Letter from Regimental Sergeant Major Arthur Harrington DCM, 5th Battalion, The London Regiment, to his wife, 17 August 1914

Arthur George Harrington (1869-1915) joined 1st Battalion The Lincoln Regiment on 22 November 1892, but transferred to 3rd Battalion The King's Royal Rifle Corps (KRRC) to serve with his brother on 10 October 1894. He served in Egypt and India and by March 1898 had been promoted to sergeant. Harrington then fought in the Boer War (1899-1902) where he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM). He was made a colour sergeant in November 1903.

After many years of Regular service Harrington transferred to the Territorials, joining the 9th Volunteer Battalion of the KRRC (later re-named 5th Battalion The London Regiment). Mobilised in August 1914, he wrote a series of letters to his wife describing training at Bisley and Crowborough camps and his preparations for overseas deployment. His unit eventually landed at Le Havre on 17 November 1914 and went into the line with 11th Brigade. Harrington was killed on 28 April 1915 by a shell blast during the Second Battle of Ypres.

From a collection of 180 documents and letters mostly written by RSM Arthur George Harrington, DCM.