Letter Gallery

Below are images of four letters sent from Charlie to his mother, Mary Martin betwen April and July 1915. During this time he was based at the Curragh Camp, Ireland and Basingstoke, England.

The first letter dated 29 April and is postmarked Curragh Camp. Although Charlie expects to leave there the following day, he has been able to go to the races and to meet Uncle Frank for a champagne lunch at Punchestown. The second letter dated 24 June is sent from Basingstoke. Charlie and his colleagues have been ordering shorts and helmets in anticipation of going to the Dardanelles. He encloses a ‘stickyback’ photograph for his mother and informs her that he might get four days’ leave.

Charlie sends his third letter, dated 3rd July, along with some khaki drill to have made up into a jacket. He has been practising digging trenches and will probably not get any leave now as they are due to leave on Tuesday, using the Mauretania as a troop ship. The final letter displayed here was sent on 5th July, still at Basingstoke. Charlie is not sure whether he will be sent to Alexandria or Gallipoli. He’s pleased to hear Mary is playing tennis again and lets her know he’ll be sending his spare kit home.

The letters are held in the archives of the Medical Missionaries of Mary and are reprinted with their generous permission.

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Envelope postmarked Curragh Camp, 29 April 1915, from Charlie Martin (image courtesy of MMM)
Envelope postmarked Curragh Camp, 29 April 1915, from Charlie Martin (image courtesy of MMM)
Letter from Charlie to Mary Martin, dated 29 April 1915 (1/2) (image courtesy of MMM)
Letter from Charlie to Mary Martin, dated 29 April 1915 (1/2) (image courtesy of MMM)
Letter from Charlie to Mary Martin, dated 29 April 1915 (2/2) (image courtesy of MMM)
Letter from Charlie to Mary Martin, dated 29 April 1915 (2/2) (image courtesy of MMM)
Letter to Mary Martin from Charlie dated 5 July 1915 (1/2) (image courtesy of MMM)
Letter to Mary Martin from Charlie dated 5 July 1915 (1/2) (image courtesy of MMM)
Letter to Mary Martin from Charlie dated 5 July 1915 (2/2) (image courtesy of MMM)
Letter to Mary Martin from Charlie dated 5 July 1915 (2/2) (image courtesy of MMM)
Envelope addressed to Mary Martin from Charlie, 5 July 1915 (image courtesy of MMM)
Envelope addressed to Mary Martin from Charlie, 5 July 1915 (image courtesy of MMM)
Letter to Mary Martin from Charlie dated 5 July 1915 (1/2) (image courtesy of MMM)
Letter to Mary Martin from Charlie dated 5 July 1915 (1/2) (image courtesy of MMM)
Letter to Mary Martin from Charlie dated 5 July 1915 (2/2) (image courtesy of MMM)
Letter to Mary Martin from Charlie dated 5 July 1915 (2/2) (image courtesy of MMM)
Envelope marked London 1915, from Charlie Martin (image courtesy of MMM)
Envelope marked London 1915, from Charlie Martin (image courtesy of MMM)
Letter to Mary Martin from Charlie dated 24 June 1915 (1/2) (image courtesy of MMM)
Letter to Mary Martin from Charlie dated 24 June 1915 (1/2) (image courtesy of MMM)
Letter to Mary Martin from Charlie dated 24 June 1915 (2/2) (image courtesy of MMM)
Letter to Mary Martin from Charlie dated 24 June 1915 (2/2) (image courtesy of MMM)
Portrait of Charlie Martin (image courtesy of MMM)
Portrait of Charlie Martin (image courtesy of MMM)
Portrait of the Martin Family (image courtesy of MMM)
Portrait of the Martin Family (image courtesy of MMM)
1911 English census return for Downside. Image is Crown copyright RG14/14663
1911 English census return for Downside. Image is Crown copyright RG14/14663
1911 English census return for Downside. Image is Crown copyright RG14/14663
1911 English census return for Downside. Image is Crown copyright RG14/14663
1911 English census return for Downside. Image is Crown copyright RG14/14663
1911 English census return for Downside. Image is Crown copyright RG14/14663