Category Archives: 1915

Diary of 2/4th Battalion The Border Regiment

1915.

1st December 1915. Headquarters and “A” “C” Companies arrived at Kamptee and relieved the 1/5th Buffs proceeding to Mesopotamia, 2 officers and 92 other ranks forming the Infantry Detachment at Fort Sitabuldi, Nagpur.

2nd December 1915. “B” and “D” Companies, under Major G.H. Heelis, arrived at Allahabad and relieved the 1/5th Hampshire Regiment, 2 officers and 104 other ranks forming the Infantry Detachment at Fort Allahabad.

At Poona, in spite of a number of men unavailable for parade owing to guard duties, very substantial progress had been made in the training of the Battalion.  Officers and N.C.O.’s had attended schools on instruction.  Platoon, company, and battalion drill had been well learned.  Preliminary musketry had been finished.  Table A had been fired, and a considerable part of the Battalion had completed Table B.  Scouts and signallers were trained.  Simple company schemes had been carried out, and the Battalion had learned how to look after itself in India.

14th December 1915. Lieut. E.C. Kinghorn proceeded to Mesopotamia and was attached to 1st Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry.

22nd December 1915.  Inspection of half Battalion by Brigadier-General C.G. Prendergast, C.B., G.O.C. Jubbulpore Infantry Brigade.

25th December 1915. Major F.W. Halton, T.D., appointed D.A.Q.M.G. 6th (Poona) Divisional Area.

Letter to Rev Walters from J Cato

On YMCA headed notepaper.

Pte J. Cato 22885

2nd Sherwood Foresters

6 Infantry Base Depot

France

Sir,

            No doubt you will think it strange of me writing to you but as Christmas is now approaching and I may be going further up Country would you kindly think of my little daughter which is at Whitwick.  I have nothing that I could send her for a Christmas Box in fact if I had shall never know where we shall be by then.  Splendid country out here hoping all are well at Whitwick.

Remember to Mother tell her am alright I have met several boys from Whitwick one from Golden Row Dumps name of Bice.

Wishing all a Merry Christmas at Whitwick.

From Cato J.

In YMCA envelope addressed to Rev Walters, Vicarage, Whitwick, Nr Leicester, Leicestershire.  England.

Letter postmarked ARMY POST OFFICE S.15  15 DE 15

PASSED BY CENSOR *** triangular cachet in red.

Letter to Rev Walters from J.W. Brotherhood

No 4564 A Coy 3 Plat

3/5 Leicesters

Wesleyan Chapel

Main St

Bulwell.

Notts.

Dec 30th 015.

Dear Rev Walters,

            You will see by my address that I have arrived at Fresh Billets.  Here it is a great deal better than where we were last stationed.  Bulwell is a small town, about 4 miles from Nottingham & we can travel there on the Tram for a 1d, so I think you will have an idea of the pleasant change from a camp 3 miles from “anywhere” to Billets in a Town, where, as you know, there is always plenty of life & enjoyment.

I would like to tell you also of how we spent Xmas here.

First of all, we Parade for Breakfast, & a right royal feast we had of Bread, Tea & Sausages (“not German”) & after Breakfast we had another Parade  & we went to church & chapel.

After coming back from Divine Service we again Paraded for Dinner, & such a Dinner that was set before us would have been the envy of many a cook.

We had Pork & Rabbits with a plentiful supply of Potatoes & Cabbage after which we had another course, Xmas Pudding, but during the few moments we had to wait while dinner was being served, we had a supply of apples & oranges, & a good time at pulling Xmas Crackers, which caused endless amusement.

After such a Dinner, we rested, & I can assure you that we needed a rest, but eventually tea-time arrived with Bread & Butter, Tea, & Pineapple Chunks & another display of “Cracker” pulling.

The Tables were then cleared, & we had a concert, at which I sang.

During the concert, we were regaled with, nuts, apples & oranges, Pldin, milk, & loose chocolate, Figs & Dates, Cigarettes & Tobacco, so you will see what a time we had.

It almost seemed like being at home.

Well Sir, In regard to myself I am still alright & it may be my pleasure in a week or more to come to see you again, when I shall be able to tell you something of our future movements.

Now I would like to say just few things about our soldiers.  First of all, there are no better class of men in the world than soldiers, & the soldier of today is a man of honour.  Mark you, I am speaking of him as a soldier, other elements of his life I leave out.  One outstanding fact of our men today is an eager desire to avenge themselves of their adversity.

Our men have fought & they will still fight.  The battle is not yet won, but it will not be long, especially when our men who are in training have entered the conflict not that those who have gone before us have not done their duty, but we are fired with an intense spirit of patriotism which shall never be ***** until the aggression of the German has been destroyed, & the world is liberated from the tyranny of might.  You tell our men of Serbia & Belgium, & you touch their heart cords, you arouse their ire, & receive such a vow of sacredness for the cause of freedom from them, that it makes one dread as to what will happen should they come to close quarters with the enemy.

Sir, We as soldiers will never rest until we have conquered & a ruthless foe subdued.  We are not out for personal gain; we fight not because we hate, but because we love.  Hamdrift is dead when it ceases to love ‘Freedom’, when it is unwillingly to battle for the right.

I say we fight because we love.  We love freedom; we cherish the sacredness of child life; We hold in reverence the name of matter, & honour the virtue of young girls & women.

Ah; We detest lust & vice, or if we can help it we will see that our womanhood is never ravished by the fiends of Hell, but that it shall be tended & cared for by the love of Heaven.  Sir, that is why we sacrifice.  Is not that fighty because we love.  We not only wait to save those who fought against us; to save them I say, from misrule & injustice.

I think I have said enough.  I do wish you may joy in life & I trust that the year that is just dawning may be a memorable in the annals of Whitwick Church.

I know you need much grace & wisdom, & I do pray God to be with you that He, directing you, may lead you on to great things in His Service.

Accept my humble wishes for ”A Happy New Year”

I remain

Yours very sincerely

J.W. Brotherhood.

In envelope addressed to Rev T.W. Walters, Vicar of Whitwick, Whitwick Vicarage, Leicestershire.

Letter postmarked Bulwell 30 De 15.

Postcards to Rev Walters from J.W. Brotherhood

No 4564 “A” Coy 3/5 Leicester  Belton Park Grantham.  Dec 4th.

Dear Rev Walters,

            I have just secured a fine Post card photo of Grantham church which I thought might interest you.  So I ask you kindly to accept it.  It has the greatest steeple that ever I have seen.  It is a magnificent church.  I am pleased to say I am well.

Please don’t  write back as we are coming back to Leicestershire about  Wed or Friday next.

Yours sincerely

            J.W. Brotherhood

In envelope addressed to Rev T.W. Walters, Vicar of Whitwick, Whitwick Vicarage, Leicestershire.

Letter postmarked Grantham 10 pm 4 Dec 15

Also in envelope a post card of The Church Grantham.

Diary of 2/4th Battalion The Border Regiment

1915

12th November 1915. “B” and “D” Companies, under the command of Major G.H. Heelis, who was posted to this Battalion from the 1/4th The Border Regiment, proceeded to Kirkee as the British Infantry Detachment, in relief of the 2/4th Wiltshire Regiment.

29th November 1915.  Headquarters and “A” “C” Companies left Poona for Kamptee, Central Provinces.

30th November 1915.  “B” and “D” Companies, under Major G.H. Heelis, left Kirkee for Allahabad.

MEMORANDUM.

Stamp of TF Record Office London                                  From

From                                                                                       J E Beesley

Officer i/c I.F. Records London

To J.E. Beesley Esq.

4 London Wall Bldgs. E.C.

30th Nov 1915                                                                       Dec 3rd 1915

I wish to remind you that you

have not yet acknowledged the

receipt of a discharge Certificate re

No 2600 Pte. R.M. Beesley

28th London Regt, forwarded to

you on his behalf on the 19th inst.

Will you please do so?

N.M.P. Hay Capt. for C.O.

Territorial Force Records

LONDON.

With OHMS Envelope addressed to J.E. Beesley, Esq., Far Cross Bank, Kendal, Westmoreland.  Postmarked London 19 NO 15.

Typed letter to Rev Walters from A W Hanson

No 2346 L/Cpl A.W. Hanson

Orderly Room.

1/5th Bn Leicester Regt

Sawbridgeworth.

Revd T.W. Walters.

Revd Sir,

            Just a few lines before we leave England, because it may be a long time before I get a chance out at the Front to write.

We expect to move away on or about Tuesday next, and I have been detailed to go out with the Troops and act as Orderly Room clerk the other two clerks are staying behind here for some time and will eventually go to the Headquarter Office at the Base, so that I shall be on my own in the office near the Firing Line.

I expect it will mean a lot of work for me to do, but still when I have got in to the run of things out there it will come quite easy.

Will you please let Miss Roulston have my copy of the Mens Service report, and she will take it home for me.

I trust that you and Mrs Walters will keep in the best of health, and I hope it may not be long before the War is over and we shall once more all meet again.

If it is not asking too much I should like Hymn No 595. Holy Father, in Thy mercy, sung in Church for me the next two Sunday evenings.

With very kind regards to Mrs Walters & yourself.

I remain,

            Yrs obediently

Albert Will

There is no envelope with this letter.

Tyneside Scottish Brigade Orders.

BRIGADE ORDERS.

BY LIEUTENANT-COLONEL A.P.A. ELPHINSTONE,

COMMANDING 102nd (TYNESIDE SCOTTISH) BRIGADE.

HEAD QUARTERS,

SANDHILL CAMP. LONGBRIDGE DEVERILL.

29th NOVEMBER, 1915.

1041 – 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 A.P.A. Elphinstone, 3rd Bn. Tyneside Scottish (22nd (S) Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers).

1042 – DIVISIONAL EXERCISE –

            At the Divisional Exercise 30:11:1915, at the 10 minute halts, all men are to fall out and remove their equipment, and the loads on pack mules are to be taken off.

1043 – EXTRACTS FROM SALISBURY TRAINING CENTRE ORDERS–

27:11:1915.

“London Gazette” –

The following extracts from the Third Supplement to the “London Gazette” of Tuesday, the 23rd of November, 1915, is published for information:-

The Northumberland Fusiliers; –

23rd (Service) Battalion (4th Tyneside Scottish). – Major William Lyle (Special Reserve, The Lancashire Fusiliers) to command a Battalion, and to be temporary Lieutenant-Colonel vice J.C. Campbell vacated, dated 24th November, 1915.

Salisbury Training Centre Order No. 1188.

1044 – SALISBURY TRAINING CENTRE ORDERS – ATTENTION CALLED TO –

            The attention of Officers Commanding Units is called to Salisbury Training Centre Orders 1192 and 1193 dated 27th November, 1915.

T.L.B. SOUTRY, MAJOR,

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

Letter to Rev Walters from A W Hanson

2346 L/Cpl A.W. Hanson

Orderly Room

1/5th Leicestershire Regt

1/ Lincoln & Leicester Brigade

1/ North Midland Division

British Expeditionary Force

On Service

28/3/15

Revd T.W. Walters.

Revd Sir,

            Excuse my long address but I cannot shorten it.  I really forget whether I have written you a letter since I came out, if not you must please forgive me, because I get so little time to myself.

            We have had many marches and changes in our new abode.

            Our companies have had 2, 24 hours in the Trenches and we have been out 2 weeks now, and are resting while the rest of the Brigade do their bit, they only went on Friday.  We came off very lucky only having 2 killed & 2 wounded.

On our travels we have seen two large churches which have been shelled down, one appeared to have had very fine stained windows.

We have got a very decent Billet at this stay, at a farm.  The Sergt Major, myself and our Batman.

The food we are getting is good and plenty altho of course there are ‘luxuries’ which we have to buy, in fact we began to feel that we are overfeeding and getting stout.

There is also a weekly issue of Tobacco & Cigarettes and ever so often a small tot of Rum.

I am feeling fine form myself.

I was sorry to hear you were indisposed but hope that your change has had the desired effect.

I shall miss any enjoyable games of Tennis this season, but I hope the club will continue, without the soldier members.

We see all kinds of aircraft and often see the shells bursting all round them.

Had an afternoon off and went for a 12 miles ride on horseback, enjoyed it very much

 29/3/15

Was not able to finish this to go by the post yesterday.

Please give my kind regards to all members of the Mens Service.

Well now I close with my kind regards to Mrs Walters & yourself.

            Yrs obediently

Albert Will

                        30/3/15

The Bishop of London is preaching near here tonight.

There is no envelope with this letter.

Tyneside Scottish Brigade Orders.

BRIGADE ORDERS.

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

COMMANDING 102nd (TYNESIDE SCOTTISH) BRIGADE.

HEAD QUARTERS,

SANDHILL CAMP. LONGBRIDGE DEVERILL.

18th NOVEMBER, 1915.

1001 – COMMAND OF BRIGADE –

            Reference Brigade Order No. 976 dated 11th November, 1915, Brigadier-General T.P.B. Ternan, C.M.G., D.S.O., resumed command of the Brigade from this date.

1002– DIVINE SERVICE –

            Troops of the 102nd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade will parade for Divine Service on Sunday 24th inst – as follows:-

CHURCH OF ENGLAND   9-30 a.m. 1st Bn. Tyneside Scottish)        Battalion

(20th (S) Bn. Northd. Fus.)             Canteen

10-15 a.m. 2nd Bn. Tyneside Scottish)     Battalion

(21st Bn. Northd. Fus.)                   Canteen

10 a.m. 3rd Bn. Tyneside Scottish)            Y.M.C.A.

            (22nd (S) Bn. Northd. Fus.)            Hut

10-45 a.m. 4th Bn. Tyneside Scottish)      Y.M.C.A.

(23rd (S) Bn. Northd. Fus.)             Hut.

ROMAN CATHOLICS         8-15 a.m. in Y.M.C.A. Hut between Nos 14 and 15

Camps.

PRESBYTERIANS              9 a.m. in Y.M.C.A. Hut between Nos. 14 and 15

Camps.

            WESLEYANS and

            UNITED BOARD                  9 a.m. in Wesleyan Hut in No. 5 Camp.

1003 – DIVISIONAL EXERCISE –

            Reference Divisional Order No. 530 dated 17th instant, the Officer, 2 Non-commissioned Officers and 20 men from each Battalion will report to Captain Bulman, “G” range, at 9 a.m. to-morrow, the 19th inst.

1004 – DIVISIONAL ORDER – ATTENTION CALLED TO –

            The attention of Officers Commanding Units is called to Divisional Order No. 530 dated 17th November, 1915.

T.L.B. SOUTRY, MAJOR,

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

NOTICE.

            It is notified for general information that the Tyneside Scottish Committee are compiling a History of the Brigade, which will be printed at the end of the War.  The Committee are anxious to make the volume as complete as possible and to include photographs of the Brigade and Battalions on parade.

The Photographers, Messrs Bacon & Son, will attend at Sandhill Camp on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st instant.  Battalions will parade for this purpose in marching order, Scale “A”, in line of close column of companies – vide Plate VIa, Ceremonial 1912, Provisional Amendments.  Companies to be sized and equalized.  Bands to be on right of Battalions.