Wednesday, September 17, 2008

William Henry Bonser Lamin

I came across this site some time ago and return every couple of days to check for updates.
WWI was a catastrophic tragedy for a whole generation but as it's veterans have dwindled away, doesn't seem to warrant much thought or mention today.
Harry, as he's affectionately known, tells his story through a series of letters from the front. Readers are left to wonder when the next letter will arrive and the site's author doesn't tell you if he ultimately survived the war, so there's a measure of suspense to the whole thing.
Initially its a little confusing as the time lines seem a bit mixed up.
The letters are published to correspond to the same day of the week as they were written. The idea is to give a sort of "real time" exposure as if you were the recipient. As 1918 was a leap year, the letters don't correspond to right date, but try and match the correct day of the week.
If Harry didn't write a letter on the day then no letter is posted (pun intended!) on the site.
Confused yet?
All this sounds a bit complicated I grant you, but you soon get the hang of it.
In his first post, the author lays out his objectives for the project:
"From 1st March 1918 the leap year in 2008 takes the synchronicity of the days and dates away. Decision: I will publish letters a day in advance so that the days of the week coincide, rather than the date. During his time in the army, he wrote letters home to his brother and sister. They were kept and handed down to me, his grandson. I have transcribed the letters and added commentary so that references can make sense. What has been produced is a moving and poignant account of an ordinary man's experiences in an extraordinary situation. I have edited nothing. The spellings and grammar are exactly as Harry wrote them. The intention of this blog is to publish the letters exactly 90 years after Harry wrote them. His first letter from the training camp was written on February 7th 1917. It will be published on the blog on February 7th 2007.Each letter will appear on the correct date from then on. There are gaps where no letters are available for several weeks. I have no explanations. Maybe they were lost. I have no idea. If you wish to find out Harry's fate then you'll have to access the blog as the new letters arrive. Please feel free to let me know if you are interested in following the blog. There is within, a fascinating insight into the fate of the ordinary soldier in those horrific times."
To read it like a book (which is how my brain is wired) you need to go to the first post (there's a link to whisk you to the beginning). Crib notes explaining who's who and "non-letter" entries and links, give the whole thing context . Doing this little bit of prep, rewards you with a treasure trove of insight into tragedy, triumph, family relationships and a British society changed forever some 90 years ago. This guy has done a TON of work. How could he possibly have a day job?
I've been working my way through it and its fascinating stuff.
I can see I'm not alone as at last count the profile views registered 150,000. It's been featured on TV, radio and print media and Harry has developed such a big following that there are separate blogs devoted to comments and discussion.
Not bad for a family project huh?
Once again, here's the link; Harry
Harry's on leave at home in England at the moment so the letters have stopped until the corresponding day of his return.
Do something different for a change and kill some time!
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Next post from Hong Kong.
Stay safe Harry and enjoy your hols!
Write soon and often!
T

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I saw Harrys story on the Tv a while ago :) i am always being reminded of war with a father who served in the second world war ,from the start to the end and then in Korea , he is 87 and tells tales you would not beleave , he is a very spesial Gentle Man a dying breed :( as was Harry :) penny x

Anonymous said...

Hi T,

I just read V. Woolf's "Jacob's Room" and the final chapter intimates that the young man has died in the war. Because of the elusive modernist style employed throughout the novel and my being pitifully ignorant about history as it is, I'm left to wonder about things. Most importantly, were young men drafted or they volunteered; and what's the role of Greece in all that...

I'd certainly appreciate your input if it's not too much trouble.

~ Lennie

Terry said...

They were drafted as the volunteer army was pretty much wiped out early on. Every small village in the UK has a memorial as every village lost about 2/3rds of the men....theere was quite a shortage of menfolk after the war.
As for Greece, I have to profess ignorance to what part the country played, though the Turks must have been breathing down their neck. The Australians lost thousands fighting the Turks and it was dramatised by which movie?
(Hint Mel Gibson got his first big break- NOT Mad Max!)
10 points if you have the answer!

Anonymous said...

Gallipoli. Great film. It has a most wonderfully evocative piece of music at the end: Adagio in G minor by Giazotto, attributed to Albinoni.

Radio 4 has been dramatising The Worst Journey in the World, Apsley Cherry-Garrard's account of the ill-fated Terra Nova expedition of 1910 - 1913 (Scott's last expedition). Recommended read, if you have't already; also you can listen again to the radio version via: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/arts/classic_serial.shtml

TR-HW

TR-HW

Anonymous said...

Thank you, T. Lastly, in which country did the men fight after they were drafted? (I haven't seen that many movies with MG, never been a movie buff. I read. But not history books apparently.) L.

Terry said...

I guess the bulk of the fighting was in France and Belgium but Italy, Turkey etc were part of the action as well though I think the "moonscape" created by the endless bombardments was mostly in Europe.

Anonymous said...

Hello Terry , Ihave just read an old comment i made on my Dad :) he is going to be 90 in two months time and the last chapter to his life is about to be writen :) a WW2 Historian writer is writing my Dads life story and what a life he has lived i hope mybe out of curiosity you would read it it will not be finished for about a year . The Authors name is Sean Longden. I only hope my father will get to read it ,he is well and fit and now has a little moe to carry on for ,but it was only fitting that he life would end this way my father did nothing by halfs :) Penny x