Only Water Between: A Family Story from the Great War

Taken from a family archive held at the Royal Armouries, Only Water Between tells the story of Captain Jack Adam and his family. Deployed to France in 1918, Jack leaves behind his beloved wife Gert and their three children. Separated by war, letters from home are a lifeline.

Containing unpublished extracts and images of personal letters and photos, Only Water Between depicts a unique - yet all-too-common - story of family separation during the First World War. It describes the impact of soldiers missing in action, and the remarkable resilience of families left behind. Lost for many years, even the letters themselves offer a unique story of discovery and reunion.

Angela Clare portrays a relationship of intimacy, trust and strength under pressure. As Jack writes to Gert, it was a time when there was ‘only water between’.