Private Papers of Lieutenant J Harley

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Description

Object description

Very interesting and detailed ms letter (15pp), with photocopied ms transcription (14pp), written to his father while serving as an officer with the 13th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, probably attached to the 4th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment (88th Brigade, 29th Division) at Gallipoli, 1 – 3 June 1915, describing his journey to the Peninsula via Lemnos, descriptions of the trench systems, the surrounding countryside, coming under shell fire during a church service, daily routine, thoughts of his marriage which took place just a week before sailing to the Mediterranean, preparations for moving into the front line and reflections on his own mortality. Together with two ms letters (2pp and 3pp) to his sisters, both written 3 June 1915, saying goodbye in case he was killed in the forthcoming action, as well as a telegram (1p) from his wife May announcing that Jack had been killed in action during the Third Battle of Krithia (4 June 1915). The collection also contains a small leather wallet and a cover of an Active Service Compendium.

Content description

History note

Cataloguer SJO

Object Details

Category: Private papers
Related period: First World War (content)
Creator: Harley, John
Production date: 1915
Dimensions: whole: 1 file
Catalogue number: Documents.17434

Object associations

Associated people and organisations

Harley, John
British Army, Worcestershire Regt, Bn, 4
British Army, 88th Brigade
British Army, 29th Division
Associated subjects

Original documents
Photocopies
Private Papers

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