A veteran speaks
From Mr Jack Speight Sir: Uncharitable opinions held by first world war veterans about the French, according to David Watkins (Letters, 31 July), would have puzzled my late father, Corporal James Speight 276886 16th Platoon, D Company, 20th Durham Light Infantry. A letter to his sister, dated 4 March 1918 and hastily scrib- bled in pencil shortly before participating in the gruelling fighting retreat in the face of the German 'big push', concludes:
What miserable news from Russia. I get terri- bly depressed at times. There is no doubt that Germany has got all she desires from Russia and Romania. How and when will it all end? I feel sure we may rely on the French people till the very end — thank God.
Jack Speight
23 Elmwood, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire
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