopotamia

Expeditionary Force

3/3/18

 

To Friends of Great Chart

 

I have much pleasure in writing a few more lines and hopeing to find all the friends in the best of health as I am still the same at presant. I must say I received the Xmas parcel quite safe end enjoyed the cake very much. I again must say we were in isolation camp when I received it me and eight more of the battery as one of the chaps staying in same tent caught Measles and we were isolated to prevent it spreading. And I might mention that they had a taste with me and we all enjoyed it very as it was the only piece of anything we had to remind us it was Xmas time not even a piece of Duff this year. I must now say I was very sorry to see in the paper that Mrs and Mrs Skinner of the Street lost their son I think it was in Palestine.  I was pleased with the list of names sent to me but I should liked to have had Sergt Kemps of the West Kents before as they were laying by us for some time but they are on the opposite river now and I saw the two Hardings in October last and we had two jolly days together. I have written to them since have had no reply up till now I think they told me Douglas Skinner had been invalided back to India. I must now close as I want this to catch this weeks mail but I must mention I have received 3 small parcels the Xmas parcel 3 letter and I think the verses fine very good indeed this is what I received up till now another parcel mail is expected shortly believe me to remain your sincere friend

Gnr A W Skinner

I have written to my brother in France I did not have his address before.

 

Walter C Skinner