Category Archives: 1915

War Diary of AA Laporte Payne June 1915

War Diary of AA Laporte Payne

 

Extracted from

 

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

—————–

 

1915

 

 

June 13, 1915.

 

83rd Brigade

Heytesbury House

 

“I am unable to get away this week end. It has been truly glorious weather, much too hot for work.  We had two field days last week .  This week we are doing night digging.

I motored over to Bath one evening early last week and went with some friends to hear the band of the 1st Life Guards.  We got back about one in the morning.  The roads here are full of vehicles of every description ever invented since the Flood, from the donkey cart to the large steam lorry.  Even the railway has been carried along the Codford Road.  Hundreds of led horses, wagons of forage, stores, cause a vast confusion, and a solid block of sweating horses and men.  Everywhere and above all is thick dust, turning the troops white.

 

I have just managed to get a beautiful little mare. She looks well, and is full of life.  I have entered her for the Divisional Horse show to be held soon as a final social function.  The Howitzer Brigade are firing this afternoon about eight miles away, and most of the officers have gone over there.

 

I had to go to Church Parade this morning in the tin tabernacle. A most awful little parson preached.  He wore his wife’s fur stole round his neck.  It may have been white once.  Last Sunday afternoon I went to the Cathedral Service at Salisbury, and then had tea with some friends.  Field Days.  Colonel’s galloper.

 

June 22 1915.

 

“I had a most amazing journey last night. I caught the 9.50, from Paddington, and could not get further than Swindon, even with the help of a goods train.  There I got a room at the local Railway Hotel, until 4.30, this morning, and then travelled by the early morning train to Heytesbury, arriving at 8.10 A.M.  Today I have been Brigade Orderly Officer, and had the cleanliness of the camp to see to, and other similar duties, among them the inspection of prisoners in the cells.  One is a trifle mad, and threatens to murder any one who goes near him.  Tonight we are out picketing.  Tomorrow there is an inspection by the General in preparation for Thursday, for rumour has it that the King and Kitchener are going to review us on that day.  But I always doubt rumour.  There is little news in the Times today, bar the War Loan.

 

Heytesbury Hole is just the same, 1only whiter with age and dust. The 17th Division are just arriving, so more dust.

The Colonel had been away fishing and is in a good mood.

 

June 23 1915.

R.P.

I thoroughly enjoyed my week end at home. I had a long journey back via Swindon, where I spent the four midnight hours in the local Railway Hotel, and arrived at Heytesbury at 8 a.m. the next morning.

 

Tomorrow the King and Kitchener review us at Stonehenge, about fourteen miles from here.  The whole Division will turn out.  I am acting as Colonel’s Orderly Officer, so the Adjutant and I go by the saluting point together.  I hope my mare does not run away with me.  Tomorrow stables are at 4 a.m., and we start on our journey at 6.30 am.  We shall be dusty when get there, unless it rains which it is trying to do now.  The weather is on the change.  The dust has been somewhat trying lately, covering everything with a white deposit.  The day has been spent getting ready for tomorrow.  Yesterday we spent the night, “picketing out” on the Plain.

 

The Divisional Horse Show is on Saturday. I am putting in my new mare.

 

They are still building huts here. The place may be completed after we have left.

Heytesbury is white with dust.

 

(Left Heytesbury on Tuesday afternoon, June 30th 1915).

 

War Diary of AA Laporte Payne May 1915

War Diary of AA Laporte Payne

 

Extracted from

 

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

—————–

 

1915

 

May 4 1915.

Shoeburyness

“…… We had a sort of (picnic) to-day. It consisted in tramping along dusty roads, carrying glasses, compasses, maps, directors etc., climbing up church towers, and locating places.  It was rather interesting but very hot and thirsty work.  It is a wonder our instructor got back at all as every one wanted him to have a pint at the village pub.  I managed to finish my paper on Sunday night after I got back and verified my calculations on Monday morning, so I was alright.  Several men missed the last train back and had to arrive with the milk in the morning.  Our instructor here is a very interesting man.  He was a non-commissioned officer in the famous “L” Battery R.H.A., which was blown to pieces by the Germans.  He and two others continued to serve their gun when every other gun was out of action, and the other men killed or wounded, for which he and two others got the V.C. and commissions.  He was badly wounded by the back burst of a high explosive shell ….

Thursday night is guest night with band, generally a lively time. (We have to honour the King in Mess Port!

 

May 12 1915.

 

After a strenuous morning riding, afternoon at gunnery, evening at lectures, we went out at 9 o’clock for gun-pit digging all night….. We returned this morning at eight.

 

Sunday May 15 1915.

R.P.

B.A.C. 83rd Brigade R.F.A.

Heytesbury House

Heytesbury

Wilts

 

I arrived this afternoon with Dexter, and found that the whole of the officers of the 18th Division were quartered in Heytesbury House.  The surroundings are lovely, but the house is bare and much too overcrowded.

The Commandant of the Shoeburyness School of Gunnery has just been appointed Colonel Commanding our Brigade.

 

Thursday May 20 1915.

 

Somewhere on Salisbury Plain.

 

“I am sitting in a haystack surrounded by the muddy plain. We are on a field day with the infantry…..  yesterday the whole 18th Division went on a divisional route march, and General Maxse inspected us.  As far as I can make out it was for the benefit of the ladies (wives of the generals and staff).  See what I command sort of show,…..very boring for the (regimental officers and men and a day wasted.

 

The weather has been truly awful. I have never seen such mud.  Thick chalky soup, almost up to one’s knees.  The horses and men are never dry.  You can imagine what it is like with the huts not yet finished.  No stables and the horses in open lines.

 

Our new Colonel had arrived and dined in Mess last night. He is going to lecture to us every night on gunnery…..

Heytesbury House is the residence of Baron Heytesbury. The only furniture they have left are some awful family portraits and one or two broken chairs.  Otherwise the place is empty and very dirty.  There is a great crowd in the house.  I am lucky as I am in a room with the adjutant and the Colonel’s galloper.  The mess is very badly run, so we are enjoying ourselves.

 

Opposite here is a large wood, and on either side are high mounds, old tumuli, which probably contain the bones of British warriors. The only sounds are larks singing and gunners snoring.  This American harness is very rotten, and is always breaking.  Fancy having to go to America for our harness.

 

Some of the men are looking for what they call “nesties”. The usual instinct for hunting something.  The language is a bit thick at times, but they are not bad chaps, very willing, though sometimes very stupid.  The second in command of this Brigade is a priceless major, and he affords endless amusement because he can’t ride at all.  He is very tall with long legs that hang down and dangle as he rides.  He sits hunched up over the withers of his horse, and is quite incapable of controlling it.  He backed into the General the other day, who was furious.  The funny part is that when the battery goes into action and his horse takes fright at the noise, as it generally does, he is sure to be taken off to the rear, and as his battery staff have to follow him everywhere and keep him in sight, it is probable that the whole lot will be missing at the critical moment.  They have put off our firing practice for a week, owing probably to the wet.

 

War Diary of AA Laporte Payne April 1915

War Diary of AA Laporte Payne

 

Extracted from

 

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

—————–

 

1915

 

 

April 20 1915

R.P.

R.A. Mess

Shoeburyness

 

“There is plenty to do here, and we are kept hard at it. We wear canvas clothes and are treated as ordinary tommies.  We rise at 6.45 a.m.  Breakfast at 7.45 a.m.  Parades from 8.30 to noon or rather 12.30,p.m., then again from 1.30 to 5.30 p.m.  Then tea and lectures till dinner time.  Dinner takes an hour and a quarter.  They turn out about 200 officers a month here.  The detachment I am in consists of 24 subalterns under Captain Nelson V.C.  He was a sergeant in “L” Battery R.H.A. and is now a Captain and our instructor.  we are drilled by a regular sergeant one named Ford.

 

Eight of us live in one of the staff houses, and are quite comfortable. Two of us have a large room to ourselves.  I share with a man named Cousens.  Our camp kit is our furniture.  Dexter & Gould are both here.  The course lasts four weeks.

 

War Diary of AA Laporte Payne March 1915

War Diary of AA Laporte Payne

 

Extracted from

 

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

—————–

 

1915

 

 

 

March 8, 1915

R.P.

“Training has been considerably stiffened up. There are parades on Sunday mornings and on other days before breakfast and after tea in addition to the normal work.  There are night marches and trench digging.  I have been inoculated with two doses, and as a result I am rather stiff and sore.   The 48 hours off duty which we are supposed to have, needless to say I never got.

 

Tomorrow I am motoring over to Ipswich where the 84th Brigade is stationed.  We are expecting to go into huts on the 20th of this month.  Leave has been cancelled from certain places such as Colchester, Braintree, Woolwich, Ipswich on account of the outbreak of cerebro-spinal meningitis which is bad.

 

We have had several officers convalescent after wounds posted us. Major Caruthers, Major Cornes and others.

 

On Sunday morning I took Church Parade of about 400 men. Then I groomed my own horse.  Each officer has to be able to do this.

 

 

The Dardanelles show seems to be going well.  How foolish the Turks are to join this war. Turkey will be the first empire to fall, and it should mean the end of the Ottoman Empire in Europe.

War Diary of AA Laporte Payne

 

Extracted from

 

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

—————–

 

1915

 

 

 

March 8, 1915

R.P.

“Training has been considerably stiffened up. There are parades on Sunday mornings and on other days before breakfast and after tea in addition to the normal work.  There are night marches and trench digging.  I have been inoculated with two doses, and as a result I am rather stiff and sore.   The 48 hours off duty which we are supposed to have, needless to say I never got.

 

Tomorrow I am motoring over to Ipswich where the 84th Brigade is stationed.  We are expecting to go into huts on the 20th of this month.  Leave has been cancelled from certain places such as Colchester, Braintree, Woolwich, Ipswich on account of the outbreak of cerebro-spinal meningitis which is bad.

 

We have had several officers convalescent after wounds posted us. Major Caruthers, Major Cornes and others.

 

On Sunday morning I took Church Parade of about 400 men. Then I groomed my own horse.  Each officer has to be able to do this.

 

 

The Dardanelles show seems to be going well.  How foolish the Turks are to join this war. Turkey will be the first empire to fall, and it should mean the end of the Ottoman Empire in Europe.

 

War Diary of AA Laporte Payne Feb 1915

War Diary of AA Laporte Payne

 

Extracted from

 

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

—————–

 

1915

 

 

Sunday February 14th 1915

R.P.

“I am Divisional Orderly Officer tonight, and have to sleep in the General’s Office near the entrance to the barracks. I am the only officer left in the Battery, as the others are away on courses, one at Aldershot, and the other at Woolwich.  Part of the Divisional Artillery have moved to huts at Ipswich, the Dexters with them.  I do not envy them in this weather, which is awful.  The Saturday’s half-holiday has been cancelled now, and the work has been stiffened up a lot.

 

Tuesday February 24 1915.   (?)

R.P.

“The scare here now is German air ships. I am on duty every forth night as Divisional Orderly Officer, and there has been a lot of night work lately.  One day I went by road to Ipswich with six guns and full teams.  Another day we had night trench digging.  Other days our time is occupied in gun drill, ranging practices, and reconnaissance rides.

 

My routine for the last few hours has been: last night in the General’s office, when some business turned up which kept me occupied till after midnight. Next morning at 6.30 am stables, breakfast at 8, a.m.  Parade 8.40 a.m.  Brigade ride to various battery positions with Colonel Lushington from 9 to 12 noon.  Demonstration Section Gun Drill noon to 1, p.m.  Lunch at 1, p.m. Battery Parade at 1.40 p.m.  Officer’s Standing Gun Drill from 2 to 3, p.m.  Men’s rifle and marching drill 3 to 4.30 p.m.  Stables 5 to 6 p.m. Battery accounts at 7 p.m.  Dinner 7.30 p.m.  After dinner I read Battery, Brigade, Divisional, Eastern Command and War Office Daily Orders.

 

On Sunday we had Church Parade. Then the Colonel found some dirty harness, and he ordered harness cleaning from 6 to 8 p.m.

 

Then at a late hour we had the excitement of the bomb bursting near by, which we may consider our baptism of fire.

 

It was quite a good shot for our barracks. The bomb fell just between the lower corner of the Artillery Barracks where our Battery has its quarters and the road in which I am billeted.  A portion of the bomb was found in this road, and mine host declares that a portion of lead from his roof came down.  I was not in my billet at the time, but was in another part of the town, so I did not hear much of the noise.

To night there is not a light to be seen anywhere. I hear a rumour that there are seven airships over Ipswich, but I have my doubts.

 

The other morning in the dim light of dawn I had to go down to the station to detrain a large number of kicking horses, which made me tear my hair until I managed to see the funny side of it, but my sense of humour took a long time to operate.  Now we have a lot of vicious mules for the Ammunition Column, and some of the Battery wagons.

 

I expect leave will be hard to get now in case of emergency parades.

 

The 10th Fusiliers move tomorrow to Andover.

War Diary of AA Laporte Payne Jan 1915

War Diary of AA Laporte Payne

 

Extracted from

 

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

—————–

 

1915

 

January 10 1915

R.P.

“Today I am Brigade Orderly Officer, so I have to sleep in Officer’s Quarters as the other officers in the Battery are away I am extra busy.  The weather is dreadful here.

I have seen Dick Pelly, who is Chaplain here. Influenza is rampant here.  According to the doctors one in five have the complaint.  We shall be a very small army if the Germans land on the coast.

 

The other morning I had to get up at 4.30 am to see two lots of men off at the station on leave. It meant riding to and from the station four times.

 

I hear that our Brigade is to go into huts at Reed Hall, two miles out of the town, probably at the end of this month.

 

There are rumours tonight of air ships over London.  I hope it is not true for your sake.

 

We are hoping to get our new guns soon. It is about time too.  Then it will seem more like business.  We have a lot of new Canadian horses, but they are not exactly pleasant rides.

 

January 19 1915

R.P.

Maldon House

Wellesley Road,

Colchester.

 

“One day last week I motored to Clacton for dinner.  The place was in complete darkness.  It was most strange.  There were no lights showing at all.  Now I have a bad cold.

 

On Sunday morning I motored up to town to see some men off to the Front, and when I got back I was bundled off to bed, and no less three doctors came to see me. I slept all day yesterday, and now my temperature is normal.  I hope to be out again tomorrow.  Dick Pelly has been in to see me tonight, and yesterday my visitors were the three doctors.  It is lucky we have not to pay for their visits.  My host and hostess are looking after me very well indeed.

 

Monday January 25 1915.

R.P.

“Last night saw me back in Colchester.  One officer is away at Shoeburyness on a course, and one officer has left us altogether, so we are shorthanded.

 

Tomorrow Capt Farmer and another officer and myself will be away all day on a Reconnaissance Ride. The mud here is worse than ever.

 

Give my kind regards to Amy Mac when she turns up.

Alfred George Richardson’s Diary Dec 1915

Alfred George Richardson’s Diary Dec 1915

 

1915 diary shows Bombardier Gunner (Signalling Dept) A. G. Richardson 4th Section, West Riding Divisional Ammunition Column R.F.A., Norfolk Barracks Sheffield.

Home Address:- Station House, Ben Rhydding near Leeds. Yorks.

 

Poperinghe.

Wednesday 1st December 1915:  Shelled.  Rain.  Dec opens wet.  Rations 10.30 – 3.30.  Promoted to Paid a/c Bdr. (4 ½ d extra per day) Harry Eagle & Barber pro a/c Bdrs (unpaid.)

Thursday 2nd December 1915: Rose at 8 pm [8 am].  Rations 11 – 3.20.  Wet day.  Oilskin fine.  Early to bed.

Friday 3rd December 1915:     Rose at 8 am.  Went for rations from 10.30 – 3.30.  Wagon stuck.  Building new winter bivouac.  Bed at 9 pm.

Saturday 4th December 1915: Rose at 8.  Rations at 11 – 4 pm.  Wagon stuck in mud.  On H.Q. guard.  Rum issue.  Nice guard.

Dec 1st.  Whilst proceeding through Poperinghe at 1.30 pm, the Germans bombarded the town.  First two shells 100 yds behind the wagon, just off the road.  20 or more shells burst.  Population terror-stricken.  Terrible sight.

Sunday 5th December 1915:    Fine in morning.  No rations.  Building new bivouac. “Tres bon”.  Raining later.  Letter from home.

Monday 6th December 1915:  Rose at 5 am.  Joined Div Train 6.45 am.  Drew rations at 8 – 11 am on Elverdinghe Road at new Railhead.  Rather slow, but will prove a success.

Tuesday 7th December 1915:  Rose at 5 am.  Joined A.S.C. 6.45 am.  Rations 8 – 930.  “Home” at 11.  Saw one of our aeroplanes brought down by enemy.  Landed on tip of wings.  Pcl from Scarbro’.

Wednesday 8th December 1915: Rose at 6 am.  Joined A.S.C. at 6.45.  Away with rations at 8.30.  Remarkably quick.  Spent afternoon building new bivouac & writing letters.  On Guard.

Thursday 9th December 1915: Went for rations 5 am – 11 am.  Coal 12-30 – 4 pm. Capt Walker goes on his 2nd leave.  Rotten Day – Raining all day.

Friday 10th December 1915:  Rose at 6.30 am.  Late for train.  Walked to A.S.C.  Back at 10.30.  Transferred all ammunition to H.Q.    Heavy work.

Saturday 11th December 1915: Rose at 6 am.  Joined Div Train 6.45 am.  Drew rations & back at 10.30. Reading & writing rest of day.

N.B.  I have been acting Q.M.S. for the whole D.A.C., Q.M.S. Shearman being too idle to get up at 5 am!

Sunday 12th December 1915:  Rose at 5.30 am.  Joined Div Train 6.45.  Back at 11 am.  Received two pcls from home.  On Guard at H.Q.  Beastly Cold.  (Redge Dean comes over to see us again.  Jolly good tea).

Monday 13th December 1915: Rose at 5.30 am.  Drew rations and returned at 11.  Cold weather & a change to first!

Tuesday 14th December 1915: Rose at 6 am.  Joined Div Train 6.45 am.  Cold & dark morning.  Back at 10.30 am.  Had a jolly good tea. Invited Clough & Forsythe.  Ham, Sausage, Cake etc.

Wednesday 15th December 1915: Rose at 6 am.  Joined Div Train 6.45 am. Drew Rations & arrived back at 10.30 am.  Rest of day writing & reading in farm.  Beastly cold & frosty.

Thursday 16th December 1915: Went for rations at 6.30 am.  Back at 11 am.  Spent afternoon reading & writing.  On Guard at night.

Friday 17th December 1915:   Went for rations at 6.30.  Back at 11.  Great aeroplane duel over us.  Thrilling at night in farm house.

Saturday 18th December 1915: Went for rations at 6.30 & back at 11.30.  Very quiet.

Poperinghe – Ben Rhydding.

Sunday 19th December 1915:  3.30 am.  Germans launch big gas attack & come over 3 times.  Big artillery duel.

Monday 20th December 1915:                        Rations.

Tuesday 21st December 1915:             Rations.

Wednesday 22nd December 1915:      Rations.

Thursday 23rd December 1915:           Rations.

Friday 24th December 1915:   Went for rations at 6.30 am.  Back 10.30.  Spent aft preparing for Xmas Dinner at Farm.  Excellent dinner at 6 pm – steak & kidney pie – plum pudding etc.  At 9.30 Capt Walker gave me pass for leave.  Exciting.

Saturday 25th December 1915: Left Camp 3.30 am with Sergt Becket.  Left Poperinghe 4.50 am.  Arr Boulogne 2 pm.  Left Boulogne 3.3 0 & arr Folkestone 5.15 pm.  Arrived Victoria 10.30 pm.  Left St Pancras at 12 midnight &             arrived Leeds 4.50 am.  Went to Y.M.C.A. until 7.45.  Left Leeds 8 am & arrived Ben R. 9.10 am.  Great excitement.  Dad & mother Cries with joy.  Grand in “Blighty”.

Ben R.

Sunday 26th December 1915:              Arrived Ben R 9.10.  Slept 18 hours.

Monday 27th December 1915:                        Visiting.

Tuesday 28th December 1915:            Visiting.

Wednesday 29th December 1915:       Went to Scarbro’ for the day.

Thursday 30th December 1915:           Visiting.

Friday 31st December 1915:                Left Ben R. at 10 pm. for Belgium.  Good bye dear old Ben R.

 

 

Alfred George Richardson’s Diary Nov 1915

Alfred George Richardson’s Diary Nov 1915

 

1915 diary shows Bombardier Gunner (Signalling Dept) A. G. Richardson 4th Section, West Riding Divisional Ammunition Column R.F.A., Norfolk Barracks Sheffield.

Home Address:- Station House, Ben Rhydding near Leeds. Yorks.

 

Wagon Lines (1st) Poperinghe

Monday 1st November 1915:  Rose at 9.30.  Nothing doing all day.  Said “Goodbye” to Arnold & left the guns at 6.30 pm in the mess cart.  Terrible night.  Raining hard.  Wet through.  Stayed at wagon lines.

Tuesday 2nd November 1915: Up at 7.  Raining hard.  Nothing to eat.  Already “fed up” with the wagon lines.  Very ungenerous.  Mud awful.  Bdr Forster & Wilde leave for D.A.C.

Wednesday 3rd November 1915: Up at 7.  Spent whole at wagon lines.  Raining.  Mud terrible.  Miserable doing nothing.  T.O. Butler leaves with his kit & mine.  Had an awful night.

Thursday 4th November 1915: Left wagon lines at 7 am on forage wagon & arrived back at 9.30.  Had a wash! (1st time for 4 days).  Rowdy interview with P.W.H.  Working all aft.  Went to Elverdinghe 6 pm – 12 pm.

Friday 5th November 1915:     Up at 6 am to go for forage & rations.  Mud terrible. Back at 10.30 am.  Letter writing until dinner.  Working on new stables in afternoon.  On Guard.  Raining hard.  Cold.

Saturday 6th November 1915: Went for rations at 6.30 & back at 10 am.  Letters noon.  New stables in afternoon.  All camp awakened at midnight to fetch 4 wagons out of ditch.  They were returning from Elverdinghe full of bricks.  Poor night’s sleep.

Poperinghe.

Sunday 7th November 1915:   Up at 6.30 for rations.  Back at 10.  “Woodbines” issued (35).  Raining hard.  Mud 9” deep.

Monday 8th November 1915:  Rose at 6 am to go for rations.  Back at 10.  Roads simply treacherous.  Fine day.  Working & filling sandbags all afternoon.

Tuesday 9th November 1915:  Rose at 6 am to go for rations.  Back at 10 am.  Breakfast.  Letters noon.  Working at new stables.  On Guard.  Terrible night.

Wednesday 10th November 1915:  Went for rations at 6.30.  Back at 10 am & then had breakfast.  Letters noon.  Working on new stables.  Good night’s sleep.

Thursday 11th November 1915: Rose at 5.30 am to go for rations.  Back at 11.  Letters 12.  Working hard all afternoon at new stables.  Parcel & letters from home.

Friday 12th November 1915:   Rose at 6.30 am & went for rations.  Back at 11. Letters noon.  Working at new stables all afternoon.  Early to bed.

Saturday 13th November 1915: Rose at 5.30 to go for rations.  Joined Div. Train at 7.  Back at 11.  Went for coal in afternoon.  On Guard.  Wet & cold.  Beastly.

Sunday 14th November 1915: Rose at 6.30.  Went for rations.  Good tobacco & cig issue.  Fine day.  Building new (winter) bivouac.

Monday 15th November 1915: Rose at 8.  Went on Sick Parade with 5 boils on my neck.  Dressed them 3 times during day.  Early to bed.  Made fire in bivouac.

Tuesday 16th November 1915: Rose at 8.  Saw Doctor at 9 am.  Received 3 letters & 3 papers.  Writing letters & reading all afternoon.  German shelling a good deal.

Wednesday 17th November 1915:  Rose at 8.  Saw Doctor at 9 & 2 pm.  Boils improving.  Wet day.  Letter writing & reading all day.  Early to bed.

Thursday 18th November 1915: Rose at 8.  Saw Doctor at 9 & 2 pm.  Boils getting on much better.  Plenty of matter issuing.  Wet day in aft.  Great Air raid by 10 German planes.  Bombs dropped quite near us.

Friday 19th November 1915:   Rose at 8.  Saw Doctor at 9.  Went with Harry Eagle for letters at noon. Reading & writing in afternoon.  Paid 25 francs.

Saturday 20th November 1915:  Rose at 8.  Saw Doctor at 10 am.  off duty.  Spent day in reading & writing.

Sunday 21st November 1915: Rose at 8.  Saw Doctor 9.30.  On duty again although alt doctor.  Went to Amm Col with Amm Stuck.

Monday 22nd November 1915: Rose at 8.  Saw Doctor 9.30.  Neck healing up.  Went for rations.  Back at 4.  Good dinner.  Early to bed.              Frosty.

Tuesday 23rd November 1915: Rose at 8.  Saw Doctor 9.30.  Went for rations at 11 am.  Back at 4 pm.  Roads terribly treacherous.  On         Guard.  Very mild. – Rain.

Wednesday 24th November 1915: Got two teams off to Ypres at 6 am.  Saw Doctor at 9.30.  Neck nearly better.  Went for rations at 11.  Back at 3.30 pm.  Writing letters until tea.  Early to bed.

Thursday 25th November 1915: Rose at 8.  Saw Doctor 9.30.  Rations 11 – 3.30 pm.  Roads simply awful.  Letter writing before tea.  Bed 7 pm.

Friday 26th November 1915:   Rose at 8 am.  Doctor 9.30.  Rations 11 – 3.30 pm.  On H.Q.            Guard.  Spent night in ** Bed 8 pm.

Saturday 27th November 1915: Terribly frosty.  Saw Doctor 9.30.  Rations 11 – 3.30. Recd Gum boots, So’ Wester & waterproof waistcoat from home.

Sunday 28th November 1915: Rose at 8.  Saw Doctor 9.30.  Out for rations 11 – 3.30.  Terribly frosty.  A.S.C. wagon stuck 3.30 – 5 pm.  Received Oilskin from home.

Monday 29th November 1915: Rose at 8.  Saw Doctor 9.30.  Terribly wet.  Raining all day.  Oilskin etc simply grand.  Received weekly pcl from home.

Tuesday 30th November 1915:  Rose at 8.  Saw Doctor for the last time at 9.30.  Neck quite better.  Rations at 10.30 – 3.30.  On Guard.  Not so cold as of late.  Decent guard on.

Alfred George Richardson’s Diary Oct 1915

Alfred George Richardson’s Diary Oct 1915

 

1915 diary shows Bombardier Gunner (Signalling Dept) A. G. Richardson 4th Section, West Riding Divisional Ammunition Column R.F.A., Norfolk Barracks Sheffield.

Home Address:- Station House, Ben Rhydding near Leeds. Yorks.

 

Poperinghe.

Friday 1st October 1915:         Went for rations at 9.15.  Cold wind.  Bad headache.  Stomach upset.  Afternoon at the latrines & in the bivouac.

Saturday 2nd October 1915:    Went for rations at 9.15.  In bed with chill.  Shivering all over.  Bed all day.  Feeling rotten at night.

Sunday 3rd October 1915:       Still rotten.  Rations 9.15.  Back at noon.  Afternoon holiday.  Cold day. Reading & writing.

Monday 4th October 1915:      Went for rations 9.15.  Back at noon.  Helping to put up stables in aft.  Poperinghe bombarded.  41 shells.

Tuesday 5th October 1915:      Went for rations at 9.15.  Back at noon.  Football match.  We won 3-2, I scoring last goal.  Afternoon letter writing.

Wednesday 6th October 1915: Went for rations at 9.15.  Back at noon.  Helping Dick Clarkson to put up horse jumps.  On H.Q. Guard.  “Stood to” at 4.30 am. Cold.

Thursday 7th October 1915:    Went for rations at 8.30.  Back at 11 am.  In afternoon helping Cpt P.H. Walker with the horse jumps.  P.H.W. jumping later.

Friday 8th October 1915:         Went for rations at 8.30.  Back at 11 am.  Wrote 3 letters before dinner.  Helping T.O.B. in aft with new stabling.

Saturday 9th October 1915:     Went for rations 8.30.  Back 11 am.  Made some jelly & custard.  Afternoon – playing football.

Poperinghe & Brielen.

Sunday 10th October 1915:     Went for rations 8.30.  Afternoon holiday.  Fine & warm.  Football H.Q. guard – 15 Shells into “Pop”.

Monday 11th October 1915:    Rations 8.30.  Back at 11.  Won 3 1st prizes with mules, N.C.O’s mount & harness.  Out at Pop. For P.H.W.

Tuesday 12th October 1915:    Went for rations at 8.30.  Back at 11.  Afternoon holiday.  Football & writing letters.  Evening we had a sing-song.

Wednesday 13th October 1915: Went for rations 8.30.  Back at 11.  Helping T.O.B. with Stabling.  Afternoon holiday.  Played football.

Thursday 14th October 1915:  Rations 8.30.  Back at 11.  Stabling with Butler.  On H.Q. guard.  Not a wink of sleep.

Friday 15th October 1915:       Rations 8.30.  Went up to Battery for gun-drill.  Saw Arnold.  Attchd to B gun with Cpl W. Dawson.  Good night’s sleep amongst the shells.

Saturday 16th October 1915:   Rose at 9.30.  Cleaned B gun with W.L.D. and Ray Renwick.  Fired 6 shell per gun.  All batteries round about firing.  Terrific din.  Result: stopped German attack 3 times.

Brielen near Ypres.

Sunday 17th October 1915:     Got up 9.30.  Went potato digging with Butler.  Gun laying & drill.  Out at night with Arnold.

Monday 18th October 1915:    Got up 9.30.  Gun laying practice.  German planes give battle to some of ours.

Tuesday 19th October 1915:    Got up 9.30.  German start “clodding” Dawson’s corner & kill R.E. Colonel.  Fired 8 shell from B gun in aft.  Went to Elverdinghe bricking 12-2 am.

Wednesday 20th October 1915: Got up 9.30.  German aeroplanes over.  Air duel.  Clodding the wood by the enemy.  Fired 10 shell per gun.  Went to Brielen village with Arnold.

Thursday 21st October 1915:  Rose at 5.30. & went with Horace Tennant down to O.P. & beyond.  Heavy artillery fired on both sides.  11th Battery in action.  Tenant & I between 2 fires.  30 shells near us.

Friday 22nd October 1915:      Rose at 9.30.  D gun firing 40 lb shells.  Quite a success.  We fired 8 rounds 50 lbs.  Playing at games at night.

Saturday 23rd October 1915:   Up at 9.30. Dawson goes to Wagon lines.  Sergt Gee back from leave.  Quiet day.

N.B. We knocked two trench mortars out of action on Friday.

Sunday 24th October 1915:     Got up 9.30.  My 19th Birthday.  Had a lovely tea with Arnold & Sergt Gee.  Beautiful cake from home.  Grand day.

Monday 25th October 1915:    Got up 9.30.  Terribly wet, 1st wet day for weeks.  Stayed in dug-out writing letters & playing games.            Gramophone on.

Tuesday 26th October 1915:    Rose at 9.30.  Potato digging.  Wet day.  Amused ourselves all day with gramophone, letter writing &           reading.

Wednesday 27th October 1915: Rose at 9.30.              Went to billets for meals.  In Brielen with Arnold shopping.  Fine day.  Many aeroplane fights.  Very thrilling.

Thursday 28th October 1915:  Rose at 9.30.  “D” gun firing 40 lb shells.  Quite a success.  Firing at German transports at Pilkem Cross Roads.

Friday 29th October 1915:       Rose at 9.30.  Fine day.  Firing 40 lb shell by aeroplane observation.  Went bricking to Elverdinghe 12 – 2 am.

Saturday 30th October 1915:   Rose at 9.30.  Fine day.  Aeroplanes up again & fighting enemy planes.  Fine sight.  2 “Archies” in action at billet.

Wagon Lines (1st) Poperinghe

Sunday 31st October 1915:     Rose at 9.30!  Potato digging.  Fine day, indeed, the last fine day for some time to come.  Aeroplane battles.

Alfred George Richardson’s Diary Sept 1915

Alfred George Richardson’s Diary Sept 1915

 

1915 diary shows Bombardier Gunner (Signalling Dept) A. G. Richardson 4th Section, West Riding Divisional Ammunition Column R.F.A., Norfolk Barracks Sheffield.

Home Address:- Station House, Ben Rhydding near Leeds. Yorks.

 

Lovie Chateau

Wednesday 1st September 1915: 7.15 am went to 3 Towers Chateau in motor & laid cable to Briele.  Went to 11th Batt.  Saw Dove etc.  4 shells burst near in a field.  Back at 4.15 pm.

Thursday 2nd September 1915: Very wet.  Practicing speaking & morse telegraphy on Portable D.  In aft we made a Ladder Cable but abandoned it.  Wet.

Friday 3rd September 1915:     Lecture by Lieut Wells on Code Time.  Using telephone all day.  Good practice obtained.  Very wet.

Saturday 4th September 1915: Practicing with Telephone all day.  Recd parcels from Alan Todd & Mr. Hanson.  Also Letters from them & home.

Wretched weather.  Wet through Thurs, Friday & Sat.

Lovie Chateau nr Poperinghe

Sunday 5th September 1915:   Reveille 6 am.  Full Dress Parade at 9 am before Major Grubb D.S.O.  Raining hard all day.

Monday 6th September 1915:  Using “Wired Wireless” i.e. two D’s & two WW’s on the same line.  Wonderful invention.  Using Portable D phone.

Tuesday 7th September 1915:  Took down air line from Cable Camp to Signal Office.  Practicing on Buzzer.  Repairing a length of Cable.  Football at night.

Wednesday 8th September 1915: Left Cable Camp at 9 am – 4th Sect arrived at 10.30 am.  Afternoon holiday.  On Guard at H.Q. at night.

Thursday 9th September 1915: Went for rations at 9.15 am.  Back at 11.45 am.  Letters at 7 pm.  Afternoon spent in writing letters.

Friday 10th September 1915:   Went for rations at 9.15 am.  Letters 12 noon.  Afternoon holiday.  Went to Poperinghe with G. Smith to see “Fancie”.  Met Mr. Kaye.  Lovely evening spent.  Back at 9.15.

Saturday 11th September 1915: Went for rations at 9.15.  Letters at 12.  Aft holiday.  Football Match with R.A.M.C.  Letter from Arnold to say he is sick in base hospital.

Poperinghe.

Sunday 12th September 1915: Went for rations 9.15.  Letters at noon.  Aft holiday.  Had a good bath.

Monday 13th September 1915: Went for rations at 9.15.  Letters noon.    Went to 49th Div Baths & had a good hot spray bath.  Good joy ride in wagon.

Tuesday 14th September 1915: Went for rations at 9.15.  Letters at noon.  Writing letters in afternoon.

Wednesday 15th September 1915: Went for rations at 9.15.  Letters at noon. Reading & writing in afternoon.

Thursday 16th September 1915: Went for rations at 9.15.  Letters at noon.  Aft spent reading.  Went to Elverdinghe at night for bricks.

Friday 17th September 1915:   Went for rations at 9.15.  Letters noon.  Went to Elverdinghe at night.  M.P. killed in aft there.  Ruins terrible.  Sights! yes.

Saturday 18th September 1915: Went for rations at 9.15.  Letters at noon.  Went to Elverdinghe to prepare for wagons for tile.  30 shells dropped in.  Exciting time.  Souvenir hunting.  Plenty of unexploded shells about.  Church in awful condition.

Sunday 19th September 1915: Went for rations at 9.15.  Letters noon. Afternoon spent writing letters &making a good tea.  Early to bed.

Monday 20th September 1915: Went for rations at 9.15.  Letters noon.  Received ** from home & fountain pen.  On Guard H.Q.  Cold night.

Tuesday 21st September 1915: Went for rations at 9.15.  Letters 12.  Moved position into a neighbouring farm field.  All day spent in making bivouac. Butler joins in.

Wednesday 22nd September 1915:      Went for rations at 9.15.  Letters 12.  Taube over & dropped 3 bombs on road near by.  Chased away by 7 Vicker’s Biplanes.  Escaped easily.

Thursday 23rd September 1915: Went for rations at 9.15.  General visits us & has inspection.  Taube over us at tea time flying fast & very low.

Friday 24th September 1915:   Went for rations at 9.15.  Letters at noon.  Afternoon reading.

Saturday 25th September 1915: Went for rations at 9.15.  Letters at noon.  Aft holiday.

Sunday 26th September 1915: Went for rations at 9.15.  Letters noon.  Afternoon spent in bivouac writing & reading.

Monday 27th September 1915: Went for rations at 9.15.  Letters noon.  Harness cleaning in afternoon.  Went for ride to Couthof with Capt. R.H.W.

Tuesday 28th September 1915: Rations 9.15.  Raining hard.  Letters noon. On H.Q. Guard.  Wet through.  Cold & damp.

Wednesday 29th September 1915: Went for rations at 9.15.  Raining hard.  Got wet through & caught a chill.  Went to bed in afternoon.  Feeling rotten.

Thursday 30th September 1915: In bed all day.  Caught a chill.  Stomach upset.  Sick at night.