18th Battalion Bradford pals letters

[stuart]

Here is a little something i bought a few years ago, it isn't badge related but i thought it might interest other Bradford pals collectors. Unfortunately Mr. Wilks was killed on the 1st July and these letters are accounts of what happened, at the time the replies never really gave solid proof that Mr. Wilks was killed that day which must have been torture on the Family. Very moving letters indeed.
P.S I have cropped the letters into two sections as it was hard to read when posted as one whole letter.

Kind regards,

Stuart

[stuart]

2nd letter

[stuart]

Enquiries form for casualties.

[stuart]

Follow up from the Red Cross.

[mooke07]

Thanks for sharing these Stuart.

They are indeed tragic in detail and sadly repeated on a massive scale. The Bradford Pals are near and dear to me also as a Durham Pals descendent.

In my Grandad's writings of the Battle of the Somme there are many accounts of getting word of a chum being killed and only when in an aid post does he mention a grave marker and that is of Basel Hallam a downed aviator. No time for burials for the most part I should think, cheers Dean.