Arnall, Harry Melville

One original four page letter written by 4355 Lance Corporal (L/Cpl) Harry Melville Arnall whilst serving with B Coy, 22 Battalion, during the First World War. The letter is dated 20 July and is believed to have been written in 1917. L/Cpl Arnall has written to Miss Ditton, the sister of 6072 Private (Pte) James Patrick Ditton, who also served with 22 Battalion, explaining the circumstances of Pte Ditton being was wounded in action in France on 3 July 1917. The letter recounts how Pte Ditton was wounded in badly in the leg and L/Cpl Arnall had helped to dress his wounds until being ordered back to his position to face an expected counter attack. He further explains that as all the stretcher bearers had been wounded themselves, the wounded soldiers had to be placed in dugouts until stretcher bearers from the rear became available. After returning to the area two hours later, the enemy had recaptured the dugouts and the wounded were now missing. He surmises that '...the enemy had taken them away'. Pte Ditton listed on the Roll of Honour as having died on 3 May 1917.