France 12^th September

Tuesday

My Dear Harry & Ethel,

            Thanks very much for your letter dated the 3^rd instant which I received a couple of days ago but which I have been unable to reply to as we have been busy during the last few days – we expect to be busier during the next few.

            I was very glad to find you had got into a house of your own and hope by this time you feel at home.  Your address sounds charming and gives the impression of quite a nice place.  I shall be glad to get the books from you however quaint the colouring of the backs might be.  Send them by book post as then the postage is only four-pence & please send only one at a time.

            I had a long letter from Alan yesterday – with his usual good luck he has managed to fall on his feet a habit I hope he will cultivate.  Eight hours train journey does not as you appear to imagine mean a long distance out here.  It is always possible to get off the train, have a shave, and catch it up again.  A notice is posted up that it is dangerous and forbidden to lean out of the window but no objection appears to be taken to anyone walking the length of the train when in full motion by means of the footboard.  From his letter I don’t think the big town he is at is anywhere near this district.  He says it is rumoured that they are coming this way but he does not think there is any truth in the rumour.  I hope he does not as all the villages we come to are blown to atoms & it can hardly be called a healthy neighbourhood.

            I had a letter from Mother and was glad to know that she was having a few days at Clevedon.  I hope it will do her good there and that she will soon be paying you a visit.

I have not yet had my rest – I think it has again been washed out, but just at present it looks as though we have some busy days in front of us.

            As usual my letters are short but you must excuse me.  I can’t find news.

            With best wishes to you both

            Yours,

                        Bernard.

Ben King F.B.

In On Active Service envelope addressed to Harry R King, Esq., Glen Hilda, Park Avenue, Worcester, England.

Ans^d 24/9/16

Postmarked FIELD POST OFFICE R.5.  16 SP 16.  Hexagonal PASSED FIELD CENSOR 3624.  Signed G. Cork.

CERTIFIED that the application of 2/Lieut. B.T. COMMINS for transfer to the MACHINE GUN CORPS (H.B.) does not originate in any cause affecting the honour, character, or professional efficiency of this Officer.

S.H. Beattie

Major,

Commdg. 10^th R.W. KENT REGT.

CERTIFIED that in the event of my being transferred to the MACHINE GUN CORPS (H.B.) it is my bona fide intention to join immediately and do duty for at least 12 months.

B.T. Comins 2/Lieut.

10^th R.W. KENT REGT.

CERTIFIED that 2/LIEUT. B.T. COMINS is in a fit state of health to serve at the station where the unit he desires to join is stationed.

G. A. Johns,

Capt. R.A.M.C.

France

September 11^th 1916

Monday

My dear Harry,

Thank you for your letter of the third and the previous one.  I am glad to hear you are settled in your new abode.  The furniture was rather unfortunate and reminded me of a man in the office who sent in a huge claim for damaged furniture & was allowed more than the removal fee.  French trains are fearfully slow and not at all consistent.  I think they go at the rate of fifteen miles an hour.  We left the “place near the big town” on the sixth & arrived here the following day – or rather a couple of miles away.  We had a rather stiff march, a few hours train journey & then another march.  I have enquired of all Bernard’s corps if his Battery is here and they say no so evidently he has moved.  You must let me know where he is now.  One evening at a café in the big town I was very amused at the French way of playing draughts.  We saw a game of cards which it was impossible to follow but which seemed to provoke plenty of amusement.  The picture cards have names of history people on them and there is no ace.  It is called “one”.  Draughts is very peculiar.  There are a hundred squares instead of sixty-four.  A piece can take forward or backward and a King can hop over a square, a man and then another square.  This part of the front is just what one would imagine it to be.  It is very busy indeed and seems like a bee-hive for miles.  It is very difficult from the old place.  I am reading “The First Hundred Thousand” by Ian Hay and if you have a chance do so as well as it almost relates our experiences.  There are one or two Canteens & a Y.M.C.A. hut not far off but they take some getting at.  To get inside the latter is a fearful job.  There is always a very long queue outside & we do not consider it worthwhile waiting.  If the army were suddenly taken away the country would be very barren for miles and miles.  There is a fine place to go swimming about a mile away.  It is just like a very long swimming bath, is about ten feet deep & has places to dive off on three sides.  We went yesterday and hope to go again today.  Our dwelling place now for these few days is built of ammunition boxes and a huge canvas sheet.  The boxes constitute the walls and the sheet is the roof.  It has been fine while we’ve been here thank goodness except for one fierce shower.  That shower however has taught us to appreciate fine weather in such abodes.  A big pole is in the middle to poke up the sheet so as to make the exterior appear more like a roof.  The transport has been playing all sorts of tricks lately and we are all receiving parcels & letters late & having several at a time.  Dickson had a parcel containing a cold (of course) chicken & as the parcel had taken ten days to come we decided to sneak off & open it far from the madding crowd in case it should hum.  We opened it & found it touched only in a couple of spots.  We eat a little leg, wing & breast & threw the rest in the incinerator.  The cakes &c were a little stale but quite all right otherwise.  One chap had a parcel once, the chicken went off very decidedly & the whole parcel was no good.  Three of our fellows went to hospital with sundry ailments & they seem to have had a flood of letters and parcels sent here.  I suppose it is always the way.  The guns are very active here & there is every indication of our having an opportunity of doing big things.  I am very well & feel very optimistic about the war soon being over.

Give my love to Ethel.  I am looking forward to long letters from you both next Wednesday – which is tomorrow of course.  Well I must now close, remaining,

            Yours as ever

                        Alan.

On Active Service envelope addressed to Harry R King, Esq., Glen Hilda, Park Avenue, Worcester.  Ans^d 17/9/16

Postmarked FIELD POST OFFICE 124 13 SP 16.  Hexagonal Passed Field Censor 3274 cachet.  Signed GM Bevan

with operations at FALFONT FARM.

From Command-in-Chief

6/9/1916.  The fresh successes gained by the Fourth Army during the operations of the last three days are very satisfactory and reflect great credit on the plans and preparations made and on the troops who have carried out the attack.  The rapid advance on LEUZE WOOD following on the capture of GUILLEMONT and FALFEMONT FARM shewed sound judgement and determination and has been of considerable assistance to the French Army on our right.  I warmly congratulate you and the Commanders, Staffs and Troops under you on the results already achieved and on the energy and determination with which they are being followed up.

From Fourth Army Commander.

6/9/1916.  Please convey to the 5^th Division my congratulations and thanks on their success today against FALFEMONT FARM and LEUZE WOOD.  They deserve very great credit the energy and vigour they have shewn especially after the failure of their first attacks at FALFEMONT.

From Corps Commander.

7/9/1916.  On their withdrawal into Reserve I heartily congratulate G.O.C. and all ranks 5^th Division on their gallant and devoted conduct during recent operations.  The success obtained was considerable and reflects the greatest credit on Commanders of Units and all ranks who have added fresh laurels to the many gained by this Division in the last two years.

From B.G.C. 15^th Brigade to Units.

8/9/1916.  The Brigadier-General Commanding feels he cannot too warmly express his admiration of the fine soldierly qualities again displayed by all ranks during the recent operations.

The taking of FALFEMONT FARM, a most important and strongly defended post was a magnificent performance and is one of the greatest successes accomplished during the war.

This was made possible entirely by the good handling of their Battalions by Commanding Officers and the devoted conduct of all ranks.

Heavy working parties were required when the Brigade was not in the line and these did excellent work.

The Brigadier-General thanks all ranks for their support and co-operation and trusts the Brigade will shortly enjoy a well earned rest.