Private Papers of J R Park

16 ms letters (55pp) written to and from his father, brother and girlfriend dated 24 June – 29 August 1916, during his service with the 21st Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps (Yeoman Rifles) as they embarked from England to the Western Front, ending at the Hunter's Avenue sector at Ploegsteert Wood, Belgium; the early letters from him are light in tone and describe the trip to France and his financial situation, commenting on being in hospital, under constant shellfire and in the front line, the death of twin brothers in his unit, the stink of the trenches, the qualities of the men he is serving with, chances of promotion, the importance of getting mail from home, regular training; the letters from his brother Tom, also serving, comment on censorship and poor food. The collection includes three ms letters from 2nd Lieutenant Anthony Eden (later Prime Minister) informing Park's family of his death from shellfire on 20 July 1916 and further describing the circumstances of his death and gravesite; two group photographs, unlabelled; scanned copies of five portrait photographs; and photocopies from Eden's memoirs in which he mentions Park.

Cataloguer AJC