No. 28407 L/Cpl Lister P.C. – Royal Engineers –
Your orders are to report to the A.M.L.O. on duty at the S.S. “CAESAREA”, lying on the right bank of the River above the transporter Bridge at 5-30 pm. to-day.
You will embark at 5-30 pm. and proceed to England, where you will report to the O.C. R./E. Depot Chatham for disposal under W.O. Letter No 19/Releases/440(A.G.5.) dated 1-5-16.
You will hand your “Release” Form to O.C. R.E. Depot Chatham.
(Authority – D.A.G.C.R. 25300/149a 18-6-16.
G. unreadable
Captain Major
Staff Officer, Cavalry Reinforcements
Rouen
/7/16
Monthly Archives: July 2019
Letter to Miss Dillon 2 July 1919
Letter to Miss Dillon 2 July 1919
On embossed Government Notepaper
G.S. “I”
G.H.Q.
Constantinople,
2nd July 1919
My dearest Lillie,
I am sending out another S.O.S to Bucharest to-day, and I must tell you about it. The Military Mission in Bucharest asked for me immediately after I came here & G.H.Q. said they would send me if the Military Mission to the Allied Armies who have their head quarters here and off shoots in Roumania did not require me. The latter obviously do not require me or they would have employed me in the meantime.
Now a month has gone by, so I keep on hoping every day for Bucharest. My motto is that of Ruhleben: – Dum Spiro Spero – while I breathe I hope.
The same applies to the I.C.S. [Indian Civil Service] and I am sure they will both come off eventually.
This is a horrible place, and I have not enough work to do.
The people are disgusting. I hate the way they barge into me in the filthy slums of streets & never apologise. Men walk about with grand pianos on their backs and stick the legs in one’s eyes! I never saw anything like the loads they carry on their backs. It is a feature of the place. Another feature is the vast multitude of bugs & flys and every second person has small-pox or leprosy.
I will write a more cheerful letter in a day or two, but must relieve my mind to-night as I know you will sympathise with me in my efforts to get to Roumania.
Best love to you & Anna
from Willie
By the way do not send any papers, as we get Punch here & the daily papers occasionally a couple of weeks late. 5.7.19
With cover O.A.S. to Miss de C. Dillon, M.T. RASC., No 1 Reserve Depot, Grove Park, Lee. London S.E. 12.
Postmarked ARMY POST OFFICE Y dated 7 JY 19 and stamped PASSED BY CENSOR 490. Signed W. Dillon Lieut.
Questions to ask 1 July 1917
SOME OF THE MANY QUESTIONS A PLATOON
COMMANDER SHOULD ASK HIMSELF ON
TAKING OVER A TRENCH, AND AT FREQUENT
INTERVALS AFTERWARDS.
—————————-
1. I AM HERE FOR TWO PURPOSES: TO HOLD THIS LINE UNDER ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, AND TO DO AS MUCH DAMAGE AS POSSIBLE TO THE ENEMY. AM I DOING ALL I CAN TO MAKE THIS LINE AS STRONG AS POSSIBLE? AM I AS OFFENSIVE AS I MIGHT BE WITH ORGANIZED SNIPERS, SNIPERSCOPES, RIFLE GRENADES, CATAPAULTS, ETC., AND PATROLS.
2. Do I connect up all right with the platoons on my right and left? Do I know the position of my nearest support?
3. Does every man know his firing position and can he fire from it, over the parapet, at the foot of the wire?
4. Where are my S.A.A. and bomb stores? Are they under cover from the weather?
5. Do all my men know their duties in case of attack – bombers especially?
6. Are all my rifles and ammunition clean and in good order? Have all the men got rifle covers? Are the magazines kept charged?
7. Is my wire strong enough?
8. Are my parapets and traverses bullet proof everywhere?
9. Where are my sally ports?
10. Where are my listening posts? Are my listening patrols properly detailed?
11. What points in front particularly require patrolling at night?
12. Are my sentries in their right places? Are they properly posted by N.C.Os.? Have they received proper instructions?
13. Have I got the S.O.S. message in my pocket, and do I know the orders regarding its use?
14. Are the trenches as clean and as sanitary as they might be? Are live rounds and cases properly collected? Are my bags for refuse and empties in position?
15. Are my trenches as dry as I might make them?
16. Am I doing all I can to prevent my men getting “Trench Feet”?
17. How can I prevent my parapets and dug-outs from falling in?
18. Have I got at least one loophole, from which men can snipe, for every section? Have I pointed out to Section Commanders the portion of the enemy’s trench they are responsible for keeping under fire, and where his loopholes are?
19. Have my men always got their smoker helmets on them, and are in good order?
20. Are there arrangements, in case of gas attack, complete and known to all ranks?
21. Are the orders as to wearing equipment carried out?
22. Are my men using wood from the defences as firewood?
23. Are my men drinking water from any but authorised sources?
24. I AM HERE FOR TWO PURPOSES: TO HOLD THIS LINE UNDER ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, AND TO DO AS MUCH DAMAGE AS POSSIBLE TO THE ENEMY. AM I DOING ALL I CAN TO MAKE THIS LINE AS STRONG AS POSSIBLE? AM I AS OFFENSIVE AS I MIGHT BE WITH ORGANIZED SNIPERS, SNIPERSCOPES, RIFLE GRENADES, CATAPAULTS, ETC., AND PATROLS.
(n 6611) Wt. w 1650-6792 40M H & S P. 15/811
The Bay Museum & Research Facility 