Julie Reece Tours: July 2022

REGINALD HARRINGTON’S Journey of Remembrance 2022: Blog post 1

With our 2022 Connecting Spirits Community Tour departing in two month's time, our itinerary planning is nearly complete. As part of this year’s much awaited tour, the group will follow in the footsteps of one South Australian soldier Lieutenant Reginald Harrington D.C.M from his and brother Keith’s departure from Australia through to his final days in the UK. The first post sets the scene with a letter Reginald sent to his daughter Gwen who was only two years of age at the time. In this evocative document, the South Australian officer explains to little Gwen, his reasons for leaving her and enlisting to fight in the Great War. His daughter kept the letter for all her life and when she was 90 years of age, Gwen explained to me the significance of this powerful text. The letter was sent from the training camps at Mena in Egypt on 24^th February 1915 two months prior to his participation in the infamous Gallipoli campaign.

(Take note: Reg’s punctuation, sentence structure, capitalisation and grammar has been transcribed as HE wrote it)

My Darling little daughter Gwen

It seems strange to me writing a letter to you, when I know that it will be many years before your dear eyes will be able to translate my message. Two years ago today your Dad was the happiest & proudest fellow in all the world. Your dear Mother will have told you why, and today because I am so far away from you both I made my mind to write you a letter, for your Mother to give you when you are a big wise girl to read, and so that you might know, as you will find out for yourself, only too well later on in life, how your welfare and your image fills my mind & heart.

In a few days’ time, with the rest of the Australian Forces, we leave to go to the front and with the knowledge of what we have to face, in front of me. I know that whereas I may be lucky enough to go thorough it all, and return home to you, to see & watch over your life, at the same time, less than five minutes in the firing line, may be the end of my career. In this case my baby, when you read this letter, you will be about 18 years old (the age your Mother was when I first met & fell in love with her).

Your Mother will, in the event of my not returning, have the care of your little life, your education, character, and learning and will have told you all about your Dad, and about this Great War and that, apart from Patriotic feelings and a citizen’s first duty, my further reason and purpose, for leaving a comfortable home, loving wife, small baby daughter & a good position, as well as all the other nice things of a peaceful life, for the rough and ready living of a soldier, was so that my wife, Your Mother, and you our little self may be able to live out your lives in peace, and to help stop forever, any chance of our enemy, fearful and cruel ever invading & violating the shore of our country.

Well my daughter the following are the things I want you to think about and do, only some of them, for there will be hundreds of little things your Mother will teach you, as only Mothers can. Always love your Mother & do as she teaches & tells you, never do the slightest thing away from her that you would not do in her sight. Tell your Mother all your little secrets, keep nothing from her, no matter what it is, and remember, Your Mother Gwen, is & always will be your best & wisest friend, so no matter what is wrong always go to her, for if your Mother won’t help you, then my daughter no one in this world will, so remember my wishes. Make your dear Mother your best friend & tell her everything. Do this dear girl and as I found out the truth of it all, in my later life you will find out for yourself. For the rest, everything lies in yours, and in your sweet Mother’s hands. God bless you both. Anyhow, I am going to get back alright, and so will be able to watch you grow up & oh! I hope till I am an old man, together with your Mother, but this is in case my luck is out. May God always protect & guide your dearest lives, is the burden of the prayers of your loving Dad.

As we tour the former Western Front this year, we will keep Reginald’s story front and centre of our journey. It is to be hoped that we will be able to continue the narrative in 2024 if we are able to tour to Turkey and re-join the narrative at Keith Harrington’s grave the resting place of Reg’s brother. By following Julie Reece Tours Facebook page and ticking LIKE, you will keep in the loop of our planning.