Back to letters

Henry Herniman Phillpotts - by Diana Hill

Dear Leger Holidays,

I feel I must write and let you know just how much my trip to the Western Front meant to me.

My father’s brother died in France in 1918. That was about as much as my father ever knew – he was 11 at the time and his parents had both died while he was still a young man. Dad had always tried to imagine where his brother’s grave might be but without the benefit of today’s internet and uncomplicated travel this had always remained an unknown. Shortly before he died in 1989 I promised him that if I could ever find out where his brother lay I would take roses to his grave.

I eventually discovered through the Commonwealth War Graves site that Henry had ‘no known grave’ – but that his name was ‘Remembered with Honour’ at a place called Pozieres. I found Pozieres on a map and vowed to make the promised journey.

Thanks to Leger on a cold November day just as the sun was setting our coach pulled up at the Pozieres Memorial - my journey was nearing completion. I found the spot without too much difficulty. And there it was – H H PHILLPOTTS carved onto a stone plaque - where it had been for nearly ninety years – and at last a member of his family was here to see it. I shed some tears, left my roses, took photographs and returned to my coach. What a comfort it was to have others around me who understood how I felt at that moment – others whose reasons for booking had been very similar to mine – some were making the pilgrimage for the first time – others had been several times before. I learned so much that I would never have known had I simply driven myself down to Pozieres. Thank you Leger – I shall travel to Pozieres with you again – of that there is no doubt.

With kind regards

Diana Hill