Letter from Charles Wyndham Wynne to Alice Katherine Wynne, 28 September 1916 Letters 1916-1923 Charles Wyndham Wynne

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A letter from Charles Wyndham Wynne (1895-1917) to his mother, Alice Katherine Wynne. Charles ponders if his last letter was censored because he, '...put more than I ought to into it.' In this letter, Charles writes of his experiences of the front, that the calm is punctuated by the occasional rumble of a heavy gun and by the heavy volume of air traffic in the area. His account of life in the war zone is bleak, concluding that 'If only war was on a film or in a book or something — one could laugh like anything at the puerility of it all — it's only the realisation of the facts that changes the comedy to tragedy — and the whole thing after all for nothing.'Charles Wynne served as a captain in the Royal Garrison Artillery during the First World War. His application to the Royal Flying Corps was denied in 1916 due to his poor eyesight. Charles ultimately died of wounds received at Armentieres, June 1917.

 Trinity College Dublin NLI 10247/1/806, NLI 10247/1/806 https://letters1916.ie/item/1105 English Charles Wyndham Wynne 1916-09-28 182 Siege Battery, France Alice Wynne Glendalough, Co. Wicklow Male World War I (1914-1918) World War I (1914-1918)

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 182 Siege Battery R.f.a. B.E.F. France. Dear Mother I wonder if Win will get my last letter all right or will it be censored. I believe now that I put more than I ought to into it — of course they were only names to me till I looked at the map, and another Officer I asked said it was all right putting them itin — still now on reading the regulations I think it was wrong — and of course everyone has to play the game now no matter how absurd it may seem. Well we went on the same night I wrote last and got to our destination about 10.0 three other officers and myself having passed the time in the train by an interesting game of bridge; that was Friday. I had passed a large part of the afternoon in an officers hairdressing place — quite decent. At lunch that day I met a Lancing man — we met in the luncheon place, and after a bit of conversation he said the he thought he knew my face. 2. I sudden flash came across me and I said — Why you're Morgan aren't you — and I was right — wasn't it clever of me? Well when we arrived that night wean officer from the group headquarters met me and we had a eight mile lorry ride or thereabouts and I found the Col. was one I had met at Lydd — a very facetious old stick — in fact quite mad — slapping people on the back left and right — I had a bed that night and, joy of joys, a bath in the morning. that morning was a beautiful and the General and Colonel took me round for a stroll by the battery position and up, along a ridge where there was a great view. Everything just here is very quiet and one is inclined think of the picnic and wonder couldn't one make oneself sufficiently uncomfortable at home. A few guns go off occasionally and machine guns — one wag near here starts playing tunes on his machine gun every now and then. A good many of our aeroplanes are about. but I've only 3. seen one hun machine which was very high up and very quickly disappeared. The paper boy has just been round with yesterday's papers — wonderfully quick isn't it. I imagine the Hun here is only too glad to be left alone. people seem to think he's beginning to wonder if he really is so sure of winning after all. Well Saturday afternoon I went down myself to have a good look round. The battery position is in a great place. I suppose about a mile and a half from the German lines. Another battery had it and put in a tremendous amount of work on it and it's really pretty well ready for us — grand dugouts, gun positions and everything. It is in a little valley and would be awfully hard for the Hun to hit — specially as he doesn't seem to be able to use his aircraft. That night I sent my kit down on a lorry — of course the beastly thing stuck up. 4. to its axles in mud and we had an awful job. it took well over an hour and in the end we had to dig it out — however finally we got through all right and back again without difficulty. In the morning I brought the men down. There was a village near here — though in plans it's very hard to find any traces of it. I believe there was a tremendous battle here — there and are trenches all about — and graves — I was shown a German boot. they say a little time ago the foot was sticking out — but now only the boot is left. If only war was on a film or in a book or something — one could laugh like anything at the puerility of it all — it's only the realisation of the facts that changes the comedy to tragedy — and the whole thing after all for nothing. There was part of another battery near here and I messed with them very good food — even the men say it's 5. better than they got at home. All Sunday we were working cleaning up the old dugouts etc some of which were filthy. It was fortunately a beautiful day and I could almost have imagined I was somewhere in the South of England say Sussex - the place is all chalk. Monday it rained steadily and I had my first small taste of mud needly to say order came for several batteries near to move, and that night it was awful. The battery I was messing with went and jus just after I went to bed. I had to get up to take over some ammunition they had to leave behind. They were working hard till five a.m before they got away. Now things won't be so comfortable for me, though certainly I've nothing to complain of, and I shall be able to settle myself comfortably into one of their Officers dugouts. This morning it was still raining fine but steady. I got the order to go and 6. obliterate wheel tracks etc of the a battery near that moved last night, it was a dirty job, this afternoon it has cleared and the mud is drying wonderfully quickly. I hope the battery comes along soon. We are all ready for it. Certainly we are in great luck here for a beginning, a great position — all the dirty work done, and the place couldn't be quieter if we were in Wicklow as it has been so far — though I hope we don't stop here indefinitely if they don't move us to some other part. I should be able to have a great little garden next year. I am already considering what to ask Win for — in the way of seeds!! The weather here is wonderfully warm almost too warm in fact, but of course thats a fault on the right side. There's lots more I would like to say but 7. of course I mustn't. I wonder when I'll get a letter from home. I hope you are getting mine all right - this is my third since arriving in France. not bad! what? I really haven't had very much time as we are pretty busy here. (Later) I heard a rumour over the telephone from my Sergt. who away drawing rations - that the battery was arriving at the rail head tonight I hope so. Remember I've hardly heard anything from you since I saw you & Father & V. in London that time so lets have some news soon - though really I know I needn't ask as I'm expecting a whole budget of letters soon perhaps the battery will bring some tomorrow. Well now I'll bottle up as I expect you'll have a job to wade through all this, also there are other letters I ought to write. Goodnight Your very loving son Charles Mrs. Wynne The Cottage Glendalough. Co.Wicklow Ireland. 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Wicklow Letter from Charles Wyndham Wynne to Alice Katherine Wynne dated 'Monday'Letter from Charles Wyndham Wynne to Alice Katherine Wynne, 28 September 1916Letter from Charles Wyndham Wynne to Alice Katherine Wynne, 1 August 1916 182 Siege Battery, France Letter from Charles Wyndham Wynne to Alice Katherine Wynne, 28 September 1916