Letter to Rev Walters from A Fellows

On YMCA headed notepaper.

No 20141 B Company 10th Leicester Regt

Deerbolt Camp

Barnard Castle

 5 July 15

Dear Sir,

            I have now been away from home over a week and thought I should like to write a line or two to you.  I have had a rough time of it my arm has pained me through vaccination, but I hope soon to be alright again.

Our camp is situated in a very nice part quite near the ruins of Barnard Castle, the town is a very quiet old place, being only a small market town.  The life here is very different to home life, one has to mix with all kinds of fellows, but I am alright, we get plenty of good food, and exercise, and apart from this vaccination I am keeping well.

I shall be glad to have a letter from you anytime, as I often think of home and it is nice to receive news.

With kind regards

I remain

Yours truly

Pte A. Fellows

There is no envelope with this letter.

Letter to Rev Walters from J James 2 July 15.

Dear Sir,

            Just a few lines hoping you got my last letter I sent about a fortnight.  I received the Book safe as you sent & thank you very much for it.  I write a line or two hoping you in the best of health as it leaves me at present.  What sort of Wheather are you having over their very Warm I suppose.  We are having some lovely weather at present.  We have not had a drop of rain as a Week or so it as been Warm three or four days the rest it as **** cold.  We can’t Grumble at the Weather out hear.  We have a Church Service twice a week they are very good services as Well.  I went to the Y.M.C.A.  We had a Church Service on Sunday.  I should like to hear the Whitwick Church Bells ring once more their in non out hear like them.  I hope We shall all meet again those from Whitwick once more  all been Well & Good.  I hope the War will soon be over and I may have a safe Return home. I must close my letter with love from myself to all.

I remain your friend

Sincerely J.J.

This is the way how to put my address

1862.  5th Leics Dr. J. James Transport Section.  Lincs & Leics Brigade, Britt Expd Force.

In envelope addressed to Rev T.W. Walters, Vicarage House, Leicester Rd, Whitwick, Leicestershire.  England.

Letter postmarked FIELD POST OFFICE 138  2 JU 15

PASSED BY CENSOR 405 in triangular cachet in red.

Letter to Rev Walters from A Sparks

Newcastle on Tyne

Dear Sir

            Just a line to keep my promise trusting that it will find you quite well as I am sorry to say that I am attending hospital at present.  It is a fine big place here and I do not know how many thousands of Soldiers are here in and around Newcastle.  I like the work all right but we have to march so far to where we keep the horses backwards & forwards to our meals as we have them at a restaurant they are talking of shifting us to Notts I hope they will and then I could get to Whitwick very often Dear Sir I hope that I shall be able to send you my photo next time will write you more next time as I am going to Hospital.  Please to give my best Respects to your beloved Wife and family and accept the same yourself.

I am Dear Sir

Yours respectfully

A Sparks

Private A. Sparks

111627

55 Squadron

A.S.C.

Handyside Buildings

Percy Street

Newcastle-on-Tyne.

There is no envelope with this letter.

Letter to Rev Walters from A. W. Hanson

Orderly Room

11th

(July 15)

Revd T.W. Walters

Revd Sir,

            Thank you very much indeed for your nice letter of the 6th received about 3 o’clock today.

            Yes I think I have seen enough out her to fill a little book, but I am afraid it would be a very queer one.

            I have now passed my first test of trench life, of course I was not in the Fire Line, altho I spent some time in it during the early hours of two mornings.  The Sergt Major and myself had a little dug-out just behind, in which we did our office work, and also slept.

We had a very warm time and I was not sorry to get out.  The last morning in, a shell fell a very few yards from me, happily in a bog and so buried itself much more than if it had dropped on hard ground, but I was nicely covered with mud.

They are awful things, and we had a good number burst all round us.

I must thank you very much for your prayers, they are very helpful and also encouraging, constantly my thought are with you at the Sunday Services and week night meetings, and I can picture everyone, and also when I hear of the different members joining the Country’s call, I can see the empty spaces.

How I long to be at Sunday Service again.  It is very awkward for me to get to our service and there again it is not advisable to hold a large service and so they are held in small groups.

I heard from Lt. A.T. Sharpe and also my father what a nice Memorial Service you had the other week.

I read all Sidney Burton’s letters in the paper, I had met him once at Whitwick.

I think it would be nice to have a Tablet in church for Ernest Tugby, and I should like to suggest that should any more members have the misfortune to be killed, that they have one also.

I heard from home that you have had two very good thunderstorms.

You must be mistaken in the member of the choir you saw at Hugglescote Church.  I have no brother, only one sister.

We have many varieties of weather, some days hot, others cold and showers, but it is always very cold at night.

I get very little rest, there is such a large amount of work – always to be done.

I am afraid this lot will be a very long time before it ends by the look of things out here.

Must now close because I have several letters etc waiting to be attended to.

Kindly remember me to all our members and accept my very best wishes for yourself and family

Yrs obediently

Albert Will.

In a green envelope addressed to Revd T.W. Walters, The Vicarage, Whitwick, Nr Leicester, Angleterre

Letter postmarked FIELD POST OFFICE 138 11 JY 15.

There is no censor mark on this letter.

Diary of 2/4th Battalion The Border Regiment

1915

5th July 1915.  Inspection of the Battalion by Brigadier-General Cowper, G.O.C. Poona Divisional Area.

15th July 1915.  Lieut. E.P. Hardy and the Machine Gun Section proceeded to Satara.

16th July 1915.  One officer and 26 other ranks proceeded from Kirkee to Bombay as escort to ammunition train.

19th July 1915.  One officer and 26 other ranks proceeded from Kirkee to Bombay as escort to ammunition train.

31st July 1915.  “A” and “C” Companies, under the command of Captain J.E.C. Graham, returned to Headquarters.  The Detachment suffered very severely from malaria fever whilst stationed at Kirkee.

Tyneside Scottish Brigade Orders.

BRIGADE ORDERS.

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

COMMANDING 102nd (TYNESIDE SCOTTISH) BRIGADE.

HEADQUARTERS, ALNWICK,

31st JULY, 1915.

579 District Court-Martial

            The District Court-Martial directed to assemble in Brigade Order No. 550 of 25th July, 1915, of which Major E.K. Purnell. 23rd (S.) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers (4th Tyneside Scottish), was President, is hereby dissolved.

580 District Court-Martial

            The detail of Officers as mentioned below will assemble at the Court-Martial Room, The Havens, North Demesne, Alnwick, on  the 3rd August, 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 A.G. Niven, 21st (S.) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers (2nd Tyneside Scottish.)

MEMBERS

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

A Captain, 21st (S.) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers (2nd Tyneside Scottish.)

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

The proceedings will be forwarded to the G.O.C., 102nd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade, “Alnbank,” Alnwick.

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

In the margin.  No. 21/609 Private. W. Wright, 21st (S.) Battalion, Northd. Fus. (2nd Tyneside Scottish); No./ 22/518 Pte. W. Brown 22nd (S) Bn. Northd Fus (3rd Tyneside Scottish);  No. 22/1568 Pte. A. Smith, 22nd (S.) Btn. Northd. Fus. (3rd Tyneside Scottish) .

581Recruiting Meetings Details of

            In addition to the Recruiting Meeting detailed in Brigade Order No. 576 of 30th July, 1915, the following meetings will also be held.

Pipe Bands will be detailed to attend these meetings.

Officers Commanding Units to which the Bands so detailed belong will send an Officer and two Recruiting Sergeants to accompany the Band.

Place                 Date.  Time of Meeting.                           Band.

Rothbury .                August 1st     7-30 p.m. 20th (S.) Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers (1st Tyneside Scottish).

Morpeth.                    August 4th    7-30 p.m. 23rd (S.) Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers (4th Tyneside Scottish).

582Musketry Scoring Books

            With reference to Brigade Order No. 573 of 29th inst., it is found that by obtaining these scoring books by the thousand a very considerable reduction in price is obtainable.  Officers Commanding Units will be good enough to report to Brigade Headquarters the number of copies required, when an order to cover the whole will be given to Messrs McQueen and Co.  The price per 1,000 is £5, carriage paid to nearest station.  They should be sold at 1¼d. each and the difference in price credited to the Regimental Institute Funds.

583Battalion Mess in Camp

            In view of the approaching move of the Battalions to Musketry Camps at Hornsea and Whitburn, Officers Commanding Units will take steps to ensure that the correct procedure as regards the serving of meals in Camp, as laid down in circular issued with Army Book 48 A to all Units yesterday, is carried out.

The Brigade Commander wishes Commanding Officers to give their personal attention to this question.

584 Extracts from Northern Command Orders

DISCHARGES –

            No discharges from the Regular Army or Territorial Force under King’s Regulations, Paragraph 392, iii (C.), or on medical grounds will, for the present, be carried out in the United Kingdom without War Office sanction.  Nominal Rolls of all men whose discharge is recommended by General Officers Commanding or Medical Officers will be submitted weekly to the War Office, on Wednesday, by General Officers Commanding Brigades or Garrisons, and Commanders acting in a similar capacity.  The Rolls should state the man’s number, name, Unit, date and place of attestation, age on enlistment, paragraph and sub-paragraph of King’s Regulations under which discharge is proposed, and brief particulars of the medical or other cause of discharge.  Rolls dealing with Medical Cases, which should only be those of men unfit for Home Service, will be kept separate from those dealing with other discharges, and will be accompanied by the reports of Medical Boards, A.F. B. 179, when these have been held, or by A.F. B. 204 in other cases.  In the case of Cavalry, Artillery and Infantry of the Regular Army, applications for discharge under sub-paragraph iii (C.), of paragraph 392, King’s Regulations, will only be put forward by Officers Commanding Depots and “Rejoining Units”, to which men whose discharge is thought desirable under this sub-paragraph, must be posted as directed in War Office letter 19/General Number/5267 (A.G. 1), dated 19th June, 1915.  An exception to this course will, however, be permitted in the case of men of the New Armies, including the Fourth New Army, whose discharge is recommended under King’s Regulations, paragraph 392 iii. (C.), on the ground that they are medically unfit both for Foreign and Home Service.  Applications for the discharge of these men maybe put forward from the New Army Unit in which they are serving.  Officers in Charge of Records will bring to notice any discharges carried out in contravention of these orders.

Authority, War Office telegram, No. 4164 (A.G. 2 B.), dated 26th July, 1915 (19/General Number/5431).

C.R.N.C. No. 66037 (A.I.).  Northern Command Order No.1401.

“LONDON GAZETTE” –

The following extract from the “London Gazette” of Tuesday, 27th July, 1915, is published for information:-

Alexandra, Princess of Wales’s Own (Yorkshire Regiment)

(Tees-side Pioneers). – The undermentioned to be temporary Second Lieutenants:-

Cecil Howard MacNay.  Dated 28th June, 1915.

Charles Philip Miller.  Dated 3rd July, 1915.

            Northern Command Order No.1408.

VEHICLES –

All vehicles in possession of Units will be marked in accordance with paragraph 445. and Appendix XX., Equipment Regulations, Part I., 1912.

C.R.N.C. No 74639 (O.S.) Northern Command Order 1409.

MEMORANDUM ON MESSING OF TROOPS AND AVOIDANCE OF WASTE –

            Attention is called to the above Memorandum which is issued with these Orders.

All future cases brought to notice of mismanagement in the case of Units that have had reasonable time to evolve a proper system of interior economy will be regarded as reflecting on the administrative abilities of the regimental authorities concerned.        

Authority, War Office letter 53/General Number/357 (C.I.Q.M.G.S.), dated 23rd July, 1915.

C.R.N.C. No. 73605 (I.Q.S.).  Northern Command Order No.1410.

585Command OrdersAttention called to

            The attention of Officers Commanding Units is called to Northern Command Orders 1411 and 1413 of 30th July, 1915.

T.L.B. SOUTRY, Captain,

Brigade-Major, 102nd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade.

Tyneside Scottish Brigade Orders.

BRIGADE ORDERS.

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

COMMANDING 102nd (TYNESIDE SCOTTISH) BRIGADE.

HEADQUARTERS, ALNWICK,

30th JULY, 1915.

576 Recruiting Meetings Details of

            Recruiting Meetings will be held as stated below.  Pipe Bands will be detailed to attend these meetings.  Captain H.B. Goater, Grouped Depot Companies, and 2 Recruiting Sergeants will accompany the Band.

Place                 Date.  Time of Meeting.                           Band.

Newton-by-the-Sea.  August 3rd   7-30 p.m. 23rd (S.) Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers (4th Tyneside Scottish).

Alnwick.                     August 4th    7-45 p.m. 22nd (S.) Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers (3rd Tyneside Scottish).

Eglingham.                 August 5th   7-45 p.m. 20th (S.) Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers (1st Tyneside Scottish).

Felton.                        August 6th   7-45 p.m. 23rd (S.) Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers (4th Tyneside Scottish).

Shilbottle.                    August 7th    7-45 p.m. 22nd (S.) Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers (3rd Tyneside Scottish).

577 Command OrdersAttention called to

            The attention of Officers Commanding Units is called to Northern Command Orders 1395, 1398, and 1404 of 29th July, 1915.

578 Extracts from Divisional Orders

PASSES –

            A large number of the troops proceeding on pass have the counterfoils of their passes which should have been left with their respective units.

            A large number of passes are not stamped with the Orderly Room Stamp.

In future all passes must be stamped by the Orderly Room and have their counterfoils detached before they are handed to the men.

            Divisional Order No.40. of July, 1915.

T.L.B. SOUTRY, Captain,

Brigade-Major, 102nd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade.

Tyneside Scottish Brigade Orders.

BRIGADE ORDERS.

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

COMMANDING 102nd (TYNESIDE SCOTTISH) BRIGADE.

HEADQUARTERS, ALNWICK,

28th JULY, 1915.

566 District Court-Martial

            The detail of Officers as mentioned below will assemble at the Court-Martial Room, the Haven, North Demesne, Alnwick, on Friday, 30th July, 1915, at 10 a.m. for the purpose of trying by District Court-Martial the accused person named in the margin:-

PRESIDENT

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

MEMBERS

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

A Captain, 21st (S.) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers (2nd Tyneside Scottish.)

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

The proceedings will be forwarded to the G.O.C., 102nd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade, “Alnbank” Alnwick.

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

In the margin.  No. 23/1522 Pte. W.H.A. Nicholson, 23rd (S.) Btn, Northd. Fus. (4th Tyneside Scottish).

567Divisional Cyclist Company

            Officers Commanding Units will arrange that the Officer, Non-commissioned Officers and men selected for service with the Divisional Cyclist Company shall be amongst the first to fire their musketry course, in order that after the completion of their course they will be available to join the Divisional Cyclist Company at short notice.

568 Extracts from Northern Command Orders

CLOTHING – SOLDIERS PENDING DISCHARGE –

            Reference to paragraph 7, of Army Order 94, of 1915, cases have occurred of men being sent, pending discharge, on furlough or to nursing institutions, and remaining in possession of their uniform clothing.

The Army Order above quoted applies equally to such cases, and that under no circumstances should such soldiers be permitted to remain in possession of uniform clothing.

Authority, War Office letter A.C.D./Northern/115 (Q.M.G. 7), dated 21st July, 1915.

C.R.N.C. No. 73361 (O.S.).  Northern Command Order No.1381.

569Command OrdersAttention called to

            The attention of Officers Commanding Units is called to Northern Command Order No. 1382 of 27th July 1915.

T.L.B. SOUTRY, Captain,

Brigade-Major, 102nd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade.

Tyneside Scottish Brigade Orders.

BRIGADE ORDERS.

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

COMMANDING 102nd (TYNESIDE SCOTTISH) BRIGADE.

HEADQUARTERS, ALNWICK,

27th JULY, 1915.

557 District Court-Martial

            The detail of Officers as mentioned in Brigade Order No. 550 of 25th July, 1915, will re-assemble at the Court- Martial Room, The Havens, North Demesne, Alnwick, on Thursday, 29th July, 1915, at 10 a.m., for the purpose of trying by District Court-Martial the accused persons named in the margin:-

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

The proceedings will be forwarded to the G.O.C., 102nd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade, “Alnbank” Alnwick.

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

In the margin.  No. 1576 Pte. George Appleton, 21st (S.) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers (2nd Tyneside Scottish) and 1585 Pte. Thomas Ramsey Tait, 22nd (S.) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers (3rd Tyneside Scottish. 

558Electric Plant – Personnel

            With reference to Brigade Order No. 536, dated 22nd July, 1915, the “Home Service” men therein referred to will not “rejoin” the Depot Company of their former Battalion, but will be attached only as laid down in Brigade Order No. 541, dated 23rd July, 1915.

559 Army Form B 230 Amended Rendering of

            The attention of Officers Commanding Units is called to Divisional Circular dated 25th July, 1915, concerning Army Form B 230.

Officers Commanding Units will forward to Brigade Headquarters any recommendations that they may wish to put forward regarding the employment of Home Service men in lieu of Foreign Service men now on regimental employ.

560Absence Without Leave

TO BE READ TO ALL UNITS ON PARADE.

            The Brigade Commander regrets to notice that a certain small number of men are still shewn in each Battalion as “absent without leave.”

            Officers Commanding Units will personally explain to their Battalion on parade that in view of the urgent need for pressing on the training of the Brigade as quickly as possible in order to allow of its proceeding to the Front at an early date in a thoroughly efficient condition, every day’s training is of great value and any loss of training time due to absence without leave is a very serious matter.  A man who at this time absents himself from his Battalion is not only wasting the opportunities now afforded to him for learning the work which he will have to carry out shortly in the face of the enemy, but is damaging the reputation and efficiency of his Battalion and casting a slur on the Brigade as a whole, and will be dealt with accordingly.

The Brigade Commander trusts that it will not be necessary to again refer to this question.

561 Extracts from Northern Command Orders

RATIONS – ISSUE OF –

            Owing to the danger of Meat going bad during hot weather, double issues on Saturday for consumption on Sundays and Mondays must cease, and issues must be made either on Sundays, or early on Monday morning, as may be found most convenient.

            Any cases in which, owing to lack of Railway facilities, compliance with this order is impossible, should be referred by the Supply Officers concerned to Command Headquarters for instructions.

(S.T.)  Northern Command Order No.1374.

562Command OrderAttention called to

            The attention of Officers Commanding Units is called to Northern Command Order No. 1375 of 26th July, 1915.

563Divisional Orders Attention Called to

            The attention of Officers Commanding Units is called to Divisional Orders 26 and 27 of 26th July, 1915.

564Discharges – Return of

            With reference to Divisional Order No. 28 of 26th July, 1915, the return therein referred to will be forwarded to Brigade Headquarters on the 28th instant.

565Deserters – Return of

            With reference to Divisional Order No. 29 of 26th July, 1915, returns for the preceding week are to be forwarded to Brigade Headquarters on Wednesdays.

T.L.B. SOUTRY, Captain,

Brigade-Major, 102nd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade.

Tyneside Scottish Brigade Orders.

BRIGADE ORDERS.

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

COMMANDING 102nd (TYNESIDE SCOTTISH) BRIGADE.

HEADQUARTERS, ALNWICK,

25th JULY, 1915.

549 District Court-Martial

            The District Court-Martial directed to assemble in Brigade Order No. 526 of 19th July, 1915, of which Major P.B. Norris, 22nd (S.) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers (3rd Tyneside Scottish.) was President, is hereby dissolved.

550 District Dourt-Martial

            The detail of Officers as mentioned below will assemble at the Court-Martial Room, the Haven, North Demesne, Alnwick, on the 27th July, 1915, at 10 a.m., for the purpose of trying by a District Court-Martial the accused persons named in the margin:-

PRESIDENT

Major E.K. Purnell, 23rd (S.) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers (4th Tyneside Scottish).

MEMBERS

A Captain, 22nd (S.) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers 3rd Tyneside Scottish).

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

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

The proceedings will be forwarded to the G.O.C., 102nd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade, “Alnbank,” Alnwick.

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

In the margin.  No. 21/898 Pte. G.J. Wilkinson, 21st (S.) Batt, Northumberland Fusiliers (2nd Tyneside Scottish); No. 21/1153 Private. Jos. Wilkinson 21st (S) Batt, Northumberland Fusiliers (2nd Tyneside Scottish); No. 23/1522 Pte. William Nicholson 23rd S) Batn, Northd. Fus. (4th Tyneside Scottish); No. 20975, Pte. J.T. Rodden, 12th (S.) Battalion, Yorkshire Regt. (Tees-side Pioneers).

551Musketry

            The move of the Brigade to Ripon is cancelled.  Under present arrangements the Brigade will on 10th August commence firing Part 1 and 2 Musketry Course as follows:-

                                                At Hornsea                1,500 men at a time.

At Whitburn                 500 men at a time.

Detailed orders in this connection will be issued later.

552 Extracts from Northern Command Orders

“LONDON GAZETTE” –

The following extracts from the Second Supplement to the  “London Gazette” of Tuesday, the 20th July, 1915, are published for information:-

The Northumberland Fusiliers

20th Battalion (1st Tyneside Scottish). – Temporary Lieutenant Albert E. Kerr to be temporary Captain, and to be Adjutant, vice temporary Captain J.S. Miller.  Dated 30th June, 1915.

553 Command OrdersAttention called to

            The attention of Officers Commanding Units is directed to Northern Command Orders 1351 and 1354 of 24th July, 1915.

554Candidates for CommissionsExamination of

            The attention of Medical Officers is directed to Northern Command Order 1356 of 24th July, 1915.

555Extracts from Divisional Orders

RETURN –

            All Units in the Division will send to Divisional Headquarters not later than 1st August, 1915, a nominal roll of all the Jewish soldiers under their command.

Divisional Order No. 23.  24/7/1915

556SoldiersJewish PersuasionNominal Roll

            With reference to Divisional Order No. 23 of 24th July, 1915, Officers Commanding Units will forward nominal rolls to these Headquarters, without delay.

T.L.B. SOUTRY, Captain,

Brigade-Major, 102nd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade.