1 Bulcock Street
Burnley, Lancs
2 June 1916
Dear Mother and Father
You have my deepest sympathy in your great trouble. I am shocked to think it could have happened so soon. I had a letter from him only two weeks ago and I wrote to him only on Monday night, but he may never have got it.
Dear Mother it seems almost to much to bere but the thought that he lived good and did right will be some consolation, and I was just as proud to be his sister when I went to see him in Liverpool as he could have been of me. So write again when you feel more able and believe me to be
Yours in heartfelt sorrow
Lizzie
Letter From Elizabeth Want (Osborn/Nicholls) To Her Sister Annie Shorthouse (Osborn) On The Death Of Joseph Shorthouse In France 1916.
37 Sunderland Street
Rose Grove
Burnley
My Dear Sister and Brother
Just a line to say I received Nellies letter containing the sad news of Dear Joes death it is a most dredful thing to think we have to loose our Dear ones in such a way O this war is a terable war but thank God he was not blown to pieces with shot and shell but buried as a true solder in a honerable grave and we know where his Dear body is laid although we may never see the place but we feel in our hearts he is not left on the field for beasts or birds to devour like thousands of our dear ones as being but my Dear Sister it is sad one so young and he used to be such a good cheerful lad he in his young days was my faviourate and to think he should be the first to fall Dear boy I was only saying last weak that we have being all so forgtnight (fortunate) not to have aney of our Dear ones that we never had fallen but my Dear it as begun we never know who will be the next our Fred has been in france 6 months he was well up to yesterday thank God and our Wiford was in London hospitel 5 months from the Dardnells but he is out again on home service and they have passed him fit again a shame after they have gone through wat they have in the dardnells well my Dear I trust you will all try and and bare up under your sad Breavment you will have my gratist symbithy it is onely them that has being through the fire that knows and I have passed through it and it is a thing that a mother can never forget because a child is part of her but may God bless and keep you that hear we suffer grief and pain and hear we meet to part again in heven we shall part no more I ham glad you saw ----- so necessity to have a word with him Dear boy I would like to have seeing him when he was in Liverpool and I asked Joe to tell me when he was gone but he never let me know the reson but he had being and back before I knew but never mind dear boy I will meet him in heaven where all mysteries will be solved now my Dear as to myself I have being very porley and Will is still the same no better but we live and and strugel on through these times altho they are hard I have had more then was promised to me thy bred shall be given the and thy watter shure but I have had more than we ought to be trouble under these times our Louie as listed but he as not gone out yet nall the others are just the same as ushel (Usual) and I ham pleased to tell you that Philipa his hear with me for a weak or to and we both wept together when the sad news came and we wished we where near you in your grait sorrow and I give you a very harty welcome to come if you could it would help to take away a little of your troubel being with frish faces may God sustain and help you all and if you would like to come try and let me know it would be nice for us to be together once again so good by for the time and love to Fred and all of them and I will rite Nelie again God Blessings
Your ever loving sister
L Wants
Rite soon XXXXXXX
Letter from Nurse Morton 1916
Marnock House
Ballioa Road
Bootle
June 2nd, 1916
Dear Miss Shorthouse.
I was deeply grieved to receive the sad news this morning of your brothers death, as I had such a bright letter from him the end of last week in which he said he was quite well and hoped to be back in England shortly, as he thought it would be over soon. He was such a fine fellow and a great favourtite with us all, we were all so sorry to hear when he was sent to France so soon again. I used to look forward so much to receiving his letters.
Please accept my deepest sympathy in your great sorrow and also convey same to your mother. I will let matron and the other nurses know and I am sure they will be very sorry to hear the sad news.
My sister who also nurses at the hospital joins with me in deepest sympathy.
Yours sincerely
Margaret. S. Morton
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