11 October 1915
Rev Whincup wrote to the parents of
L Cpl Conder
In it he said that he had “buried L
Cpl Conder in a newly made little
cemetery a short distance behind
the firing line, where rest the
bodies of many other fine British
soldiers.
“It was dangerous work taking
the funeral service, for the
German bullets were flying all
over the place. Still I am glad to
have been able to perform the last
sad ceremony.
“L Cpl Conder was exceedingly
popular amongst his comrades
and was very highly respected.
His death is deeply regretted in
his battalion.”
The families of soldiers killed in WW1 would often receive letters of consolation from their loved-one’s
officers, colleagues and the chaplain.
Many of these letters, not surprisingly, followed a pattern - praising the man’s character and his courage,
and assuring the family that he had died quickly and relatively free of pain.
This must have been a difficult task, especially for someone like Rev Whincup who would have been aware
that his letters would probably be passed on to the local paper for publication.
Yet, as these examples show, he seems to have managed to personalise his letters and to have avoided them
sounding artificial or false.
It is my sad duty to inform you…
17 September 1915
Shipley Times & Express
published a letter Rev
Whincup had sent to the
widow of George Parker
(right)
Dear Mrs Parker, You will
have already heard of the
sad death of your
husband at the Front. He was
killed last Sunday afternoon (5
September) and I took the funeral
at 9.30 p.m. the same night.
Everything was done as reverently
as possible. It was very dark, but
the bright “star lights” which the
Germans are continually sending
up at night lighted up the way for
us.
We buried his body a
short distance from the
trenches. A newly-made
little cemetery happens
to be not far from the
firing line and it is there
that we laid his body. We
buried your husband
alongside another
comrade who had fallen the same
day – Pte H Stringer of Bradford.
Jovial
As far as I can gather, your
husband was a general favourite
with his comrades and he seems to
have been a fearless and brave
soldier.
He is particularly missed by his
comrades. They speak of him as a
jovial, happy-hearted companion
who did a great deal at times in
keep up their spirits and who
evidently refused to be
discouraged.
I sympathise with you very deeply
in your sorrow and if I can be of
any service to you in your affliction
I shall be only too glad to do all I
can in this respect.
Seeing that your husband was a
Shipley man I am pleased that I
was able to perform the last sad
ceremony. It was only just before
the funeral began that the burying
party told me who the two dead
men really were.
Your grief will, no doubt, be great
but I hope that it will be somewhat
lightened by the memory of the
heroic manner in which your
gallant husband has done his duty
on behalf of the King and country
and for the defence of those near
and dear to him.
Questions
When I come back to Windhill, if
God’s will, I shall hope to be able
to personally call upon you and to
answer any questions you may
care to ask me regarding the burial
of your husband.
A cross with suitable inscription
has been erected over the grave.
Yours very truly
R Whincup
Chaplain of West Yorks Regt.
In July 1916, Rev Whincup wrote to
the family of Robert Helliwell, killed in
the ‘Big Push’ on the Somme.
I hope it will be some consolation
to you to know that the regiment to
which your son belonged has done
magnificently in the recent
engagement and that your son
nobly took his part in the great
enterprise.
Your son has died a very
honourable death and this is a very
great thing to do.
I feel intensely for the true welfare
of all the gallant Bradford boys out
here and am truly sorry for their
relatives in the great grief which
many of them have to go through.
Less than six weeks later, he was
writing again to the same family
I am sorry to have to write to you
again and give you such very sad
news. In fact, I scarcely know how
to start but it is best to tell you the
truth. Your son, L Cpl Alfred
Helliwell was killed last night.
It is terribly sad for you and your
family because this bereavement
follows so closely upon the death
of your other son out here only six
weeks ago.
A trench mortar dropped in the
very midst of several men, killing
five and wounding several others. I
went up to the trenches this
evening and Captain Oddy took
me to see the place where your son
was killed and showed me the
grave which is not very far from
the spot where your dear boy fell.
I conducted the burial service. I
will endeavour to have a cross with
a suitable inscription erected over
the grave.
We shall miss your son very much
indeed because he was very well
known in the battalion. Personally
I saw a great deal of him because
he was connected with the
headquarters staff and he treated
me with ever courtesy and
kindness whenever I asked him to
do anything for me.
I am deeply sorry for you and your
family. Your son nobly responded
to the call of duty ad he has died
fighting on behalf of his country.