Letters reveal tragedy of three brothers killed in Great War
“It is sad work this wearing down to the final extinction of us all – out of 1,250 men I have 344 left today.”
Another letter by JA Farley, who witnessed Harold’s death, described him as a “fearless Englishman”.
He wrote: “I have no need to say he met his death bravely, as he was in a very dangerous position, and no one but a fearless Englishman would have faced it.
“I know you can never forget the loss of your two noble and brave sons, but you may find a little comfort to know they died a noble death, and as for Captain Harold, he suffered no prolonging pain, he died in a few seconds with a smile on his face.
“The bullet went through the left corner of his mouth and I think went straight through his head.”
Mr Asquith penned a letter of “the most heart-felt sympathy”, adding: “You have been sorely stricken in your country’s cause, but you have glorious and consoling memories.” The prime minister himself experienced personal tragedy the following year when his son Raymond was killed in action.
In 1919 Lord Cawley, who had another son, Robert, and a daughter, Hilda, endowed a ward at Ancoats Hospital in Manchester in memory of his dead sons at a cost of £10,000 (£290,000 today).
Auctioneer Richard Davie said: “Reading the letters brings home the tragedy of the First World War and the immense sacrifice of this family and countless others.”