Letters

Dearest Mother 

War Letters 

from the Western Front 

2 nd Lieutenant Archie FORBES, M.C.

Contents 

Photograph of Archie Forbes Page 4 

Introduction Page 5 

Cartoon of Archie Forbes Page 6 

Archie and “the gun” Page 7 

Letter 1 – July 5 th 1918 Page 8 

Letter 2 – October 2 nd 1918 Page 16 

Letter 3 – November 11 th 1918 Page 24 

Letter 4 – March 6 th 1919 Page 42 

Archie’s WW1 Medals Page 50 

Archie’s Record of Service Page 51 

Photograph of Archie in the 1930s Page 52 

After the War Page 53 

Original letters compiled by Isla Brownless née Forbes 

Initial transcriptions and digitisation by Rebecca Houtsma 

Digital files supplied by Alison Browne and Ben Brownless 

Biographical information by Isla Brownless and Alison Browne 

Lambrook edition and design by John Kimbell and Laura Walsh 

November 2019

Archie Forbes, aged 19 (left), and friend

Introduction 

Archie Forbes (born 1899) signed up for the East Surrey Regiment 

immediately he left school. After a brief training, he was sent out as an 

officer to the front line in the trenches in France. We know how grim 

these conditions were but the letters (to his mother and sister, Nancy) 

show spirit and cheerfulness (e.g. making light of his wounds). 

‘Leave’ (a few days holiday) at home was rare – and eagerly looked 

forward to. Inspiring and leading the men was key but few of us would 

relish the job that this 19-year-old had to do. The affection between 

Archie and his men was mutual and one can only chuckle at the 

description of Archie, unusually tall (6’2”) and his batman (assistant), 

Otter, a small man, devoted to Archie, galloping after him through the 

trenches and saying “Keep yer ‘ed down sir, this is where so & so was 

shot in t’ foot” ! 

11th November 1918; bottle the excitement of the spontaneous 

celebrations in France on this day – and note the reflections in this vivid 

first hand account. 

A month or two later, he was able to tell his mother exactly which battles 

he had been in and, as hoped, the medals were awarded. 

Alison Browne (granddaughter)

Cartoon of Archie Forbes by A. C. Bown

Archie and “the gun” 

A. C. Bown, artist and cartoonist, painted this in 1918. I believe he was a 

fellow officer, probably in the Queens. The folds are clear where the 

picture was kept for months in Archie’s kit as a gift for his mother. 

One of Archie’s primary responsibilities in the army during WWI was to 

teach new recruits to operate what they referred to as “the gun”, formally 

known as the Lewis Gun. Archie would later be described as a “born 

communicator who could teach anyone, anything”. 

The Lewis Gun was an early light machine gun, designed in 1911, by 

U.S. Army Colonel Isaac Newton Lewis, manufactured in Belgium, and 

adopted by the British Army in 1915. It boasted adjustable sights, bipod 

support, and could hit a target at 600 metres. 

The Germans – on the receiving end of “the gun” – nicknamed it “the 

Belgian Rattlesnake”. 

Isla Brownless (daughter)

Image of original letter 1 of 4, July 5 th , 1918. Page 1 of 4.

Transcript of letter 1 of 4, July 5 th , 1918. Page 1 of 4. 

July 5 th , 1918 

Dearest Mother, 

B.E.F 

France 

Here is July 5 th , and tomorrow is your 

birthday, and I am awfully upset to think 

that this will be several days too late, 

but I know you will forgive me when you 

know that during the last few days 

when I would have ordinarily been writing to 

you, I was in the thick of some of the 

heaviest fighting that has taken place for a 

long time. I thought of you a great deal 

and longed to write but was quite unable 

to get a spare moment and had no means of 

getting a line through, had I written. 

I only hope you were not anxious about me 

after being all those days without a letter or 

P.C. Anyway, late though this is, this brings 

with it heaps of love, and very best wishes 

for your birthday – many many happy returns 

of the day (July 6 th ). The only thing I can 

send you as a birthday present is the 

ribbon of the decoration for which I have 

been recommended and which I hope to get soon.



Of course I don’t know yet whether I 

shall get anything at all, and I am sure 

I don’t know what it’s for if I do get it, 

but the Colonel seems very pleased, and 

has pushed through my recommendation 

which was given him by one of the Captains 

originally. I believe it is for the M.C., so 

I am greatly hoping that it does come through 

alright, and am sure you will be as 

pleased with my white-purple-white ribbon 

(if it does come through alright) as with any 

other birthday present. By Jove! we’ll 

have to take a trip up to Buckingham Palace 

and visit old George (if I do get it) when 

I come home on leave, but I am 

making a point of not hoping or expecting 

it too much, and you must do the same, 

as it would otherwise be very disappointing 

if I get nothing at all. 

I had a lovely letter from you 

yesterday, and I can’t tell you how 

topping it was to read a letter from you 

again, after the terrible time we’ve had, 

and after feeling so utterly cut off from



you all at home. My 3 little 

wounds are going on nicely and giving 

no pain (except the one in the stern, if I 

happen to sit down too heavily)!! I have 

really been extraordinarily lucky, coming 

through practically unscratched, and the 

only officer of my company left. We hope 

to get right out behind and rest and 

reorganize shortly, which will be a 

great relief to me, as men & officers 

are badly shaken up and tired, and 

the command of the company has been 

a great responsibility to me. But the 

fellows have played up like bricks, and 

followed me magnificently, and helped 

me at every turn. And I can assure 

you on some occasions we went through 

hell, and every one of us suffered a 

good deal from gas - fortunately not 

poisonous gas, and only temporary, but 

fearfully irritating to the eyes, throat, and 

nose, and I never heard a murmur. 

In fact they stuck to me magnificently and



said they would follow me anywhere, 

and what’s more they did it. 

The only thing that is so sad, and 

does bring home the horrors of war to one, 

is the frightful scarcity of fellows which 

I had grown to know and like so much, 

- fine fellows too, and such decent 

Comrades. - I have an enormous 

number of letters to write to the next 

of kin, condoling & informing them of their losses (and 

mine too for that matter, as they were 

all such good pals to me in their way) 

and hundreds of letters will shortly 

be streaming in to me, enquiring about 

the lads in my Company who are 

missing, and of whom I can give no 

information, and I can only guess too 

well what has happened to them. 

You will understand, won’t you, if my 

letters are rather short and hurried, 

as I shall be writing to those poor mothers 

& wives all day long. I must close 

with ever so much love to you all. 

Your loving son Archie

Image of original letter 2 of 4, October 2 nd , 1918. Page 1 of 4.

Transcript of letter 2 of 4, October 2 nd , 1918. Page 1of 4. 

2/10/18 


I have just received two more letters from 

you, for which many thanks. The first 

dated Sept 24 th told me that you were 

surprised to hear from me so soon after 

my saying that I probably shouldn’t 

be able to write for several days. As 

a matter of fact it is just a matter 

of luck, and in this case I just 

managed to find an hour with nothing 

to do, while we were waiting to start 

operations. I am so glad to hear 

that Gaussen has got a Commission at 

last, as he must have had quite 

a trying time as a Tommy. 

I read about the Railway Strike in 

the papers, and had heard that it 

got so serious that ex-engine drivers 

from the front had to volunteer to 

drive the trains, but didn’t know 

that it had actually been so. 

It struck me as being such a frightful 

thing – when all the news from the 

front was so good, and it made 

me boil with rage and long to 

shoot the brutes. It looked dreadful 

in the papers as it came at the 

bottom of about four pieces of 

magnificent news from the different 

theatres of war, and read something 

P.T.O./ 

B.E.F. 

France


Transcript of letter 2 of 4, October 2 nd , 1918. Page 2 of 4. 

like this:- 

1. General Allenby’s wonderful success 

in Palestine – 20,000 prisoners taken, etc. 

2. French troops take . . . . . . . etc. 

3. British Advance of umpteen miles, on an 

umpteen mile front, etc. 

4. Railway Strike in England! 

All the men out here swore that 

if they could get home for a day or 

so, they would slaughter every Jack 

one of the strikers! 

Your description of Witham’s regiment 

and existence sounds topping. Fancy 

living in the Royal Court Hotel in 

Sloane’s Square, and getting weekends 

whenever he likes! 

The term at Uppingham has just 

started – and I wasn’t long in 

discovering the fact, as I have 

had 7 letters from Meadhurst lads 

during the last two or three days. 

One of the boys – called Shoesmith – 

tells me that he met a great 

friend of mine during the holidays. 

Her name is Miss Sanderson, and 

I can’t think for the life of me 

who the fair lady can be, and 

I’m sure I’ve never seen her – and 

much less know her well! 

Possibly she is one of Nancy’s school 

friends – who has heard of me through 

her, – as I seem to remember



Nancy sometimes speaking of 

a Knoll girl called May 

Sanderson – or Madge Sanderson 

or something like that. 

I have had a glorious night’s 

sleep, and a large breakfast, dinner 

and tea today – and am already 

beginning to shake off my “trench 

tiredness”. I have got through 

a tremendous lot of work too, and 

got through most of my Lewis Gun 

deficiencies and indents for 

fresh stores. Now that we are 

out of the trenches, I have 

dropped Intelligence work and have 

taken up my proper job of 

Lewis Guns again. And tomorrow 

I start training a fresh lot of Lewis 

Gunners. The Colonel has given 

me a class of about 50, whom 

he wants me to get through in 

record time, as we probably 

shall not be long before we are 

in the dykes again. 

- - - - - - - - - 

I found that owing to the battalion 

being on the move, there would be 

no mail out on the 3 rd so 

I’ve kept this open till today (4 th Oct) 

P.T.O.



and I’ve got a splendid piece 

of news for you. Another 

officer has gone on leave and 

I am 2 nd on the list!! 

That means that the Capt. Kemp, 

who is the next to go, should 

leave in a week’s time, and 

then ME, about a fortnight 

from now! Isn’t it too 

grand for words? I am wildly 

excited, as it seems ages since 

I was home, and this has been 

a pretty long 6 months. 

However it won’t be long now, 

and I can pretty safely say 

that I shall be home in a 

fortnight, or 3 weeks at the 

latest. 

With ever so much love 

to you all, 

Your loving son, 

Archie

Image of original letter 3 of 4, November 11 th , 1918. Page 1 of 9.

Transcript of letter 3 of 4, November 11 th , 1918. Page 1 of 9. 

Nov. 11 th . 1918. 


At last the end of the war has come, 

and Germany is done and beaten 

to the very last card! But, by Jove, 

she’s fought it out well, and stuck 

out deceiving us up to the very last 

minute – for not one of us really 

knew till this morning what a 

frightful pitch of starvation and 

despair the Germans had reached. 

It is useless to try and express 

my feelings of joy and relief now 

that it is all over – and I don’t 

suppose you could express yours – 

it’s all too glorious for words. 

No doubt England is upside down 

with delight, and rejoicing from 

top to bottom, the same as we are 

doing out here. The men are 

absolutely off their heads with glee, 

and it’s topping to think of the happy 

meetings and rejoicings that will 

B.E.F 

France



take place when we all get back 

to England. But on the other hand 

it’s terrible to think of the many 

sad homes and sorrowful hearts 

where this long looked 

for return will not be, and to 

them, I fear, peace will only bring 

their losses back more vividly. 

We heard the grand news this 

morning, and all hostilities 

ceased at 11 a.m. and I am thankful 

to say we are not in the line, 

but in another village which has 

been the scene of endless shouting 

and waving of flags, etc., throughout 

the day. The French people – on whom 

we are billeted – have simply fallen 

over us with joy all day since we told them 

that the Guerre had finied!! The 

women and girls and children are 

practically falling on our necks and 

feet with gratitude – and I was



all but kissed by the old lady 

and girls in my billet! And seem 

to have spent half the day shaking 

hands with dear old men of about 

90 who are tottering about the streets 

shaking all over with delight. 

Of course you must remember these people 

have only recently been released by 

us from the Bosche – and I can’t 

say whether all the French people 

are so full of gratitude as this towards 

the British soldiers. We’ve 

spent the day marching about the 

streets with bands playing and 

everybody waving flags and shouting, 

singing, and cheering – and 

numerous rockets and coloured lights 

have been sent up all day, to 

say nothing of squibbs and fireworks! 

The General himself is quite mad, 

and sent up an S.O.S. Rocket this 

morning from the midst of a huge



crowd of Tommies in the market 

square. The S.O.S Rocket – I must 

explain – is the signal for an 

intense artillery barrage to be put 

down on the Bosche when he comes 

over the top at us, and is 

immediately answered by all our 

Guns. (i.e. if the war is on!) But 

this morning the only reply it got 

was a terrific outburst of laughter 

and applause – and the joke 

appealed to the men like anything. 

The remainder of the day – (when I 

haven’t been marching about or 

waving flags or cheering) – I seem to 

have spent in standing to attention 

and listening to “God Save the King” and 

the Marseillaise and Belgian National 

Anthem about 100 times over at 

different times & places! 

It has really been an historic day 

in this place, and one which I 

shall never forget as long as I live.



And the beauty of the whole thing 

to me is that it is genuine 

whole-hearted rejoicing – and no 

drunkenness at all or even lively 

spirits through drink – as there isn’t 

a drop of drink in the place, and 

we can’t get whisky for the 

officers’ messes at present. 

Tomorrow there is a large voluntary 

Thanksgiving Service – and I haven’t 

the smallest doubt that every single 

man in the battalion will turn up, 

as every one of us thinks & says 

the same thing - that we have 

so much to be thankful for that 

we can never express it in words. 

And really – when I come to look 

back on my 6 or 7 months out 

here, there is such a lot to be 

thankful for – and all the awful 

narrow escapes I’ve had time and 

again, that it makes me go cold 

all over to think of it!



For although I’ve only been out for 

6 or 7 months, yet these 6 months 

have seen some of the worst battles 

& fighting of the war – and fellows 

who have done as many “over the top” 

stunts and been through as many 

battles as I have during these 6 

months and come through without a 

scratch have got more to thank 

God for than they can hope to do 

in a lifetime. I somehow can’t 

yet realize that I am safe & 

sound with a whole skin, as an 

Infantry subaltern’s life out here is 

nothing but one huge risk – seeing 

that he plays about with barrages 

half the time – or else under 

Machine Gun fire. Now that it’s 

all over, I don’t mind telling you, 

that time and again I’ve wondered 

how much longer I should last out, 

and how much longer my luck would hold.

Image of letter 3 of 4, dated November 11 th , 1918. Page 7 of 9.


And time and again, I’ve gone 

over the top with my Platoon or 

Company – usually well in front 

of them – and yet when I 

looked round I’d see them 

being knocked over all round me 

especially that memorable occasion 

when I went over with a Platoon 

of 35 and afterwards found 

myself with 7. It makes one 

think a bit, I can assure you, 

and I’ve wondered and wondered 

why some fellows like myself 

have been so lucky, and I’m 

sure your prayers have done 

it, and other poor fellows haven’t 

been so fortunate because they 

haven’t got Mothers who pray 

for them so earnestly as you 

have done for me all along, I 

know. 

Now the great question is, what 

are they going to do with us, 

and where are they going to 

send our Battalion. 

At present we are waiting, 

expecting either to go forward



with the troops that will 

occupy towns in Germany 

which I think would be rather 

a nice experience in some ways 

– or else to stay in France 

and help clean up the country 

and the battlefields. But 

of course we don’t really know 

what they’ll do with us, and 

I don’t really care – now that the 

fighting is over. I shall 

come home when my time comes, 

and in the meantime (now 

that I’m a Regular) I must 

make up my mind to put up 

with anything henceforth, and go 

wherever they send me. 

I have just received your 

letter, by this evening’s mail, 

for which v. many thanks, and I 

am ever so delighted to hear 

that Maggie is over the worst, 

and getting better, and please 

tell her so, and also that 

Otter asked after her again this 

evening, and wishes me to tell 

her he is so glad to hear she


Transcript of letter 3 of 4, November 11 th , 1918, Page 9 of 9. 

is getting better. 

How awfully kind of Curtis 

Skeene to wire congratulations 

from India, I really do 

feel honoured seeing that 

this is the 4 th from India & 

this time not even a 

relation! 

I can hear the old lady of 

my billet coming up the 

stairs to my room – I believe 

she wants to kiss me this 

time!! – No, it 

was alright, not the old lady 

after all – but her young 

daughter who has brought me 

a cup of coffee. I thanked 

her frightfully – as she’s quite 

pretty! – and I said numerous 

merci “beaucoups” and “biens” and 

“bons” & “tra bongs”, etc! which 

seemed to please her greatly. 

I talk quite a lot to them, as they 

love hearing the war news – 

especially this morning’s news of 

peace! But I find it pretty 

difficult as they can’t speak a word 

of English in these parts – but 

very amusing and great fun at times. With ever so much 

love to Nancy, & yourself, & all. 

Yr loving son, Archie.

Image of original letter 4 of 4, March 6 th , 1919. Page 1 of 4.

Transcript of letter 4 of 4, March 6 th , 1919. Page 1 of 4. 


March 6 th , 1919 

The Censorship Regulations have been withdrawn 

altogether now, and we can talk of places and 

events which happened during the war. I thought 

it might interest you to have a list of the battles 

in which our battalion has fought, during August 

and September 1918 only. I have been in nearly 

all of them either as a Platoon Commander – or 

as Intelligence Officer. They are – 

Maurepas* ] 

Combles* ] 

Vaux Wood* ] 

Guyencourt* ] 

Epehy* ] 

Molasses Farm* ] 

Avion* ] 

Noyelles* ] 

Queant Drocourt Line* ] (August & September 

Billy Montigny* ] alone!) 

Auby ] also Le Catelet and Canal 

Roches ] du Nord where we broke 

Forêt de Hines ] through the HINDENBURG LINE* 

Beuvry ] 

Lecelles ] 

Breille* ] 

La Quesnée* ] 

and BOUZINCOURT* [June 30 th – July 3 rd] which was quite 

the worst stunt of the lot, and about 

the heaviest casualties too. 

The ones marked thus* are battles which I’ve been in 

and the others are ones which I missed – either through 

being on leave or out behind the line training Lewis 

Gunners. The ones underlined were the biggest & worst



and in which we suffered most heavily. 

I nearly forgot to put in the HINDENBERG LINE battle 

which was one of the biggest – but you’ll see I’ve 

added it afterwards. 

It’s quite a good list for 2 months isn’t it? 

18 names, and 1 in July before the advance 

began. Of course some of them were quite cushy 

– with light casualties – & merely a case of 

strolling along under a terrific barrage. 

But, by Jove, some of them weren’t pleasant at all 

as we got so badly hung up at times, and suffered 

terribly from Bosche Machine Guns. And 

those underlined were fearful – especially 

BOUZINCOURT which wasn’t really a battle – 

but a glorified “stunt” before the advance began – 

but it developed into one of the worst battles 

on a small scale ever known & we suffered 

badly. 

They are going to put up War Memorials 

at Epehy, Breille, and Bouzincourt – to the 

memory of the men & officers in the 12 th Division 

who died fighting there. You see I have 

underlined those 3 names on my list. 

Bouzincourt – you remember – was the occasion when 

I proudly commanded “D” Coy. And Epehy was 

the place we took early one morning at dawn 

and surrounded it alright – but a German 

Machine Gun fought on all day from a post in the middle of 

the town, and fired into our backs from 7:30 am



until 7:45 pm so that we simply couldn’t move. 

The post consisted of a Bosche officer & a handful 

of men who hung on although they were cut off 

& surrounded, and fired all day at us, killing 

many, – and when they were attacked & 

captured that night – they fought till almost 

every one of them was killed. It was one 

of the best and bravest pieces of work I’ve ever 

seen the Bosche do, and if ever any Huns ever 

deserved the Iron Cross, they did! 

Molasses Farm which is 6 th down my list – was 

one of the most unhealthy spots I’ve seen in 

France. I haven’t underlined it, as there 

was no great battle there – we merely took 

it. But after we had taken it & dug in just 

in front & behind the Farm – the Bosche simply 

banged & bumped & crumped & shelled 

it all day & night for some time afterwards. 

I remember Otter and I simply running like 

mad whenever we had to go through it 

to get to the other side. I’ve never 

run so fast in all my life as at that 

place. And sometimes when we got half 

way through – another salvo of Bosche shells 

would come over into it, and we would dive 

headlong into the first shell–hole we could 

see, and lie doggo till it was over - & then


Transcript of original letter 4 of 4, March 6 th , 1919. Page 4 of 4. 

run like mad to get out of the place 

before the next lot came over! 

I used to laugh afterwards as we were the 

most priceless sight imaginable – what with 

my long legs striding over the ground, & little 

Otter toddling along with his tiny legs after 

me – picking up numerous articles that 

I dropped in my hurry – tin hat, etc!! 

At times I tried to look dignified, and 

merely walk fast, but Otter used to hurry 

me along – saying “Come along, Sir” 

– “Run Sir!” – or “Keep low Sir, your head 

is sticking up a long way, Sir!” etc, etc. 

And he used to scold me 

if I’d been walking along a trench with 

my head sticking up over the top – or if I’d 

crossed some open country under observation 

without doubling myself up completely! 

My usual reply was that I was dying of 

hunger, and that if he went on talking 

much longer, I should die of starvation, 

which would be much worse! Whereupon 

he would start getting out the rations, and 

lay out a sumptuous meal of “bully” & biscuits 

which we enjoyed as much as a dinner at 

the Savoy! I believe I could write a book 

on Otter – but I must really stop. 

With ever so much love, Your loving son Archie

Archie’s WW1 Medals 

Military Cross, 1914-18 Campaign Medal, 1914-19 Victory Medal 

The Military Cross (on the left with the “white-purple-white” ribbon to 

which Archie refers in his July 5 th , 1918 letter) ranks next to the Victoria 

Cross and is awarded for conspicuous gallantry in the field. 

The middle medal is the 1914-1918 Campaign Medal (nicknamed 

Squeak). 

On the right is the 1914-1919 Victory Medal (nicknamed Wilfred). 

Pip, Squeak, and Wilfred were three much loved cartoon characters of 

the time, and the troops named these medals after them. Pip was the 1914 

star which Archie did not receive, as he was too young. 

Isla Brownless

Archie’s Record of Service 

Record transcribed from original documents by Isla Brownless

Archie in the 1930s, enjoying one of his favourite pastimes, fishing.

After the War 

Archie’s leadership and communication skills had been useful to the 

senior officers in his Regiment, who were somewhat reluctant to 

discharge him. Nevertheless, aged 19/20 with the War over, Archie was 

impatient to get back into civilian life and become a schoolmaster at the 

prep school, Lambrook, where he had been so happy as a youngster. 

Incidentally, when a boy there, he made a lifelong friend of Walter Sellar 

(1066 and All That). 

Archie taught Latin, employing unique non-traditional methods for 

tackling grammar. In the school community, he was also in great demand 

as a pianist and teller of stories, encouraging youngsters to write their 

own as well. 

He met Flora Keyes on a skiing holiday in Switzerland; they married, and 

had two daughters, Isla and Rona. He adored them all, and their summer 

holidays together in Scotland. In the autumn of 1939, he achieved his 

long-held hope of becoming Headmaster of Lambrook and immediately 

found himself steering the school through the tumultuous days and 

difficulties generated by the 2nd World War; working long hours and 

with good humour, invariably prioritising the needs of the children. 

“The Lambrook Legacy”, by Isla Brownless, is a superb, vivid account of 

the history of the school (founded in the 1860s) including schoolboy 

jokes, entertaining episodes and an underlying affection for the 

characters. Archie Forbes, with his pipe and his Labrador dog stride 

through a number of these pages. 

Although he was starting to make plans to retire, Archie died “in harness” 

of cancer in 1956. In the intervening decades, successive Headmasters of 

Lambrook have been able to build on Archie Forbes’ dream of a school 

where every child develops to the best of their abilities (and character) 

both inside and outside the class room, taking advantage of a wide range 

of opportunities in sport and the creative arts. 

Alison Browne

Dearest Mother 

War Letters 

from the Western Front 

2 nd Lieutenant Archie FORBES, M.C.

Letters

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