Reginald Harrington's Journey of Remembrance: Blog post 6

 From France to Buckingham Palace to Scotland and back to the front in Belgium...Reg's war drags on.

The 2022 Connecting Spirits group have crisscrossed the Somme heading north to the Ypres region in our first week on tour. The horrors of the Somme and now the Ypres Salient have been thoroughly  shared with our battlefields expert Rod Bedford. And as we reflect on the parallel journey of Reginald Harrington, his narrative takes him back to dear old Blighty for his investiture at Buckingham Palace to receive his Distinguished Conduct Medal from the King. Over the last year of 1916-17 however, Reg is finding the separation from his beloved 'wifey' and little Gwen becoming harder to endure. He writes:

'9 April 1917 (FRANCE) 

Since writing my letter of a few days back I have had some wonderful luck. You will remember I told you of a little incident that happened in the advance, well the higher authorities seemed fit to send my name in dispatches and the result was that your old man after 32 months of varied experiences has been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. What do you think of that Mrs. Reg?  Just how I would love to see your face when you get the news, it will help to make up for a lot won't it darling? If ever I get back to Blighty I shall get a little miniature brooch made of  the medal so my own brave little woman shall be able to wear the honour as well....Heaps and heaps of love and kisses my sweetheart to both yourself and our darling baby from your ever loving and affect hubby

Reg.

5 June 1917 (LONDON)

I was given charge of the Australians to be decorated and marched them round to the Wellington Barracks where we were checked off and told  off to different carriage buses to which we were driven through Hyde Park to the spot, there was a big crowd. At the ground we were all taken off  to the chains with our numbers on them. Mine was No. 127 and we were again checked and then some big wig came along  and put hooks into our tunics.  By this time the crowd had got jolly dense  and we were  all wishing it was over. Then some more big wigs got up into the dais and then the Queen Mother arrived. The shouts were deafening but really she is wonderful woman. She had some funny old things with her and then came along the King, Queen and Princess Mary the latter a little darling , now don't be jealous my pet, I am not allowed to call. But everyone loves the Princess, dressed very quietly and just a slip of a girl she is awfully popular with the public. The Queen looked splendid, then there was all the frillies to be gone through, but the whole show was very simple.

Then the show started and one by one the fellows went up to the King along a sort of race up to him and down a race back to his seat, as you marched  up to him your number, rank and name was called out and so after what seemed like ages I stood before the King saluted. He hung the medal  on the hook and then said "Have you just come over from France for this?" I answered yes Sir. " I am afraid you have had some very hot work over there. Were you in the last lot of fighting?" I said yes Sir except for Bullecourt. The the King said, " I think all you Australians have done wonderfully well indeed. I congratulate you all."

Somehow dearie I can't enjoy this sort of thing it was bad enough when I was over here before and if anything worse this time. I can always see the front ahead of me ... can't get it out of my mind and shan't so long as I have to go back. On Sunday I got down to the river at Richmond but had a mad fit on me, felt utterly miserable and could not keep still for a  second. I walked for miles  and eventually got back to London and was wondering what was the best to do when another good  old pal of my old troop in the 4th Light Horse yelled put to me and came running across. 

Next day I reported  and was given leave till the 13th . I booked a ticket to Inverness and tonight my very own sweetheart  I leave for Bonny Scotland and a good clean country...Only one fly in the ointment wifey and that is I am on my own, I want you ever so badly, more than ever I want my wife and baby and if it was not for the hope the prayer that one day I shall get back to you darling, everything would finish for me. Some day dear girl and then please God I shall be worthy of you. 

Heaps of love my sweetheart both for yourself and our darling for ever.

Your loving and affectionate husband

Reg.

15 February 1918 (BELGIUM)

Time goes on my sweetheart and there still seems no better chance of my getting back to you, for a sight of home and my lover ones is all I need to back me up again. This week I wrote out  an application for leave to Australia...goodness only knows if it will receive any consideration...

Here it is cold dear at stand to at 5 o'clock this morning I tell you I nearly froze... This part is fairly quiet just now dearie: we are on the Messines Ridge. 

2 March 1918 (BELGIUM)

 I have headed this letter Belgium, in fact it is correct,  but from where I am writing is a nice little Pill Box. You have read of them, they are part of the Bosch system and a pretty good one too they come in jolly handy to us though for one can keep warm in them no matter how cold it is outside. Today it has been raining and snowing, bitterly cold all round but I suppose it won't be long now before we have the warmer weather with us.

So far my sweetheart I have kept out of harm's way and so go on hoping. ...And now my sweet wife I must finish up ..it has been inky dark tonight but the moon  will be up soon and I shall have to start work. Kiss my daughter for me my wifey and store up heaps and heaps for your own dear old self with all my love darling from

Your ever loving and affec hubby

Reg.' 

Buckingham Palace and Hyde Park (taken during the 2019 tour)

Back to Belgium : Poperinge - behind the front lines

Reg refers to the pillbox: these block houses are still standing across northern France and in the Ypres Salient.

Photo credit: Julie Reece September 2022

FIVE things to do in London....part one...

TKJ Travel have two wonderful tours this year in September and October: 'Byways & Boudin: Montpellier and the Langudoc-Rousillon' in the superb south of France and a WW1 battlefields tour- 'Jimmy's Anzac Pilgrimage' . (go to our website www.juliereecetours.com.au to download both tours' itineraries) The Montpellier tour ends on Wednesday September 28 and Jimmy's Anzac tour begins on Monday October 3 thus creating a five day opportunity if you sign up for both tours. To that end my colleague Trevor Nottle and I have some suggestions...Trevor has 'Five things to do in Paris': go to : (https://trevornottle.wordpress.com/20…/…/01/first-blog-post/ 

However you may want to spend those 5 days in the iconic city of London. Here are some suggestions you may wish to embrace- some very popular and well known to the millions of tourists who visit this amazing city, and a few of the less traveled to sites which are quirky and totally delightful. 

1. Hyde Park- Wellington's Arch-Green Park- Buckingham Palace-The Mall- Westminster: one of the best walks in London

London is an expensive city BUT there are many attractions that are not only FREE but capture the atmosphere and essence of this place. Begin your walk at the corner of Hyde Park - there is an underground station right on the corner - and explore the Australian War Memorial, a very special memorial which lists all those places that the members of the A.I.F enlisted from. Try to find your town or suburb's name on this unique structure and 

 in doing so you will gain an understanding of the enormity of the Great War in terms of the number of communities affected by this global conflict. From there walk across to the New Zealand memorial before walking through the Wellington Arch down onto Constitution Hill with the Buckingham Palace gardens on our right and to your left The Green Park. Your walk now takes you right to the most famous of all buildings, Buckingham Palace. If you time your arrival around 10.30 - 11.00 am you can be present for the Changing of The Guard at 11.30 usually daily depending on the time of the year. *every day in summer..alternate days early August to April* Your walk then takes you down the regal Mall the site of so many famous events such as Royal weddings and funerals, state visits and public celebrations such at the end of WW2. The end point of The Mall takes you to Trafalgar Square and Westminster. Here your camera will go mad as you recognise so much of this part of London ..Big Ben..Westminster Abbey.. the Houses of Parliament etc...and at this point you have spent NOTHING!

2. Thames walk along Southbank - from the London Eye to the Tower Bridge

Begin your walk at the London Eye ...be warned..in peak times you are advised to pre- book as the queues are very lengthy and time consuming. Allow approximately £20 but check with your agent or pre- book on the internet for the best deals. The Eye takes in all of the London vista and allows you to put all of its famous landmarks into perspective. BUT..if the day is very overcast or foggy it may pay you to do this when the weather improves. The Thames walk along the South Bank takes in other sites such as the reconstructed Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, Drake's Golden Hinde replica ship and the HMS Belfast. The entrance cost to the Globe is worth every penny! This stretch of the banks of the Thames is full of eateries, bars and really great places to enjoy the London landscape. Before continuing to the Tower Bridge divert to a little known museum and food market not far from the Southwark Cathedral. The Borough Market is fantastic!! Full of produce, food stalls, and eating places, it features products from across all the farming regions of the UK. Tasting is encouraged and you are spoiled for choice when deciding what and where to eat- it's a fabulous place any time of the day but breakfast is the best! Not far from the Borough market is a quirky and lesser known of the many museums in London, The Old Operating Museum not far from  London Bridge. A bit gruesome BUT fascinating. Your walk to the Tower Bridge then takes in the Hay's Galleria yet another eating hub full of cafes, bars, take away places to suit all budgets. If you include visits to the Eye and the Globe on this walk, you will need to allow full day to take in all this part of London has to offer. Part TWO of this blog will feature MUSEUMS/ MARKETS & A CRUISE UP THE THAMES...stay tuned....