| Description | Letters from Charles Stephen Darbishire to his mother, Lillian Darbishire, from the 320th Quarry Company Regiment, HighCliffe Camp, France during World War One.
Personal Matters:
Speaks of friends and family, his wedding plans and honeymoon (he married Evangeline Priestman in 1918), and his concern for his Father's health (1918).
General Camp Life and Employee Welfare:
The letters provide an insight into Camp Life; day-to-day life, the accommodation, leisure activities and Christmas Day celebrations.
The letters demonstrate his concern for the welfare of the men under his care at the Quarry; he explains how he tries to get the men suitable leisure pursuits, opportunities to bathe in hot water and holiday leave from the camp at every opportunity.
They demonstrate his kindness, taking after his father; he speaks of his concern for his men, particularly those injured during their time at the Quarry, sending them back to the town of Penmaenmawr and asking his mother to ensure they are well looked after (names men who have been injured and returned to North Wales).
The Effects of War:
Provides first-hand experiences and accounts of the War;
''Cruel to think that some of them are fighting, so unmodern and uncivilised that we seem to have gone back at least 1000 years'' (April 12th, 1918).
Speaks of German activity near the Camp (overhead air-raids) and bombs falling at neighbouring quarries, speaks briefly of an incident where German spies entered the Camp, refers to the use of POWs at the Quarry in Penmaenmawr and speaks of hearing the guns of battle which tremble the camp ground.
''Impossible, frightful slaughter going on, and we can hear the guns almost constantly bombing away - when will it stop?''
War-related matters:
Speaks of the visit of General Maybury to the Camp, provides his views of the Germans, their treatment of the prisoners and speaks of what he hears of the German position. |