Letters from Charles Edwin Gatliff to his family, January - September 1918

Letters relating to the First World War service of Captain Charles Edwin Gatliff, 13th Field Artillery Brigade, 25 January - 14 September 1918.

This file contains letters written by Gatliff to family members during the period 25 January - 14 September 1918. His opening letters report news on his brothers, namely the disembarkation of Tom [Tom Walter Gatliff] in England and meeting Hal [Vivian Harold Gatliff] in France. Over the following months he records his activities and movements in France and Belgium, and refers to unsuccessful German raids and naval engagements off Dunkirk. In May Gatliff makes note of his hospitalisation in England and subsequent travels around the English countryside whilst convalescing. After a stint in camp at Warminster he writes about the Battle of Hamel, the increasing American military presence, speculation of the tide turning with news of French and American success at Soissons, and a family reunion with Hal and Tom.

In August Gatliff documents his evacuation to England due to an ongoing back injury and undergoing examinations and ratification by a medical board. Whilst waiting for the board's findings, he describes general conditions in London including strikes by police and female bus conductors, the high cost of clothing and transport, food shortages and the quality of food being poorer than that found on battlefields. His last letter dated 14 September mentions Hal is alright, the taking of Peronne is "Hell for our infantry but a picnic for our artillery" and "our lads at point of mutiny being on the line for so long". He goes on to write about "the astonishing number of my pals I meet in this great city".

This file contains:

Letter from Charles Edwin Gatliff to his father and mother, [Boulogne], France, 25 January 1918;
Letter from Charles Edwin Gatliff to his father and mother, [Boulogne], France, 27 January 1918;
Letter from Charles Edwin Gatliff to his father and mother, France, 30 January 1918;
Letter from Charles Edwin Gatliff to his father and mother, Belgium, 6 February 1918;
Letter from Charles Edwin Gatliff to his father and mother, Belgium, 14 February 1918;
Letter from Charles Edwin Gatliff to his father and mother, Belgium, 19 February 1918;
Letter from Charles Edwin Gatliff to his father and mother, Belgium, 23 February 1918;
Letter from Charles Edwin Gatliff to his father and mother, Belgium, 5 March 1918;
Letter from Charles Edwin Gatliff to his father and mother, Belgium, 11 March 1918;
Letter from Charles Edwin Gatliff to his father and mother, Belgium, 14 March 1918;
Letter from Charles Edwin Gatliff to his father and mother, Belgium, 22 March 1918;
Letter from Charles Edwin Gatliff to his father and mother, Belgium, 24 March 1918;
Letter from Charles Edwin Gatliff to his mother, Belgium, 30 March 1918;
Letter from Charles Edwin Gatliff to his father and mother, Belgium, 1 April 1918;
Letter from Charles Edwin Gatliff to his father and mother, France, 9 April 1918;
Letter from Charles Edwin Gatliff to his father and mother, No. 3 London General Hospital, Wandsworth, London, 7 May 1918;
Letter from Charles Edwin Gatliff to his mother, Spellow Hill, Knaresborough, Yorkshire, 17 May 1918;
Letter from Charles Edwin Gatliff to his father and mother, Spellow Hill, Knaresborough, Yorkshire, 22 May 1918;
Letter from Charles Edwin Gatliff to Wilf [brother Wilfred Edgar Gatliff], Spellow Hill, Knaresborough, Yorkshire, 23 May 1918;
Letter from Charles Edwin Gatliff to his father and mother, Sandhill Camp, Longbridge Deverill, 16 June 1918;
Letter from Charles Edwin Gatliff to his father and mother, Sandhill Camp, Longbridge Deverill, 18 June 1918;
Letter from Charles Edwin Gatliff to his father and mother, France, 22 June 1918;
Letter from Charles Edwin Gatliff to his father and mother, France, 1 July 1918;
Letter from Charles Edwin Gatliff to his father and mother, France, 4 July 1918;
Letter from Charles Edwin Gatliff to his father and mother, France, 6 July 1918;
Letter from Charles Edwin Gatliff to his father and mother, France, 8 July 1918;
Letter from Charles Edwin Gatliff to his father and mother, France, 13 July 1918;
Letter from Charles Edwin Gatliff to his father and mother, France, 15 July 1918;
Letter from Charles Edwin Gatliff to his father and mother, Pont-Noyelles, France, 18 July 1918;
Letter from Charles Edwin Gatliff to his father and mother, [Pont-Noyelles], France, 19 July 1918;
Letter from Charles Edwin Gatliff to his father and mother, [Pont-Noyelles], France, 21 July 1918;
Letter from Charles Edwin Gatliff to his father and mother, [Pont-Noyelles], France, 22 July 1918;
Letter from Charles Edwin Gatliff to his father and mother, [Pont-Noyelles], France, 23 July 1918;
Letter from Charles Edwin Gatliff to his father and mother, [Pont-Noyelles], France, 26 July 1918;
Letter from Charles Edwin Gatliff to his father and mother, [Pont-Noyelles], France, 26 July 1918;
Letter from Charles Edwin Gatliff to his father and mother, [Pont-Noyelles], France, 29 July 1918;
Letter from Charles Edwin Gatliff to his father and mother, [Le Havre], France, 2 August 1918;
Letter from Charles Edwin Gatliff to his father and mother, [Le Havre], France, 5 August 1918;
Letter from Charles Edwin Gatliff to his father and mother, [Le Havre], France, 7 August 1918;
Letter from Charles Edwin Gatliff to his father and mother, No. 3 London General Hospital, Wandsworth, London, 10 August 1918;
Letter from Charles Edwin Gatliff to his father and mother, No. 3 London General Hospital, Wandsworth, London, 14 August 1918;
Letter from Charles Edwin Gatliff to his father and mother, No. 3 London General Hospital, Wandsworth, London, 18 August 1918;
Letter from Charles Edwin Gatliff to his father and mother, London, 20 August 1918;
Letter from Charles Edwin Gatliff to his father and mother, London, 29 August 1918;
Letter from Charles Edwin Gatliff to his father and mother, London, 3 September 1918;
Letter from Charles Edwin Gatliff to his father and mother, London, 6 September 1918;
Letter from Charles Edwin Gatliff to his father and mother, London, 9 September 1918; and
Letter from Charles Edwin Gatliff to his father and mother, London, 14 September 1918.