204676 Sjt. John Thomas Barton British Army 1/8th Btn. Manchester Regiment from:Bredbury These are transcripts of three letters written to my grandmother by my grandfather, John Barton while he was serving with 1/8th Manchesters at Cape Helles, Gallipoli. Although undated my research has led me to be fairly certain that the first letter was written soon after the famous "Charge of the Manchesters" at Krithia on 4th June 1915 and explains his rapid promotion to Sgt, "on the field," (the loss of men was enormous). The second letter speaks for itself as he recovered from a shrapnel wound to the knee. The "Big Battle" mentioned in the third letter was the dreadful struggle to capture Krithia Vinyard which began on 7th August 1915.
Dear Lizzie.
I bet you will be surprised to hear that I have been made a sergeant on the field. We made a magnificent bayonet charge and came off victorious. We didn't half make the Turks fly. I was sorry to hear of my poor pal Sam Brookshaw's death, it came as a shock to me, but never mind, he died for his country, like a brave soldier, and that is something to remember. Do please remember me to all my pals, only I suppose they have all 'listed. We shall want them all in this great struggle. I am in the best of health but get very weary with no time to stretch my legs having been in the trenches for many weeks now. We have not had a farthing of our pay, but there are no shops so we can't buy anything. I am getting quite used to living like a rabbit; it is a case of burrowing for your life.
Dear Lizzzie.
I am in hospital. I got a crack on my knee and it has produced cynivitus.
It is much better in here than in the trenches and quite a rest after the peninsula; no shrapnel in here. Don't upset yourself, it is nothing very serious and I expect to be back in the trenches soon. It is about time we got a furlough; twelve months have passed since we left dear Old England and it seems like twelve years. Still, we must not grouse. We shall get over it alright.
Dear Lizzie
I went for a swim in the Dardanelles the other day. The Turks threw a few Jack Johnsons at us but they are poor gunners. When they drop a shell on land it makes a tidy dugout where you can take cover quite safely as they never drop two in the same place. It is very nice country around here only we have not had a chance to explore it. We hope to see a little more of it shortly. I am writing this to you in the midst of a big battle, but we are not down hearted yet, not by a long chalk. Love to you and our boy. Tommy.
Tommy left Cape Helles with the rearguard in January 1916, one of the last to leave the Gallipoli peninsula. He survived his later war in France, joined the Coldstream Guards in 1920 as a substantive Sgt and stood, arms reversed, at one corner of the coffin of the Unknown Soldier in Westminster Abbey in 1921.
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