Part of my inherited Korten family wartime letter collection, this one was sent on 5 April 1943 from my aunt ‘Olly’ to husband Bert who was at the time serving in the Persia & Iraq Force.
Olly had 5 brothers all of whom served their country during WW2: Bill & Ted who she mentioned had both recently written to her, ‘Felix’ & Andy both of whom she discussed in the letter, & John who had been accidentally killed in 1942 whilst serving as a chemist in the British oilfields of Bahrain. Andy was the youngest & had not yet enlisted.
‘Felix’ was my father, Harry Korten, who was serving in the Rifle Brigade attached to the ‘Desert Rats’. The letter makes sympathetic reference to how young Harry was when he was sent to war – just 18 – & how he would probably by now be wishing he was back doing his old pre-war job as a milk delivery man. Other earlier letters tell us he was originally relatively enthusiastic about enlisting, no doubt somewhat naively anticipating exciting adventures, free-flowing beer, and exotic women (yes, I knew my dad well!). Later letters make it clear his enthusiasm waned substantially.
Harry took part in the invasion of Italy, endured the D-Day Landings in June 1944 (for which he was awarded the French Legion D’honneur at the end of his life), & came face to face with the (in)famous German tank ace Michael Wittman at Villers-Bocage, Normandy. In all, Harry was away from home almost continuously from the age of 18 until he was 23. Later in life he commented that one of his greatest sadnesses was having been unable to celebrate his 21st birthday with his family.
The photo attached to this entry was taken in Holland on 3 January 1945 by a war journalist and depicts Harry in action. He is on the left, his lifetime best friend Arthur ‘Ginger’ Pulley in the centre, with their Commanding Officer (of 4 Platoon, A Company, 1st Battalion Rifle Brig) Lieut. Peter Bickersteth to the right. The photo is entitled ‘Counter-booby trap patrol, Nieuwstadt’.
