Letters From The Front
'Sensational Letter From The Front
Private's Story Of Fighting'

Newton and Earlestown Guardian 1st October 1915

The following letter has been received from the front, but the relatives of the men mentioned have not as yet received any confirmation of the news. The writer is Private J. E. Garvey, and he writes under the date of September 21st. He says:

I write to let you know that we have just had the worst experience of the War. I have just left a place [probably Ypres] as big as Liverpool, and the shells were bursting all around us. The Germans have not left a place standing – they have blown all the houses, churches and cathedrals down, which must have taken years to build. Millions of money’s worth is all destroyed. There are only a few of our regiment left, and if you should see my name in the papers amongst the killed don’t be alarmed, for it is not me, but a young fellow from Salford of the same name. I am quite safe up to the present. Tell Mrs. Neary that their Peter has been killed. He died like a true hero. Their Dan has been badly wounded also. Arthur Caunce from the top of the Common, and young Atkinson of Cherry Street, have been killed as well, so you can see I am very nearly left by myself, not one who came out here with me being left. God only knows how any of us got away safe. I really think I must have been half mad, and I think God must have been looking after me, for it seems impossible for anyone to have lived in what we had to go through. If hell is any worse, then it must be awful. I can’t write any more for it makes my blood run cold when I think about it, but I daresay you will see all about it in the papers.