Prellbock, 19
August 1915
[Thursday]
Dear
family,
Earlier I
received mother’s letters of the 13th and 15th with the
new roll of film and the photographs.
Furthermore
parcels nr 73, 74, 75, 76, 77 arrived. Many thanks for everything. I did
receive parcels nr 39/49, and I certainly confirmed that to you. Maybe one of
my letters got lost?
I am very
happy with how the photographs turned out. Unfortunately they’re not quite as
how I’d like them. It really is very difficult to make good photographs here in
the trenches. There’s just not enough room to manoeuvre.
Please ask
questions if you like to know some more about the photographs. I like that.
I know not
what to write to you about. Even now I’m out of topics already.
I fell
asleep three times already whilst writing this letter, sad but true.
What do you
think of me on the photograph? Do I. in your opinion, look well or not well?
But I’m
truly at the end of my wisdom again. At the most I can write you that we now
seem to have the French opposite us, and which parcels I can recommend to send
again, those are nrs 76 and 77.
The
cigarcase is beautiful and practical, unfortunately it arrived a little dented.
I don’t need a waterproof vest now, my old one is still okay. And winter is still
a long time off.
Please
excuse me this terrible handwriting. It’s getting dark, and I am out of
candles.
Furthermore
I have to hurry if I want this letter to be sent still today, in order for you
to have something from me on Sunday.
So, with
many warm greetings
Your Fritz
The
photographs :
When I initially purchased the
letters there were no photographs included (except for the one of the
Pionierkommando)
Couldn’t believe my luck when
I discovered some on Drakegoodman’s photostream on Flickr
A quick e-mail to him, and he
brought me into contact with the German dealer who sold him those photographs.
The dealer had a bit of a
rummage and came up with a further 8 photographs. And also to my astonishment 9
negatives (all from the first roll of film)!
So nerrly 100 years later the letters and the negatives/photographs have been reunited through sheer luck.
So nerrly 100 years later the letters and the negatives/photographs have been reunited through sheer luck.
Nos. 1/2 of comrades from my group, taken in a
gunner’s station at the Prellbock.
No. 1 : "a guy from Barmen, gunners station at the Prellbock, 27 July 1915"
Nr 2 “a guy from Schwelm, gunners station at the Prellbock, 27 July 1915”
Nr 3 “Otto Mertens from Solingen, gunners station at the Prellbock, 27 July 1915”
Nr 4 “Yours truly, gunners station at the Prellbock, 27 July 1915”
Nr 5 “Group, outside the reserve-trenches, 31 July 1915”
Nr 6 “Group, outside the reserve-trenches, 31 July 1915” Now with Fritz,
third from the left
Nr 7 “Group, in reserve-trenches, 31 July 1915. Willy Homann from
Düsseldorf on the left, Otto Mertens from Solingen in the back”
Nr 8 “Group, in reserve-trenches, 31 July 1915.Willy Homann from
Düsseldorf in the back.”
Nos. 9 and 10 "Both
unsuccesfull (But try and have them developed anyway)"
Nr 11 “Group, in our camp in Auchy, 31 July 1915”
Nr 12 “Harbour of Auchy,
with destroyed ships, 31 July 1915”
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