From diary entries and letters we hope to build a picture of what it was really like to live through the events of the war.

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• Aircraft BE2F of 16 Squadron, crewed by Sidney Quicke & William Lidsey was shot down by Manfred von Richthofen, the Red Baron.

Sidney Smith, serving the The Royal Engineers, he was from South Hackney, London, photographed on 21st March 1917.

Dear Everybody,

Last letter if you remember was censored & returned so I might have missed the mail.

This week has been a great one for the Allies hasn't it? The Russian upheaval & the fall of Bagdad & the Germans retreating. I suppose it will affect our plans, though of course I'm at G.H.Q. and can't tell. It is very quiet up here up till the present, but of course in view of the latest events it may break out at any time.

So Mother you thought you bowled me out over the money & champagne (it is called such at any rate) costs 5 or 6 francs a bottle, which is equal to 3 or 4 shillings - not a quid as it is in the good old place of N.Z. Talking of drinks, there's one thing that I miss very much & that is a drink of water. Every well or supply has to be chlorinated first to kill all the bugs.

We are having equinoxial gales at present & it has suddenly turned very cold with wind rain & sleet all having a good turn. At present (5am 21st, pay day) the wind has gone down so perhaps it has to clear up....

I asked you some time back to send me 10/- every letter but as you are sending pretty regularly the old five bob I think you can cut the 10/- out of it.

Well everybody I hope you are all O.K. - the same as I am

With best love

Alister Robinson. NZEF

"An iron moulder in the Lion Foundry, 18 years of age, who had three brothers in the army two of whom were killed in the same week, asked for exemption. Major Hope said he took a sympathetic view of this case and would agree to 3 months with no right of appeal except with the consent of the tribunal."

• Lt Melville Richard Howard Agnew Allen. pilot. Experimental Aircraft Flight, Martlesham Heath. Royal Flying Corps
• Pte Thomas Collins. 2nd Btn. Leinster Regiment.
• Pte Ralph Dodd. Royal Scots.
• Lt. James Fleming M.C. 11th Bn. Royal Scots.
• Lance Corporal J Kane. 12th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles.
• Flt Sgt. Sidney Herbert Quicke. pilot. 16 Sqd. Royal Flying Corps Read his story
• Pte Herbert Sharpe. 7th Btn Middlesex Regiment
• Bmdr. William Hartley Wroe Embury M.M. 70th Brig. Royal Field Artillery.

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