Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Great War Letters, a fascinating archive of letters, cards and donation receipts, addressed to Mrs Cara Broughton, wife of Urban Hanlon Broughton, dating from October 1914 to November 1915, the earliest 57 (approx.) are mounted in an album, 37.5 x 27.5cm. (approx.), the remaining 54 (approx.) are loose, some of the latter are complete with envelopes, some foxing to album leaves, generally in good condition (lot) £200-300

Urban Hanlon Broughton was born in Worcester in 1857 and was educated at Grove Park School, Wrexham and the University of London. A Conservative Member of Parliament for Preston, 1915-18, he was a highly successful businessman in the United States of America, being at times President and Director of the Virginian Railway, Vice-President, Director and General Manager of United Metals Selling Company, President and Director of the Utah Consolidated Mining Company, President and Director of the Shone Company and Vice-President of the National Copper Bank of New York, to name a few. He married Cara Leland, daughter of Henry Huttleston Rogers of New York in 1896.

The letters, sent by relatives and other servicemen, both at home and on overseas service, mostly thank her for the letters and gifts of clothing, food and cigarettes she had sent, whilst those from the nursing staff of Bethnal Green Military Hospital thank her for flowers. A number of letters are from French / Belgian servicemen. The many receipts for goods and money received speak volumes for a lady of wealth and position who was ‘doing her bit’ in the Great War.

Several letters are from her nephew ‘Alan’ serving with No.16 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps in France. One dated 25 March 1915 reads, ‘... I have not had any particular excitement lately - the last few times I have been out I have not had any trouble with “Archie” I am glad to say & he is bad for my nerves. The machine I have got now are Voisin’s - French machines - great weight carriers so I hope to be doing some bomb dropping on a fairly large scale which will be more amusing. ...’ Another, dated 3 April 1915 reads, ‘... Two days ago two Belgian Aviators landed who had got lost - they were rather comic really as the pilot did’nt seem to know anything about his machine or much about flying at all ...’

Whilst many of the letters speak in generalities, there are several, escaping the censor, that provides more graphic detail. A letter from 245 Lance Corporal Alfred Forbes, H.Q., A.S.C., 2nd Mounted Division, stationed in the Dardanelles records, ‘I am just writing a few lines in my dug-out, to thank you very much for the cigarettes which you are sending me every two weeks. I don’t think there is a better tonic, as the chaps say, for our nerves, when the shells & shrapnel come whistling over our heads, than a good smoke from a cigarette. They help to pass the time away in the Dardanelles, it is a lot different from France. In France the A.S.C. are about nine or ten miles from the trenches & firing line, while we are only about two miles from the trenches. One day a shell burst in the next dug-out to ours wounding one out of four chaps that were in there. Another shell burst right through the top of a tent, occupied by an officer on the beach, shattering both his arms & one leg, made two holes in his chest & his face was unrecognisable. The tent was afterwards taken down; about two days after, we heard that the officer was dead ...’

Several letters are from her cousin ‘Alex’, serving with the 1st Canadian Division. One dated 26 April 1915 reads, ‘I have heard that the Hamilton Regiment was practically annihilated & I am wondering about the fate of two or three of my chums ... The Canadians have suffered great losses I believe but have done great work. ...’

A letter from ‘Rob’ (McDonnell, an officer with the Buffs), dated 12 May 1915 reads, ‘... What a devilish thing to do, to sink the Lusitania - it will take years to exterminate them - We are all flourishing & full of heart. This gas business is a bit trying. We have all got muzzles of muslin stuffed with tow to put on ...’