Pte W Cooke 2559

15 Platoon D Com

5^th Battn

Leic Regt

B.E.F.

France.

Sun Apr 25/4/15

Rev T.W. Walters,

Dear Sir,

            I now take great pleasure in writing these few lines to you as I am one of your Church Lads and am now in the trenches somewhere in France but I am not allowed to say where.  I hope these few lines of mine you and you and your Family in the best of health as it leaves me the same.  I should be very much pleased if you would kindly send me one of our Parish Magazines as I should like one very much to see how the folks at good old Whitwick are going on.  I am writing this letter in one of the dugouts just behind the firing line as we take it in turns to be in the firing line and when you have been in two days and two night you are relieved and go down in support trench were you can have a sleep at night as you cannot get much rest in the firing line.  I expect this letter will come as a surprise to you as you had hardly been in our midst long enough when I came away to get acquainted with all your parishioners but am hoping to be so when I get back home once moiré which I have hope will not be long.  It is somethink awful to see the ruined homes round where we are and there is a village about half a mile from where I am at present that as not got a whole house in the place even down to the Church that makes the third one that I have seen in ruins since I have been out here.  There is one feature of this country that is very noticeable that at every cross road the is either a shrine or a Crucifix placed there and in niches of the houses you statues of the Virgin Mary and some of these shrines are very nice ones as well.  This makes my fourth time of being in the trenches as we go in for four days and then we go out to some rest hut for four days but we have had two fine days in as we could not get relieved on the nights when our time was up so that makes us fourteen days in and to what we have heard we where have a month of it in relief 10 days in and 16 days out so we have nearly done ours and then we were to be relieved by another lot and go away from the trenches for a while but I cannot say much about that as we have to wait and see and the men get so many tales about.  Our firing line is about 100 yards from that of the Germans but those of a regiment on our left are only 40 yards away so they are near enough.  We do not have the whole lot of 100 in the trenches at the same time only one half, the other half are held in reserve and they have nothing to do all day but keep under cover so that the enemy’s aircraft cannot see them as if they did they would soon start and shell them so they have to work at night under cover of darkness and they have to bring the rations up to us in the trenches and anything we need up there like timber and sandbags and that’s the most dangerous part to do as most of the shots come over the top of the barricade and the men who are bringing the rations up are in danger all the while they are on the job as when you are once in the trenches you are safe as being at home as long as you do not keep your head up long as they are good shots and if you keep the periscope up many seconds you soon have a bullet through it.  I expect you know what a periscope is without me telling you but it is made of two mirrors placed in a long tin box one at the top and one at the bottom and it is a very good thing as you do not have to put your head above the sand bags.  Well you must not take notice of the date as I shall not be able to give it in till Tuesday as we do not get relieved till Monday night and then the Officer as to read it to see that we have not put anything in that the Censor would not pass but we are allowed a special envelope once a week so that we can put in any private matter about your family or sweetheart but you must not put the names of any place and I think that is very good of them.  As I am writing this the order as come down now that we can give our letters in tonight so you will get in a bit sooner than I thought and it will be very nice for us two as we have plenty of time to write while we are here.  We are getting plenty of good food out and the only thing we go a bit short of is bread but very often we have a loave a day each man so we have to save from that day for when we go short as taking it on or the whole it his no lie in saying that we are the best fed army in the world.  Well I shall soon have to come to a close as it is getting tea time with us but I think if I had been at home I should just about getting ready for Church but now times have altered and while you are at Church I shall be standing too but I shall be thinking of you at the same time we have to stand to as soon as it begins to get dark and then at dawn at those our the time when they generally attack so we always get prepared for them in case they do but they have not done so yet but if they do they will find us ready for them.  Well I will now bring my letter to a close but as you will not know who I am please ask Ablert Roulstone and he will tell you as I used to come to Church with him so this ends my first letter to you hoping it will not be the last so will now close.

I remain

Your friend

W.H. Cooke

In envelope addressed to The Rev T.W. Walters, The Vicarage, Leicester Road, Whitwick, Leicestershire.  England.

Letter postmarked FIELD POST OFFICE IM 28 AP 15

PASSED BY CENSOR 405 triangular cachet in red.

Monday 24/4/16

2^nd War Hospital

Northfield

Birmingham

.

Dear Sir,

            Many thanks for the Magazine you so kindly sent me and it was very nice to read about the old place and to see the names of so many of my old friends.  Well I am pleased to say this letter leaves me in the best of health at the present time but they have not finished with my teeth yet so I shall not be marked out just yet I hope these few lines of mine find you all in the best of health and spirits as I am myself and hope to keep so.  Well I think we are having some lovely nice weather and I hope it will continue like it is.  Well Sir I think we are on the eve of another big battle by what the men says who have just come from France and they say the weather out there is splendid and I am pleased to hear it is so.  We have just had one man come in to our Ward who as been out from the very beginning without getting a scratch till now so I think he is very lucky and he said there was about nine left out of the 1100 who went out with the Batt at the start.  Well sir I am afraid this is a very poor letter but I have not got much news to tell you so I hope you will excuse me so I will now close.

I remain

Your obedient

Servant

Pte. W.H. Cooke

In envelope addressed to The Rev T.W. Walters, The Vicarage, Whitwick, Leicestershire.  England.

Letter postmarked NORTHFIELD 25 AP 16.

Monday 24/4/16

2^nd War Hospital

Northfield

Birmingham

.

Dear Sir,

            Many thanks for the Magazine you so kindly sent me and it was very nice to read about the old place and to see the names of so many of my old friends.  Well I am pleased to say this letter leaves me in the best of health at the present time but they have not finished with my teeth yet so I shall not be marked out just yet I hope these few lines of mine find you all in the best of health and spirits as I am myself and hope to keep so.  Well I think we are having some lovely nice weather and I hope it will continue like it is.  Well Sir I think we are on the eve of another big battle by what the men says who have just come from France and they say the weather out there is splendid and I am pleased to hear it is so.  We have just had one man come in to our Ward who as been out from the very beginning without getting a scratch till now so I think he is very lucky and he said there was about nine left out of the 1100 who went out with the Batt at the start.  Well sir I am afraid this is a very poor letter but I have not got much news to tell you so I hope you will excuse me so I will now close.

I remain

Your obedient

Servant

Pte. W.H. Cooke

In envelope addressed to The Rev T.W. Walters, The Vicarage, Whitwick, Leicestershire.  England.

Letter postmarked NORTHFIELD 25 AP 16.

CONFIDENTIAL.

SPECIAL BRIGADE

NOTES FOR SECTION COMMANDERS

1. Make sure that the Infantry Brigade to whom you are attached, and also your Company Commander, know the position of your Section billets; and mark your Headquarters so that orderlies can find them easily.

• Thoroughly reconnoitre your line, and carefully site each emplacement, having regard to the general instructions issued to you by your Company Commander.  Take your Section serjeants with you.  Satisfy yourself that each emplacement conforms to the following requirements:-
• That, within the limits of wind direction for which the attack is planned, gas can be discharged without danger to other parts of the line;
• That the utmost possible use is made of saps, craters, etc;
• That emplacements are not sited too close to our own mine-shafts.

• Send in to your Company Commander a plan, on a scale of 1/2,500, showing the exact position of each emplacement.

• Report invariably to Brigade Headquarters on your way into the line.
• Take the earliest opportunity to train the men who will act as guides to carrying parties to find their way both by day and night.

• See that your men are told off into emplacement crews.

• See that each crew has its own set of pipes, spanners, etc., and that these are all tested beforehand; make each crew responsible for its own set. 

Each crew should also have a small supply of sand-bags.

• See that your men are all in possession of the allotted number of “Box” respirators or smoke helmets, and that these are thoroughly inspected before going into action.

• See that:-
• Cylinders are properly protected;
• Adequate precautions are taken to prevent noise both in carrying up pipes and in placing cylinders in position;
• Reserves of men are in position and under cover;
• Section serjeants are in the best positions for supervision;
• A written programme of the nature and time of discharge is prominent at each group. 

Ensure that your Senior Serjeant will take over command of the Section in the event of your becoming a casualty, and that he will write the necessary reports.

1. See that each emplacement has its own allotted number of smoke candles, and that all arrangements for lighting and discharging them are made and thoroughly understood by your men.

1. Arrange your work at all times so as to interfere as little as possible with the movements of infantry in the trenches.

1. Select your own position, which should be near a telephone, and see that all your men know it.

 Ascertain position of Infantry Company Commanders. 

See that arrangements are made for the distribution of zero time from the telephone dug-out to each of your emplacements.

1. See that the watches are evenly distributed along your front, and that they all show the correct official time.  (Note: Infantry time is frequently unreliable.  Corps time should be obtained beforehand through your O.C., Company.)

1. Report direct to the officer conducting the gas operation – the O.C., Special Brigade, if more than one Battalion is engaged – the velocity (in words, not figures) and direction of wind during the time preceding the attack, according to orders which will be issued to you; also any unusual circumstances affecting your work, very briefly.  When everything is in position and ready, report direct to the Officer referred to above – “ALL READY”. 

These reports should be written and handed to the operator at the nearest telephone.  They are to be signed you’re your name and rank. 

The Division in whose front you are working, and the time of dispatch of the telegram, should also be given.  Messages are to be marked “Priority”.

Separate “All ready” reports are to be sent to your Battalion Commander direct.

Specimens of such reports are given below:-

• To Colonel FOULKES         (ii) To Captain KENT

Advanced First Army           3^rd Division

All ready                                 S.W. four

From 2/Lt SMITH                  From 2/Lt JONES

21^st Division                          3^rd Division

2-0 a.m.                                  4-0 a.m.

1. Gas is not to be discharged from any emplacement where, owing to the direction of the wind at the time of discharge, it is clear that our own infantry will suffer.  Section Officers should be prepared to take the responsibility on their own shoulders in this matter, but if there is time they should report the action they propose taking to higher authority.  It should be remembered that at one period of the attack a discharge from certain emplacements may not be possible, but that it may become possible later on.  This can easily be ascertained from the course followed by the smoke.  (See also para.18).

1. Ascertain to the best of your ability the effect of the gas attack from the statements of our own wounded and of prisoners, and also from your own observations, if these can be made without undue risk.  This is of the greatest importance, as the procedure followed in subsequent discharges may have to be modified as the result of the information gained.

1. The greatest care is to be taken with printed Time Tables and written programmes, and they must all be destroyed immediately after the discharge of gas is finished.

1. The Time Table is to be adhered to as far as circumstances permit, but it is important that all the gas should be discharged if possible.  This may involve letting off a larger quantity at the same time towards the close of the operations  to make up for lost time.

All gas must be turned off punctually at scheduled time.

1. See that all valves are shut after discharge is finished, and that nuts, caps, etc., are replaced on cylinders.

• As soon after the battle as possible, send in to the Officer directing the gas operation a very brief report of a general nature on the main features of the attack.  Example:- “Gas discharge very satisfactory.  Ninety per cent emptied.  Infantry took trenches practically no opposition.”  At the earliest opportunity send in a more detailed account of the battle, in which the following points will be dealt with:-
• Front.  Give Division, Brigade and Regiment.
• Name of Officer.
• Wind; direction and velocity.
• Number of cylinders discharged, as well as the total number of

cylinders in your Section front.

• Smoke arrangements and their working.
• Time Table: zero (difficulty in getting, etc.).
• Enemy’s fire experienced, and its effects.
• Effects of gas –
• On our own men.
• On enemy’s fire and resistance.
• Reports of prisoners, wounded etc.
• Personnel: Behaviour; Casualties.
• Apparatus: Removal of; Defects in.

These reports should be sent in through your Company Commander.

• Prepare, as soon as possible, a nominal roll of casualties, and hand it to your Company Commander; also, in a separate report, any recommendations you wish to make.

• See that your men have instructions as to returning to Company billets after the attack, and as to what material they are to bring with them.

• Do not, in conversation with officers and men of other units, refer to any matter connected with the work, organization or stores of the Special Brigade, or to any details regarding preparations for the attack.

• Impress on your men the importance of secrecy at all times: also that if they are taken prisoner they are bound to divulge their rank and name only, and it should be a point of honour with them to give no further information of any kind.

C.W Foulkes

Colonel

O.C., Special Brigade.

April 20, 1916

Headquarters,

Northern Command,

York.

18^th April, 1916.

My dear General,

I cannot congratulate you too heartily on what I may say your long deferred promotion.  May you be a Major General soon.

I think you will be interested to see the enclosed cutting, which will give you some idea as to how we are “pushing” along.  The organisation that I told you about is now beginning to work, and this is one of the results.

Good luck

Yours ever

L.G.J. Scovell

Brigadier General

R.K. Kentish D.S.O.

c/o Headquarters,

General Staff. 3^rd Army.  France.

Same Place

Dear Alan,

In my last letter I think I led you to believe I should be coming home next week.  I was mistaken!

I got my warrant last night about 7 p.m. for Saturday – I was feeling very bucked with the world in general until at 7.30 p.m. along came the inevitable ‘Army Order’ cancelling all leave for an indefinite period.  It is damned rotten – this is the second occasion on which my leave has been snatched away from me at the last moment.

Of course I shall put in an application for a “special” but fear it will not meet with much success for – well it’s getting late in the year and perhaps you can guess the reasons.  I expect I shall have to visit Fritz once more before I see Blighty again.  Damn the war!  Still I got very tight last night which was some consolation though only of a temporary nature.

Very busy getting out a menu for dinner tomorrow.  Must shut up.  Will write later

            Yours

                        Dick.

No envelope with this letter.

On YMCA headed notepaper

Pte J.W. Brotherhood No 4564 5^th Leicesters No 6 Base Depot B.E.F.  France

Apl 14^th 016

Dear Rev Walters

            No doubt you are now waiting to hear from me, & perhaps you are also wondering what has become of me since I last wrote you.

            Today, as you see, finds me in “Sunny France”.  To me, it seems a most wonderful country, its villages & towns are most picturesque, & the people seem to be a most wonderful conglomeration of humanity.

            They vary so in manner & dress & speech, that one hardly seems to realise that the many specimens of France’s people belong to one nation.

            Everywhere one meets with an enthusiasm that must be admired.  As with us, so with the people here: – They are out to win & if enthusiasm plays any part whatever in Victory then we are bound to win.

            Well Sir I must not say much about these things, as our letters of necessity must be short & besides, I am not in England now.  We have the Censor here & this one cannot always write as we would, nor would it be wise if one could.  So far I am very well indeed, & I am very much enjoying my life here.  We get plenty of work here, & we have a stern discipline: but it is needed, especially in a foreign country; it helps one to realise what War means, even before one may reach the seat of war

I trust that you are well, & I shall be pleased to hear from you.  I do pray for you in your work, & trust that your ministry may become more & more successful

From your Sincere Friend

J.W. Brotherhood

Pte J.W. Brotherhood 5^th Leicester

To Rev Walters

In envelope addressed to Rev T.W. Walters, Vicar of Whitwick, Whitwick, Leicester-shire.

Letter postmarked ARMY POST OFFICE S.15  18 16 16

Passed Field Censor 2595 in red hexagonal cachet.

NOTES

on the

CONSTRUCTION OF CYLINDER EMPLACEMENTS

——————————————————————————

The type of emplacement constructed must depend on the local conditions.  For example, in dry, firm soil it may be possible to omit wood linings altogether.

It may happen in emergency that there will be no time to make emplacements at all, and the cylinders may have to be placed on the fire-step, and discharged in that position.

Wherever possible, however, the greatest efforts should be made to give the cylinders adequate protection: otherwise, the contemplated use of gas may be disclosed to the enemy by the accidental destruction of a cylinder by a rifle grenade, trench mortar shell, etc., before the commencement of the battle.

The nature of emplacement adopted must be left for local decision: and it will depend on the amount of material available, the nature of the revetment, the width of the trench, the weather conditions, etc.

The accompanying drawings show types of emplacements that have been constructed for recent operations.

CW Foulkes,

Colonel,

O.C., Special Brigade.

April 10, 1916.

Illustrations held with original text.