Extracts from Private Alfred Young’s letter
written in the trenches to his sister, Mrs Meg Thomson, 23 March
1915.
NAS: SC70/8/140/3
Transcript
… I was guarding some German prisoners the other week
and got on the talk with one who spoke beautiful English (of
course not while on duty) and he said it was the happiest period
during the whole of the campaign when he got captured.
He said that the Germans were actually shooting some of their
own officers, and that they were led to believe the German
prisoners were treated like dogs, and that we kilted people
were “Women from Hell” who carried all sorts of
machine guns with us, but when taken prisoners we were found
with nothing.
He was a very respectable and intelligent fellow and longed
for the war to finish. I listened and sympathised a good deal
with his story, but would not for one second trust being found
wounded on the field by any German. I rather doubt [suspect]
their opinions are constructed to suit the ear of those whom
they come under, and I fear very much myself, if I were to
come across a stray German willing to give himself up, if
I would march him back to our lines at the point of the bayonet.
I'd be inclined to leave him on the ground and look for more
to lay out. One can never forget the cowardly action of firing
on the wounded.
Audio reading
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1. Private Young’s letter clearly raises
issues involving prejudice and trust. Give examples
of his attitude towards the enemy using evidence from
the original source.
2. What would you do in Private Young’s
position if faced with a wounded enemy soldier? Write
a short paragraph justifying your actions.
Group discussion
topic
Do you agree with the principle of sacrificing the minority
for the sake of the majority?
