REGINALD HARRINGTON’S Journey of Remembrance 2022: Blog
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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 24th 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.
Wife and daughter of Reginald Harrington : Edith with baby Gwen at the age when her father left for war
(Photo credit: taken from 'Journey of Remembrance, REECE, J 2002, pg 197)
(Photo credit: taken from 'Journey of Remembrance, REECE, J 2002, pg 197)
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