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Letter to Geoffrey Haggard

Maker R L Haggard

Date29 September 1917

Object number00015824

NameLetter

MediumInk on paper

DimensionsOverall: 180 x 113 mm

ClassificationsEphemera

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Jennifer Smyth

Terms

DescriptionA letter to Commander Geoffrey Haggard from his brother, Captain Rider Lancelot Haggard, dated 29 September 1917. Captain Haggard was on leave from France at the time where he served with the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, Eastern Ontario Regiment. He would be killed on 30 October 1917 at Passchendale during the assault on Meetcheele Ridge by shell fire at 6.00 a.m.History25 Pelham Crescent LONDON S.W. 29.9.17 My dear old chap, Here I am again home on ten days leave, having a very fair time. London is not quite what it used to be but it still is a very bon place. Family all very fit these days. mother & Dad both still look at least ten years younger than they really are & Phyll is an awfully pretty atractive girl. Am always expecting to hear of her being engaged. She has lots of men friends. She is now nursing in a hospital again & as a result cannot live at home, but I think she will be able to come home about 2 or 3 days a week. She is in same place as [?] is. Family are rather fed up with her for chucking the W.O. job but I must say I think she is doing the right thing. Hope parcels and letters are coming through better now & that your quarters have improved a bit. Wonder if you got my letter about four weeks ago. Have not seen very much of Billy this time. But she is just the same as ever & still runs around in "Puffing Billy". Twins are going strong. They are eight years old now. Am now earning pay at the rate of 1 pound a day I find it damnd hard work to live on. Though when I think of Canada & 10 pound st12 a month & having to pay six or seven of that for food & lodging, it seems like being a millionaire. But things are rather more expensive & even france is not the cheapest place in the world. Still I must say I am enjoying life even in the trenches & really think I have found my profession. Intend to stay on if all goes well & Jean all for it [?]. Well old chap must dry up. Everyone sends their fondest chin & chin [?]. Keep your [?] up old skin & perhaps we'll have that drink together before many years are past. adieu [?] Yours LanceSignificanceLieutenant Haggard, his Commander Henry Stoker and the rest of the crew from the submarine AE2 were picked up by the Turkish boat SULTAN HISSAR after scuttling their submarine on 30 Aptril 1915 in the Sea of Marmora. The whole crew then spent the next 3 1/2 years as prisoners of war throughout Turkey and four crew members later died as a result of illness due to the harsh conditions experienced.