99 - Sennelager, 7 december 1915 (Letter from friend Musketier Otto Mertens)

Sennelager, 7/12.1915

Dearest family Limbach,

Enclosed I send you, as promised, the photograph [of Fritz's grave].

Unfortunately it did not turn out very good. But that can unfortunately not be changed anymore, and you will have to do with what little there is.

Here the Dienst is quite exhausting, and fills the whole day. Therefor I have almost no time to write even the most urgent letters.

But it is a lot better here than in the trenches.

Warm greetings from your’s faithfully

Otto Mertens

On a personal note: I find this an ice-cold letter!
the complete opposite of his letter of 20th October.

And he was not wrong with “the photograph didn’t turn out very good” !:

Fritz's grave at the Ehrenfriedhof in Douvrin

From left to right:

Richard Emmler

Wilhelm Altenbach

Fritz Limbach

Karl Romberg

Eduard Siesskind

Nikolaus Wendling

the original letter: