Lincoln soldier’s letters from the Great War published

Letters from a Lincoln soldier to his sister outline the grim reality of serving at The Front during the First Word War.

The letters (above) are featured in the book From Harry to Alice, which has been published by Alison and Alan Johnson to highlight the soldier’s ordeal of active service between 1916-18.

There are about 90 letters, which were written by Alan’s great-uncle Harry North to his sister Alice Johnson back in Lincoln while he was serving with the British Army on the frontline in France and Belgium.

They were found at the Hillside Avenue home of Alan’s mother’s, Kath Johnson when she moved to sheltered housing on Rasen Lane and were written to Alice at various Lincoln addresses including 4 Burton Road (now the Bronze Pig), which was a cycle shop belonging to Alan’s family.

Alison and Alan decided to publish the letters to share Harry’s experiences – they chart how he changed from his being an excited new recruit to recounting the bleak reality of life at the Front.

“In one of his early letters (p.19), while he was in training on the Lincolnshire coast, he writes that they had a new officer who had bought them all a plate and a bowl. To me, that shows how unprepared for war the British Army was, said Alison 

She had transcribed the letters as they were in a delicate condition and they have all now all been scanned.

“For me, the letters relate everyday life in wartime conditions; there's no drama or glory in Harry's life, just sheer slog a lot of the time

“In one letter (p105), you can see a blob of blood at the top that he says came from one of his ‘pals’. I think that this is blood from a louse; he is so matter of fact about it and about rats running all around them.

“The quote on the back cover (see below) really shows his overall mood at that period of the war, he just wants to be home again.”

Harry was wounded and hospitalised and then trained other soldiers how to use machine guns and he also writes about his duties after the war as well as events back in Lincoln including the birth of his nephew, Ted, Alan’s father, who was born in the North family home in Waldeck Street. 

Harry did make it home and married Gladys – they are both buried in Newport Cemetery where their headstone (pictured below) is being renovated by Alan and Alison.

The couple now live County Limerick Ireland, but he describes himself as an ‘ex-Vine Street lad’ who discovered more about his family through the letters.

“I enjoyed finding more about Harry's early life because I had only known him as a baker in Carholme Road and later as someone living in Tempest St who let me practise driving in his new Austin car.”

From Harry to Alice is available at the Jews’ Court book shop and Lindum Books.

Pictured above is Harry North in 1916.

Alice is pictured (below) with her husband Alf Johnson and Alan’s father Ted.