World War One outwards letters and postcards

Comprises electronic transcriptions by Dion G Minhinnick of the outward letters and postcards of Corporal Joseph Herbert Hasard Henson (7th Platoon, B Company, Wellington Infantry Battalion Wellington West Coast Regiment, 2nd Reinforcements, First NZEF, 10/3292). Letters home are addressed to Nellie, his sister, his Mother, Herbert Henson, his father. Commences with account of life at Trentham and Tauherenikau Camps, shooting practice, concerts, training marches. Gives account of voyage onboard (HMNZT 14) 'Willochra' via Hobart and the Red Sea, arriving in Egypt. Describes life at Zeitoun Camp and sightseeing in Cairo between Dec 1915 to February 1916. Letters recommence from May 1916 in France with descriptions of routine in the trenches, the signal station, and the army magazines 'Fragments from France" and 'More Ditto" by Captain Bairnsfather. Covers leave in Oban, Scotland, July 1917, battalion school training signallers in Belgium, concerts, mail, marching and war action. Talks about Christmas 1917, Chinese labour battalions in Flanders March 1918, leave in Scotland August 1918 and return to France Sept 1918. Letter on 9 November 1917 details long marches, pill boxes, damage at Ypres, and leave in Paris. Last letter dated 14 December 1918, sent from Antheit village, Belgium, describing destruction of the area. Common topics of note include getting mail, family at home, photographing his experiences, the locals, censorship of letters, his army pay and role, refugees, and meeting men from New Zealand.

Arrangement: Letters and postcards are not arranged chronologically within electronic documents

Quantity: 4 Electronic document(s).

Processing information: Digitisation details - Part of WW100 digitisation project.