Emotional letters from the war to a loved son's family

September 8 1916 Dear Mother and Father Thanks very much for your letter, No 18, and parcel of cakes, chocolate (keeping for trenches) and writing pad (using), all most acceptable.

We are having a splendid time here. The people are most kind. The weather is good and it is fine to live in proper houses again. We are getting 48 hours leave, some have gone and I shall go if there is time before we return to the trenches. I hear that we leave here Tuesday but it is not official. The country around is very pretty. I am out every morning giving the signallers practice. We have just had a draft of five officers from the 3rd Battalion. I knew three of them. We are taking the opportunity of holding sports and playing football and cricket here.

Your affectionate son, Wilfrid September 13, 1916 My dear Mother and Father I have just returned from 48 hours leave at Rouen and we have since moved up once more to the vicinity of the fighting. We very much enjoyed our little holiday. I was very pleased to receive your letter, No 19, last night and the promise of a parcel, including a baked pudding, is exciting.

I also received a letter from Mrs H thanking me for the postcard and saying they enjoyed their drive to Cirencester.

I believe we are only up for a week this time and then we shall be sent to a quieter part of the line I expect. Can you please send me a strong sponge bag and a celluloid toothbrush container. Our little holiday has made me realise discomforts to which I had become accustomed but shall soon settle down again.

With love to Ethel, Your affectionate son, Wilfrid September 14, 1916 Dear Mother and Father Many thanks for the welcome parcel; fruit especially was welcome. I may not have time to write for a few days as we are busy now but are not in the thick of it.

I had a letter from Mrs S today. She says she is sending a parcel. No news.

Your affectionate son, Wilfrid September 19, 1916 Dear Mother and Father I was hit on the 16th but am now in capable hands and expect to be in England during the next few days. My present address is 43rd Field Ambulance. Hope I have let you know I am quite safe.

Wilfrid September 20 1916 Dear Mrs Clappen Your son, Lieut W J Clappen asks me to let you know he is here in hospital suffering from rifle wounds which are healing nicely. He is getting every attention and should soon be able to be removed.

Yours sincerely Canon R A Adderley CF September 22 1916 My Dear Mrs Clappen I feel very sad as I write to you. You will have heard that your son came into hospital with a wound in this throat. We hoped so very much that all might be well, though we knew it was very bad. Last evening he became much worse and passed peacefully away this afternoon. I think it may be a comfort to you to know that the surgeon who looked after him is a very clever man, and all was done that possibly could be for Lieut Clappen. So many of our very best have fallen it is good to remember that they have gone to better things. I feel so very much for you in your great loss.

Yours sincerely K Bateman Sister in Charge 36th Casualty Clearing Station September 23 1916 I am very sorry to have to tell you that your dear son, Lieut W J Clappen passed away yesterday at 2.55pm. We were hoping he would have pulled through but God willed it otherwise. During his illness he received my ministrations most gratefully and died a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

I buried him this evening in Heilly Military Cemetery. Please accept my deepest sympathy in your sad loss and may God comfort and sustain you.

Your sincerely Canon R A Adderley CF September 26, 1916 Regret impossible to bring body home.

Adjutant General Dear Mr Clappen The Adjutant showed me your letter in which you said you would like to hear more about your son’s death.

I knew your son slightly before the war at the University.

After he became Signalling Officer he used to mess with the Lewis Gun Officer and me, a very harmonious and jolly time we had together.

When we went down to the Somme only 20 officers were allowed to go up to the trenches at a time and as there was practically no signalling there (since we were in Delville Wood) Wilfrid was left behind with the Lewis Gun Officer and several others.

He always resented this inactivity although he knew quite well how horrible it was up there. When we went in for the last time he managed to persuade the CO to allow him to go too. His behaviour throughout was splendid.

First of all a shell blew eight men to pieces near him and cut him slightly in the neck but he didn’t seem to turn a hair. About half an hour later a shell killed another Officer and a Sergeant-Major and blew Wilfrid head over heels. He came and told us about it as if nothing had happened.

The following day he was very much in evidence signalling to aeroplanes, sniping and observing. By two o’clock there were no officers left in the front line and Wilfrid was sent over to take command.

Half an hour later we heard that he too, was hit and I was sent over.

I found him lying in an old German gun emplacement shot through the neck. He was well bandaged and had a man with him. All he wanted was a stretcher. I promised to get him away as soon as it was dark. After that I was kept busy until dusk. Just when I was hoping for a short rest and an opportunity of removing some of the wounded, the Adjutant came up and said we had orders to attach again in an hour’s time. I went back to the gun emplacement afterwards but Wilfrid was not there and they told me he had walked out with the help of two men. The news of his death was a blow to us all. It was a sad day and has left the survivors still dazed. Please accept my most sincere sympathy in your great loss.

Yours sincerely Lieutenant A Todd, 10th Durham Light Infantry October 5 1916 Dear Mr Clappen I must offer you my sincerest sympathy in the loss you have sustained in the death of your gallant son.

He is a great loss to me and the Battalion generally.

I had not been in the habit of taking him into the trenches lately until the 15th September, because I had not needed his services as signal officer. I therefore had had little opportunity of judging his value as a fighting officer.

However, he was with me for 24 hours, from the 15th, and in that short time I had formed the very highest opinion of him as a thoroughly capable and gallant soldier.

We had made an attack in the morning (16th) which failed owing to heavy machine gun fire, and during the afternoon I sent your son – who had been with me hitherto – to reorganise what men there were in our front line, and subsequently received a note from him stating he had been wounded and requesting that another officer be sent to take his place.

Later I went up to the road myself to arrange for another attack, and I was certain I saw your son lying dead on the road, and gave orders that he was to be buried.

It seems, however, that I must have been mistaken and that it could not have been him as it appears he had gone down wounded by that time.

I hear now he has died of wounds, shot, I was told, by a rifle or machine gun bullet through the face and jaw, and perhaps neck into the region of his shoulder and lung.

I am certain he was a very fine fellow and has impressed me greatly, and I was deeply distressed at his death, and can only offer you and Mrs Clappen my deepest sympathy, whilst personally I deplore the death of one of my best and bravest officers.

Yours very truly Hubert Morant Lieutenant-Colonel 22 October 1916 THE King and Queen deeply regret the loss you and the Army have sustained in the death of your son in the service of his country. Their Majesties truly sympathise with you in your sorrow.

Keeper of the Privy Purse OHMS Buckingham Palace l For more news visit the website at wiltsglosstandard.co.uk