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Description: | Two extremely graphic ms letters from a subaltern in the 1/4th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders (Dehra Dun Brigade, 7th Meerut Division, Indian Corps) serving on the Western Front; the first (28pp and envelope, with 6pp ts transcription) dated 7 January 1915 and addressed to a correspondent in the United States giving an account of what he had seen and learnt of trench warfare since the Battalion crossed to France in November 1914 with particular emphasis on the very muddy condition of the trenches, a second-hand report of the Christmas Truce, the techniques of indirect fire employed by the artillery, the close proximity of the opposing trenches and the heavy loss of life caused by these factors and concluding that the war is "a dirty, disgusting, murderous business"; and the second (pp 1-51 only, with 10pp ts transcription) dated 21 March 1915, sent to his (?) wife and describing in great detail his experiences during the Battle of Neuve Chapelle, when his Battalion suffered heavy losses during an abortive attack on the second day of the fighting, and consistently questioning the tactical wisdom of the orders issued by the higher commanders throughout the battle, though praising the gallantry of all ranks. Tennant was killed in action on 9 May 1915.
Cataloguer RWAS
Catalogue date 1998-12 | Publisher: | http://www.iwm.org.uk | Source: | Imperial War Museum | Creator: | Tennant, C G | Identifier: | http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/o... | Go to resource |
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