York's First World War "chocolate letters" show depth of sentiment for city from soldiers in the trenches

Letters sent by First World War soldiers to thank the city of York for their gift of Christmas chocolate are being digitised for the first time.
By Victoria Finan
Published 18th Jan 2022, 04:02 BST

The Lord Mayor of York, J B Morrell, sent each serving soldier from a city a tin of chocolate for Christmas, 1914.

The letters received back show not gratitude but also illuminate the depth of sentiment for the city many serving men had.

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Leading Seaman Albert Hemenway wrote: “My mates and myself soon sampled its contents, you can be sure, but I hope God will spare us to bring the boxes home again very shortly.”

The Lord Mayor of York, J B Morrell, sent each serving soldier from a city a tin of chocolate for Christmas, 1914.The Lord Mayor of York, J B Morrell, sent each serving soldier from a city a tin of chocolate for Christmas, 1914.
The Lord Mayor of York, J B Morrell, sent each serving soldier from a city a tin of chocolate for Christmas, 1914.
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The letters are being digitised by the city’s libraries and archives.

Local historian Ken Heywood said: “As we went through reading the letters, it became apparent what a really excellent source of material in relation to what the men thought. The letters came from all ranks and all over the world.

“Some are serious, some are amusing and are meant to be, and some are amusing and are not meant to be.”

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