'WITH THE BEST GREETINGS, THE SLAYER OF FRENCHMEN' (2)

The letters of a 17-year old Berlin war volunteer from Belgium and France, 1914/1915, Part 2

On 6 December, Regiment 201 marched to Kruisstraat and the following day to Turnhout, in the vicinity of which, in smaller villages and farmsteads, the battalions took up accommodation. Soon after, the regiment moved south - with II. Batallion being accomodated in Halluin. The following days and weeks were mainly used for repairing uniforms and weapons. Alexander’s letters during this time are bristling with details of life and daily routine behind the lines, the food and interaction with the local people.¹ This second instalment takes us into 1915…