History

Private William Jolly
192 West Princes Street, Glasgow

Private William Jolly

William Jolly served as a Private with the 7th Battalion Cameron Highlanders (44th Brigade, 15th Division) on the Western Front. He wrote a letter to his mother, 19 April 1917, giving an account of his Battalion's fighting in the Battle of Arras, expressing relief for his own survival 'without a scratch' He was killed in action four days later on 23 April 1917.

Letter

BEF 19.4.1917
France

Dear Mother

You will perhaps be anxious to know how I am fairing during these stirring times, and I can assure you we have been having a strenuous time of it. We have had four days of this advance, and I am glad to say I managed through without a scratch. I dare say had I been at home I would have been giving you quite a list o the fighting. [...] We got on fairly well in the attack, and from what I saw we left very few dead on the field. On the whole we carried the advance forward about as far as the line, at present affairs, a distance of about five miles or so, so that was not a bad day’s work, was it? Oh no there is no holding of the Jocks once they get their blood up, but with bully beef and biscuits including a few days snow we soon came back to our normal selves again. There is only one fault in doing well in this war, and that is the effects of an over dose. Sometimes doing well, you do so well that they think no other body can do so well, and in the end you finish with “well, well” and a long sigh. However, on the whole
we make fairly light of the matters by far the best way when held in the clutches of despair.

Letter from Private William Jolly

Well what do you think? I have met in with Jack Swanson again. This is the first since we met on the Somme in the month of August, so that’s fairly far back. I was just lying resting last night when one of our chaps came and told me that a pal of mine attached to the ambulance was wanting to see me. Well I started out after my tea, and after half an hour’s wait, I saw a car coming about ninety miles an hour. Of course I knew at once who the driver would be, and I watched his antics, I could not but think of ‘Jip’ Craig. [...]

Have you had any further word from A. Denny? By Jove, but he is a lucky chap and no mistake. He was lying in the same town as us and strange to say he never looked me up. By the by, regarding that parcel of Effi’s, did she send anything fancy in it? If so I’m afraid it has gone astray. I got the one with the sweets alright, so if that was it I got it safe and well. If you would send out a loaf in my parcel, if you can get it at all it would be better than your small cakes, as I am not particularly fond of them, also an odd pastry to taste my mouth. […] How are the shell makers? Oh by the by, I was at a concert last night, you know one of those concert parties that move about with the troops, and who should be one of the artistes but Michael Kelly from Stranraer. Immediately he started singing Mary Mac. I thought I knew the voice, although at first I thought it was your minstrel Sam Kelly who came down so often.

Well mother as I have exhausted all my stocks of news, I shall have to dry up. Are all the bairns at home just now, or have they taken up other studies again? Will now close.

With best love and all

Your loving son

Bill.

Letter notifying Private William Jolly's mother

Army Form B

No 5/20787 Cameron Highlanders

Madame,

I regret to inform you that a report has to this day been received from the War Office to the effect the No s/20787 Private W. Jolly of the Cameron Highlanders was posted as missing after the engagement at ........... on the 23/28.4.17.

Should he subsequently rejoin or any other information be received concerning him, such information will be at once communicated to you,

I am Madame, your obedient Servant

.......

His body was never found. Later the Arras memorial was set up to commemorate those who fell during the campaign of Arras, among them Private William Jolly.