Dick-Cunyngham letter to wife dated 5 Sept 1914
Sep 5
My darling one,

I seem to have so little time to write but things are better tonight & I have time. Times still very strenuous – I fear news of Regt is very sad but we must hope for the best – I saw the few two days ago all very well & cheery – Willie Marshall feels it badly – have only just heard poor Shafto’s death – I am so sorry & I fear it will be some time before complete lists are out.

Still very hot by day & I long for Indian khaki – I find I sleep almost better outside than in a house & it is much more healthy.

My precious one I do long for news of you, mails have been very bad, only 2 letters so far, but will probably get a bunch in a day or two. Days have gone so wearily I have lost count completely – I believe it is Sunday tomorrow.

Find it hard to get cigarettes here – a kind man gave me ½ dozen yesterday – your meat lozenges are very useful & they do keep one going especially during a night march – I suck 2 or 3 & they help to keep me awake.

We are such a party now, nearly 40, difficult to feed, but so far resources of country have saved us. I see I am graded for A.P.M. as a D.A.A.G. Deputy Assistant Adjt Gen which means I believe pay at 550£ per annum. Far more than I expected or deserve. Would you keep a Copy of Gazette giving all names of Staff of Exp Force.

I do so long to have a peep at you in the little house, hope Mrs Clue is doing you well. Charlie writes your journey was exciting. I always thought it would be with Rhoda & her car. Dinner time not bad cook. Hope to learn how to make omelette before long –

All my love, my darling, one & kisses for Betty
Yr own Jimmie

With envelope addressed to Mrs Dick Cunyngham, Mount View, Crownhill S.O., S. Devon. England. Redirected to 72 Overstrand Mansions, Prince of Wales Rd, Battersea Park, London S.W. Signed Dick Cunyngham. Passed Army Censor No 224. Postmarked ARMY POST OFFICE 42 dated SP 6 14. Also postmarked Crownhill 7.30 p.m 16 Sp 14.

War Diary of AA Laporte Payne

Extracted from

Brigade Diary, Personal Diary, Operation Orders, Note Books, Memoranda &

Correspondence

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September 1914

UNIVERSITIES & PUBLIC SCHOOLS FORCES

ROYAL FUSILIERS

EPSOM September, 1914

1^st Battalion, No 1 Company, Section 4.

J.P.D. Clarke.  Sergt.   “Long John”    C.C.C. Camb X

Williams          “Bimph”                                  X

Osborne           “Ossy”

Harry Richards            “Loose Lizzy”

Roland Richards         “Rolly”                                    X

E.C. Collins                 “Lottie”           C.C.C. Camb

P.D. Gilmour Ellis       “Gil”

A.A. Laporte Payne    “Algy”             C.C.C. Camb

———————–

September 20 1914

R.P.

Sunday

Alton

Links Road

Epsom

“I was first of all billeted in a public house with three other men. When in the town later I met a friend who said he was in a palace, so I got leave from a Special Constable to move there.  On the next day, most unfortunately, we were re-billeted by companies, and we have landed up in a much smaller house and the food is not nearly as good.  But eight of us all friends are billeted together in two adjacent houses.  It is great fun.  I have met several men I know.  There are 3500 of us here now.  I dined out this evening with Richards at the house of friends of his, named Mountain.

SEPTEMBER 24^th 1914

Having obtained leave of absence I called on Major C. Lancelot Storr, Rom 206, War Office, who took details of such qualifications as I had, and said he would do what he could. He informed me that the application from Cambridge University had been mislaid, but that he would put a fresh application for a commission through for me.

I obtained leave to go to town by saying that the War Office wanted to interview me. So a full blown private marched boldly into the “Holy of Holies, armed with a sheet of foolscap on which I had set out my name, age, school, University, degree honours, cadet corps service, and the fact that I had been for four weeks or so a private in H.M. Army.

I received the advice from an old soldier that “ the thing to do is to make the most of yourself, and not belittle your achievements. Humility does not pay in the army.”

September 24^th 1914

PUBLIC SCHOOL BRIGADE

ROYAL FUSILIERS

Private A.A.L. Payne has leave of absence until 10 p.m. September, 24^th 1914

H.E. Bowes Lyon

O.C. No 1 Company,

No 1 Battalion.

W.L.P.

“Colonel Griffin ….. is wondering what the War Office have done for you today, and says if you would like a commission in his battalion, the 11^th Middlesex Regiment, write to the Officer Commanding this regiment, Hydrabad Barracks, Colchester, and ask for a commission as a 2/Lieut.  State all qualifications.  There is at present one vacancy for a 2^nd Lieut. And one or two vacancies in the 12^th and 13^th Battalions.

Our love to you, my son. May the right decision be clear.  I esteem your prompt response to the call of duty.  The strongest fortress of prayer is yours.

Your affectionate Father.

Form M.T. 397                                                                        WAR OFFICE

LONDON, S.W.

25^th September 1914

Sir,

With reference to your application for appointment to the Special Reserve of Officers, I am directed to inform you that the applications for such appointments already received are far in excess of the vacancies available. It has therefore not been practicable to grant you a commission in the Special Reserve.

I am to say, however, that your name has been placed on a waiting list of candidates for appointment to a temporary regular commission for the period of the war, and you will be duly informed if, and when, there is a vacancy to which you can be appointed.

If you are desirous of taking up such an appointment it will not be necessary for you (or any other person on your behalf) to address any further communication to this Office on the subject. Owing to pressure of work it will not be practicable to reply to such communication if sent.

If, however, you do not wish to be appointed to a temporary regular commission you should at once notify the fact to this Office.

I am,

Sir,

Your Obedient Servant,

1. Grant, Captain

for Director of Military Training.

Secretary of State for War.                                                                 War Office,

Whitehall,

S.W.

25 Sept 1914

Dear Mr. Payne,

I have handed your application personally to the Assistant Military Secretary, so I hope you will be fixed up before long. You may have to wait a week or two.

In the meantime, get Major Griffin to apply officially for you to go to him directly you are gazetted and ask him to address the envelope to me by name to save time. Let me hear if you are not fixed up, say, in 3 weeks time.

Very truly yours

1. Storr.

Colchester

28.9.14

Sir,

As I have no vacancies for officers in my battalion I have forwarded your letter to Colonel Glover, commanding 12^th Middlesex Regiment.

Yours faithfully

W.D. Ingle

Lieut. Colonel

Comdg. 11^th Middlesex Regt.

Form M.T. 426 (M.T. 3)                                                                      WAR OFFICE

LONDON S.W.

30^th September, 1914.

Sir,

I am directed to inform you that your application for an appointment to a Temporary Commission in the Regular Army has been received. The Cavalry List is full at present.  Will you kindly state by return if possible, whether you desire to be considered for appointment to a Temporary Commission in the Royal Field Artillery.

Please state exactly what previous military experience you have had and also what standard of riding you have attained. If you have hunted state for how many seasons and with what pack etc.

I am,

Sir,

Your obedient Servant

E.B. CLIVE Capt.

for Director of Military Training.

EPSOM September, 1914

1^st Battalion, No 1 Company, Section 4.

J.P.D. Clarke.  Sergt.   “Long John”    C.C.C. Camb X

Williams          “Bimph”                                  X

Osborne           “Ossy”

Harry Richards            “Loose Lizzy”

Roland Richards         “Rolly”                                    X

E.C. Collins                 “Lottie”           C.C.C. Camb

P.D. Gilmour Ellis       “Gil”

A.A. Laporte Payne    “Algy”             C.C.C. Camb

———————–

September 20 1914

Sunday

Alton

Links Road

Epsom

“I was first of all billeted in a public house with three other men. When in the town later I met a friend who said he was in a palace, so I got leave from a Special Constable to move there.  On the next day, most unfortunately, we were re-billeted by companies, and we have landed up in a much smaller house and the food is not nearly as good.  But eight of us all friends are billeted together in two adjacent houses.  It is great fun.  I have met several men I know.  There are 3500 of us here now.  I dined out this evening with Richards at the house of friends of his, named Mountain.

SEPTEMBER 24^th 1914

Having obtained leave of absence I called on Major C. Lancelot Storr, Rom 206, War Office, who took details of such qualifications as I had, and said he would do what he could. He informed me that the application from Cambridge University had been mislaid, but that he would put a fresh application for a commission through for me.

I obtained leave to go to town by saying that the War Office wanted to interview me. So a full blown private marched boldly into the “Holy of Holies, armed with a sheet of foolscap on which I had set out my name, age, school, University, degree honours, cadet corps service, and the fact that I had been for four weeks or so a private in H.M. Army.

I received the advice from an old soldier that “ the thing to do is to make the most of yourself, and not belittle your achievements. Humility does not pay in the army.”

September 24^th 1914

PUBLIC SCHOOL BRIGADE

ROYAL FUSILIERS

Private A.A.L. Payne has leave of absence until 10 p.m. September, 24^th 1914

H.E. Bowes Lyon

O.C. No 1 Company,

No 1 Battalion.

W.L.P.

“Colonel Griffin ….. is wondering what the War Office have done for you today, and says if you would like a commission in his battalion, the 11^th Middlesex Regiment, write to the Officer Commanding this regiment, Hydrabad Barracks, Colchester, and ask for a commission as a 2/Lieut.  State all qualifications.  There is at present one vacancy for a 2^nd Lieut. And one or two vacancies in the 12^th and 13^th Battalions.

Our love to you, my son. May the right decision be clear.  I esteem your prompt response to the call of duty.  The strongest fortress of prayer is yours.

Your affectionate Father.

Form M.T. 397                                                                        WAR OFFICE

LONDON, S.W.

25^th September 1914

Sir,

With reference to your application for appointment to the Special Reserve of Officers, I am directed to inform you that the applications for such appointments already received are far in excess of the vacancies available. It has therefore not been practicable to grant you a commission in the Special Reserve.

I am to say, however, that your name has been placed on a waiting list of candidates for appointment to a temporary regular commission for the period of the war, and you will be duly informed if, and when, there is a vacancy to which you can be appointed.

If you are desirous of taking up such an appointment it will not be necessary for you (or any other person on your behalf) to address any further communication to this Office on the subject. Owing to pressure of work it will not be practicable to reply to such communication if sent.

If, however, you do not wish to be appointed to a temporary regular commission you should at once notify the fact to this Office.

I am,

Sir,

Your Obedient Servant,

1. Grant, Captain

for Director of Military Training.

Secretary of State for War.                                                                 War Office,

Whitehall,

S.W.

25 Sept 1914

Dear Mr. Payne,

I have handed your application personally to the Assistant Military Secretary, so I hope you will be fixed up before long. You may have to wait a week or two.

In the meantime, get Major Griffin to apply officially for you to go to him directly you are gazetted and ask him to address the envelope to me by name to save time. Let me hear if you are not fixed up, say, in 3 weeks time.

Very truly yours

1. Storr.

Colchester

28.9.14

Sir,

As I have no vacancies for officers in my battalion I have forwarded your letter to Colonel Glover, commanding 12^th Middlesex Regiment.

Yours faithfully

W.D. Ingle

Lieut. Colonel

Comdg. 11^th Middlesex Regt.

Form M.T. 426 (M.T. 3)                                                                      WAR OFFICE

LONDON S.W.

30^th September, 1914.

Sir,

I am directed to inform you that your application for an appointment to a Temporary Commission in the Regular Army has been received. The Cavalry List is full at present.  Will you kindly state by return if possible, whether you desire to be considered for appointment to a Temporary Commission in the Royal Field Artillery.

Please state exactly what previous military experience you have had and also what standard of riding you have attained. If you have hunted state for how many seasons and with what pack etc.

I am,

Sir,

Your obedient Servant

E.B. CLIVE Capt.

for Director of Military Training.

Archie A. Laporte Payne letter home 20 Sept 1914

On headed notepaper.

Christ Church Vicarage,

North Finchley N.

‘Alton’

Lukes Rd

Epsom.

Sunday Sept 20 1914.

My dearest Mother,

Many thanks indeed for your letter and parcel which arrived safely. Thank you for your tie which is just right.  I am sorry you had a bother about the address.  I was first of all billeted in a pub – four men in a smelly little room – I was very bored – when in the town later I met a friend who said he was billeted in a palace – so I got leave from the special constable & went there.  They treated us like lords and my friend & I had a room to ourselves and a bed each.  Next day unfortunately we were all re-billeted by companies – and we have got in a very much smaller place & not nearly such nice food – but eight friends have got together in two houses.  We are up in the morning at 5.30, and we get plenty of work – but it will be rather fun I think.

I have met heaps of men I know. There are 3500 of us here now.

This afternoon & evening my friend Richards took me to some friends of his who have a gorgeous place here. We had tea & dinner there.  They are very nice.

Thank you very much for the really good time I have had at home – but I am glad you let me go off, as I really could not stay at home when everyone is enlisting. I may get a commission yet – but I don’t mind if I don’t now.

Will you get me a Vyella shirt Khaki – 10/6 at Army & Navy Stores – detachable shirt collar one and one collar (1/-) collar 15 ½ in – also please send me my Hawkes colour sweater.

We get very little time to ourselves – the Parade ground is miles away.

Hope you are all well & flourishing

With much love to you all

Ever

Your affectionate son

Archie.

Sept/Oct 1914       After the Battle of the Aisne, both the Germans and Allied forces had   entrenched. Each side was trying to out-flank each other in a bid for open warfare.

The trenches eventually reached the sea and the engagement was known as “The race to the Sea” As the entrenchment reached Ypres, the trenches stayed on the high ground by going to the East of the town.

A salient was forming.

10^th Nov 1914      Following a number of attacks and counter-attacks, the entrenchment settled down into a semi-circle around Ypres.

Intense cold halted any further large-scale activities and both sides settled down to making themselves as comfortable as possible in the trenches.

(Map showing Salient forming)

Following the stalemate on the Aisne, in September 1914, both Armies tried to outflank the other northwards in the so-called “race to the sea”.      The Commander-in-Chief of the BEF, Sir John French, proposed to the French Commander-in-Chief, General Joseph Joffre that the British Army should take over the Northern section.

Through the channel ports, England could supply the BEF far more easily. Joffre agreed and arrangements were secretly made whereby the BEF relinquished their lines, which were smoothly taken over by the French units and the BEF regrouping in                Flanders between 16^th to 18^th October 1914.

The Belgian army were besieged in Antwerp. Although unable to offer any real assistance, Winston Churchill, understood the strategic importance of Antwerp. As First Sea Lord, he successfully argued the case for the Naval Brigade to defend this city. This gesture sustained Belgian morale, even though Antwerp fell into German control. The Belgians were forced to retreat, and Sir Henry Rawlinson’s 4th Corps covered the retreat. The “race to the sea” had established the hard-pressed Belgian army from the North Sea coast to the River Yser and Dixmude. The French army occupied the area between Dixmude and the Ypres-Roulers railway line, where upon the BEF occupied the area around the Eastern flanks of Ypres. The French army occupied the line from Armentieres southward to the Swiss border. This established the almost 500 miles of the trenches known as “The Western Front”.

The Belgian army had opened the lock gates at Nieuport allowing the sea to flood the low-lying land halting the German advance. In the oncoming flood the Germans lost many troops, together with masses of weapons, artillery and equipment. They were forced south to attack the Northern flank of the British held salient, to the East of Ypres. The Ypres salient was a defensive semi circle to the East of the city. When finally established the salient allowed the German artillery to attack from both front and sides.

The German army turned their attention against the British salient, to the north, east and south of Ypres. With the beginning of winter, the mud dominated the almost continuous night and day fighting. The Germans broke through the British line in the north. At the same time, the numerical superior German army broke through the lines at the southern end of the salient. After three days, constant fighting the central area caved in around the village of Gheluvelt and the BEF withdrew to a line just covering the city of Ypres. A surprise British counter-attack saw the British once again defending Gheluvelt. The Germans had failed to exploit the penetrations they had made. They did attack the southern part of the salient, at night, thus securing the high ground at Messiness’ Ridge. On the 10^th November, the Germans launched an attack against the French army towards Dixmude.  The French line held halting the attack. The following day the Germans again attacked and broke through the British southern sector. By the German’s failure in not being able to follow up their attack, British reserve forces were able to drive back the German advance. Intense cold effectively halted any further large-scale activities therefore establishing the line around Ypres, thus forming the salient.

The First Battle of Ypres denied the Germans the channel ports but the cost to the BEF was enormous. Britain lost nearly all of the professional army. Halted at Ypres, the Germans adapted a defensive strategy on the Western Front. The First Battle of Ypres settled the Western Front as both sides dug trenches, stretching nearly 500 miles from the North Sea to the Swiss border. The BEF defended the northern line from Ypres to the sea, and the French Army defended the southern line to the Swiss border.

The end of 1914 and most of 1915 devoted the war to trying to force a victory on the Eastern Front.

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They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old;

And age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

4^th Aug 1914                At the age of 45 years, Laurence Binyon was too old to enlist

23^rd Aug/9^th Sept ‘14   Battle of Mons and retreat to the Marne by the BEF.

Mid Sept 1914             Binyon wrote the poem “For the Fallen”

21^st Sept 1914              Poem was published in “The Times” newspaper

• Binyon went to the Western Front as a Red Cross medical orderly.

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The Royal British Legion has adopted “The Exhortation for the Fallen” for all their Remembrance Parades.

PHOTOGRAPH OF BINYON

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,

England mourns her dead across the sea.

Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,

Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill: Death august and royal

Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres.

There is music in the midst of desolation

And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,

Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.

They were staunch to the end against all odds uncounted,

They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old;

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;

They sit no more at familiar tables of home;

They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;

They sleep beyond England’s foam.

But where our desires are and our hopes profound,

Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,

To the innermost heart of their own land they are known

As the stars are known to the Night;

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,

Moving in marches upon our heavenly plain,

As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,

To the end, to the end, they remain.

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Robert Laurence Binyon was 45 years of age when the Great War began in 1914; therefore, he was too old to enlist in the military forces. At the time, he worked for the British Museum and in mid September 1914, he wrote his most famous poem whilst sitting on a cliff top looking out to sea on the North Cornwall coastline.

In early September 1914, Binyon was inspired to write the poem after hearing of the horrendous casualties to the British Expeditionary Force. The casualties were sustained during the Battle of Mons, the retreat from Mons, the Battle of Le Cateau together with the joint Anglo/French stand against the Germans at the Battle of the Marne.

Binyon went to the Western Front in 1916 as a Red Cross medical orderly.

The forth verse of the poem has been adopted by the Royal British Legion as an Exhortation for the ceremony of Remembrance to commemorate fallen Servicemen and Women. Whenever the “Last Post” is played the “Exhortation” forms part of the proceedings.

It is rather ironic that the poem was written at the beginning of the war rather than the end of the war considering the casualties suffered by all combatant nations.

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The Allied Forces held the German army at the River Marne, forcing Germany to retreat. The British and French forces were slow to attack the retreating German First and Second Armies, mainly due to exhaustion and caution. The Germans halted their retreat at the Aisne on the 11^th September. The German First and Second Armies, (commanded by von Kluck and von Bulow), were joined by the new Seventh Army. (Commander, von Heedingen). On the same day, entrenching began on the Chemin des Dames Ridge, which provided the German with a long and high position from which to conduct their defence. Whenever possible the German army would select the high ground for defence.

The French Fifth and Sixth Armies (commanded by d’Esperey and  Maunoury), aided by the British Expeditionary Force (B.E.F. commanded by Sir John French) launched a frontal infantry assault upon the German’s  defensive positions across the river at the Aisne upon their arrival on the 13^th September. Most of the B.E.F. crossed the Aisne, on pontoons or partially demolished bridges, during the night of the 13^th September.

The French Fifth Army crossed the Aisne and captured the Eastern tip of the Chemin des Dames. Louis XV had the ridge named after the Royal coach road built for his daughters. East of the Chemin des Dames, French armies had very little progress beyond the positions reached on the 13^th September.

The B.E.F. advanced under the cover of the foggy night. As the mist evaporated under the bright morning sun, machine gun fire from the flank decimated their numbers. They were forced to begin digging in after Sir John French ordered the entire B.E.F.  to entrench. Although neither side were not trained for trench warfare, the German Army adopted the system better. The Germans had ample supplies of siege howitzers and trench mortars, plus sufficient shells, which inflicted great losses to the Allied troops. By contrast, Britain had a shortage of heavy artillery and shells, and what they did have was not equal to the German artillery.

Establishing a bridgehead north of the river on the14th September, the Allies continued to assault the dug-in German forces on the higher plateau above. Within hours, the Germans had counter-attacked, forcing the Allies back. Germany used her heavy artillery and machine guns to defend her positions, demonstrating the superiority of defensive warfare against the offensive counterpart. Consolidation of the small advances could not be maintained, and by the 18^th September, the Allies had scaled back the offensive. It finally became clear, especially by the Allies, the well-entrenched positions of the Germans could not successfully be attacked by direct frontal assault. The French were also finding themselves under increased pressure at Reims.

Both armies abandoned frontal assaults, on the 28^th September, and began to try to turn the other’s flank. As the Germans aimed for the Allied left flank, the Allies similtaneously aimed for the German right flank. The period became known as the “race for the sea”. The Western Front was now established and stalemate descended

whereby both armies faced each other in trenches with a strip of land between which became “no mans land”.

The Western Front became a continuous trench line of approximately 400 miles, stretching from the Belgian channel town of Newport, south into France and eventually turning south east, right up to the Swiss border. By attacking and counter-attacking, the lines of trenches would vary throughout the war. The only Belgian city to stay in Allied hands was Ypres. For political reasons Ypres was required to be held in control by the Belgian/Allied Governments

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