THIS is a Blackburn soldier, called Frank Scholick — though we’re not sure if this is how you spell it.

The other photograph is that of his wife, who we think might be called Babs.

Whether Frank was a reservist or enlisted in the first days after war was declared, on August 4,1914, we are not sure, either. But from a letter he wrote home, to a Miss Sally Riley, of Hodder Street, we do know he left Southampton for France, just eight days later, on August 12.

This letter, a postcard and these two photographs were among the treasured possessions of the couple’s daughter, Winifred.

Following her death, they have been kept by a family friend, who wants to pass them on to any descendants.

Winifred, though immensely proud of her father, did not speak much of what he went through, only that he did not return and his name today stands on the Menin Gate.

This letter dated Thursday, September 24, was written in pencil and could have been to a sister or friend.

Marked with the censor’s red stamp and franked by the army base post office, on September 30, it says: Dear Sally, How are you at home. I am glad to say I am still fit and well and am likely to remain so for the present, as we are having a rest for a day or two.

I can give you a rough idea of the work we have done since leaving England on August 12.

We sailed from Southampton for Havre and thence up the Seine as far as Rouen.

It was a grand trip and the country was lovely all the way up. We stayed there one night and then had a 15 hours train journey towards the south of France. We had about a week at Hannappes, doing short marches daily until all the troops were concentrated; then we had three days of heavy marching, which took us into Belgium, where we had our baptism of shell fire, on Sunday, August 23, about eight miles from Mons.

After that we were continually on the march for a fortnight, whilst we were retiring and we finished up a few miles from Paris.

We have since been advancing and steadily driving the Germans back towards their own country.

We have had a few warm days since then, but I keep pulling through; I don’t suppose I shall ever have a more trying week than we had last week.

We gained a position on Monday the 14th and after digging trenches, stayed in them until we were relieved on the Sunday.

It rained every day and we had not a warm drink the whole time.

On top of this tobacco ran out, so the troops smoked tea the last three days. Since then we have made up for what we went through, for we have had plenty to eat, drink and smoke.

I got some tobacco from our Wilf on Tuesday and I never enjoyed tobacco so much in my life as I did the first smoke after opening it.

It was grand and far better than anything to be got out here.

We get a little tobacco issued but it burns my tongue terrible and although I smoke some of it, it is punishment for me.

Anyhow, I am alright now, for I have tobacco which will last me a little time.

Then again, it is grand to be having a wash daily and a shave when required.

Up to Sunday last some of the men in my section had not had a shave for three weeks and only about one wash during that time.

I have generally managed somehow to have a shave every week, so that I was not as bad as some, by a long way.

On September 10 we took a lot of German prisoners, after a short but fierce fight, lasting about a couple of hours, but unfortunately we have a few killed and wounded.

George Laycock was one of the first to be killed in the battalion on that day; W Bradley has since been wounded, but I believe it is nothing serious.

When you write you might send me a couple of pairs of best leather boot laces, for what we have soon rot through, continually getting wet through; also a packet of plain postcards (unstamped of course) will be very acceptable, for notepaper and envelopes are very scarce.

Hoping you are well, with fondest love to all.

Yours Sincerely, Frank.

Sally obviously sent him some postcards, as requested, for Frank wrote one on October 11.

On the front it has a red stamp, denoting it had been passed by the censor and was franked by the army base post office, on October 15.

In tiny writing, so as to get as much news on as possible, Frank writes: Thanks so much for the hkfs (handkerchiefs), I am very well pleased with them.

Hope I shall be able to repay you some day, also for your goodness to Babs.

I hope you will continue helping and to see she is alright for I am sure she is worth it, and I know you think so too, don’t you?

I fancy she will amply repay you all when she is more able to understand than she can at present.

We are having glorious weather at present so won’t take much harm from that source, whilst it keeps as it is.

I expect to be moving soon, but don’t know where. Anyhow will be a change for we have been about this district for a month now.

Still we have not been having a bad time at all and apart from one or two little things, have had it fairly easy.

If our move will make things move more rapid, I don’t care how soon we are off, otherwise I think we had better prepare for the winter.

Hope you have not been upset by any more silly rumours.

Trying times enough, without those.

Kind regards, hope you are keeping well.

Frank.