World War I Letters Home

Raymond Osborn, center, sent letters home to his family in Wainscott while serving in World War I. Ella Osborn, at left, was a nurse overseas during the war.

Christine Sampson

Jul. 9, 2015

Christine Sampson

The letters begin perhaps like any letter sent from abroad to one’s family back on the old homestead about a century ago — “Dear Ones at Home.”

But it is no ordinary correspondence, at least not at this point in time. A collection of letters sent home during World War I from a soldier hailing from Wainscott will be the focus of an upcoming talk hosted by the Wainscott Sewing Society.

“It’s about ordinary people living in extraordinary times . . . I’ve learned that everyone’s story is a story,” said Hilary Osborn Malecki, who will be giving the talk on Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Wainscott Chapel.

Ms. Malecki is a descendant of one of the founding families of Wainscott. Many of the letters at the heart of the talk were written by Raymond Osborn, her grandfather. He was drafted, along with his twin brother, Leroy Osborn, to fight in World War I, which lasted from July of 1914 to November of 1918.

Ms. Malecki discovered the collection of letters while cleaning out the attic of the family home after her grandfather’s death. She began to do some research and discovered not two but four people hailing from Wainscott who served concurrently in World War I, but who were never aware of each other’s locations at the time. Beyond Raymond and Leroy Osborn, a relative, Ella Osborn, volunteered to work as a nurse in a hospital overseas for wounded soldiers, and a man named Percy King enlisted and was in combat with the 2nd Balloon Squadron for almost the entire duration of the war.

Ms. Malecki said many community members today remember Raymond and Leroy Osborn for their “pick your own strawberries” farm at their house in Wainscott, and their letters reveal a deep commitment to their hometown, and to their country.

“It all turns out to be interesting. Little bits and pieces become interesting stories, and every family has them,” Ms. Malecki said. “You mix history, photos, and information, and everyone’s got a fascinating story.”

A $20 suggested donation on Saturday will help the Wainscott Sewing Society’s efforts to maintain the chapel.