204546 Pte. George Lay British Army 1st Btn. West Yorkshire Regiment from:Clockwell St. Southwick, Sunderland From Pte. G. Lay (West Yorks) to his parents at 36, Clockwell Street:
“We are at present in the trenches, but we expect to be relieved on December 1st. We go back after five days rest and stay there till Christmas Day. We have each got a body shirt and a belt as a present from the Queen and the ladies of the Empire, and I can tell you we are getting well treated by the people of England … I am in the best of health and have not lost weight since I came away.â€
In another letter Pte. Lay wrote to his parents from a Glasgow hospital December 1914:
“Just a line to let you know I am all right. I have been wounded in the back, but not badly. It was a lucky shot, but they nearly got me, as it was the back of my braces that kept me on my feet. We had a very canny trip over the channel and arrived in England about 6 o’clock on Sunday morning. I got all your birthday cards and cake and I got my shot the same day, so you will think it a rotten present indeed. I expect it will not be long before I see you all again. I will be home for Christmas and will have my pudding at homeâ€
In addition to above I also received the following about my father from MOD 1978:
"I am to reply to your letter and in reply to state that it is recorded that 3/8157 Private George Lay, West Yorkshire Regiment, 1st Battalion, suffered Gun Shot wounds at Arras (France) on 30th April 1917."
|