Henry John Raymond Brierly

AGED 18 MY FATHER, HENRY JOHN RAYMOND BRIERLY, WENT I THINK STRAIGHT FROM SCHOOL IN 1915, INTO THE GUARD’S PIONEER BATTALION (4TH BATTALION ) COLDSTREAM GUARDS, AT VICTORIA BARRACKS, WINDSOR.

ON 17 AUGUST 1915 HE ARRIVED IN FRANCE. IN A LETTER TO HIS MOTHER HE SAYS “WE HAD A TREMENDOUS SEND-OFF FROM WINDSOR, PRACTICALLY THE WHOLE POPULATION TURNING OUT TO SEE US OFF… THE MEN HAVE BEEN MARVELLOUS THE TIME, AND WE ALREADY HAVE BEEN COMPLEMENTED ON THE STEADINESS OF THE WHOLE BATTALION.”

HE WROTE TO HIS MOTHER AND SISTER SOMETIMES SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK. HE FOUGHT BESIDE CLOSE FRIENDS KILLED BY SHELLS, HE MADE LIGHT OF WHAT HE WAS EXPERIENCING.

MANY OF HIS LETTERS ASK THE FAMILY TO SEND OUT WOODBINE CIGARETTES FOR THE MEN EVERY WEEK., AND SHE ALSO SENT OUT CHOCOLATE, CAKES, SOCKS, TOBACCO. ETC. WHICH AMAZINGLY ARRIVED QUICKLY.

Marigold Brierly