Journeys End by Robert Cedric Sherriff - Letter From Stanhope to Raleighs Parents

Journeys End by Robert Cedric Sherriff - Letter From Stanhope to Raleighs Parents Journeys End Letter24th March 1917Somewhere inFranceDear Mr and Mrs RaleighI'm deeply sorry to inform you that your son has been killed in action. Jimmy was killed on the 21st of this month. Jimmy had just been put on duty on the front line the Germans had been making a big push for a few hours by the time Jimmy had took his duty. There guns shelled us relentlessly. A shell dropped just in front of our line and exploded sending shrapnel flying all over. A piece of shrapnel unfortunately hit jimmy in the back, he was quickly picked up by two soldiers and me. We carried him down into the dugout; he was in no pain at all. Jimmy asked for some water I gave him a mug full, then we lay there for several minutes reminiscing over the good times I and he had had.Jimmy Dean and Large DogsHe then asked for a candle, he has always been afraid of the dark. By the time I appeared back at his side he was gone he had peacefully slipped away.Raleigh had only been with the company a small time but he had already made many friends. He used to sit with the men in the front doing work when he needn't to. A lot of the men admired him and my generals often complementing him on his intelligence and enthusiastic attitude. Raleigh participated in a successful raid on the German line where he led ten men he successfully captured a machine gun and bundled a German across no mans land, for his brave efforts that helped the English war campaign he received a Military Cross. I feel deeply saddened by Jimmy's death he will be greatly missed by me and my men. Jimmy was a superb...