Diary of 2/Lt. A. B. STREET

48 SIEGE BATTERY RGA

Opened 26 December 1915

26^th Dec. 1915 Sunday.  Paraded at 7.0am.  Sgt. Murphy and 25 men to escort guns and caterpillars to Avonmouth by road.  Raining hard.  Left the gun park at 7.40, weather cleared up shortly after starting.  Hutchings who was in charge of the caterpillars and I went to breakfast with Meade King’s whose house we passed.  Caterpillars going very well, passed through Bridgewater at noon and on the outskirts stopped for about ½ hr whilst a photo was taken, just after this had heavy shower of rain.  Weather otherwise bright and sunny.

Some miles further on Hutchings and I went ahead in lorry to arrange where to stop the night.  Decided on Cross a small village 28m from Taunton.  Caterpillars arrived just after 6.0.  Left a guard of 6 men and 2 NCOs and took remainder into Axbridge about a mile away, billeted the men for the night, it started to rain soon after 7.0 pm.  Hutchings and I had some dinner at the Lamb Inn Axbridge then went back to Cross to see that everything was all right.  Slept at Axbridge.

27^th Dec. Monday.  Up at 5.0 am and took all the men back to Cross: Caterpillars got under way about 7.20, raining hard.  H & I returned to Axbridge for breakfast.  Soon after this it stopped raining and cleared up, paid the billets and followed Caterpillars up in lorry.  They were doing fairly well.  Very up and down country and pretty; Wind got up and was soon blowing a gale.  Trouble with one of the Caterpillars delayed us about noon when the convoy of lorries with Capt. Langford, Meade King and Hill came up with us.

Had some lunch at a Pub Meade King stayed with Hutchings and me.  The other two went on with the convoy.  Caterpillars were giving some trouble and delayed us; passed through Bristol about 4.0 and at Clifton Hutchings and I went on to Avonmouth to see Langford re arrangements for “packing” etc.  A very strong gale blowing.  Found I had to send my men back by 11.5 train; arranged for them to have hot meal at 8.45.  last gun arrived in about 7.45.  Marched the men down to their meal and went and had one myself with the others at The Miles Arms.

Soon after 10.0 went and paid for the mens’ meal and put them in charge of Hill to return to Taunton.  Langford, Hutchings Meade King and I motored to the Queen’s Hotel Clifton for the night.

28^th Dec. Tuesday.  All motored over to Avonmouth shortly after 10.  Reported arrival of guns to Embarkation Officer who told us we were to sail in the Hunsgate a 600 ton German vessel captured off the E. coast of Africa.

We received instructions to load next morning at 8.0 and during the afternoon we were told to get the Caterpillars and guns ready on the wharf, this was done easily but on trying to get some of the lorries to the wharf they stuck in the road which was very bad  and 2 had to be hauled out by a Caterpillar.  The rest were then kept outside on the road.  We returned to The Queens for the night.

29^th Dec. Wednesday. Up early and over to the Docks by 8.0.  It was decided to load the Caterpillars and guns where they were and then to shift the ship to another berth to which the lorries could drive up easily.  This was done about midday.  Langford with Hutchings and all the men except the 15 who were going with us on the ship returned to Taunton by the 1.53 train.  All but about 20 lorries were loaded at the end of the day.  Meade King and I returned to Queens Hotel, the men being in the Rest Camp.

30^th Dec. Thursday.  From a phone message we heard that the whole of the remainder of the battery left Taunton at 2.0 am for embarkation at Gosport.

Over at the Docks again soon after 8.0.  They finished loading the lorries during the day.  Meade King and I, as all the cars were now loaded, had to use the bus or train for going to and fro.  I went to the Hippodrome but it didn’t please me much.

31^st Dec. Friday.  Went over to the docks.  Still loading Tentage but were soon stopped owing to the rain.  Nothing to do, cannot get leave to go away as they will not say when the ship will sail, very fed up.

Written on an opened out brown envelope.

30.12.15

Dear F & M

I am in the pink.  We can only hear the wind howling at night now.  We had a very good Xmas.  I went down to our HQ and spent the night there we had a good feed and plenty of everything to drink including cigars so I didn’t do so bad.  I hope you enjoyed yourself as well as I did.  We are now looking forward to the New Year and of course all being well the Scotch always keep it up.  I shan’t be home in time to let it in this year but I hope this time next year we shall all be together to let it in.  I went for a bath tonight and spent a couple of hours at solo whist afterwards in an estaminet so we don’t spend a bad time when in rest.  How did Geo & Will look?  I hope Mar & Dad are keeping well and that Gladys is going strong.

I got some tobacco & cigs from Willie the other day.  A 1lb tin so I have put it on the table and the lads all come along with their pipes.  I had the misfortune to lose my washing a few weeks ago a shell dropped in the garden and blew it to na’ pue otherwise Il na yen a plus.  There is a cinema a few yds away but I have not had time to visit it yet too busy at Xmas.  I wish you all prosperity in the New Year hoping that all are well.  I will now fini

Yours Burgy

How’s alias Turk

24.12.15

Dear Pa & Mar

Just a line to let you know I am OK.  I suppose you will have got the pc I sent.  I am glad to say I am in the best of health.  We came out of action a day or two ago and are now out of the noise and din of the guns for a few weeks without old Fritz gets too troublesome.  As no doubt you are aware they tried to do it on us with gas and now gas shells and all the stuff they could devise but we were prepared and when Fritzs came over he was soon quietened.  I must say it was the hottest time we have had yet but all the lads in our lot are merry and bright.  We are billeted in a village not far from where we first stayed last May prior to our first smell of powder.  Allcock and I paid a visit to the latter place the other night and we fairly cemented the occasion.  It’s nice to get back to where they speak French as I can’t understand the Flemish patois at all except they say Yar Yar for yes.  Well I hope you all have a good time this Xmas.  I am going to try to have a good day tomorrow so don’t think Burgy is having a bad time of course I could go on a bit of turkey & sausages very nicely but still it won’t trouble me much if you send me a parcel anytime.  I shouldn’t object to a few sausages as we never see them out here.  You will see I got the parcel from Mount Tabor Church OK so I will enclose a little note in this envelope.  I also got your parcel OK.  I couldn’t count more than 8 whole mince pies but I didn’t waste any it was Tra Bon of course I had to spread it round a bit as all the boys sample each other’s parcels.  I think this is all at present.  I suppose Geo has heard the tale of a sentry halting a man at night saying “Halt who goes there?”  “Chaplain” Sentry “Pass Charlie”.

Well I hope you all the very best wishes and prosperity in the New Year.

Luck and love to all.

Burgy

If Willie is called up don’t let him forget to mention the (fact) that he is an operator and at which office he came from.

Please post the letter to Mr. Taylor

10.12.15

In biro On return from 1^st leave from Ypres

Dear Mar & Pa

Just a line to let you know I am OK.  I didn’t tell you any details of my passage back well it wasn’t at all bad in fact it was very nice.  I caught the train from Vic OK but our train was too late the boat having just left earlier that anticipated so I spent the night in Folkestone and quite enjoyed myself.  I caught an early boat across and managed to have a good look round the place on that side before leaving by train.  So you see Gussie got another night in a bed.  Bow wow.  I have practically got rid of the cold I had. The weather here has been very wet.  I don’t think we have had a fine day since I returned.  Your up to the eyes in mud but it’s surprising how you get used to it.  I am on night work in fact day and night as Alcock is on leave now and I have to work extra – Well it’s just 3 am raining and you can hear the boys singing as they are being relieved and marching to rest Billets.  You should see some of them their best girls wouldn’t know them and I am sure Jack would have them all in mush for not shaving.  It is mostly artillery duels round here and the trenches on both sides are in a nice mess especially after they have been bombarded with High Explosive Some life.  I feel like a magnate now I have a War Loan.  Some finance eh!  I wouldn’t mind a photo of Jack if they are small but I don’t want a big thing no extra kit for Burgy.  As you say Geo will probably send that special lice killer après la guerre.  Hope Gladys enjoyed herself at the old girls meeting.  Were they really old Gladys?  About Miss Sewell’s age Eh!  I just had a rest then while I has a straffe.  I will leave you to guess what that is.  My Battery is na pue so am looking forward to refill don’t forget that shaving tackle someday.  I was parleying with a Belgian soldat last night he is going to get me a ring.  Aluminium sent over by the Boches and made into a ring by a Belgian soldat so there.  I believe we shall be out of action by Xmas in rest so that will be OK if it comes off.  I hope Gladys pulls her exam off this time if she does I must bring a bottle of Sham back with me next time.  I wonder if Turk likes being called Billy.  I suppose he would lick your hand if you called him Kaiser Bill.  Ah oui.  I am afraid he is not getting a proper training without me did I tell you when I was over I took him in the Crown and while walking down I missed him but eventually found him in the doorway of the Dog.  I think he was getting to know me.  I am sure Miss Sewell would be astounded when you showed her that bit of glass.  Eh some souvenir Eh.  Well I will now stop as I hear as there’s a war on.  Hoping you are all well and have a good time at Xmas & that Ma has got rid of her cold.

Yours Billy’s master

Burgy

On the 3rd December, General Joffre was appointed Commander-Chief of the French armies. He had promoted from Chief General Staff, a post he had held since 28^th July 1911.

In Mesopotamia on the 3^rd December, the British forces reached Kut, after retreating from Ctesiphon. By the 5^th December, Kut had been placed in a state of defence and the siege of Kut began on 7^th December. The army of the Ottoman Empire besieged the British and British Indian forces.

On Gallipoli on the 8^th December, regional Commander-in–Chief, Sir Charles Monro recommended a general retreat from Suvla and Anzac Bays. Lord Kitchener gave confirmation to Monro’s recommendation.

On the Italian front, the Forth Battle of Isonzo ended on the 10^th December.

On the 15^th December Sir John French stood down as Commander-in-Chief of the British Armies in France.

The Evacuation of Suvla and Anzac Bays in the Gallipoli Peninsular on the 19^th December and all forces were completed evacuated on the 20^th December.

On the 19^th December, Sir Douglas Haig succeeded Sir John French as Commander-in-Chief of the British Armies in France.

On the 23^rd December, Roland Leighton died of wounds in a field hospital near Louvencourt. He was shot through the stomach by a sniper. He was due to go home on leave to marry his fiancée, Vera Brittain. Whilst waiting in a hotel on the south coast of England she was expecting a call from Leighton to say he was in the country. The call she received was from his mother to say he had died. Vera Brittain survived the war, eventually married, and had two children, one of whom is Shirley Williams, a peer of the Liberal Democrat Party.