The following is an extract from a letter dated July 9th, 1916 written by Mr. C. A. Peltzer (father of Captain A. Peltzer) to his sister in California, in which he gives some account of Captain Peltzer’s description of July 1st and his subsequent experiences.
N.B. S.H.H. — Spring Hill House, the family home in Accrington.
Ethel — Capt. Peltzer’s wife.
Tony — Capt. Peltzer.
* Line 24 — Lt. G. G. Williams of Accrington, (O.C. the third wave).
C.B. — Colwyn Bay, where the family had a second home.
Paddock
House — A mansion in Oswaldtwistle, converted to a 75 bed Red Cross Hospital. Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Peltzer were members of the organising committee with a daughter, Miss Peltzer, as a ‘Lady Probationer’. John Harwood was President of the Committee.
| Dearest Hilda, | S.H.H. Accrington, Sunday July 9th, 1916. |
Knowing of the advance on the Western front, you will be anxious to know how Tony has fared. Thank goodness he has come out of the turmoil alive, although wounded in the right hand.
He wrote us a line on 30th June to say they would commence next clay and occupy an important point on the line. On Wednesday Ethel had a message at C.B. from the War Office saying he was wounded in right hand by gun shot. Mother and Ethel went on Thursday to Oxford, where he now is (3rd Southern General Hospital, Somerville, Oxford) and Mother returned yesterday. He is quite well in health — the lower joint of his first finger (right hand) is shattered, the middle finger was also damaged, but not badly; also the back of the hand a little. The hand will be X rayed in a day or so, and it will then be decided whether the first finger can be saved. Ethel does not mind if he has to lose it, provided it will save him from being sent to the fighting line again. Tony helped another man shot in the leg, by name G. G. Williams to cover the 7 miles they had to walk before they got to a dressing station where they could be attended to. He was one night in Rouen Hospital, where he saw Gertie Hoyle, who has acted there as nurse for some time. He arrived in this country hatless and minus other things, but stuck to my field glasses. He meant to have come to Manchester, to which place his haversack was sent, but by some confusion was put in the Oxford train. We are all very thankful he is back in this country. It was a big strain during the uncertainty of events whilst the first move was on. The 11th East Lancs. have suffered heavily. Capt. Tough and Capt. Riley are both killed — Livesey was reported killed at first, but afterwards as wounded. His father goes to the War Office in London today to ascertain. Tony feels certain he was killed, being wounded twice, the second time right on the German trenches, when he was seen to fall as if dead. Perhaps he fell unconscious and managed to crawl away later.
I have mailed you an ‘Observer’, giving some particulars. Regarding Col. Rickman, Tony says he was at his post all day, and towards the end was blown out of his dug out, which knocked him shell sick. They all behaved splendidly and with great coolness. Man for man they feel themselves superior to the enemy if it came to a hand to hand fight. It is these hidden machine guns that do so much damage during an assault.
Ethel has remained in Oxford, and baby Joan is here — quite well — in charge of Mrs. Cooper.
Mother gos up on Tuesday — probably with father — to St. Andrews to the annual prize giving. Paddock House is filling up, but Lydia will not need to return till Mother is back from Scotland.