Walter James Bones

1894 - 1915

Walter and his 3 brothers were ine Army,sadly he was the only one not to make it home. Walter died as a result of wounds, incurred at the Battle of Ypres. The first battle in which poison gas was used. We have copies of letters that were writen at the time.

The first one is from the Sister incharge!

Ward 111
13 Stationary Hospital
Boulogne
Sunday May 30th 1915
Dear Mrs Bones
Your son is lying here seriously wounded. He wrote this letter to you yesterday but I have only just found it amongst his belongings. Since writing this he is much worse.
Yours sincerely
E Hall Sister

The second is the last letter he wrote home to his parents!

Walter's last letter was written on the 29th May 1915, two days before he died.
It is reproduced exactly as he wrote it.

Pte WJ Bones
No; 4296 - 9 pat;
13 Stationary Hospital
Boulogne
My Own Dear Pa and Ma
Just a line or two to let you know that I had not got up in the fireing trenches before the broots cut me off from the others I had only got up in the reserves and they was fireing at us all that night When we went to the reserve trench and kept on until four oclock in afternoon and they did not get the proper range of our until, I should say about quarter to two and it was about two I got hit with a piece of one of their shrapnails and to make the best of it they was fireing Jackjonson shrapnails and poisonous booms or the gassess so we did not have a bad lot to contain with did we old Dear. Dear Old Pa and Ma I don't think that Jack has cought yet again and another thing I do hope and trust that he will not stop at any rate a piece of iron about the same size as I A nicee survonneir or keepsake it was about two and a half long and in the center it was about three quarters squair and the end was for a wonder rather smooth and I think that is how it went wright through my leg leaving my bone broken and I must tell you mother that it just caught my private bag with a scratch so Now they are all right again and I an glad to let you know that I am going on first class now and by the time you get this I shall be on my way for(Dear Old England) Dear Mother I thought that I should know more about the war when I got out here but as for to know anythink we don't only when we get up to the lines then we can know too much Now they say right along the lines keep your heads low????? I and a chap named Penfold we got right down into the bottom of our treanch where we was to stay for forty eight hours and when I was hit I had just does off to sleep with all the roagh of the shells a birsting Well as I was agoing to say this chap named Penfold he was sleeping with his head on my kalves of my legs when I was hit and another Jack was down the treanches about 120 yards and could not see who it was hit but he said he knew it was me hit for he knew my cry after all this long time. You ought to have seen the poor old chap when I was hit He was allright before but when he saw my leg was broken it cut the old Dear He kept trying to cheer me up He kept all on saying to me cheer up old boy you'll go home to Mother Dad now First he said that I should be down the hospital about a fournight Well I have been here a 6 days so I shaln't be long Mother Well Dear Mother, I hope that this will find you all in the best of health I am glad to let you know that I am getting my at cA one spead(??) at preasant Now Dear Mother I think that this is all for this time so now I will close with my fondest love and xxxxxxxxxxxxx
I remain your Ever Loving Son
WJB
Having a good time in the hospital

We, the following generations will never know the pain, the fear, the hope and the utter hopelessness of the generations that lived during WW1 and WW2. It does not matter which side you were on, the feelings must have been the same!!!

God Rest Their Souls