F.S.P.C. 12 June 1917
I am quite well
I have received your letter
Letter follows at first opportunity.
Signature only A.A. Laporte Payne
Date June 12 1917
Addressee Miss Muriel Cross, C/O Post Office, Eardiston, Tenbury Wells Worcester Postmark ARMY POST OFFICE R.W.3 Dated JU 12 17
A.A. Laporte Payne letter to Muriel 10 June 1917
B.E.F.
June 10th 1917.
Thank you so much for your letter of May 30. You seem rather down in the dumps, dear – why? Has the far-away kind of feeling disappeared. I do hope so – and I have contributed to it, I know, in delaying so long my letter. Your account of your domestic trials amused me greatly. We are living on bully biscuits now, and have been for the last 5 days, no chicken for us!
I hear you are remaining on to do farm work. It is very good of you. I should love to run over and see you. It would be lovely to get some leave during this fine weather but it is quite impossible at present as things are now.
How are you keeping? Fit and well, I hope – and no doubt getting very brown. Are you going away for a holiday after your work is over? The seaside would be lovely just now. Are your people alright? I hear Mrs Cross has returned from her holiday. Give her my love when you write. Is Maude behaving herself and has her nose stopped peeling? What I want now is a good rest at the seaside. Shall we arrange a week at the sea?
No doubt you have been saying awful things about my slackness in not writing but perhaps the papers have told you partly why I have been unable to do any letter writing. You knew it was coming off, so it was no surprise for you.
The papers will give you better accounts that I can about the fighting. All about the enormous mines and the singing birds and cheering men – all in perfect English and with a large number of superlative adjectives – Personally the mines did not impress me much – and I did not hear the birds, neither have I ever heard singing troops in the trenches on their way to the attack – but then perhaps they do these things where war correspondents are – you would hear the mines, the birds & singing men say ten miles away. I have just seen a paper and the headline was enough for me.
In this little show I had to run the communications for a Group of artillery commanded by our Colonel. It consisted of more batteries than one Brigade. My job was to keep in touch with the attacking infantry and supervise all telephone lines and other communications between batteries & Group to Division. We had a large system of lines of buried cables with telephone exchanges at various places up to the front line, and you could get any one on the line.
Wires don’t hold when they are not buried deeply so we could not rely on telephones across no-man’s-land and up to the Infantry. I had two officers forward with the front line attack with 24 signallers and I got for them 8 carrier pigeons, electric signalling lamps, signalling shutters and helios – all for visual signalling together with telephones and miles of wire in case they could work it. Everything depends upon quick and accurate information getting back if there is any opposition at all or if anything goes wrong and for information for the guns.
My station was on the top of a hill just behind our line to receive messages from these parties; but I got none. It was dark when the attack began and the dust & smoke from all sorts of shell soon made a thick fog through which we could not see.
The whole thing went off extraordinarily well – because of one thing – not mines – or staff work or anything like that – not tanks or awful fighting but because the Boche had literally been blown to pieces by the weeks preliminary bombardment and during the actual attack. Before the day we had a very bad time from Boche shelling. He had a lot of guns up – the papers of course say nothing about that. If his artillery was strong his infantry was nowhere – and our men had practically no opposition. I have seen some awful bombardments and smashed lines on the Somme but I have never seen anything like this – the Boche fortifications did not exist – and it was like a very rough sea made of earth. There were very few Boche prisoners on our bit of the line and I did not see many dead. They had either fled before the storm or were buried in their dug-outs and trenches. Probably the latter – as the ones that were not so badly smashed in contained bodies of Boche.
Our casualties during the actual attack were light but we have had some since from heavy shell fire, which of course was inevitable. As our barrage lifted our men went up under it and when they got to their objectives they sat down and dug in.
June 6th was as you can imagine a busy day – all final plans were made and then the secret message came giving the time of attack as 3.10 a.m. We only knew late that night. I had something to eat, and then went to the trenches about midnight with a signalling corporal. The Boche was shelling the roads but we got through alright – very hot with running and filled with gas from gas shell – but it has had no effect on me so far – touch wood.
We waited for 3.10 a.m. and watched the Ridge as far as we could see it. Rifle fire & gun fire were normal – that is – as it had been for the past fortnight – really very heavy. It was very curious waiting there in the dark and looking at our watches – and just on the minute – the much talked of mines went up – and the barrage fire opened. You could not hear yourself speak – and you could not see for smoke.
As we got no messages after sometime I went across and found everything OK our fellows digging in and quite happy. The way I went was across by the Douve River and up to Messines.
I saw only one or two of our dead in no-man’s-land. So that shews you how different it was to the Somme.
I got back to the Cable head after an exciting rush. I saw some Boche in a dug-out but they were gibbering idiots and waved their arms at me – so I left them! I don’t like Boche – especially mad ones – and I could not shoot them in cold blood, could you. I was probably more frightened of them than they were of me too! I pushed on back and reported to headquarters what I had seen and knew as to the success of our fellows. It was the first news they had from the battle. I got two good rifles in the afternoon – one I gave to the Colonel – the other I have been trying to-day.
It was an awfully hot day – I did not get anything to eat but I drank water like I never drank it before. I went out like a Christmas tree, with glasses, gas-helmet, map-case, revolver – and then I was silly enough to carry back a Boche rifle.
I visited the tanks the night before and – saw them go over but they did not put up much of a show.
The Boche is trying to counter attack but he is not having much success. Last night one began just before one of ours was to begin – he got the S.O.S. Barrage right in the face & then we lifted onto our attack and instead of counterattack we gained all our objectives in his confusion. This was of course only in a little corner of the front here.
And it still goes on after a fashion. – It is hard work and not so exciting now, and a new telephone system has to be completed. I shall always hate the telephone all the rest of my life. The number of messages & conversations over the poor thing is awful.
I hope your ladyship is satisfied with our little show. It has cost some time, trouble and lives – but we have The Messines Ridge, and Ypres has no longer the salient to flank it.
I should like to take you up to Messines – if it were safe – but the smells would annoy you and I am sure you would twist your ankle over the rubble.
I must stop now as there are heaps of things to be done. We have had a move forward.
With all my love darling
And many kisses
Archie.
10.6.17
Dear F & M
Just a line to let you know I am still jogging along OK. I suppose Par makes a dive for the morning paper as eagerly as ever. What do they think about the news lately? Fancy we have practically shoved Johnny off a front which he had been preparing for over two years. Yes and some of the positions he held he thought practically impregnable & even our boys when they looked round and see the ground which has been taken from the Boche really wonder how we got it. The weather has been very fine this last month or so. I built myself and another fellow a nice little dugout the other day and named it Sky View as the sky is practically the only thing observable from the door which we have to crawl into but it’s really very nice when you get in as it is high enough to sit up in bed as you call it without bumping your head. We have made a nice garden seat out of the bank and covered it over with branches. ** we sit & smoke and read in our leisure time nicely shaded from the fierce sun rays. In fact it’s just a simple life. We use an old shrapnel helmet to wash in fixed nicely between a few sandbags bunched together which makes a fine washing stand. I was sitting under the arbour the other afternoon nice and cosy when one of the boys said Harry Lauder is going to give a us a song. I said what are we going to have a gramophone going. Oh no real Harry Lauder has paid us a visit & is going to give us a turn. Fortunately Harry chose a place opposite to my “arbour” & the boys gathered round. He said “Now boys give me the wire if a shell’s coming” at which we all laughed heartily. So off Harry started & gave us Roaming in the Gloaming all of us joining in the chorus after hearty applause he started off with “When the boys have fought & won” which he sang in London in “Three Cheers”. He had barely got to the last line when Johnny took it into his head to give him the bird I don’t know whether Harry’s ever had egg shells thrown at him but I think it’s the first time he’s any Boche shells flung at him whilst singing and as things were getting rather warm the little affair had to be broken up. Yes it was funny to see Harry squeezing himself up against the bank. Still when it died now he gave us the other verse. We gave him some pieces of the shells for souvenirs. & he afterwards went away to try his luck elsewhere with a shrapnel helmet on. So I think we got the Laugh of him under quite different conditions than when one usually sees him. I haven’t written to Geo yet but I must do very soon. I think we are making Johnny rather nervous nowadays & if he sees the U boat business is No Bon I think he will soon be giving even Hindenburg the Bird which I hope won’t be very long. Well I think this is all this time if you send me anything out send me some HARRISONS POMADE. Could do with a pair of those folding scissors as I have lost my old pair. Well cheerho for present. Hoping you are all going strong I am in the pink. Any signs of any potatoes yet? Yrs Burgus.
F.S.P.C. 8 June 1917
I am quite well
I have been admitted to hospital sick wounded and am going on well.
I am being sent down to the base.
I have received your letter dated telegram parcel
Letter follows at first opportunity.
I have received no letter from you lately for a long time.
Signature only A.A. Laporte Payne
Date 8 June 1917
Addressee Miss Muriel Cross, C/O Post Office, Eardiston, Tenbury Wells, Worcester. Postmark Army Post Office R.W.3 Dated JU 11 17
Wednesday
6-6-17
My Dear Ma, Pa & Gladys,
As a substitute Pa makes a delightful correspondent it was ripping to receive such a long letter. I am sorry my letter was so late as this will be but it is not always convenient to write on Sunday as a rule there is no difficulty but sometimes work has to be done and consequently the letter is left over. However as a rule I will be able to write a proper letter sometime during the week and I will make a point of sending a F.P.C. on the Sundays when I didn’t write. The weather here is beautiful nearly everyone goes about in their shirt sleeves and even then some days it is quite unbearable. We came into rest yesterday for a short time. It is wonder to see the progress the vegetation has made during the last month. I had a letter from C.L.S. the other day he said he was quite OK. I am surprised to hear he is not well. I suppose it would be like the early days of the war to see so many men on the cricket ground. It seems a long time ago since they started drilling there. The plot seems to be a great success. I had no idea you had so much stuff in. I wonder whether it is big enough to make a tennis court after the war. It would be rather a good idea. I am afraid there is very little chance of me being home by the end of July. So I shall have to imagine the feed. It will be quite a red letter day when you have all home grown vegetables. Does Ma do any gardening? I can imagine her prodding about with that little fork. No I have not come across Fred or George Hand lately. I wrote to Fred some time ago but have had no reply yet. I am not sure of his address so you might send it the next time you write. I have only received one cake from Ma, I thought she would be sending me another shortly. I wonder how long it took for Ma to walk to Prestbury I should imagine the pace would not be very rapid. I wrote to all the Hammond and Grimshaw clan some time ago. It is very funny having letters from them expressing their surprise at my being engaged especially from Elsie G. Dolly Hammond is engaged again. She seems to be making a hobby of it. Glad to hear Turk is improving in his manners. When I was home before he seemed to forget himself very often. Well really I don’t know whether it is worth while sending those books. I hope you come out top again old girl. Well this is all at present.
Cheer Oh! Fondest love to all
George
A.A. Laporte Payne letter to Muriel 5 June 1917
B.E.F.
June 5th 1917
Darlingest,
Your two letters dated 23rd & 27th May came yesterday and the one dated May 30th arrived to-day, so I am well off indeed, and, darling, I was so awfully glad to get them. They cheered me up immensely and I wanted cheering up too. I was awfully glad to get your news and to know that you are well and liking your work. Your letters were lovely long ones too so I have had a regular feast of good things in the correspondence line. You must be strong to do all the work you do, but I bet you are tired after a day’s work. It is a lovely feeling being thoroughly physically tired and having nothing to do. you will become a most efficient farmer but don’t grow like the little old woman in the photo. Thank you very much for the photos. It is a very good one of you. You look very brown.
I have had no time lately to appreciate the weather or the country as we have been so busy and the Boche has amused himself a good part of the day and all night with shelling us with all kinds of shells. The result being that we have had no sleep for two nights – so you can imagine how we feel. We take refuge in a dark and stuffy dug-out and look like ghouls with our masks on, and certainly feel like nothing on earth.
Your letter arrived to-day in such circumstances. My servant handed me your letter and I heard a large one coming. I stuffed it into my pocket and got into the dug-out with 4 officers. We decided to separate so the adjutant and I bolted for a trench nearby and took with us a telephone and wire to keep in communication. There in a deserted trench sitting in mud being shelled I read your letter so you can imagine how I appreciated receiving it just there. However we got safely out although the wire was cut in 2 or 3 places.
Now after a dinner of sorts we are waiting for the usual night firing to begin – and so the war goes on. Heaven knows where I am going to sleep tonight. I can’t turn the signallers out of the dug-out and my shanty made of tin & a few sand-bags is certainly not safe- but I am certain I shall dream of you whatever happens.
I was very interested to hear all about your domestic arrangements, I should love to see you and Maude pigging it.
The pencil is because we are down in the cellar again – oh these Boche – I suppose they say the same of us only worse. It is ‘some life this!’
How do you like working by time? Horrid isn’t it – and doesn’t Sunday become important as your only free day. We ought to stop the war on Sundays and have a rest – especially from this sort of thing. There is very little news I can tell you at present. It is very warm to-day just right for a comfortable punt on the river somewhere and you.
I can’t write any more now. A wretched runner has just come in panting for breath, and scared out of his wits, with some urgent papers. It is rather terrifying at night in the dark with all our guns all round firing and the Boche doing the same thing you can’t hear the beastly things until they burst.
Much love darling
Hope you are still well & enjoying your work
Many kisses and thoughts.
Ever yours
Archie.
FIELD SERVICE POST CARD
To T. Smith Esq., 24 Palmerston Rd Bowes Park London N22 England. Postmarked Field Post Office 68. 3JU 17
I am quite well
I have received your paper
Letter follows at first opportunity
Signature only. A. Smith
Date June 2nd
For God, For King & For Country
Y.M.C.A
H.M. FORCES ON ACTIVE SERVICE
June 2nd 1917
St. Albans Herts
My Dear Brother Sid,
Just a few lines in answer to your welcome letter which I received a few days ago, glad to hear you were quite well, as I am still A1 at present. I was so sorry I couldn’t get home for Whitsun, but still it couldn’t be helped. Glad to hear you had a nice time at Southend. You see that’s the best of civilian life you can go where you like. Mother wrote and told me that the German aeroplanes had been over, fancy coming over H-den, I guess some of them were pretty frightened over it. Yes they do give us some packets to get on with and no mistake. The war I an afraid will last a long time yet. What do you say? On Whit-Monday we had some sports and a very nice concert in the evening, given chiefly by the Officers. It was a lovely day so it wasn’t so bad. Tuesday and Wednesday we marched to a place called North Mimms and fired 20 rounds. It was jolly hot and the roads were dusty and of course we had the harness on as usual, that makes it worse on hot days. We fired with our bayonets on, “some game”. I did very well but could have done better if I had liked. I will show you my scoring book when I come home. Thursday we were inoculated it don’t half give you what for, for about 1 ½ days. My arm is still stiff now, but I feel A1. We had two days excuse duty, so we haven’t done so bad this time but they ought to have given us leave “don’t you think”. They say we are to have another dose next Thursday. That’s the time when they put that needle in your arm about two inches. “It is some game.” Ha Ha. Yes certainly come up to see me when it suits you, I should be very pleased to see you. Dad wrote and asked me about the same thing last Wednesday. It would be nice for you to come together, but I afraid you will have to look sharp, as we are going away shortly. I don’t know where we are going, but I think it is correct. Still, I expect we shall be here for another fortnight at least. Hope to see you shortly. Well, Sid I don’t think I have any more news this time, so I will now close.
With Best Love
From Your
Affec Brother
Frank W.
In cover addressed to Mr. S.K. Springett, 29 Bath Road, Dartford, Kent.
Postmarked ST ALBANS 8.15 PM 2 JUN 1917
A.A. Laporte Payne letter to Muriel 1 June 1917.
B.E.F.
June 1st 1917.
My own darling,
Though busy I am still thinking of you. You will forgive a short scribbled note I know. I am sitting in the map room – it is a broken room in a much shelled farmhouse. The wall paper is made up of innumerable and varied maps and aeroplane and other photographs. The windows are made of tracing paper – my seat is an ammunition box and the table is a looted one. We don’t get time for sleep in great quantities now and we are busy at nights unfortunately. The Boche is misbehaving himself horribly.
We have had lovely weather, but I am afraid it is about to change alas! It will interfere with your work too won’t it? How are you liking it now? I hope Maude is not proving a very boring companion and that she is behaving herself nicely. I need not enquire about you.
We are still laying lines, digging dug-outs, and issuing orders & instructions and I have got into such a muddled condition that I have just tried to light my pen at the candle and write with a cigarette.
I have not seen my mare for days, but I hope she is alright. She hates the noise of the guns, so she is not kept at the gun line, besides it is not safe here, we are too close up.
We ran in two civilians as spies to-day – the only civilians I have seen for a few days – but I don’t think they are as bad as that although they are natives of this part of the world.
Have you guessed where I am yet? I have not worn a coat for a long time. My get-up is – shirt, breeches and an old pair of boots & leggings. I have been wounded – in a silly way – I cut my finger with a pair of wire-cutters.
We are trying to keep the Colonel in a good temper – but he breaks away occasionally. Times here are most trying certainly but – People don’t say ‘fate’ , or ‘kismet’ or anything like that now they simply say “C’est la guerre”, and let it go at that unless they are the unfortunate possessors of lives.
This is a rotten letter, darling. Do I make love letters in person or on paper – if I am worse when present I must be very bad indeed.
Give my love to Maude. Hoping you are both well.
With all my love dearest
Ever yours
Archie.
WAR DIARY Of 2/6th Sherwood Foresters
For May 1917
Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information
ROISEL 1/5/17 Fighting Strength Officers 14
Other Ranks 392
8.0 pm. Battalion moved up the Line to relieve 2/5th Sherwood Foresters. Headquarters at L.10.c.4.3. (Ref 62 C N.E.). The 2/4th Leicestershire Regt were on our Right and the 2/8th Sherwood Foresters on our Left.
L.10.c.4.3. 2nd to 6th 5/17 No incidents of any importance occurred during this tour.
Casualties:- One Other Rank slightly wounded.
6/5/17 11.40 pm. Battalion relieved by 2/5th North Staffordshire Regt and marched into Divisional Reserve at HANCOURT.
HANCOURT 9/5/17 2.30 pm. Lt. General Sir W.P. Pultney K.C.B., K.C.M.G., D.S.O. Cmdg. III Corps, presented Ribands to the following Officers, N.C.O.s and men for awards for Gallantry and devotion to duty during the action at JEANCOURT 31st March 1917.
Capt. V.H.E. Langford Military Cross
Lt. F. Bundley do do
L/Cpl. Chell A. Military Medal
Pte. Gilman S. do do
The Corps Commander expressed his appreciation of the smart appearance of the Battalion.
HANCOURT 11/5/17 Captain J. Marsden (Since Killed in action) awarded Military Cross for Gallantry shewn at JEANCOURT on 31st March 1917.
13/5/17 11.0 am. The Commanding Officer (on behalf of the Divisional Commander) presented MERITORIOUS SERVICE CARDS to the following N.C.O.s and men of the Battalion:-
Cpl. H. West ”B” Company (Lewis Gunner).
L/Cpl. E. Thacker B Company (Signaller)
do H Cluderay C Company (Lewis Gunner).
Pte. P. Morgan D do
do . S. Pearson D do
do. E. Saville C do
19/5/17 During the time the Battalion was in Divisional Reserve the training of Additional Specialists was carried out and Companies were re-organised generally.
8.0 AM. The III Corps was relieved by the Cavalry Corps. The 178th Infantry Brigade were distributed along the Corps front as Supporting Troops. The 2/6th Bn. Sherwood Foresters marched to VILLERS-FAUCON (E.22.d. Ref 62C N.E.)
HANCOURT in support of the 2nd Cavalry Division whose Headquarters were at K.5.c.8.8. Battalion Headquarters were established at E.22.d.7.8.
VILLERS FAUCON
21/5/17 9.0 am. Battalion Hdqts and B, C and D Companies moved to SAULCOURT, E.9.d.4.0. ‘A’ Company moved into BROWN LINE at F.1.b. Central.
SAULCOURT 23/5/17- 30/5/17 Digging and wiring of trenches E of EPEHY (F.1.b)
SAULCOURT 30/5/17 6.0 am. Battalion marched to Camp E of EQUANCOURT and established H.Q. at V.11.a.2.2 (Ref 57 c S.E.)
Fighting Strength Officers 20
Other Ranks 473
Lt. Col
Cmdg. 2/6 Bn. Sherwood Foresters
