Major P.C. Benham

G Branch

HQ I Corps District

B.A.O.R.

Sunday 9 September

My dearest Maz,

Thank you so very much for your letters this week and also for the magnificent parcel of papers, a really good selection.  Needless to say I shall be thinking of you and Pari on Tuesday and I do so hope you have a good run down in the car and that the weather is kind to you.  You deserve a really good holiday and I hope you are both real Aunt Kates in every way – after my food poisoning I started work on Monday but the first 3 or 4 days of the week left me with an ‘unanchored’ feeling in my stum though by Friday I was 100% fit again.  Tim is back now so I’m not having to do quite so much and I’m taking things a bit easy!  We played our second hockey match in the local league on Thursday and the game was not a particularly pleasant one.  Their umpire was very biased and gave numerous bad decisions and the opposition didn’t play a very clean game.  We won 4-0 (2) but it wasn’t as easy a win as it sounds.  My only other sporting activity was yesterday afternoon when Nigel and I had a game of tennis, we had a long knock-up and one set, it was very enjoyable and sunny playing – the courts really aren’t at all bad but the equipment, racquets and balls, are very second class.

At the end of this month there is a 3 day golf tournament at Rungsted, near Copenhagen, open to BAOR personnel with handicaps of 9 and under – Tim and I have entered but I’m afraid the number of entries accepted is likely to be very small from 1 Corps – it is a long way by land nearly 700 miles but if our entries are accepted we shall probably fly there – only 3 or 4 hours!  One of the better things about it is that it does not count as leave so I’m still hoping for my 3 or 4 days in Brussels at the end of next week if the Haunon’s are back from Zoute – someone who is down there this week-end is going to find out the form for me.  It hardly seems possible in some ways that I have been back from leave now for over a month in other ways it seems an eternity though it was a leave I shall never forget.  In the entertainment line, I went to see, or rather hear, the Dusseldorf Symphony Orchestra at the Garrison Theatre on Friday night – they gave a first class performance and their rendering of the Tannhauser Overture by Wagner was splendid (I know nothing about it really but enjoyed it a lot!!)  They were showing ‘The Way to the Stars’ at the Cinema all the week, but, though I fully intended to see it again somehow never did.

I am on duty all day today but again am not over-exerting myself and there has been very little to do to date.  I started this this morning, and it’s now nearly 4.30 and an orderly has just brought me in a cup of tea and some cakes so I’m not doing too badly.  There have been several letters to the Times and Telegraph recently on the shoddy treatment meted out to the TA, RNVR and RAFVR and in yesterdays Telegraph I see there is a leader suggesting to the Minister of Labour that all pre-Munich TA chaps should have their release put forward etc – I don’t think for a moment that it will bear fruit though it is a slender ray of hope for getting out justifiably a little sooner.

I had a letter yesterday from Eileen written on Tuesday and she told me how simply wonderful you have been to her, the many things you have done for her and given her to start the flat going.  Maz dear I can never thank you enough – Yes, I too shall feel very sad at not living at 5 Oxford Road after so many wonderful years there – it will seem very strange at first but we aren’t so very far away – supposing I had joined the Army in 1936 instead of the army of worlds workers.  Throughout these last 6 years we have had such marvellous leaves and their success has been mainly due to everything that you and Pari have done for us.  I mustn’t, we mustn’t talk in the past because in the future there lie so many happy days – may this really be the last war we shall ever see and may the ‘famille Benham’ grow, not only in size, but in all that is good and best in real family life.

Now, little Maz, I must just browse through a few files which have just found their way into my ‘in’ basket.  Much love and may your holiday be a really super one, God bless.  My love to Pari and yourself

            Yours as ever

very affectionately

                        Peter

In envelope headed ‘O A S’ addressed to Mrs Gerald C Benham, Palace Court Hotel, Bournemouth Hants.

Postmarked FIELD POST OFFICE 734 dated 10 SP 45.  Signed P.C. Benham.   

On front of envelope Written Sept 9^th 1945 rec Sept 12^th 1945.          (5)

On back of envelope Major P.C. Benham, G Branch, HQ 1 Corps District, BAOR.

BRIGADE ORDERS.

BY BRIGADIER-GENERAL TREVOR TERNAN, C.M.G., D.S.O.,

COMMANDING 102^nd (TYNESIDE SCOTTISH) BRIGADE.

HEAD QUARTERS,

WINDMILL HILL CAMP.  ANDOVER.

9^th SEPTEMBER, 1915.

758 – INSPECTION OF SIGNALLERS –

            Battalion Signallers will parade as signallers under their own Signalling Officers at 9 a.m. to-morrow, and will carry out their ordinary signalling duties.  They will be inspected during the forenoon by the Divisional Signalling Section Officer.

759 – EQUIPMENT – INDENTS FOR –

            In view of the fact that men joining the Service Battalions from the Reserve Battalion will bring with them no equipment – Officers Commanding Units will be good enough to arrange for a sufficient supply to be maintained in the Quarter Master’s store for all requirements.

760 – DISCS – SIGNALLING –

            With reference to Salisbury Training Centre Order No. 739 of 7^th September, 1915, Officers Commanding Units will indent to complete.

T.L.B. SOUTRY, Captain,

BRIGADE-MAJOR, 102nd (TYNESIDE SCOTTISH) BRIGADE.

BRIGADE ORDERS.

BY BRIGADIER-GENERAL TREVOR TERNAN, C.M.G., D.S.O.,

COMMANDING 102^nd (TYNESIDE SCOTTISH) BRIGADE.

HEAD QUARTERS,

WINDMILL HILL CAMP.  ANDOVER.

8^th SEPTEMBER, 1915.

749 – ATTACHMENT –

            Lieut. R.D. Tittle, 2^nd Battalion Dublin Fusiliers, will be attached until further orders to the 22^nd (S) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers (3^rd Tyneside Scottish.)

For light duty.

750 – MARCH DISCIPLINE –

            The Brigade Commander is not satisfied with the march discipline of units.  Officers Commanding Battalions will be held responsible for the orders on the subject being rigidly enforced.  The regulations on this subject are quite clear and the Brigade Commander trusts that it will be unnecessary to again refer to this question.

751 – BRIGADE FIELD OFFICER –

            The Battalion on duty will detail a Mounted Officer who will act as Brigade Field Officer.

The duties this officer will be required to perform will be forwarded to Units under separate cover.

752 – DUTIES –

            With reference to Divisional Order No. 185 dated 8^th inst., the Officer Commanding 22^nd (S) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers (3^rd Tyneside Scottish.) will detail the Non-commissioned Officer and men required.

753 – CAMP BATHS –

            The following is the allotment of the Camp Bath between the lines of Nos. 3 and 4 Camps:-

18^th (Pioneer) Battalion Northd: Fusiliers.           MONDAY

20^th (S) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers

(1^st TYNESIDE SCOTTISH)           TUESDAY

21^st (S) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers

(2^nd TYNESIDE SCOTTISH)          WEDNESDAY

22^nd (S) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers

(3^rd TYNESIDE SCOTTIS)             THURSDAY

 23^rd (S) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers

(4^th TYNESIDE SCOTTISH)          FRIDAY

There will be no allotment for Saturday or Sunday, on which days the bath can be used by all Units concerned.

754 – WATER SUPPLY –

            It is notified for information that on account of the shortage of water – the supply will be cut off daily during the hours of 10 to 11 a.m. and 2 to 4 p.m. until further orders.

755 – SALISBURY TRAINING CENTRE ORDERS – ATTENTION CALLED TO –

            The attention of Officers Commanding Units is called to Salisbury Training Centre Order No. 733 of 6^th September, 1915.

The attention of Medical Officers is called to Salisbury Training Centre Order No. 735 of 6^th Sept., 1915.

756 – DIVISIONAL ORDERS – ATTENTION CALLED TO –

            The attention of Officers Commanding Units is called to Divisional Order No. 187 of 8^th inst.

757 – EXTRACTS FROM SOUTHERN COMMAND ORDERS–

7-9-15.

Musketry –

1. Durrington Rifle Ranges will be in use for musketry practice commencing 13^th September, 1915, and will continue in use until further notice.
2. Officers Commanding at Artillery Practice will please take note of this.
3. Commanding Officers must warn their men not to stray into the danger area while firing is in progress.

T.L.B. SOUTRY, Captain,

Brigade-Major, 102nd (TYNESIDE SCOTTISH) BRIGADE.

BRIGADE ORDERS.

BY BRIGADIER-GENERAL TREVOR TERNAN, C.M.G., D.S.O.,

COMMANDING 102^nd (TYNESIDE SCOTTISH) BRIGADE.

HEAD QUARTERS,

WINDMILL HILL CAMP.  ANDOVER.

7^th SEPTEMBER, 1915.

744 – INSPECTION PARADE –

            The Brigade will parade for inspection by the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Salisbury Training Centre, tomorrow – 8^th inst. at 11-30 a.m. in marching order on the ground North-West of the camp of the 22^nd (S) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers (3^rd Tyneside Scottish) in line of massed battalions.

Markers, 2 per Company, to be on the ground at 11 a.m.

Battalions to parade as strong as possible.

Transport to be drawn up in rear of each Battalion.

Bands to be massed in rear of the centre.

Parade States to be handed to the Brigade Major before 8 a.m.

If a march past is ordered the massed pipe bands will play the Brigade past.

Upon the arrival of the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief at the saluting base – the Brigade Commander will sound a “G” as a signal for the General Salute.

Battalions will parade as laid down in Plate XV, Infantry Training, 1914, except where otherwise ordered.

745 – PLATOON ORDER BOOK –

            In future each Platoon Commander will keep a “Platoon Order Book” in which will be copied all Brigade or Battalion orders which affect the men.  These orders will be read every morning at the first parade by the Platoon Commander to his Platoon.

746 – TRANSPORT STATES –

            Officers Commanding Units will render a weekly Transport State to reach Brigade Head Quarters not later than 9 a.m. on Fridays.

747 – RETURNS –

With reference to Divisional Order No. 178 dated 6^th September, 1915, the return referred to is to be submitted forthwith.

748 –EXTRACTS FROM DIVISIONAL ORDERS–

6/9/15.

Abbreviated addresses and Signal calls –

            The abbreviated address for the Northumberland Fusiliers is Northd. Fus. T.C. 20 giving the abbreviated addresses and signal calls of units in this division should be amended accordingly.

Divisional Order No. 176.

Information likely to be of use to the enemy – Safeguarding of

            Extremely valuable information has been obtained from Diaries, Orders, General Instructions etc., found on English Officers and men killed or captured during recent fighting.

During operations it should be ascertained by inspection that Officers or men carry nothing which might give useful information to the enemy into the trenches.

With regard to correspondence, it is the individual sending a letter who is responsible that its contents are not communicated to the press.

Articles have appeared in the Press supplying the enemy’s spies with clues which might seriously influence operations.

To ensure that troops shall understand and realise the great importance of preventing information, which may be useful to the enemy from reaching them all units will, on three separate parades read and explain this order and paras: 453 and 454 Kings Regulations to all ranks.

A certificate that this has been done will be sent to this Office not later than 20/9/15.

Divisional Order No. 179.

With reference to the above the necessary certificate to be rendered to Brigade Headquarters by the 15^th Sept. 1915.

T.L.B. SOUTRY, Captain,

Brigade-Major, 102nd (TYNESIDE SCOTTISH) Bde.

On back of last sheet O.C., C Coy.

BRIGADE ORDERS.

BY BRIGADIER-GENERAL TREVOR TERNAN, C.M.G., D.S.O.,

COMMANDING 102^nd (TYNESIDE SCOTTISH) BRIGADE.

HEAD QUARTERS,

WINDMILL HILL CAMP.  ANDOVER.

6^th SEPTEMBER, 1915.

742 – TRAINING – ALLOTMENT OF TIMES –

            The following is the allotment of time for Company, Battalion and Brigade Training of the Infantry Formations of 34^th Division:-

• Company Training         1^st Sept. – 2^nd Oct.
• Battalion Training          3^rd Oct – 16^th Oct.
• Brigade Training            17^th Oct – 30^th Oct.

743 – DIVISIONAL ORDER – ATTENTION CALLED TO –

            The attention of Officers Commanding Units is called to Divisional Order No. 174, dated 5^th Sept, 1915.

T.L.B. SOUTRY, Captain,

Brigade-Major, 102nd (TYNESIDE SCOTTISH) BRIGADE.

On back of last sheet O.C., C Coy.

BRIGADE ORDERS.

BY LIEUTENANT-COLONEL C.H. INNES HOPKINS.

COMMANDING 102^nd (TYNESIDE SCOTTISH) BRIGADE.

HEAD QUARTERS,

WINDMILL HILL CAMP.  ANDOVER.

3^rd SEPTEMBER, 1915.

724 – TEMPORARY COMMAND OF BRIGADE –

            Brigadier-General T.P.B. Ternan, C.M.G., D.S.O., having proceeded on leave – the temporary Command of the Brigade devolves on Lieutenant-Colonel C.H. Innes Hopkins, 20^th (S) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers (1^st Tyneside Scottish.)

725 – DISTRICT COURT-MARTIAL –

            The detail of Officers as mentioned below will assemble at the Y.M.C.A. Marquee, Windmill Hill Camp, Andover, on the 4^th September, 1915, at 10 a.m., for the purpose of trying by a District Court-Martial the accused persons named in the margin (and such other person or persons as may be brought before them)

PRESIDENT.

Major P.B. Norris, 22^nd (S.) Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers (3^rd Tyneside Scottish.)

MEMBERS.

A Captain, 20^th (S.) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers (1^st Tyneside Scottish.)

A Captain, 23^rd (S.) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers (4^th Tyneside Scottish.)

The accused will be warned, and all witnesses duly required to attend.

The proceedings will be forwarded to the G.O.C., 102^nd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade, Windmill Hill Camp, Andover.

The Officers Commanding 20^th, 21^st, 22^nd, and 23^rd (S) Battalions, Northumberland Fusiliers (1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th Tyneside Scottish) will each detail three Officers to attend for instructional purposes.

In the margin.  No. 20/231 Pte. JOSEPH DAVIDSON, 20^th (S.) Bn, Northumberland Fusiliers (1^st Tyneside Scottish); No. 21/1204 Pte. WILLIAM HARRISON, 21^st (S.) Bn, Northumberland Fusiliers (2^nd Tyneside Scottish); No. 23/1315, Pte PETER LANCASTER, 23^rd (S.) Bn, Northumberland Fusiliers (4^th Tyneside Scottish);

726 – DIVINE SERVICE –

            Troops of the 102^nd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade will parade for Divine Service on Sunday the 5^th instant as follows:-

CHURCH of ENGLAND  9 a.m. between Nos. 4 & 7 Camps, Windmill Hill

Camp.

PRESBYTERIANS  9 a.m. in Y.M.C.A. Marquee.  Windmill Hill Camp.

Markers for Church of England Troops to report to the Brigade Major on the above named ground at 8-45 a.m.

727 – DUTIES –

            The Battalion on duty for week ending Sept. 11^th, 1915,

21^st (S.) Bn, Northumberland Fusiliers (2^nd Tyneside Scottish)

next for duty:-

22^nd (S.) Bn, Northumberland Fusiliers (3^rd Tyneside Scottish)

728 – LED HORSES –

            In the United Kingdom mounted men when loading a horse will invariably load it on the near side of the one being ridden.  When horses are led by a soldier on foot – the soldier himself must invariably be on the traffic side of the horse.

729 – EXTRACTS FROM SOUTHERN COMMAND ORDERS–

2^nd September, 1915.

Training –

            The following Orders are re-published for the benefit of Troops which have recently arrived:-

1. Troops will, under no circumstances, move over growing crops.  When engaged in Field Operations, Umpires will not penalise troops for formation or position necessitated by the observance of this order.
2. Horses must not be tethered to trees.
3. Fires will not be lighted near ricks or farm buildings.  Climbing on Stacks is strictly prohibited.
4. Gaps will not be made in hedges or fences, except by order of an Officer.

C.R., S.C., No. 14910/3 (G.T.)  Southern Command Order No. 706.

730 – SOUTHERN COMMAND ORDERS – ATTENTION CALLED TO –

            The attention of Officers Commanding Units is called to Southern Command Orders Nos 703 and 704 of 1^st inst., and Nos 705, 707, 711 and 716 of 2^nd instant.

            The attention of Medical Officers is called to Southern Command Orders 714 and 715 of 2^nd September, 1915.

731 – DIVISIONAL ORDERS – ATTENTION CALLED TO –

            The attention of Officers Commanding Units is called to Divisional Order No. 166 of 2^nd September, 1915.

732 – LOST –

            Lost DUN GELDING MULE – Zebra markings on all fore legs.  13 h.h.  Brandings – 2” Broad arrow on near shoulder – U.P. on near side of neck – 15 on near fore foot – 1 T.S. on off fort foot.

Lost BROWN GELDING PACK MULE – 13 h.h.  Brandings – 2” Broad arrow on near shoulder – U P. on near side of neck – 30 on near fore foot – 1 T.S. on off fore foot.

Information to 20^th (S.) Bn, Northumberland Fusiliers (1^st Tyneside Scottish) No. 4 Camp Windmill Hill, Andover.

T.L.B. SOUTRY, Captain,

Brigade-Major, 102nd (TYNESIDE SCOTTISH) BRIGADE.

On back of last sheet O.C., C Coy.

G Branch

HQ I Corps District

B.A.O.R.

Sunday 2^nd September  

My dearest Maz,

So very many thanks for your letters of the 24^th and 29^th – I loved reading of all your news and was very pleased in the letter which reached me today to hear you were in a slightly ‘soap-boxish’ frame of mind – I’ve felt just the same myself recently!  I just can’t thank you enough for all you have done for Eileen – she has told me so many times how absolutely sweet you were to her and what a splendid nurse you were, from my experience I know so well what she meant – you have no idea what a comfort it is when I’m away to know that, should Eileen be ill, you are there to look after her, again a thousand thanks.

Eileen seems to be getting a rare hustle on with the flat and her enthusiasm has raised my spirits a lot and my impatience to get home has grown correspondingly.  You and Pari don’t seem to be wasting your time either, bureaux, Heppelwhite’s etc.  I don’t think I know the house in Fitzwalter Road which you were talking about, but from your description of it it didn’t sound very suitable for you and Pari.  You also seem to have had some good tennis and this last week, if your weather has been anything like ours here, should have seen you getting some more.  I hope so much that it will be fine for your holiday, what a difference it makes if the sun shines and it’s warm.

My own week, as Eileen will have told you, has had rather a tragic ending in that I spent all day yesterday in bed feeling like death and have been indoors, though very much better, most of today.  Charles left on Monday and I had a very cheery letter from him today – he seems very happy with his new job, he is a real pukka school-teacher once again, and works and lives in very comfortable and old-world surroundings.  Also today I had a very nice letter from Elli, he seems to have really enjoyed his holiday, had plenty of variety, made some good friends and it will have done him a world of good.  My own activities this week have been fairly varied and with Trevor Harrison’s arrival back from leave, I’ve not been quite so busy as of late.  On Wednesday night Nigel and I went to see a film called ‘The Hitler Gang’.  Well acted and worth seeing, with no-one well known in it.  Thursday saw me playing hockey in the afternoon – we had a very good game against the Sergeants which we rather surprisingly won 5.2 (3).  It was a very hot afternoon and I felt rather whacked after a lot of running about.  Friday was really my downfall!  Our attached Dutch officers gave a large party at 12 midday in honour of Queen Wilhelmina’s birthday and I had a drink which they called gin and lime but which certainly tasted odd though I didn’t think much about it at the time.  After an early dinner Nigel and I went along to see ‘The Circle’ an ENSA play with a wonderful cast – Leslie Banks, Yvonne Arnand, Cecil Trouncer, Rosalie Crutchley and Max Adrian.  It was excellent and afterwards I was invited by our Welfare king to go along to a party to which the artists had been invited – I was feeling 100% fit and I found not the large party I had expected but just 6 of us plus the cast sitting down to a magnificent dinner at about 11.30!  I sat between Leslie Banks and R. Crutchley and they were extremely nice – I rather shook the former by reminding him that he was in the Essex Regiment at the beginning of the last war.  I was extremely careful of what I ate and had only one glass of champagne and got back to my room at 2.30 am 100% sober and feeling very fit.  At 6 am I woke up feeling terribly sick and between then and 11.30 was sick at half hour intervals – the Doc came in and had a look at me in the morning and said I had slight food poisoning and that I was to eat nothing that day, I didn’t. but woke this morning feeling a hundred times better and very hungry.  I have taken things very slowly today and went out for a short walk this afternoon – I really felt like death yesterday morning what it was I don’t know but looking back believe it may have been some awful soup we had in the Mess on Friday night, several others have been queer and one chap has been even worse than I.

Well, little Maz, I guess I must close now – thank you so very much again for looking after Eileen so well, my love to Pari and Elli, God bless you and much love

            Yours as ever

very affectionately

                        Peter

In envelope headed ‘O A S’ addressed to Mrs Gerald C Benham, 5 Oxford Road Colchester Essex.

Postmarked FIELD POST OFFICE 734 dated 3 SP 45.  Signed P.C. Benham.     

On front of envelope Written Sept 2^nd 1945 rec Sept 6^th 1945.           (4)

BRIGADE ORDERS.

BY BRIGADIER-GENERAL TREVOR TERNAN, C.M.G., D.S.O.,

COMMANDING 102^nd (TYNESIDE SCOTTISH) BRIGADE.

HEADQUARTERS,

WINDMILL HILL CAMP.  ANDOVER.

2^nd SEPTEMBER, 1915.

718 – DUTIES –

            With reference to Brigade Order No. 706 of 30^th August, 1915, the Battalion on duty will be relieved at “Retreat” and not as therein stated.

719 – STRENGTH –

            S.E. No. 1445, Sergt A. Baker, A.V.C., reported for duty on 31^st August, 1915, and is accordingly taken on the strength of the Brigade from that date

720 – CLOTHING and NECESSARIES – EXPEDITIONARY FORCE IN FRANCE –

            The attention of Officers Commanding Units is called to Divisional Circular 34 Div/961/Q dated 31^st August, 1915, and Southern Command Order 982 of 1915 circulated herewith.

721 – WEEK-END PASSES –

            With reference to Divisional Order No. 160 of September 1^st, 1915, the number of men proceeding on week-end pass will be forwarded to Brigade Head Quarters by 12 noon on Fridays.  Destinations should be stated.

722 – EXTRACTS FROM DIVISIONAL ORDERS–

Delay in rendering returns –

31^st August, 1915.

            Attention of all Units is again drawn to Divisional Orders Nos. 51 & 52 dated 2.8.15.  There is far too much delay in rendering Periodical and other Returns.  It should be impressed on all concerned that Returns or Correspondence due in this office on a given date should reach here without fail.

It frequently happens that some information is asked for from Units to be rendered to this office on a certain day and unless all Units render it on the day mentioned, great inconvenience is caused owing to the inability of a consolidated return being rendered by this office for the whole of the Division.  Moreover, in many cases the unpunctual rendering of a return not only inconveniences the Division but also the command and sometimes the War Office.

The Headquarters 34^th Division is at Cholderton House, CHOLDERTON, and all correspondence intended for Headquarters should be so addressed.

Divisional Order No.157.

            The following extract from Southern Command Orders, dated 24^th April is published for information and compliance.

“No. 829. SALISBURY PLAIN.

The following orders are to be read on three successive parades to all units camped or quartered on Salisbury Plain, including units at Fovant and in the Wylye Valley and Chiseldon.

• No soldier is allowed to proceed more than five miles from his camp without a pass properly signed and bearing the unit’s Office Stamp.  Permanent passes are not to be issued.
• Railway Stations are out of Bounds to troops except those travelling on duty or in possession of a pass to travel.
• Public Houses are not to be entered (except by men billeted therein) before 12 noon on week-days and 6 p.m. on Sundays.  Public Houses in Wiltshire (except those in Salisbury) close at 8 p.m.; those in Salisbury and Hampshire at 9 p.m.
• Intoxicating liquors are not to be brought away in bottles from Public Houses or other licensed premises.
• Civilians are not permitted to enter Camps or Barracks for purpose of trading unless in possession of a Headquarters pass issued under the authority of the Major General i/c Administration, Southern Command.
• Trespassing by individual Officers and men on private land enclosures, poaching, or disturbing game is forbidden.  The Boundary of War Department land is marked by pink triangular boards with “out of bounds” painted on them.  Officers and men must make themselves acquainted with the boundaries of War Department land near their camps.
• Purchase from Hawkers of the gipsy class are not permitted at any time.
• Orders given by Military Police must be obeyed and assistance given if called for”.

Divisional Order No. 158.   31/8/15.

Out of Bounds –

            In consequence of an outbreak of infectious disease which has occurred recently, the hamlet of QUARLEY (about 2 miles from Cholderton) is placed “out of bounds”.

Divisional Order No. 182   

723 – WAR OFFICE LETTER –

            The following War Office letter is published for information:-

War Office, London, S.W.

23^rd August, 1915.

75/3/2621 (A. 3)

Sir,

            I am commanded by the Army Council to inform you that notwithstanding the assurances received from all Commands in reply to War Office secret letter A. 3. dated 21^st October, 1914, that all Marks III, and V revolver ammunition had been withdrawn from units and returned to the Army Ordnance Department, instances of Officers being found in possession of these marks of ammunition or of similar type, obtained from the trade or friends, have recently been reported.

I am therefore to request that an order may be issued to all Troops under your Command, that disciplinary action will be taken in the case of any individual found to be in possession of any such ammunition in future.

I am, Sir,

Your obedient Servant

B.B. OUBITT

*  *  *

T.L.B. SOUTRY, Captain,

Brigade-Major, 102^nd (TYNESIDE SCOTTISH) BRIGADE.

BRIGADE ORDERS.

BY BRIGADIER-GENERAL TREVOR TERNAN, C.M.G., D.S.O.,

COMMANDING 102^nd (TYNESIDE SCOTTISH) BRIGADE.

HEAD QUARTERS,

WINDMILL-HILL CAMP.ANDOVER.

1^st SEPTEMBER, 1915.

712 – MEDICAL OFFICERS –

            The following is the detail of Medical Orderly Officers for week ending September 4^th, 1915:-

Tuesday –AUG 31^st.            Lt. F.J. HENRY        No 6 Camp.

Wednesday – SEPT 1^st.     Lt. R.B. MACFIE.     Headquarters 102^nd Brigade.

Thursday – SEPT 2^nd.         Lt. J. MUIRHEAD     No. 7 Camp.

Friday – SEPT 3^rd.               Lt. F.J. HENRY        No. 6 Camp.

Saturday – SEPT 4^th.          Lt. R.B. MACFIE      Headquarters 102^nd Brigade.

713 – DRESS –

            Any men leaving the precincts of their own Camp must be properly dressed – i.e., they must wear waist belts and clean service dress.

714 – TRANSPORT –

            Draught horses in G.S. Wagons are not to move out of a walk.  The practice of men riding on wagons other than the driver and the man under instruction, is strictly forbidden.  The brake-men of G.S. Wagons should not be considered as under instruction – they must walk in rear of the wagons.

715 – BOUNDS –

            Under no circumstances whatsoever are troops to enter any fields etc., marked “Out of Bounds for Troops”.

Offenders in this respect will be severely dealt with.

716 – CRESOL – USE OF IN LATRINES –

            Cresol solution must be used in latrine buckets.

Officers Commanding Units should indent for a liberal supply.

717 – HORSE CARCASES –

            It is notified for information that horses carcases are to be buried in the field on the east side of River Bourne over Southly Bridge, at the North Limit of W.D. Property.  This is about half way between Tidworth Pennings and Windmill Hill Camps and accessible from both.

T.L.B. SOUTRY, Captain,

Brigade-Major, 102nd (TYNESIDE SCOTTISH) BRIGADE.

SECOND WORLD WAR

There can be no finer way to honour the men and women who lost their lives in two world wars, than the inscription on the Kohima Epitaph, written by John Maxwell Edmonds.

When you go home, tell them of us and say.

For your tomorrow. We gave our today.

——-

The ITV Television Company began to broadcast “The World at War” series in October 1973. The 26 episodes of the series was narrated by British actor Sir Laurence Olivier. The final episode, named “Remember” was broadcast in May 1974. The episode began with the narrator saying, “The Day the Soldiers Came”, and showed the massacre at Ourador-sur-Glaise and ended with American historian Dr. Stephen Ambrose taking up the story:

“The British had as many problems, if not more, recovering from victory as the Germans did recovering from defeat. What did Britain get out of the war? Not very much, she lost a great deal. Positively she got a moral claim on the world as the nation and her dominions and colonies who had stood against Hitler alone for a year and provided the moral leadership against the Nazis when everyone else was willing to cave in to the Nazis.

The single criticism I would make of Churchill during the war was that he overstrained the British economy for victory, that he did more than had to be done. Britain was the most mobilised nation in the war. The rail system was worn out, the industrial plant was worn out, the transport system was worn out. In addition, the Americans drove a very hard bargain. The Lend-Lease Act [1941], which Churchill called the “least sordid act in all human history”, may well have been that, but there was much about it all that wasn’t pretty. The Americans insisted that the British sell their overseas assets, this meant that at the end of the war the income that the British counted on and depended on for so long from her overseas investments was no longer there. They had been sold at American insistence. Beyond that, the Americans had also forced the British to break up the sterling bloc to open it up to American investment and the United States had all kinds of excess capital available for overseas investment when the war ended. The Americans then moved into the areas that had been British colonies, whether simple or economic colonies. So Britain was in a much weaker position at the end of the war than she had been at the beginning and was not in a position to recover. Added to that was the sentiment around the world that had been built up by Allied propaganda that this was a war for human freedom, liberty, freedom from hunger, freedom from fear, freedom from exploitation, so that you had a universal sentiment to end European colonisation, which was in the large part British colonisation.

At the end of the war there was great hope. No one dared to use the words Woodrow Wilson had used in World War One, that this was “the war to end all wars”, but that was the sentiment. There was great hope in the world that this would happen, that this was the last war, that the victors would now be able to cooperate in peace as they had in war, to see to it that the four policemen – as Roosevelt liked to refer to Britain, France, the USSR and the United States – would be able to see to it there would be no more aggression in the world. That the war had meant something, that it had been fought for something rather than simply against Nazism, something positive, a better world was going to emerge. I suspect even Stalin thought it.

America wanted to have a very strong Japan, as a counter to the Soviets in the Far East, and also as a counter to what they feared was going to happen in China. Already the handwriting was on the wall in China as to who was going to win the civil war there. The Americans wanted Japan rebuilt as quickly as possible and a highly industrialised Japan to emerge from the war within the American orbit. So they systematically excluded all the Allies. The Australians and British had wanted reparations from Japan: they had suffered pretty badly at the hands of the Japanese and had a good claim for getting something back. The Americans absolutely refused and Japan had no reparations to pay at all. The Russians in the Far East, aside from gains of such places as Port Arthur, Manchuria and North Korea, got a Communist China. It’s not clear that Stalin wanted a Communist China: he gave very little support to Mao to win the Chinese civil war. Both parties would soon enough have reason to wonder how good a deal they made, with the growth of Japan since the war and her economic position today, and obviously the Soviet Union has had enormous difficulties with China.

Was a Russian/American conflict inevitable? It mattered little if it was a Tsarist Russia or a Communist Russia. Of course, all of these great world conflicts, of which the twentieth century had seen the worst, are always followed by a falling out between the victors once they have lost everything that holds them together – the common enemy. Russian ambitions and American ambitions were bound to clash. Added to this was the ideological dispute between capitalism and Communism that heightened but did not create the tension. I think this one of the few times in history when one can use the word “inevitable”. I don’t think there was a ghost of a chance of the Russians and Americans creating the kind of world they talked about during the war – an Atlantic Charter kind of world, or a United Nations kind of world, in which the victors continue to cooperate as they did during the war.

I think one can be very positive about the Second World War. The most important single result is that the Nazis were crushed, the militarists in Japan were crushed, the Fascists in Italy were crushed, and surely justice has never been better served”.

To Summarise, Dr. Ambrose stated:

“Until America entered the war in December 1941, Britain and the Colonies were sole defenders against Nazi Germany. Because America had never been attacked, they were producing more food than they could eat, more steel than they could use and more clothes than they could wear. Britain was beholden to the U.S. for supplies, and entered into an agreement that the U.S. would provide Britain with all the supplies they required. The U.S. emerged from the war as overall winners, both financially and militarily. Germany would be rebuilt, but British soldiers came home to austerity. Britain did not fare very well in the end”.

“Not much for the Freedom of the World”.

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