France 26^th August 1916

Saturday.

My Dear Harry & Ethel,

            Thanks very much for your letters.  I am afraid you are both very disappointed with Worcester, but hope that in the near future your opinion of the place will improve.  I hope by this time you have secured a house and are on the way to being more settled.

            I have not been to the rest camp about which I wrote as I am sorry to say that just as I was going the camp was closed down.  This was very disappointing but I don’t think the fact that some of us have not had a rest has been overlooked & I am still looking forward to a few days off.

            It has been quite quiet with us just recently very little doing and time hangs very heavily.  The weather is rather mixed at present, but it is a blessing having it a little cooler.

            I am absolutely broke for news so close with love.

            Yours,

                        Bernard.

In On Active Service envelope addressed to Harry R King, Esq., c/o The Surveyor of Taxes, The Avenue, The Cross Worcester, England.

Ans^d 3/9/16

Postmarked FIELD POST OFFICE T.17.  27 AU 16.  Hexagonal PASSED FIELD CENSOR 3447.  Signed J.W. England

BATTALION ORDERS.

by Colonel A.G. Jeffreys,

Commanding 12^th (LR) Battalion “The Queen’s Own” (Royal West Kent Regiment)

Aldershot,

25^th August, 1916.

PART I

1187. DETAIL           Orderly Officer for 26^th instant, 2^nd Lieut. B.T. Comins.

Supernumerary Orderly Officer 2^nd Lieut. B.W. Ashworth.

Orderly Officer next for duty 2^nd Lieut. B.W. Ashworth.

1188. CASH              Os. C. Companies will render not later than 9 a.m. tomorrow,

REQUISITIONS        Saturday morning, their requisitions for cash for the week-ending 31^st August, 1916.

1189 DISCHARGE. The undermentioned man will be paid to and for 3^rd September, 1916, and discharged “No longer physically fit for War Service”.

(Authority – Colonel I/c Infantry Records Letter, dated 23^rd Aug., 1916 – A.C.I. 1011 of 1916 & A.O. 170 of 1916).

G/10647 Private Thomas Acres “B” Coy.

1190 BOMBING       Brigade Order No. 1425, dated 23^rd instant, is published for information:-

                                    The undermentioned officer and N.C.O. have been detailed

COURSE.                  to attend the Bombing Course, assembling at Claycart Hill at 9 a.m. on Monday Aug. 28^th 1916, lasting 10 days.

2^nd Lieutenant C.H. Dann

G/12323 L/Corpl. Fermer F.

1191. BRIGADE       The undermentioned officers and N.C.O.’s have been selected

SCHOOL OF            to attend the 7^th Rifle Course assembling at the Brigade School

MUSKETRY.             of Musketry, on Monday next 28^th instant and terminating on Monday 11^th September, 1916.  They will report to the Musketry Officer at the Brigade School, Scarlet’s Road, Stanhope Lines, at 8.45 a.m. on Monday 28^th instant.

                                    Each Officer and N.C.O. will take the following:-

Service Rifle and Bayonet.  Oil bottle, pull-through and flannelette.  75 Rounds of .22 R.F. Min ammunition, 6 chargers of cartridges, dummy drill, 2 note-books, 1 fair copy and 1 rough.

Army Book 136 is no use as a fair copy note-book.

A fair copy note-book of at least quarto size must be taken.

            2^nd Lieutenant J.N. Mothersill.

“               A.K. Harding

G/12331 L/Sergt. Scrace C.G.       “E” Coy.

G/14567 Corporal Goddard, W.T. “C”     “

G/13352       “       Owen, G.           “C”      “

G/13327 L/Corpl. Upton, R.D.        “C”      “

1192 BRIGADE        The undermentioned officer, who attended the 6^th Rifle Course,

SCHOOL OF            at the Brigade School of Musketry, qualified as a 1^st Class

MUSKETRY.             Instructor.

                                                2^nd Lieutenant C.T. Mansell

1193. MACHINE      Os. C. Companies will render to the Orderly Room not later than

GUNNERS.               Wednesday next, 30^th instant, a return of all men suitable for transfer to the Machine Gun Training Centre.  Great care should be exercised in selecting these men, as all conditions of Army Council Instructions 1545 of 1916 must be fulfilled.

1194. FUNERAL.     By authority of the Headquarters, 23^rd Res. Infantry Brigade, this unit has been detailed to carry out the Funeral Arrangements of the last Lieutenant J. Simmonds, of the 3^rd Rifle Brigade.

The undermentioned officers will act as Pall Bearers:-

Lieut. R.C. Baylis.

    “     G.N. Bunyard.

    “     L. Hinge.

2^nd Lieut. A.S. Richmond

      “        W.H. Glover

      “        A.J. Cathcart

The firing party will consist of 40 Rank and File from “A” Company, who will be in charge of Lieut, H.C. Hopkins.

The Band and Drums will also attend.

(Sgd). G.D. Meadowcroft, 2^nd Lieut &

A/Adjutant, 12^th (LR) Battalion “The Queen’s

Own” (Royal West Kent Regiment).

Instructions for O’s. C. Trains.

In the case of the “ALARM” being given whilst the train is still in this yard, the O.C., Train will instruct all men to detrain and double to the fields beyond the Y.M.C.A. Rest Camp at the end of the Triage.

No attempt to rejoin the train must be made until the “ALL CLEAR” signal is given.

Os. C., train are responsible that the men are kept together as much as possible and that they all rejoin the train at the same time.

FRENCH ALARM.  All lights go out and all traffic ceases.

BRITISH      “         Several shots fired from A.A. guns.

Abbeville.      ALL CLEAR Bell tolling in the Town.

D.K. C****

Major

D.A.D.R.T.

———————————–

Receiver 20 14 watches

Nos

26700F                      17862F

26085F                      18686F

23554F

26230F                      Number struck through.

21930F                      Number struck through.

25842F                      Number struck through.

18081F                      Number struck through.

23631F                      Number struck through.

23313F                      Number struck through.

23553F

25820F

18303F

22/9/16                       R.M. Beesley 2/Lt. R.E.

——————————-

ALL SERVICES

Inventory of Plant, Tools, Instruments &c issued

for use on the Works (or Record of Requisition).

46 Section

Received 20/8/16

Description

57 Fourways, 2 twoways 2 singleways

Parapet pipes Straight 55 bends 52

                        Tools

25 Box Keys DE

27 Universal with ***

8 L Keys

1 Y    “

2 S.E   “

12 Clamps

85 Staples

                        Signature unreadable

                        23/8/16

France 19^th Jul August 1916

Saturday

My Dear Harry & Ethel

            Thanks very much for your letters I was very glad to hear of your first impressions of Worcester but am afraid you are not exactly charmed with the place.  I hope however it will improve on acquaintance – it must be rather hard and strange for Ethel but I have no doubt you will soon settle down – at least I trust you will.  When you get into a house and sort things out a little it will be a lot more pleasant & then I hope your letters will be more rosy.  I imagine you have quite a lot of trouble & work on your hands getting through the twelve books of Acts of Parliament and Law Cases but feel confident you will soon master them.

            Your letter cheered me very considerably with respect to War news as it was from that that I first learnt that the Italians had taken Gorizia and that the Allies had commenced an offensive from Salonika.  This strong pressure on every front must be very disturbing to Germany & with a little luck should mean the beginning of the end.  There must be some justification for the optimism of so many well known & well informed men.

            I hope to hear that Mother has been up to see you as it would do her good and no doubt be a help to Ethel.

            On Thursday I was told I was to parade at 12.45 p.m. to go to the Rest Camp.  I had all my kit on and was quite ready to go when a message came through that it was cancelled.  It is rumoured that the whole Battery will shortly be going to a Rest Camp for a fortnight.  I don’t know whether there is any truth in the rumour but hope so, as I was very disappointed at not having the three days – I am still without an opportunity of spending money.

            By the bye what does “hoi polloi” mean?  It is rather hard to get hold of a Greek dictionary out here.

            I had a letter from Alan a few days ago: he seems to be having quite a good time and I believe he is as far away from me as it is possible to be on this front.

            Well I have no more news so with love.

            I remain

            Yours,

                        Bernard.

P.S. I forgot to mention that I have been made “full bombardier” – this is very satisfactory and gives me more wealth to spend (an additional 8^d per day).  Oh for the chance of a good bust up.  B.

In On Active Service envelope addressed to Harry R King, Esq., c/o The Surveyor of Taxes, 1 The Avenue, The Cross Worcester, England.

Ans^d  27/8/16

Postmarked FIELD POST OFFICE T 1*.  21 AU 16.  Hexagonal PASSED FIELD CENSOR 3447.  Signed W.D. Samuel.

France

August 19^th 1916

My dear Ethel,

Thank you for your letter of last Sunday.  I am afraid the Worcester men had not travelled to any alarming extent.  I do hope you will get to use the place but for goodness sake don’t become dowdy as well.  I don’t think you will of course.  I have just been advised to warn you to make enquiries as to whether your house stands a chance of being flooded as the river rises sometimes.  What is the cathedral like?  Your next letter will give me all particulars I expect.  Now for a little off my own bat.  Owing to something of a rush my letter to Harry could not go till yesterday.  We have been busy lately & have come some little distance from the trenches for a considerable time I think.  There is a big town near our billets, which are barns, with plenty of shops.  We went in last night & had some of the best wine (port) we have ever tasted & some very nice pastry.  There is a beautiful church there but we must go in the daytime as the interior was not very distinct in the dusk.  It contains a scrumptious altar and organ & any amount of beautiful paintings.  All the windows are of the same style.  There is none of the gawdiness of the village churches.  The prie-dieus (chairs) are all the same & the panelling is rather sombre.  I don’t think much of the pulpit, which is thoroughly continental.  We are hoping, two or three of us, of going to a service tomorrow called High Mass but I fear a route march will clash with our intention.  Our barn is the best we have ever been in & is quite clean & rain proof.  The farmhouse is the cleanest we have seen also.  The country is beautiful in this neighbourhood.  The hops are in bloom or whatever their condition of bearing hops is called & the plants cover all the poles & wires & hide them.  Hop plants are dark, the hops are light green and they set off well against the cornfields.  Half of each cornfield is cut & the wheat put in sheaves and stubble.  A field containing growing wheat, sheaves and stubble is a picture.  There are any amount of thatched buildings & barns with roofs of red tiles.  In the distance can be seen the tops of the town’s towers, steeples &c which bring back the pictures of fairy yarns.  The avenues of trees are plentiful and every pond is surrounded with willows.  Two prisoners German officers, were marched through this town & they appeared remarkably joyful.  Oh! there is a picture house there showing Mr Charles Chaplin.  It is nearly time to take in letters & it is time for tea, so I will close, remaining

            Yours affectionately,

                        Alan,

I think I had better address this to Harry.

Envelope addressed For Ethel, Ans August 27^th 1916.

On embossed Royal Coat of Arms headed notepaper.

Friday 18^th August 1916.

Dear Sir,

            I am applying for a Commission in the Royal Artillery, and from the enclosed form you will see that a certificate as to moral character is required.  If you will be good enough to fill this in for me I shall be very much obliged.

A certificate regarding education is also required, and enclosed is a letter and envelope addressed to my late Schoolmaster which I should be glad if you would forward on to him together with the application form.

I am sorry to cause you all this trouble, but I know you are always willing to give a helping hand where possible.

The fighting seems to be all in our favour just now, and I think Germany is beginning to realise, at last, that she is up against a very tough proposition.

I have seen a large number of the prisoners, who are a fine well set up lot of men, well fed and clothed, so from this one can judge that the pick of the German Army is trying to repel our attack.

A good deal of rain has fallen this week & the roads are becoming very bad for traffic.  I hope it will soon be fine again, because good weather makes a great deal of difference to us.

I hope you enjoyed & benefitted from your holiday & trust that Mrs Walters and all your family are well.

With best wishes for the progress of your work in our old parish.

I am

Yours most respectfully

J.H. Pegg.

The Rev T.W. Walters.

There is no envelope with this letter.

FIELD SERVICE POST CARD

Addressed Rev T.W. & Mrs. Walters, The Vicarage, Whitwick, Nr Leicester.  Postmarked FIELD POST OFFICE G  22 DE 16.

I am quite well.

Best wishes Christmas 1916.  J.H. Pegg

FIELD SERVICE POST CARD

Addressed Rev T.W. & Mrs. Walters, The Vicarage, Whitwick, Nr Leicester.  No postmark.

Nothing crossed through.

Best wishes Christmas 1917.  J.H. Pegg

Addressed Rev T.W. & Mrs. Walters, The Vicarage, Whitwick, Nr Leicester.