Memo sheet

SECRET

N220
O.C. 7, 8, 142 Field Ambulance.

Herewith a draft of the orders it is proposed to issue for the projected operations.

All necessary arrangements should be made as if the orders had actually been issued.

There will be a conference in my office at 5.30 p.m. 23/10/16. please attend at that hour accompanied by the O.C. your bearer S-division.

Please acknowledge

H.Q. 3rd Div.
22/10/16
H. Ensor
Colonel
A.D.M.S. 3rd Div

Draft
Secret

R.A.M.C. Operation Order No
by
Colonel H. ENSOR D.S.O. commanding R.A.M.C. 3rd Division.
Map Reference Sheet 57D

I. The 3rd Division will attack the enemy on Z day at Zero hour.

II. (a). The O.C. No 142 Field Ambulance will send one bearer sub division to OBSERVATION WOOD and one bearer sub division to FLAG AVENUE, both sub divisions to be in position by October. Accommodation in trenches has been reserved for these subdivisions by G.Os.C. 8th & 9th Inftry Brigades.
The Os. C. these two bearer sub divisions will detail men to work the trolley lines to EUSTON Dumps and to collect wounded from the Regimental Aid Posts and after the enemys’ front and support line has been carried they will advance and form Collecting Posts near MARK COPSE and near point of junctions of BLENAU trench with ROB ROY trench.
The third bearer sub division of No. 142 Field Ambulance will be at EUSTON Advanced Dressing Station ready to advance at Zero hour to form a Collecting Station near MATHEW COPSE.

(b). No. 5 A Sanitary Section will be at EUSTON Advanced Dressing Station by October. O.C. No 5 A Sanitary Section will detail 10 men to proceed to OBSERVATION WOOD and 10 men to proceed to trolley line at SACKVILLE STREET trench at Zero hour. These men will be employed in reinforcing the parties already engaged in the removal of wounded by trolley line to EUSTON Dump.

(c). O.C. No. 8 Field Ambulance will detail one bearer sub division to be at COLINCAMPS Advanced Dressing Station by October. This bearer sub division will proceed to EUSTON Advanced Dressing Station at Zero hour.
The other two bearer sub divisions will proceed to the Walking Wounded Collecting Post arriving there after sunset on October and will move to Advanced Dressing Station at COLINCCAMPS at Zero hour.

(d). O.C. No 7 Field Ambulance will detail 1 Officer, 2 N.C.Os and 6 men from one of his tent sub divisions to take over charge of the EUSTON Advanced Dressing Station. Dressing Station to be taken over by October.
The bearer division of No. 7 Field Ambulance will be in reserve at Dressing Station of No. 142 Field Ambulance at BUS-les-ARTOIS by October.

(e). O.C. No. 142 Field Ambulance will detail 4 privates from his tent division to report to O.C. Walking Wounded Collecting Post at J.29.c.8.2. for duty in dressing wounded by October.

(f). R.A.M.C. personnel not mentioned above will remain in their present positions.

III. The 3rd Division Band will report to O.C. Advanced Dressing Station COLINCAMPS for duty by Zero hour.

IV. R.A.M.C. units may make use of the shelters in the Walking Wounded Collecting Station as bivouacs for their men on the night of October if convenient for them to do so.

V. A copy of Medical Arrangements of the 3rd Division has been issued to Os.C. Field Ambulances for information of all concerned.

VI. Advanced Headquarters of A.D.M.S. will be at EUSTON Advance Dressing Station at Zero hour. Office of A.D.M.S. will remain at 3rd Division Headquarters at BUS-les-ARTOIS

H. Ensor
Col
A.D.M.S. 3rd Division.

Letter to Rev. R.M. Laporte Payne 18 October 1916

Royal Naval Barracks

Government crested notepaper

Leslie Boyce No 2686

N 15 Mess E Block,

Royal Naval b.

Devonport

18.10.16

Dear Sir,

I would have written to you before but I have not had any stamps.

I arrived here after a long journey of 7 hours. Last Friday I went to see the Chaplain and I believe he is going to write to you.  Last Sunday I went to Holy Communion after the preparation on the Saturday night.

I am just settling down more and am beginning to like it very much.   I have started my 12 weeks coarse{sic} of seamanship and it is very interesting I wrote to Mr. Mannering & Mrs. Dawson and am expecting a reply.

The little Bible that you gave me I have found a great help & I read it every night now without fail. Every morning we have the morning prayer out of the Prayer Book with all the boys & Officers drawn up.  We all have the battle hymn “Holy Father in Thy Mercy” & it reminds me of Christ Church.  Hoping you will reply

From Yours Truly

Leslie Boyce

Kind regards to all the family.

Letter to Rev. R.M. Laporte Payne 18 October 1916

On A.S.C. crested notepaper.

Pte J. Plumb

K Supply Coy

A.S.C. 216949

No 2 Camp

Thornhill

Aldershot

18/10/16

Dear Sir,

Thank you for your kind letter, you will be interested to know, I am on draft for France & may have to go any minute or it may be weeks, I hope to see Finchley first, & should be glad if you would pray that I might.  I am getting on as well as can be expected I think.  As my stay is so uncertain here & the room so limited I had rather not have any parcel sent me, there is 10 of us in a bell tent about 16 feet across the floor, there are swarms of soldiers here.  Please remember me to all at the Vicarage & those who are interested in me, I have got my full equipment for France.  I remain yours gratefully & sincerely J. Plumb.

No 27521

St Andrews Hospital

Penrith

Cumberland

Oct 17^th 16

Dear Father

Many thanks for your letter, note paper, also newspaper just received.

I am glad to say I am getting on fine.  We had a grand time last Friday went for a motor drive to the Matron’s house at Ulleswater saw the lake; the scenery was grand I shall have to tell you about it when I see you.  We had the best of everything to eat two servants to wait on us swank I can tell you & after tea we had a whist drive I got third prize.  There was also another whist drive in the ward on Saturday so you see we manage to enjoy ourselves alright.

I had a letter from my friend in France he has got the things that belong to me & he said he would endeavour to send them on I gave him your address in case I had left here so you will know if a parcel comes.  It is very difficult to send parcels especially views so he may not be able to do it.  You might let me know the cost of postage if it does come.

I am afraid I look too well to stay here much longer, although some of the men are being sent to convalescent homes for a month or six weeks.  I shall be very pleased to come home & see you one gets rather tired of doing nothing every day; but I mean to keep convalescent as long as possible you can see it is a policy to do so.  the food is jolly good & plenty of it.

I am glad you enjoyed yourself at Southend.

What sort of weather are you getting it is very wet here.

I have not very much news to tell you this time so I think I must finish now.

I hope you are all well

With much love

From your devoted

Son

P.S. Have you heard from Ciss yet.  I should like to see her when I come home.

11.10.16

Dear Mar & Pa

I received Gladys letter OK a few days ago.  Gladys seems to be having a good time of it.  You must excuse me for not writing lately as I haven’t been in the same place five mins together anyhow I am writing this in a spot John Alleman occupied not so long ago so I suppose there’s some hopes of staying hereabouts for a while.  The weather has been awful lately.  I developed a nasty cold about a week ago.  Glad to say I’m practically OK again except that my teeth have been troubling me a bit.  Today has been lovely & a lovely moon shines over the valley it is almost like day.  Hope we get a spell of this weather and then we shall be able to get a move on.  Well I don’t think there’s anything further to say.  Hoping you are all well.  A few cakes won’t be amiss in this spot along with that Trench Powder.  If it isn’t too much trouble as I am miles from anywhere.  The only things here are bits of trees & myriads of shell holes.  Remember me to all enquiring friends.  Will drop you pcs if unable to find time to write.

Yours with love Bergy

A drop of cough mixture from Turners underbank would do me good these cold nights.

Pte. A. Smith

No 27521

St Andrews Hospital

Penrith

Cumberland

Oct 6^th 16

Dear Father

Many thanks for your letter, & paper.  I was very pleased to hear from you

& to know that you are well.

It must have been a grand sight to see that airship in flames. I had a letter from Ethel she said that you were asleep at the time.  They seem very sharp in the north of London to bring down two I guess they will think twice before they come over that way again.

I am pleased to say I am much better in fact feeling alright although still in bed am getting rather tired of it but still I am not doing any grumbling it is a treat to be in good old England instead of on the other side of the water.

I expect you received that postcard I don’t know exactly what it said but it is nothing only an official idea that everybody has to send.

I had a letter from Ciss this morning & was very surprised to hear that she was leaving Farnham. I expect you know that Charlie has left again I should think she would be better off without him.

Well I think I have come to the end of the news at present there is not very much to tell you.

I hope you will have a good time at Southend remember me to Mr & Mrs Jones I received their letter & will answer it very soon.

I guess you will be pleased to hear that Albert is exempt from the army.

I hope you are all well

With much love

From your devoted

Son

Pte. A. Smith

No 27521

St Andrews Hospital

Penrith

Cumberland

Oct 4^th 16

My Dear Affie,

Your letter contained such good news I had to answer it at once.

Fancy dear old Albert getting an exemption ‘By Jove’ it is just fine I can quite understand how you both felt I bet when you heard him coming up stairs you were anxious to know & yet afraid to ask; but you know how glad I am it is all settled it is a great trouble off your minds.

I certainly expect to get to dear old Southend & see you all soon I believe after convalescence one is entitled to ten days at home.  When I wrote to you before I thought perhaps this was like the hospitals in France only keep you for a few days but it is very different here they will not let you go until you are quite better we receive every comfort & attention.  I am not yet allowed to have meat, cake, or fruit yet but I have plenty of good fish, eggs & milk puddings very much nicer to what one gets in France.

How is Ansell?  I expect about the same.  It is a bit rough when you get a boy that falls in the cigarettes I thought you were going to say that he used to sneak them they do get up to some tricks.

I had a letter from Father yesterday he said he was coming to see you this week I know he will be pleased to hear all the good news.  I believe the weather has been very wet here lately although I have not seen it but that does not count very much with you now.

I was surprised to hear that you have a man after all this time but he must be a great help to you both I am very pleased that he suits you.  Talking about him swearing it reminds me of the old chap Gibbs we had at Glasshouse St when he was annoyed he used to say ‘Toots Toots’ of course that might have meant something very bad in Scotch as he was a Scotchman.

I am glad Joy is quite well.  I expect she knows plenty of songs now.  I can’t send her any more silk cards.  I should think that is a good name for her I know she used to like to help her Mother.

I am going to have a try for Home Service or the RA.M.C. as soon as I am better.

Well I think I have told you everything this time.

I hope you are all well & that there is plenty more good luck in store for you.

With much love & kisses

From your devoted

Brother

France

Oct 1^st 1916

My Dear Nell,

A few lines to let you know I am quite well. I received your welcome letter yesterday.

Pleased to know my letter got through alright. Was not sure weather you would get it or not.  I expect you will see a few of the Fus in Egypt soon.  There were a good few wounded & are in hospital in England.

Bartrup got his discharge from Army being under age.  He was 17 ½.  I think he was jolly lucky as he has missed the extra “hit” which we have been in.

I expect it was a bit of a sight to see the Zepps on fire. We don’t get such a luxury here.  In fact we never see a Zepp at all.  We see an aeroplane being shelled now & again but I have not seen one brought down yet.  The only thing we have seen like it was when our aeroplanes set 5 enemy observation balloons on fire.

Next line of text Blue Pencilled. We don’t know how long we shall be there but there are rumours that when we come out we shift back further from the line & leave starts.

Can you send me Bert’s address again. I have lost it & want to write to him.

No more “news” now.  Please remember me to your Mother & Father.  With fondest love & Kisses from

Your loving

Alf

xxxxxx

With Envelope to

Miss E. Pilgrim,

161 Abbey Rd

Barking

S.X.

England.

Stamped Field Post Office. B 5 OC 16. Noted “Edge Hill”

Censor 2276 Signed G.L. Benjamin

On Active Service With the British Expeditionary Force YMCA headed notepaper

1.10.16

Dear M & P

Glad to receive your letter and hear you have been having a change I hope it has done you all good.  So Miss Sewell has turned out rather mysterious.  Well I do hope something comes of the Hallam affair.  In any case I hope you don’t suffer.  Well I met Jim Hopkinson a few days ago and had several walks with him he wished to be remembered to you all.  You can tell his people that he is merry & bright.  I eventually gave him my bed which I was sorry to leave.  We are now training again there is a fine chateau here but cannot say it is the best of places we have struck.  Still the weather is great for the time of the year and some of the boys are bivouacking out amidst the trees.  There is very little more to say beyond I am in the pink here.  We run a football team and I even donned our colours on the other day wearing the thistle.  I looked like a Scotch International weight thrower.  I wouldn’t mind having some vermin powder sent out as it comes in very useful at times.  How’s Geo going on?  Had a letter some time ago suppose I shall soon have a new auntie at my time of life too don’t think I could work special leave on that score although it certainly deserves it.  Well Cheerho for present

Gussie

Give them my best.

CONFIDENTIAL

WAR DIARY Of 9^th CANADIAN ARTILLERY BRIGADE

From September 1^st 1916 – To September 30^th 1916

Steenvoorde (Training Billet)

1/9/16 9.30 p.m.       The Brigade continued to carry on training in preparation for action on a new front.

2/9/16 9.00 p.m.       Training as usual.  All officers attended a lecture at 5. p.m. on “Aeroplane photographs” (illustrated by lantern slides)

3/9/16 9.00 p.m.       Brigade Commander inspected all batteries in full marching order.

4/9/16 9.00 p.m.       Heavy rain all day greatly hampered work.

5/9/16 2 a.m.            3^rd C.D.A. Operation Order No 17 received, announcing Brigade would go into action on a front between St. Eloi and Kemmel.

10 a.m.           Advance party set off.

6/9/16 2 a.m.            3^rd C.D.A. Operation Order No 18 received, giving details of relief of 88^th Bde R.F.A. by 9^th Bde C.F.A. One section of each battery goes into action tonight.

7/9/16 9.30 p.m.       All batteries have reported relief completed.  We are now “Centre Group”

8/9/16 9.00 p.m.       All batteries carried on registration during the greater part of the day.

9/9/16 9.00 p.m.         Registration continued.  Gas alarms in evening, infantry requested retaliation, which was given, no gas came over.

Scherpenburg

10/9/16 10 p.m.          To-day infantry reported destruction of tramway at O.13.c.8 ¼ .5. by our fire; also destruction of machine gun by our 33^rd Bty.  The 78^th Bn are replacing the 73^rd Bn in our front to-night.  All batteries began to cut wire in their zones this afternoon.

11/9/16 10 p.m.          All batteries registered.  “Petit Bois Barrage” this morning.  Wire cutting continued systematically in the afternoon.  Operation Order issued by O.C. Left Group to our batteries which are to be placed at his disposal for a contemplated operation.

12/9/16 9 p.m.              Further registration and wire cutting by all batteries.

33^rd Bty reports destruction of M.G. emplacement and snipers post.  Enemy shelled Vierstraat quite heavily in retaliation for shelling of Wytschaete by our batteries.  One man in 45^th Bty killed and one in 33^rd Bty wounded.

13/9/16 9.00 p.m.          36^th Howitzer Bty (4.5”) which has been firing with the “Left Group” under Lt. Col. A. McNaughton is back with us (Centre Group) and registering our zone.

14/9/16 10.00 p.m.        Each battery has cut a substantial gap in the wire entanglements in their zones.  This is part of the general operations extending along the whole British Front.

The 33^rd Bty reports quite extensive minor operations at request of infantry, having demolished 4 m.g. emplacements and several snipers posts.

15/9/16 10.30 p.m.       Rather quiet day, with little but registration going on.  33^rd Bty continued to demolish a few m.g. gun emplacements and snipers posts at request of infantry.  Ammunition shortage was announced tonight, and all batteries warned to limit expenditure to lowest possible amount.

16/9/16 10 p.m.           Firing today practically nil.  Ammunition is being held in reserve for tonight’s raids.

17/9/16 9.25 p.m.        Last night’s bombardment was very successful.  Shrapnel barrage was reported by F.O.O. in Front Line to be very effective and bursts good.  32^nd Bty assisted the Right Group with one section, and with the remaining section covered the Centre Group front line.  33^rd, 45^th and 36^th Btys assisted the Left Group.  Successful raids were carried out by both Right and Left Groups; 22 prisoners being taken.

18/9/16 9.30 p.m.        Operations today practically nil, and likely to continue so for a time, as ammunition expenditure has been limited to 10 rds. Per battery per day.

19/9/16 10 p.m.           Very quiet day.

20/9/16 11.45 p.m.      All batteries fired 10 rounds retaliation; otherwise operations nil.  Operation order No 20, 3^rd C.D.A. issued today.  10^th Can Inf Bde also 12^th Can Inf Bde to be relieved by the 4^th Australian Division and the 16^th Division respectively, on the nights of 20/21^st Sept and 23/24^th Sept.

3^rd C.D.A. to remain in action as at present.

21/9/16 10 p.m.           All batteries were tested with a “Denmark” last night, and got the shot off in time varying from 30 seconds to, in one case, 2 minutes, where the line seemed to be defective and some difficulty was experienced in passing the message from the Trench Station.  Time is taken from the giving of the order to the moment when the shot passes over the trenches.

At 1.30 a.m. today a heavy explosion took place in the German front line opposite Petit Bois, in a place they are supposed to be tunnelling at present.

22/9/16 10 p.m.          Our batteries did their first shoot in cooperation with aircraft today.  The 32^nd and 45^th each registered one target.  Also the 33^rd Battery registered Omnac Farm and the 45^th Battery a corner of Grand Bois, fire being directed in both cases by the Brigade Adjutant from the kite balloon at N.29.c.1.1.

23/9/16 10.30 p.m.      A little further work was done with aeroplane cooperation.  Otherwise the day was very quiet.

24/9/16                        The 12^th Can Inf Bde which we have so far been covering on this Front has been replaced by the 48^th Inf Bde.  Instead of 1 battalion as heretofore, we (Centre Group) are now covering 2 viz 7^th Royal Irish Fusiliers and 8^th Royal Dublin Fusiliers.  These have just returned from the Somme, and are greatly reduced in strength by casualties.  33^rd Bty demolished m.g. emplacement at N.18.c.9 ¼ ¾.  This had been greatly annoying the infantry who had two men killed by it during the afternoon.

25/9/16 11.00 p.m.       Enemy are continuing work very actively in front of Petit Bois.  Strong concrete dugouts are being constructed and trenches are being strengthened.

Hostile shelling cannot reach our front line here effectively due to intervening crest, but enemy is using heavy trench mortars, his activity in this connection having considerably increased of late.  Lieut J.R. Jamieson, 33^rd Bty has undertaken the task of locating the enemy mortars with a view to arranging a combined action of our T.Ms, 18-pdrs and 6” Hows to shell them out.

45^th Bty shelled an aggressive sniper today, silencing him with 3 rounds.

26/9/16 10 p.m.            32^nd Bty knocked out an O.P. with large periscope at O.19.b.7.6.  45^th Bty registered road bend O.14.a.6.6. and Omnac Farm, O.14.a.2.1. with balloon observation.

Hostile searchlights active during last night.

27/9/16 11.10 p.m.      At 5.30 p.m. a hostile kite balloon adrift was attacked by our aeroplane and brought down at 5.40 p.m. in a mass of flames in the vicinity of N.31 *** at 165 T.B. from N.13 c.1.9 (Centre Group Hdqrs.)  This balloon had drifted here from Bapaume (30 miles) with a German Officer clinging to a rope under the basket.  *******

28/9/16 9.30 p.m.         33^rd Bty fired 12 rounds retaliation at request of infantry.  Otherwise no artillery activity in this group.

29/9/16 11 p.m.            Remainder of this page is unreadable and the next page is missing.