Letters from loved ones: the Browns and WWI

The First World War saw over 9.7 million military deaths, leaving mothers to mourn the loss of their sons. This Mother’s Day we remember the bond between mother and son.

Men had to be 18 years or over to enlist in the British Army, however there are numerous stories of younger boys lying about their age to sign up. For many this would have been their first experience away from home and for some they would never return.

Brown Family

In the museum collection we have a series of letters and postcards from one family separated during the First World War. The correspondence is predominantly to Mrs. Elizabeth Brown, the mother of five sons who went to war. Her sons are listed below in age order with their rank and regiment.

John – Lance Corporal, Army Vet Corps

Harry – Private, Kings Royal Rifles Corps

Charles – Gunner, Royal Garrison Artillery

Reginald – Staff Sergeant, Army Service Corps

Archibald – Sergeant, 11th Royal Sussex Regiment

These men often moved camps and location. Their mother, Elizabeth, and home was their anchor, with all letters addressed to Highfield, 7 Carew Road, Eastbourne.

Wartime

During the First World War soldiers were given free postage and encouraged to write home to boost morale. Along with letters from Mrs Brown’s sons, we have Field Service Postcards and Green Envelopes.

The information in soldiers’ communications had to be restricted to prevent the leak of intelligence. The Field Service Postcard dictated what could be said through multiple choice options, whereas the sender of a Green Envelope signed a pledge to say that the contents were strictly personal.

Postcard shows the handwritten home address of Elizabeth Brown. — Field Service Postcard from Archie to his mother, 23 May 1916 (PH12/09b)

Pencil has crossed out much of the pre-written text on the postcard, leaving 'I am quite well'. It also states that Archie has received his mothers letter and parcel and that he will reply at the 'first opportunity'. — Field Service Postcard from Archie to his mother, 23 May 1916 (PH12/09b)

Harry has written his mothers address and signed the front of this Green Envelope. — Green Envelope from Harry to his mother, 12 January 1917 (PH12/13a)

This is the back of the green envelope. There is no text. — Green Envelope from Harry to his mother, 12 January 1917 (PH12/13a)

The letters sent from Elizabeth’s sons speak of their movements, what they have been doing, and their hope that everyone is safe and well. Along with letters, portraits of individuals were printed on photographic postcards and given to friends and family. This allowed people to carry with them an image of their loved one, keeping a part of them close whilst separated. In March 1916, Archie wanted these beside him. He wrote:

“By the way if you have one of Harry in postcard size I should like to have one. also of yourself as I have not got a photo of you to keep with me.” Archie (PH12/08a)

Letter from Archie asking for a photograph of Harry and his mother, 16 March 1916 (PH12/08a)

Photographic postcard of Harry, soldier standing (PH11/04)

Writing letters to Elizabeth allowed her sons to be vulnerable, speaking honestly about their fears and worries. In August 1915 Reg talks about the weight of responsibility:

“Also I asked to have my stripes taken away, as I began to feel the responsibility too great for me, the Officer said it was a blow to him, and also a surprise, and mentioned that he thought things had gone on excellent, and that we were going to make a shift, so I told him that he could let it hold over, until we shifted.” Reg (PH12/06a)

Honest letter from Reg to his mother, 7 August 1915 (PH12/06a)

Elizabeth’s sons knew how important it was for her to her to see her boys. They similarly wanted to see their brothers.

“Bye [sic] now you have got our Archie with you, I know how glad you are to have the old boy home again, and should like to be there, to see and hear him speak.” Reg (PH12/11b)

Letter from Reg expressing happiness his mother has seen Archie, 3 October 1916 (PH12/11b)

In July 1917, a letter Elizabeth sent to her son Harry was returned to her through the post. The envelope was inscribed ‘missing’. At this stage she didn’t know what had happened to her son. Letters from her other sons show they were trying to keep her spirits up, reminding her of the delays in the postal service and that Harry’s letters may have been mis-directed.

“So Harry’s letters are going astray are they, I should not get too anxious about him for the post is so irregular now-a-days, and there are so many reasons for that, should the Post Office service put them in the wrong bag they may go to several sortings, before being put on the right road.” Reg (PH12/15a)

Letter to Harry Brown returned inscribed ‘Missing’, 1917 (PH11/09)

Letter from Reg reassuring his mother about Harry, 27 July 1917 (PH12/15a)

Elizabeth was later informed that her son had been captured and taken prisoner. Prisoners could write home, and correspondence from Harry talks about how he is being treated and what he is doing with his time.

“The authorities are treating us very well here & I am keeping in good health you may get a card from me once a fortnight.” Harry (PH11/14)

Harry Brown, Prisoner of War Postcard, 1917 (PH11/14)

The end of the war

Our research suggests that all but one of Elizabeth’s sons survived the war. Harry endured imprisonment until the end of the war but died on 27 November 1918.

Photo of Harry Brown’s grave in Germany (PH11/18)

Harry’s body is in Niederzwehren Cemetery, Kassel, Germany. He is also commemorated on the family headstone in Eastbourne, along with his father, mother, and sister Florence, offering the family a place to mourn.

The war separated mothers and sons, but the postal network allowed them to keep in contact, a way to show love, support and longing to be together again.

If you want to learn more about the postal service in times of war, visit the museum’s permanent gallery or check out our website.

Sources: