1/5th SOUTH STAFFORDS WAR DIARY

HUMBERCAMP.  27th June Tue: In Rest Billets.  Y Day. 

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SYDNEY HIBBETT’S LAST LETTER HOME to MARIE NEAL & ARTHUR HIBBETT, 95 Foden Rd Walsall.

(mud stained).

                                     Wed. June 28th 1916.

My Own Dear Mother & Father,

This is to say that if I am knocked over for good in this charge we are making tomorrow I want to say how glad I am I have such good, loving parents.

If I have ever caused you grief I hope you will forgive me as I am a forgetful chap all right.

I am leaving my watch and cigarette case to you, and Sgt. Marden* ‘A’ Coy, has my instructions to send them to you in case.

May God bless and keep you safely, my dear parents, and remember I tried to do my duty. The war will soon be over now.  

Ever your own loving & dutiful son.

Sydney.

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Soldiers were encouraged to write a Letter Home before the Battle of the Somme, to be delivered in the event of their death. The ‘Big Push’ to end the War was planned for Thursday 29th June ‘Z Day’. Serjeant Sydney Hibbett was preparing to lead his platoon in the ‘first wave’. Poor weather postponed the Charge until Saturday 1st July.  

Compare Sydney Hibbett’s Last Letter with that of his First to his Parents on Holiday at Abergele, Wales. 19th August, 1914.

NEXT POST: 1st July 1916. (delayed until 5th July as I do not return from Fonquevillers & Gommecourt until 4th July).