Letters
Frederick Robinson, a friend of Charles and served in the same platoon.
Oct 8th 1917
Dear Mr Harris
I am enclosing
the personal papers Charlie had in behind the line. The
papers, paybook, etc which he had on him at the time are
in charge of the authorities. Charlie was very deeply respected
by the company as a whole & especially by those in his
platoon. He was working very hard carrying out the wounded &
the same shell killed both him and the padre, Oct 4th.
Yours in deepest sincerity
Frederick Robinson
PS We ate a cake which was sent to Charlie, many thanks
for it.
Corporal Booker, a school friend of Fnny Harris and good friend of Charles.
France
Nov 4th, 1917
Dear Fanny
No doubt you will be surprised to hear from me, but
thinking it was my duty to drop you a few lines and
tell you how your brother Charlie met his death. Well
up to the time he met his fate he was stretcher bearing &
was doing splendid work having been up to the front
line & back to the dressing station about seven
times when a shell landed very close & I think by
what information I can gather he was struck by a piece
of the shell & death was instantaneous. It is thought
the same shell killed several, our Padre was also a
victim. It is no doubt very sad but still there are
thousands meet their death every day on the battlefields.
Charlie is one of many whom have given their lives for
their country, we do not know from one day to another
what comrades are going to be taken from us. Well, I
must say Charlie was an excellent soldier with no end
of good points & you should be proud to know your
brother has done his duty. When the sad news reached
us a deep feeling of sorrow went through all who knew
him & he is greatly missed. The war seems as though
it will drag on for sometime yet, once we were in hopes
of it finishing by Xmas but not now. The weather is
starting to get very cold here now, but it is nothing
to what it will be. When up in the line we had a very
rough time but still you will see by your papers that
very good work was done. Well, I think I shall have to
bring these few lines to a close, hoping this finds
you well.
Yours Sincerely
Cpl Brooker