Category Archives: 1915

Letter to Rev Walters from W Cooke

Pte W Cooke 2559

15 Platoon D Com

5th Batt Leic Regt

B.E.F.

France.

Wed 5/5/15

Dear Sir,

            I am writing these few lines to give you in answer to your most welcome letter to me which I received this morning having come out of the trenches last night for our rest.  I hope this finds you all in the best of health as it leaves me the same at the time of writing this and thank you very much for your kindness in sending me the book as there is some very interesting news in it besides the names and photos of several of my old mates.  You are quite welcome to the use of my letters if you think they are interesting and I will try and make them all the same if you think they are good enough to be read.  Well we are having lovely weather here and it is getting that hot I shall soon have to leave some of my things off and the fields are so green going up to the trenches and as we have not been in the firing line we have not had anything to do during the day and anyone would not think that the war was on in this part as you never hear a shot during the day from a rifle then all at once you hear our big guns boom out three shells together and then it brings it all back to your mind and then all is quiet again till darkness comes and then we have to start and unload the carts that brings the rations up as they cannot come in the day time for fear of being seen and giving the position away and then we should soon be shelled out.  Well I have showed one of the Boys from Whitwick his photo already and that is Fred Ducker and he was very pleased to with it but you have made a mistake Fred is in the 5th Leicesters and St. John is in the 7th Leicesters but I expect you have found the mistake out by now.  Well I have not got much to tell you this time but we have been very lucky as we have only lost one man killed and one or two wounded and they were not serious so you see we are still in luck and we must thank God for it as it is him who rules such things and we must put our trust in him.  The night they buried that poor chap I was on guard and I seen them conduct the service and the Brigade Chaplain was there to read the Service and as it was at night it was very impressive and the chap’s Brother was there to see him buried as he was in the same Company and if it is any condolence to them at home we are able to write and tell them that they are buried as well as possible and they put a cross up on there grave with there name and rank on and on some of the graves there mates have placed globes and wreaths in remembrance of them and some of the graves are very nicely done up and when they come up to the trenches they bring flowers and place on so it shows that they think of those who are gone.  Well I think I have told you about all this time so just remember me to all the old friends at Whitwick and I shall be very pleased to have my name put down on your list of members and I am looking forward to the Magazine coming.  Well I think I shall have to close now as I have told you about all the news that I am allowed to send and I will try and put more in next time I write which I am hoping will not belong so will now close with my Best Wishes to you and your Family and Friends at Whitwick.

I am

Yours truly

W. Cooke

5th Leics Regt.

P.S. We have a service on the day we go in the trenches by the Chaplain and he is going to have a confirmation held in and I shall be confirmed out here if I can.

In envelope addressed to The Rev T.W. Walters, The Vicarage, Leicester Road, Whitwick, Leicestershire.  England.

Letter postmarked FIELD POST OFFICE I.M  5 MY 15.

PASSED BY CENSOR 405 triangular cachet in red.

Letter to Rev Walters from Charles Yearby 15 May 15.

15-5-15.

Dear Sir,

            Just a line to let you know I am still in the land of the living.  I was pleased with your Easter Card & also your report.  The Photos is very good & the Church too, why it brought back olden times.  I see you have got a great many at the Sunday Afternoon Service now for men but I think a great many of them are fit for a service of other kind as well, they ought to come & help us a little.  We have a very hard task on & it’s nothing but right they should help us.  They will think it very funny if conscription comes into our land which we don’t want, & then what would they think.  I believe we are doing very well, so far my battery has been in action now for six months & only been out for three days so you see we have had it a bit stiff.  I think if I remember right we have had sixty two or so casualties one kind or another since we came out.  I am in a perfect state of health myself only at times my side pains where I had my two operations.  I do wish it would keep right as I want to go all thro it now I have started.  Oh no I have not seen Major Burkett but I have been in close touch with them may do later on, give my best respects to all, trusting you are in better health than you have been also all at home as I keep on smiling hoping to hear soon

Yours Sincerely

Charlie.

In envelope addressed to Rev. T. Walters, Vicarage, Leicester Road, Whitwick, Nr Leicester.  England.

Letter postmarked FIELD POST OFFICE T 8.  15 MY 15.

PASSED BY CENSOR 458 in triangular cachet in red.

Letter to Rev Walters from W Cooke

Pte W Cooke 2559

15 Platoon D Com

5th Battn

Leic Regt

B.E.F.

France.

Sun Apr 25/4/15

Rev T.W. Walters,

Dear Sir,

            I now take great pleasure in writing these few lines to you as I am one of your Church Lads and am now in the trenches somewhere in France but I am not allowed to say where.  I hope these few lines of mine you and you and your Family in the best of health as it leaves me the same.  I should be very much pleased if you would kindly send me one of our Parish Magazines as I should like one very much to see how the folks at good old Whitwick are going on.  I am writing this letter in one of the dugouts just behind the firing line as we take it in turns to be in the firing line and when you have been in two days and two night you are relieved and go down in support trench were you can have a sleep at night as you cannot get much rest in the firing line.  I expect this letter will come as a surprise to you as you had hardly been in our midst long enough when I came away to get acquainted with all your parishioners but am hoping to be so when I get back home once moiré which I have hope will not be long.  It is somethink awful to see the ruined homes round where we are and there is a village about half a mile from where I am at present that as not got a whole house in the place even down to the Church that makes the third one that I have seen in ruins since I have been out here.  There is one feature of this country that is very noticeable that at every cross road the is either a shrine or a Crucifix placed there and in niches of the houses you statues of the Virgin Mary and some of these shrines are very nice ones as well.  This makes my fourth time of being in the trenches as we go in for four days and then we go out to some rest hut for four days but we have had two fine days in as we could not get relieved on the nights when our time was up so that makes us fourteen days in and to what we have heard we where have a month of it in relief 10 days in and 16 days out so we have nearly done ours and then we were to be relieved by another lot and go away from the trenches for a while but I cannot say much about that as we have to wait and see and the men get so many tales about.  Our firing line is about 100 yards from that of the Germans but those of a regiment on our left are only 40 yards away so they are near enough.  We do not have the whole lot of 100 in the trenches at the same time only one half, the other half are held in reserve and they have nothing to do all day but keep under cover so that the enemy’s aircraft cannot see them as if they did they would soon start and shell them so they have to work at night under cover of darkness and they have to bring the rations up to us in the trenches and anything we need up there like timber and sandbags and that’s the most dangerous part to do as most of the shots come over the top of the barricade and the men who are bringing the rations up are in danger all the while they are on the job as when you are once in the trenches you are safe as being at home as long as you do not keep your head up long as they are good shots and if you keep the periscope up many seconds you soon have a bullet through it.  I expect you know what a periscope is without me telling you but it is made of two mirrors placed in a long tin box one at the top and one at the bottom and it is a very good thing as you do not have to put your head above the sand bags.  Well you must not take notice of the date as I shall not be able to give it in till Tuesday as we do not get relieved till Monday night and then the Officer as to read it to see that we have not put anything in that the Censor would not pass but we are allowed a special envelope once a week so that we can put in any private matter about your family or sweetheart but you must not put the names of any place and I think that is very good of them.  As I am writing this the order as come down now that we can give our letters in tonight so you will get in a bit sooner than I thought and it will be very nice for us two as we have plenty of time to write while we are here.  We are getting plenty of good food out and the only thing we go a bit short of is bread but very often we have a loave a day each man so we have to save from that day for when we go short as taking it on or the whole it his no lie in saying that we are the best fed army in the world.  Well I shall soon have to come to a close as it is getting tea time with us but I think if I had been at home I should just about getting ready for Church but now times have altered and while you are at Church I shall be standing too but I shall be thinking of you at the same time we have to stand to as soon as it begins to get dark and then at dawn at those our the time when they generally attack so we always get prepared for them in case they do but they have not done so yet but if they do they will find us ready for them.  Well I will now bring my letter to a close but as you will not know who I am please ask Ablert Roulstone and he will tell you as I used to come to Church with him so this ends my first letter to you hoping it will not be the last so will now close.

I remain

Your friend

W.H. Cooke

In envelope addressed to The Rev T.W. Walters, The Vicarage, Leicester Road, Whitwick, Leicestershire.  England.

Letter postmarked FIELD POST OFFICE IM 28 AP 15

PASSED BY CENSOR 405 triangular cachet in red.

Letter to Rev Walters from W Cooke

Pte W Cooke 2559

15 Platoon D Com

5th Battn

Leic Regt

B.E.F.

France.

Sun Apr 25/4/15

Rev T.W. Walters,

Dear Sir,

            I now take great pleasure in writing these few lines to you as I am one of your Church Lads and am now in the trenches somewhere in France but I am not allowed to say where.  I hope these few lines of mine you and you and your Family in the best of health as it leaves me the same.  I should be very much pleased if you would kindly send me one of our Parish Magazines as I should like one very much to see how the folks at good old Whitwick are going on.  I am writing this letter in one of the dugouts just behind the firing line as we take it in turns to be in the firing line and when you have been in two days and two night you are relieved and go down in support trench were you can have a sleep at night as you cannot get much rest in the firing line.  I expect this letter will come as a surprise to you as you had hardly been in our midst long enough when I came away to get acquainted with all your parishioners but am hoping to be so when I get back home once moiré which I have hope will not be long.  It is somethink awful to see the ruined homes round where we are and there is a village about half a mile from where I am at present that as not got a whole house in the place even down to the Church that makes the third one that I have seen in ruins since I have been out here.  There is one feature of this country that is very noticeable that at every cross road the is either a shrine or a Crucifix placed there and in niches of the houses you statues of the Virgin Mary and some of these shrines are very nice ones as well.  This makes my fourth time of being in the trenches as we go in for four days and then we go out to some rest hut for four days but we have had two fine days in as we could not get relieved on the nights when our time was up so that makes us fourteen days in and to what we have heard we where have a month of it in relief 10 days in and 16 days out so we have nearly done ours and then we were to be relieved by another lot and go away from the trenches for a while but I cannot say much about that as we have to wait and see and the men get so many tales about.  Our firing line is about 100 yards from that of the Germans but those of a regiment on our left are only 40 yards away so they are near enough.  We do not have the whole lot of 100 in the trenches at the same time only one half, the other half are held in reserve and they have nothing to do all day but keep under cover so that the enemy’s aircraft cannot see them as if they did they would soon start and shell them so they have to work at night under cover of darkness and they have to bring the rations up to us in the trenches and anything we need up there like timber and sandbags and that’s the most dangerous part to do as most of the shots come over the top of the barricade and the men who are bringing the rations up are in danger all the while they are on the job as when you are once in the trenches you are safe as being at home as long as you do not keep your head up long as they are good shots and if you keep the periscope up many seconds you soon have a bullet through it.  I expect you know what a periscope is without me telling you but it is made of two mirrors placed in a long tin box one at the top and one at the bottom and it is a very good thing as you do not have to put your head above the sand bags.  Well you must not take notice of the date as I shall not be able to give it in till Tuesday as we do not get relieved till Monday night and then the Officer as to read it to see that we have not put anything in that the Censor would not pass but we are allowed a special envelope once a week so that we can put in any private matter about your family or sweetheart but you must not put the names of any place and I think that is very good of them.  As I am writing this the order as come down now that we can give our letters in tonight so you will get in a bit sooner than I thought and it will be very nice for us two as we have plenty of time to write while we are here.  We are getting plenty of good food out and the only thing we go a bit short of is bread but very often we have a loave a day each man so we have to save from that day for when we go short as taking it on or the whole it his no lie in saying that we are the best fed army in the world.  Well I shall soon have to come to a close as it is getting tea time with us but I think if I had been at home I should just about getting ready for Church but now times have altered and while you are at Church I shall be standing too but I shall be thinking of you at the same time we have to stand to as soon as it begins to get dark and then at dawn at those our the time when they generally attack so we always get prepared for them in case they do but they have not done so yet but if they do they will find us ready for them.  Well I will now bring my letter to a close but as you will not know who I am please ask Ablert Roulstone and he will tell you as I used to come to Church with him so this ends my first letter to you hoping it will not be the last so will now close.

I remain

Your friend

W.H. Cooke

In envelope addressed to The Rev T.W. Walters, The Vicarage, Leicester Road, Whitwick, Leicestershire.  England.

Letter postmarked FIELD POST OFFICE IM 28 AP 15

PASSED BY CENSOR 405 triangular cachet in red.

Letter to Rev Walters from H Burkitt

Leicestershire Yeomanry

British Expeditionary Force

France

Ap 1st 1915

Dear Vicar,

            Thank you ever so much for yr kind note & ****** Easter card which I think is v beautiful also for your kind wishes.  We are still in the same billets but working v hard as now that the ground is drying we are expecting to have to move to the front at any moment & I am afraid the Cavalry will have a v warm time if ever the German line is broken.  I am afraid it will be a long time before I get leave again as all leave has been stopped since the 28 of Feb.  The weather here is dry with cold East winds & frost at night.

With the dearest regards to Mrs Walters self & kiddies.

V sincerely yrs

Holley Burkitt

In envelope addressed to Rev T.W. Walters, The Vicarage, Whitwick, Leicester, England.

Letter postmarked FIELD POST OFFICE C 7.  2 AP 15

PASSED BY CENSOR No 1733 square cachet in red.

Letter to Rev Walters from F.W. Ducker

April 1st

Thursday

Dear Sir,

            Thanks for your card I received it with great pleasure I guess you have heard that our Batt has been in the trenches But we are now away from the firing line for further instruction in holding our own and some have been inoculated.  The next time you hear from me we shall have had some more of it.  They shelled us out of our barn which we had slept the night hitting it and making the tiles rattle.  I knew it was Holy Thursday today because the French people went to mass quite early this morning.  We had a good experience for the first time shells bursting all about us all day.  I should like you to see the ruins out here I have seen a church blown down.  All that remained standing was the crucifix.  I don’t know if there are many lads left who ought to at Whitwick.  The other night as I was doing my turn at the telephone I heard to shells pass over the Billets where we are now I don’t get on very well in speaking French.  You help the country one way and I am out here for another I hope you still have your class as usual.  Our Capt makes a good Vicar.  You can see them shelling the aeroplanes in the air.  I am sending you a piece of palm I had given to me.  I think this is all this time.

From One Your Boys

Signaller F.W. Ducker.

There is no envelope with this letter.

There is a Field Service Post Card postmarked FIELD POST OFFICE 138 27 JY 15 on which was said I am quite well. I have received your &c.  Letter follows at first opportunity.  I have received no letter from you for a long time.  Signed F.W. Ducker 27.7.15

INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING LAYERS AND LAYING TESTS

FOR

HORSE, FIELD, HEAVY AND MOUNTAIN ARTILLERY.

  1. In every battery of horse, field, heavy, and mountain artillery, there should be at least three qualified layers per sub-section, exclusive of sergeants and corporals.  A list of these layers will be kept by the Battery Commander.  All qualified layers, and also all sergeants and corporals, should be tested periodically.
  2. All section commanders and Nos. 1 must be thoroughly conversant with: –
  3. The tests for sighting gear and sights;
  4. The method of obtaining a line of fire parallel to that of a named gun;
  5. The care of the telescope and dial sight.
  6. Layers will be tested by means of two tests, “A” and “B”.  Test “A” will consist of four lays “direct”; Test “B” of three lays “indirect”.  An example of the two tests is given in Appendix I.
  7. A maximum of 10 marks will be given for each lay.  In order to qualify, a layer must obtain a total of 56 marks for seven lays.
  8. Each layer should be tested with his own No 1.  If for any reason the No 1 is not available, his place will be taken by the non-commissioned officer of the same sub-section who would normally replace the casualty.
  9. The order in which the tests are laid down below is not to be adhered to rigidly, but should be changed when each new layer takes his place at the gun.  The layer to be tested should be given no indication as to what sight or method of laying is to be used until he takes his place at the gun and receives the actual order.
  10. The examiner should be assisted by an officer or senior non-commissioned officer with a stop watch and record book, and by a penciller who will take down all orders given, for reference when checking the lay.
  11.  Before beginning the tests at least five targets will be selected in the foreground at varying ranges and angles of sight, and covering a front of about 25 degrees.  Except in the case of gun targets these should as far as possible be natural features of the ground.  If it be necessary to utilise dummies, they should be placed in positions such as the troops which they represent would naturally occupy on service.  A reference point, approximately in the centre of the target zone, will be pointed out to the No. 1 and to the layer.  Throughout the tests targets will be pointed out with reference to this point by means of the clock code.
  12. When laying direct on any target (other than a gun target) which extends over a fairly wide frontage, great exactitude in direction will not be required as regards the point originally selected to lay upon, which may be anywhere in that portion of the target opposite to the gun being laid.  Any subsequent lays on the same target must, however, be on the same point as the first.
  13. When the layer has taken his place at the gun, the caution “Represent No…. gun in action” will be given, followed when necessary by the caution “Open sight,” “Telescope sight,” or “Direct laying, Dial sight.”  The orders for the lay must then be given out by the examiner clearly and distinctly, a short pause being made after each separate order, thus: – “Aiming point, Church spire, 20o right” – pause – “Concentrate 20’ on No. 1,” – pause – “Angle of sight 1o 20’ elevation,” – pause – “4,200.”   All orders will be acknowledged by the No. 1 as laid down in Field Artillery Training.  Should the layer at any time be in doubt as to a particular order he will refer to the No. 1 who may repeat to him any part of the orders received.
  14. After checking a lay the examiner will elevate the gun about 15 minutes in order to represent the movement of the gun after firing.
  15. In the case of a switch the brake must be taken off and put on again using the quick release lever (if provided).
  16. In equipments which require two men to manipulate the gears, layers will be examined in pairs and for any incorrect part of a lay marks will be deducted only from the individual making the error.
  17. The times allowed for each lay with the various equipments are given in Appendix II.  The layer will call out “Ready” as soon as he has finished laying the gun.  The time will be taken from the commencement of the orders for the lay until the word “Ready” from the layer.
  18. One mark will be deducted:-
  19. For every five seconds or fraction of five seconds beyond the time laid down in Appendix II for the particular lay;
  20. If the traversing gear is not within thirty minutes of zero (in cases where this applies);
  21. For each mistake in the manipulation of the sighting gear or in the drill of the layer as laid down in the “Section Gun Drill.”
  22. No marks will be given for the lay:-
  23. If the sight is incorrectly set;
  24. If the gun is not correctly laid for elevation and within five minutes for direction;
  25. If the clinometer bubble * is not in the centre of its run;!
  26. If, by pressing on the breech of the gun, it is found that the last motion of the elevating gear has not been one of depression;
  27. If the bubble of the cross level is not wholly visible in its run (except when laying with sights which are nor reciprocating). #

*  The bubble of the longitudinal level in the case of 15-pr. Q.F. and 15-pr. B.L.C.

!  The bubble of the sight clinometer (or longitudinal level in the case of the 15-pr. Q.F. or 15-pr. B.L.C. gun) will be levelled as soon as the gun is laid:-

  • When laying direct in the case of:-

15-pr. Q.F. gun,

15-pr. B.L.C. gun,

13-pr. Q.F.gun,

18-pr. Q.F. gun,

2.75-inch B.L. gun.

  • When laying direct with the dial sight, but not with the open sight, in the case of:-

4.5-inch Q.F. howitzer.

  • When laying direct with the dial sight or by the telescope, but not with the open sight, in the case of:-

60-pr. B.L. gun

            It is never to be done in the case of:-

            4.7-inch Q.F. gun,

2.95-inch B.L. gun,

10-pr. B.L. gun,

5-inch B.L. howitzer.

Reciprocating sights correct automatically for difference in level of wheels.

APPENDIX I

EXAMPLE OF TESTS

TEST A. DIRECT

Examples of Cautions and Orders                                                Lays.

                        Cautions.

“Represent No. … gun in action”              1 The sights are set as ordered, and the target is picked up by the layer, assisted by

“Open sight”                                                  the No. 1 at the traversing lever.  The pointer of the traversing gear should not be more than 30’ from zero when the lay is completed.

                     Orders

“Infantry lining hedgerows”                        The bubble of the clinometer or longitudinal

“4 o’clock, 3o to 5o”                                      level must be levelled after the gun is laid and before reporting “Ready.”  With heavy

(Elevation) “……”                                         guns No. 1 directs the gun to be traversed by handspikes or by dragropes.

As soon as the lay has been checked by the examiner, he should set the deflection

scale to some graduation and note the reading.  In the next lay the layer must set

sight “more right” or “more left” from this graduation.

                   Orders.

“1o 15” more left.”                                         2. The sight is re-set as ordered and the gun relaid on the same part of the target as

(Elevation) “…..”                                           in 1, the clinometer bubble being again levelled if necessary.  The traversing gear is to be used if provided.

            Cautions

“Telescope Sight,”                                       3. The target is to be picked up, laid on, &c.

           or                                                        as in 1, but the opposite gun must be laid

“Direct laying, Dial Sight.”                           on.  The bubble of the clinometer must be levelled as in 1.

Orders

“6-gun battery”

“8 o’clock 4o”

(Elevation)  “………”                                   

4. The laying is tp be carried out on the

 “2o 20” more left”                                         same principle as in 2.

(Elevation)  “……….”

TEST B.  INDIRECT.

An aiming point is pointed out to the No. 1 and an aiming post number is to stand

ready at the gun with the aiming posts.

Examples of Cautions and Orders                                                Lays.

             Orders

  1. The line of fire is laid out as laid down in

 “Aiming point …..”                                       “Section Gun Drill.”  The gun is laid for elevation.

“Lines of fire 20o right.”                                The pointer of the traversing gear (if provided) is not to be more than 30’ from

“Angle of sight 1o 30’ elevation.2              zero when lay is completed.

(Elevation) “…..”                                           The signal for the aiming post number to come in should be given by No. 1 on the layer reporting that the posts are correctly planted.

              Orders

“All guns 10o more right”                             2. The sight is re-set as ordered and the

“Raise angle of sight 20’”                            gun re-laid on the aiming posts by moving

(Elevation)  “……”                                        the trail.  The pointer of the traversing gear should not be more than 30’ from zero.

              Cautions.

“Represent No. …. Gun in action2           3. The dial; sight is set as ordered and the gun laid as in “Section Gun Drill.”  The layer

              Orders.                                           will then pick up a suitable auxiliary aiming

“Aiming point …….”                                     point to lay on for subsequent rounds.

“50o right”

“Concentrate (or distribute) 20’ on

(or from) ……..

“Angle of sight 1o elevation.”

(Elevation) “……. “

APPENDIX II

TIMES.

Nature of gun.Test “A” LayTest “B” Lay
1.2.3.4.1.2.3.
13-pr. Q.F. 18-pr. Q.F. 4.5-inch Q.F. How. 15-pr. Q.F. 15-pr. B.L.C. 5-inch B.L. How. 60-pr. B.L. 4.7-inch Q.F. 10-pr. B.L. 2.75-inch B.L. 2.95- inch Q.F.35” 35” 35” 35” 35” 35” 45” 50” 25” 30” 25”25” 25” 30” 30” 30” 30” 25” 35” 20” 25” 20”35” 35” 35” 35” 35” 35” 45” 50” 35” 30” 25”25” 25” 30” 30” 30” 30” 25” 35” 20” 25” 20”1’ 20” 1’ 20” 1’ 30” 1’ 30” 1’ 30” 1’ 30” 1’ 20” 1’ 40” 1’ 30” 1’ 20” 1’ 30”35” 35” 45” 45” 45” 45” 1’ 10” 1’ 40” 45” 35” 45”35” 35” 45” 45” 45” 45” 1’ 10” 1’ 40” 45” 35” 45”

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.