(The Departure)
Mere words can scarcely express my joy. Indeed the prospect of participating in the war effort is certainly invigorating. My upbringing furthermore is best described, in positive terms as privileged, yet cosseted. You see, I have long harboured a thirst for exploration. Yet my preliminary years have but suffered from ignorance of the world beyond Devon. Upon the very start of the War, I, being an impressionable 16 year old took it upon myself to apply-despite the many entreaties and persuasions of my father. During that period, little else mattered to me.
My elder brother, Henry is in command of the third battalion currently stationed at Ypres. How I longed to belong to that regiment. Two further years of school were upon me- I could have cared less. In spite of my age, the general appeal of War overcame me. Unfortunately, it was apparent that my father had known the exact details of what such inclinations had propositioned me to do. Upon that very day, I had been called up to his chambers where he was confined by the gout. Never before had I seen him in quite a state; his eyes were wet with tears, upon my approach, he clasped my hands in his. Yet he commanded me to do his bidding and remain at home.
Naturally, I was deeply affected by this discourse and had resolved to remain with him always, but alas! A few days would wear it all off. My enthusiasm would grow. Finally, I had concluded to run away from him at the beginning of this year I could scarce contain my impatience; the old man might hear of it in some way or the other. My actions, I admit were ill defined, but what man can resist the honour of their own nation? I am proud to serve the King and Country. It would indeed have been a shame to remain at home with my father like a child whilst other like-minded men are diligently providing their defences to Britain.
I am seated alongside a few admirable souls; this includes my good friend Jamie (I had taken up residence with him briefly due to my leaving father's house). All appear to retain a steadfast longing for their homes and mothers, yet even greater anticipation for battle underscored the primary feelings. Indeed to deny that my own feelings, that my mind occasionally strayed to my father, would be deception of the highest form.
I will end here- for it is advisable to gain some rest in preparation for the weeks/months ahead.
With Good Faith
Charlie
(B)
16th April 1918
To my dear and most beloved father,
I yearn for the salty air of Plymouth, the blue cloudless sky, the green land. I desire the warmth of the clear sea, my darling Cecilia, but most significantly, of all, I pine for your company. I cannot express the extent of longing for Charlie.
My every waking hour is preoccupied with this foul monstrosity of a war. I am currently residing in what is safely to be described as a living hell on earth. The consistency of rodents is utterly abominable- many approximate the dimensions of a domestic cat. The greater the effort to be rid of them, the greater the population increase it seems. I am soaked to the skin- the trenches do become flooded at times. Furthermore, though I am ashamed to say it, the sense of fear is overwhelming.
As their commander, I am entitled to ease the tension so often experienced by my fellow men, yet many are beyond even the preliminary state of common sense. A good few have been sent home due to what is commonly referred to as 'shell shock'. And can one blame them? The quantity of noise emitted from the opposing side is enough to drive any decent soul insane. Under the rarest circumstances, I have been left with no alternative other than the use of dramatic action against those for whom the madness reaches a stage of unbearably. It pains me greatly to perform this task, yet it has to be done, - the men had aught to remember that we are all unified under the common purpose of victory for our nation.
I will continue to attempt to raise their spirits in spite of our evident sorrow- it is important for one's commander to never express their true emotion
It is not my intention to worry you with this message, I urge you to remain strong on my behalf and on behalf of little Charles. Take care to keep him away from the appeal- remind him that not everything is as it appears.
Love Always
Henry
coven-m
The prose is very flowery. These guys come from a wealthy well educated family. And the attitude is very "proper". If Henry really wanted to keep his silly little bro out of the war, he should have written directly, not this indirect stuff.
All in all, hard to get too emotionally attached, it's all too carefully constructed to feel emotion coming through. When I compare to Catch-22, another story about people in a war, I feel emotions coming through much stronger in Catch-22.
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