30 letters sent to relatives in Carmarthen between 1914 and 1916 by Harry White
This collection of 30 letters and one standard Field Service Postcard were sent by Harry White mainly to his two sisters, Lillie White and Lucy Jenkins (née White) in Carmarthen between 1914 and 1916. One letter which contained a codicil to his will, following a period of leave, was sent to his brother-in-law, Rev. James Jenkins, who was, with Lillie, an executor of Harry’s will. The letters contain many requests of items to be sent: cakes (home cooked as well as bought from Buzzards), knitted socks, Callard and Bowser’s butterscotch, Wright’s Coal Tar soap, Coopers Oxford marmalade, anchovy paste, Clemax safety razor blades and “bromide sanitary paper (flat)”. The grim conditions in the trenches are described, and there is one chain letter. Some letters are from Barry where he was sent have been wounded at Loos in October 1915, and one from Le Tréport where he was in hospital with quinsy. Money is mentioned in his letters to Lillie and it may be that she was remunerated by him for the items sent.
