FOR GOD, FOR KING & FOR COUNTRY

Y.M.C.A.

H.M. FORCES ON ACTIVE SERVICE

Oct 1917

Sunday afternoon

My Dear Brother Sid,

Just a few lines to let you know that we are moving to Margate on Tuesday, so do not write again until you hear from me again.

I will write as soon as I arrive. Hope you are still A1, as I am very well at present.

Well Sid in a awful hurry to see the girl “Ha Ha”.

Goodbye

I remain

Your Affec Brother

Frank William

With cover to Mr S.K. Springett, 29 Bath Road Dartford Kent

Postmarked Canterbury OCT 21 10-PM 1917

A.A. Laporte Payne letter to Muriel 20 October 1917

Brigade Headquarters.

20.X.17.

My own darling,

Tonight I really must get a line off to you. What a lot I have to thank you for.  Letters – lovely letters and a box of the most delicious walnuts.  Thank you ever so much, dear.

I have been atrociously busy. I am in the unenviable position of having to try and act as Battery Commander and Adjutant.  Both the Major and the Adjutant are away on leave and I only I am left a remnant in Israel! Or rather the land of bondage.

Since I last wrote I have been up at the Gun line and then running like a frightened hare between Battery and Brigade Headquarters – oh!  I have had a lovely time – even shelling can’t distract me now!

No, dearest, I had not realised that we had been engaged six months. It seems much longer owing to this continued and damnable war – only the leaves have gone quickly.  You will soon realise that I have no head at all for dates and periods.  I can never remember a number.  I am full of shortcomings, as no doubt you are beginning to realise.

Please forgive spelling mistakes – I can’t spell tonight. If Hilly gets much ‘higher’ he will begin to – smell – won’t he?  No I don’t think His Lordship of Willesden at all interesting.

I have looked through your correspondence and I can’t find a letter of Sept 25^th.  did it contain anything special you wanted to know?

You do seem to be having a good time. I wish I could be with you too.

At the moment the Boche is shelling us – the moan of the shells is really like what I imagine lost souls would make and the burst like the splash and shake of their arrival in – a splash similar to the one the Kaiser would make – and the buzz of the bits like the annoyance expressed by the occupants at being disturbed by a greater fiend than they. How imaginative I am tonight.

Don’t dream again like that one you described in your letter of Oct 14^th or rather I should say don’t get so much that disagrees with you.  You ought to become a Mrs H.G. Wells!

I am so sorry ‘Idols’ disagreed with Mrs Cross. I hope she is better now in every way.

Yes! I do remember the night at Eastbourne when you had your own way – the only occasion indeed!  There are heaps of other ways of getting what you want.  I thought you very spiteful at the time – there now!

You may chuckle. I never do anything so vulgar!!

Has Mrs Cross got over her presentiments yet? And who was the man?  I am so sorry you were disappointed.

Thank Mr Paice and the Jacksons for me for their tender enquiries and say how I reciprocate them (is that right, oh! paragon of etiquette?) Let me P’s initials & address

Your book by sapper I read and enjoyed and it was stolen by the major and taken by him on leave – the wretch. I am very angry – oh by the bye did I thank you for it.  I have so much to thank you for that I forget half of them.

I have a book by Augustine Birrell, called “Self Selected Essays” which I want to read sometime. I remember meeting his cousin O. Locker Lampson at Salisbury once.  I don’t care for the author much – he is a Haldane type.

How is England?  Are you all provided with tin hats and dug-outs yet?  I wish we had some of the latter here.

The beastly telephone has been going all the time I have been writing – hence the jumble. There is a bit of movement tonight in transport and I have been afraid of my chickens getting damaged – however they are alright now.  “All is safely gathered in”

– only one officer made his way across country in the dark with no light and fell into an enormous shell hole full of water.

I must close now and send a line to mother – or she will be getting annoyed with her naughty boy.

With love to you all

(By the bye you did not enclose “the note – such a “nice one” which I presume was from Mrs Cross – I am very angry with you. It is what I have been wanting!)

& with all my best love to you

& many kisses

Ever your

Arch.

The Col has just come in in his pyjamas & asked me what I was doing – I said writing private letters – & he smiled a smile and went out.

FIELD SERVICE POST CARD

To T. Smith, 24 Palmerston Rd, Bowes Park, The Anchor, 1 Bankside Southwark London.  Postmarked Field Post Office 20.  21 OC 17 also Wood Green *.45 PM 24 OCT 17.

I am quite well

I have received your letter dates Oct 11^th Regd.

Letter follows at first opportunity.

Signature only. A. Smith  Date  Oct 19^th 17

Green envelope letter. To Mr. A.E. Smith, 152, High Street, Southend on Sea. Essex. England. Postmarked Field Post Office 20. 21 OC 17.
Oct 19th 17
My Dear Albert,
I expect you are wondering when you are going to hear from me but this is the first opportunity for sometime. I was glad to receive your interesting letter.
We have been on the move lately, & spent two days in the line it was like hell itself but thank God I got through safely we are now out for a few days & have got to go up again you can bet I am not looking forward to it but the sooner we go & get it over the better.
Well now to answer some of the news in your letter. For a start I hope you have not had any more air raids they have been very busy lately. How is Affie & Joy I suppose they are still away & I hope quite well I will write to her again the first opportunity but have got so many letters to answer at present so please give them my best love when you write.
Well old boy how are all the alterations going I can guess what a lot of inconvenience it must make for you & a moving job as well but I should think a house will be much better for you when you get settled; I only wish I was at home to help you. Your description of the house &c sounds fine I only wish I could come home at once I don’t like the thoughts of a winter out here it is very rough already with so much wet.
There is a regd letter from Father probably a ten shilling note but have not got it yet as we have to apply to the post sgt. For it. It is very good of you to mention about sending some more goodies but do not trouble while you have so much to do as I know what a rushing time you have old chap I am hoping to have done our bit & be out for a rest again in a week or a bit longer & I shall be able to enjoy them then.
You will have a jolly fine garden it will be nice for Joyse couldn’t we make it look fine with fish ponds &c we must do some more fishing next summer.
What do you think about this D—war as you say it seems as though it will never end.
How is Ansell & all other friends whom I know give them my best wishes.
Please excuse more news now as there is several more letters I want to answer & it is parades nearly every five minutes of the day.
Glad to say I am quite well but rather fed up with everything at present. I trust you are all in the best of health & not overworking yourself.
With much love from
Your devoted
Brother

A.A. Laporte Payne letter to Muriel 16 October 1917.

B.E.F.

16 ? October 1917

My darling,

Twenty minutes ago I returned to my shanty, where I am living alone again. – Since I wrote to you last I have left Headquarters and have been away down south to the town or rather what was a town, and I have just returned; to find a lovely pile of correspondence – two dear letters from you and some delightful sweets – and the book.  Thank you so much dearest – but you must stop you are sending much too much in the way of letters and parcels – you know you spoil me dreadfully.

I have an idea that to-day must be the 16^th.  I am not sure, and I have no one to ask.  Everybody was in bed when I got back.  I had dinner in a place beginning with a D and then came back in a car with 2 R.N.A.S. fellows.  Some of those fellows can drive – especially after a good dinner.

It is blowing hard and raining again. I should like to know how many days in the year it rained.

A noise has worried me at times here. It is very faint and far away, but seems to get into my head.  At first I did not know whether it was only in my head or not.  It sounds like rubbing a wet finger on a tumbler only much shorter in length.  It is a bell buoy some distance away. Eureka! But it is very monotonous.

Did not ‘No Man’s Land’ come out in some magazine. I have been looking through its pages and I am sure I have read ‘The Man Traps’ and ‘Morphia’ somewhere else.  Did you read it all?  It is extraordinarily clever I think.  Thank you for allowing me to keep the ‘Student in Arms’ for a time.  I want to lend it to one or two fellows.  You had better buy yourself a new copy and put it on my book bill.  I hope you are keeping an account of the books you are sending me, because if you don’t I shall feel bound to send them back in good condition which I cannot always guarantee.

Why are you so afraid of my laughing at you? Why should you think that I looked annoyed at something or another.  I can’t think what puts all these things into your head.  It must be my fault for I must have given you a very wrong impression.  I am very sorry and I must try and mend my ways.  Perhaps I shall learn in time.

What a long bike ride you had with Evelyn. I wish I could have been there too.  You must be having much better weather than we are to get a bike ride nowadays.

Mrs Cross does not seem to be at all well lately – what with headaches and neuralgia – please give her my love & tell her she must get better forthwith. I am very sorry for her.

You are keeping quite fit and well – all spots gone – I hope. How is Mr Cross? – still carrying on at the station.

I remember hearing Jane Harrison – Fellow of Newnham, lecture at Cambridge and I have read some of her articles – she had a fight once with Gordon Selwyn – fellow of Corpus and now Warden of Radley – a literary fight I mean – and the blows were in pamphlet form.  Don’t believe all you read in Jane Harrison by a long way.

In your next letter you might give me Manning’s initials (the Rector of High Barnet) if you don’t mind.

Maude does not seem to want to return home again. It looks as if she never would get away.

If I could rely on you to send me the bill and if it were not troubling you too much I should ask you to send me out the Times Literary Supplement and the Bookman (monthly I think). If you do please let me know how much it is with the copies or else I shall return them unread.  If you should see any good articles in the Nineteenth Century, the Hibbert Journal, or the Quest when you are looking at a bookstall I should be glad of any such.  See how I rely on you and how much I am worrying you!  As the winter comes on and the evenings are long and dreary I must have something to read, and novels usually are too much for me.

Have you another photo of yourself – the one I like best – to keep for me when I return – your photos are getting so dirty here but they will do for active service – everything gets filthy in no time.

I read the Political Article in Blackwoods this month and thought it was very good. Do you read the magazine every month?

I must dry up now or I shall be asking you to do something else and you will be so annoyed with me.

So glad to hear that Betsy is not being choked with smoke any more.

Much love to you my darling,

& many kisses

Ever your

Arch; Divl.

Report on Raid of September October 14^th 1917

Composition of Raiding Party

No 5 Party       (Right Flank)

No 6 Party

No 7 Party

No 8 Party       (Left Flank)

Party Sectors as per attached Sketch Map.

The Raiders began to form up in our Front Line at ZERO minus 45 minutes and all were in assembly positions by ZERO minus 10 minutes. During this period the German artillery was practically silent.  Our barrage started promptly at ZERO.  German barrage started to come down at ZERO plus 3 minutes, but was only light at first, all raiders were clear of our front line by that time.  The attack was carried out as during practice, both waves went over in distinct and maintained formation.  Communication was established on both flanks immediately.  O.C. Raid (Captain L.C.R. Smith) took over a wire with him which was established in the German Front Line.  One message was received from him, despatched at ZERO plus 7 minutes, saying “All objectives carried, prisoners coming in.”  This wire was out about ZERO plus 10 minutes.

No 5 Party.  (2^nd Lieut. H.G.B. Slade) reports, Germans put up a slight resistance to us entering their front line, using a light Machine Gun covered by Bombers.  They were engaged by snipers and rushed.  A large number (about 40) of Germans ran back, followed closely by our leading wave which stopped at the German support line.  They were engaged with rifle fire and suffered heavy casualties from this and our protective barrage.  The German trenches and wire were almost obliterated.  Traces of BAKER TRENCH were found and a patrol pushed down it about 150 yards.  No Trench Mortar emplacements or dugouts could be traced in this trench.  Two dugouts were demolished about O.8.d.55.60 (German support line) and O.8.d.45.80. (German front line).  A Machine Gun emplacement was demolished about O.8 d.45.95.  Germans appeared thoroughly demoralised and many dead were seen.  The body of a man of the 163^rd I.R. was found near junction of BADGER TRENCH and German front line.  This party sent back 10 prisoners including an officer.

No 6 Party.  (2^nd Lieut. R.E. Davy, wounded) reports, a Machine Gun was firing whilst forming up in No Man’s Land from the direction of BOIS DU VERT.  firing high, no casualties from it.  No resistance encountered in either objective.  A dugout was found about O.8.b.50.15. (German front line) many Germans inside refused to come out – it was demolished.  About 20 Germans were seen to run back from the German front line and were caught by our barrage.  A patrol of 1 N.C.O. and 3 man was pushed out about a hundred yards East of the German support line, no live Germans were encountered but several dead were seen in shell holes.  This patrol observed a considerable number of Germans coming out of BOIRY.  German trenches and wire were flattened.  This party sent back 12 prisoners.

No 7 Party.  (2^nd Lieut. J. Parminter, slightly wounded) reports, German front line entered without resistance.  Exact position of German support line could not be located as it was obliterated.  About where support line was situated some 20 Germans occupying shell holes and a portion of BAT TRENCH put up a fight, inflicting several casualties on us.  6 were sent back as prisoners the remainder killed.  Patrols report many German dead lying about.  A light Machine Gun was captured.

No 8 Party.  (2^nd Lieut. W.J. Elliott) reports, The wire was not entirely cut on this party’s front, about 25 yards of German wire and trench appeared to have escaped out artillery.  The party, however, split in two, going to right and left.  Germans (about 15) were occupying this portion of trench and gave some resistance, they were engaged in front by bombs and outflanked.  The majority then ran back but were mostly knocked down by rifle fire.  The German support line was obliterated and several German dead found.  A dugout was blown up just outside our left flank by our Sappers at about 0.8.b.8.4., after 11 prisoners had been extracted.

It would appear that between 40 and 50 prisoners were started back to our front line, but of these only between 20 and 25 can be accounted for. Receipts are actually held for 31 prisoners but I think some of these may have been duplicated in error as I do not believe as many came through as the raiders actually claim.  Captain Smith, however, reports having seen many dead and wounded Germans in No Man’s Land as he came back, evidently knocked out by their own barrage.  Some dead Germans were also left in our trenches and about 8 wounded.

Our artillery preparation was perfect and our barrage could not have been better. Our casualties are, 2 Officers, 47 Other Ranks (Killed 4, Missing 23, Wounded 20).  A large number of these casualties were inflicted by German artillery as we withdrew.  The evacuation was carried out in perfect order commencing at ZERO plus 30 minutes in the following order

1. Patrols
2. Men from German support line
3. Men from German front line

In all, 2 German light Machine Guns were captured and were sent back. These have not appeared and were apparently lost on the way back, but I have absolute proof that they were started on their way back.  Both were apparently British Lewis Guns converted.

A German aeroplane was flying very low over the portion of German Trench raided by us, firing a machine gun and dropping some bombs. He was previously flying dangerously low while we were forming up but fortunately did not appear to observe our movements.  Our aeroplanes did not seem to be sufficiently far forward or low enough to deal with this.

Note.  With reference to our casualties it is thought that several of the missing will eventually be accounted for as having gone through the dressing stations wounded.

W.R.A. Dawson

Lieut Colonel

Cmdg. 6^th Bn. The Queen’s Own

(Royal West Kent Regiment)

15/10/17

FIELD SERVICE POST CARD

To T. Smith, 24 Palmerston Rd, Bowes Park, London N22 England. Postmarked Field Post Office 20.  14 OC 17.

I am quite well

Letter follows at first opportunity

Signature only. A. Smith  Date  Undated.  Postmark FPO ? 14 Oc 17

No 4.

ADDENDUM No 2

OPERATION ORDER No 116

By

Lieut.-Colonel W.R.A. DAWSON D.S.O. Commanding 6^th (S) Battn.

The Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment)

13^th October 1917

1. “Z” day will be 14^th October 1917.
2. ZERO hour will be 4.55 p.m.

ACKNOWLEDGE

H.G. Dove

Captain and Adjutant

Copy No 1 to War Diary

• C. No 1 Coy.
• C. No 2 Coy.
• C. “X” Coy.
• Medical Officer

No 5

ADDENDUM and AMENDMENT No 1

to

OPERATION ORDER No 116

by

Lieut.-Colonel W.R.A. DAWSON, D.S.O., Commdg. 6^th (S) Battn.

The Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment)

12^th October 1917

Para: 4.            (a).  For Zero minus 6 hours read “Zero minus 8 hours.”

Para: 6.            (h).  For “Evacuation will be covered by snipers and Lewis Guns situated in selected shell holes in No-Man’s-Land” read “Evacuation will be covered by one Lewis Gun with two pairs of snipers situated in shell holes about O.8.d.30.75 and one Lewis Gun and two pairs of snipers on Right Flank in shell holes about O.8.d/20.10.

Add

Para: 18.          In order to indicate to wounded men the direction of our line O.C. Front Battalion will arrange to send up three Red Lights in rapid succession at 7, 8 and 9 p.m. on “Z” day from Sap 3.  These signals will be explained to all ranks taking part in the Raid.

Para: 19.          Four Stretcher Bearers with two stretchers will accompany O.C. Raid.  Six Stretcher Bearers will await orders in British Front Line with their stretchers in shelter about O.8.b.40.35.

They will proceed to Front Line at “Z” minus 45 minutes with No 8 Party.

H.G. Dove

Captain and Adjutant

A.A. Laporte Payne letter to Muriel 10 October 1917

B.E.F.

Belgium.

October 10^th 1917

Darling,

Your two letters have just reached me here – thank you so much for them. You have been most good in writing so much in spite of my long silence.

I am at Headquarters for a few days taking over the adjutant’s work for the time he is away. He is probably going on leave in a short while and I am to come up again.  There is no further move in his permanent departure yet but he may go any time.  I hope not: he is a very good fellow.

The weather is very bad here and I suppose it is so with you as well. It is very cold and rains most of the time.

There is no prospect of a move yet. I should rather like to see something of the real fighting.  They seem to be doing very well from all accounts.  The Boche don’t seem to know quite what to do.  Although the progress seems to be very slow we seem to get our objectives every time and kill plenty of the Hun.

I hope Winnie Sharpley enjoyed her week end with you. I am sure she did.  Had she recovered from the effects of entertaining so nicely the Colonel?  He gets on most peoples nerves most horribly.  He has been in a very bad temper the last few days.  I think he is at last getting fed up with the war.

How is Mrs Cross now? I was so sorry to hear that when you wrote on the 3^rd she had a bad headache.  I hope she is better.  Please give her my love, and Mr Cross – & not forgetting Betsey too.

Thank you for the photo of Clare Murphy. I see that it is in the ‘Tattler’ too.  Yes she was the one I met at Murphy’s place.  She must be a very interesting individual.

And how goes Finchley? Have you been having any more riding?  I have not been out for three days.  I am living in a tumbledown farmhouse and my bed room is a cupola erection without one end.  However we manage to keep dry and there is a fire – at least in the evenings.  I get to bed about midnight and unfortunately I have to get up early to send off the reports for the previous twenty four hours.

How is the face now? I hope quite better and no more signs of it at all.

I have just been called off to turn on the batteries – the Boche has been making himself a nuisance again.

With all my love dearest

& many kisses

Ever your

Arch.