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Description: | whole: the title is positioned in the upper quarter, with the text occupying the remainder, both in black. All set against
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text: H.M. FACTORY, GRETNA
COPY OF LETTER FROM GENERAL SIR DOUGLAS HAIG
Commanding British Army in France.
General Headquarters, British Army in the Field, July 13th, 1916.
I feel sure that you would like to know how fully the troops in this country appreciate the strenuous and self-sacrificing efforts which
are being made by their fellow-countrymen at home to furnish them with the quantity of ammunition necessary to bring this campaign to an
early and successful conclusion.
At this moment we are engaged in the greatest battle the British Army has ever fought. Our daily progress has been continuous since the
battle opened, but the successes of our gallant troops have only been made possible by the guns and ammunition turned out in the factories
at home.
The munition workers at home very generously gave up their Whitsuntide holiday and were promised two days in August instead. I fully
appreciate how tired they must be and how much they must be looking forward to that promised holiday. Yet, I feel confident that if they
could but see their comrades fighting here, both night and day, with heroism and determination which is beyond all praise, they would not
hesitate to surrender those two days' rest, and would devote them to maintaining and if possible increasing the supply of guns and shells,
without which victory is impossible.
I ask you to put the facts before the workmen and I know they will consent.
Two days' cessation of work in the munitions factories must have the most serious effect on our operations. It might even mean the addition
of many months to the war. The pressure which we have now brought to bear on the enemy must not for a moment be relaxed. The troops are
prepared and eager to maintain it, but the continuous supply of ammunition is a vital factor.
The Army in France looks to the munition workers to enable it to complete its task, and I feel sure that this appeal will not be in vain.
Let the whole British nation forgo any idea of a general holiday until our goal is reached. A speedy and decisive victory will then be ours!
D. HAIG | Publisher: | http://www.iwm.org.uk | Subjects: | Gretna Military Personnel Douglas Haig munitions / manufacture His Majesty's Factory workers civilian effort Industry WW1 British Home Front | Source: | Imperial War Museum | Creator: | Unknown | Identifier: | http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/o... | Go to resource |
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