Gerald Benham’s notes from diaries

4 September 1916 Promoted T/Major with effect from 3 Sept & second in
command. Attended Aunt Louise funeral.

SECRET
Copy No …..
4th September 1916

20th DIVISION OPERATION ORDER NO 98.

1. H.Qrs and two Battalions of the 49th Inf. Bde will relieve the 59th Inf. Bde and attached units tonight.
2. Arrangements for this relief will be made between Brigade Commanders.
Officers of these two battalions will make themselves acquainted with the trenches beforehand.
The 59th Inf. Bde will collect and hand over all trench stores, maps and dumps to the incoming units.

3. On relief being effected the 59th Infantry Bde will concentrate at CARNOY.
The H.Qrs of 59th Bde will be in camp near CARNOY.
The H.Qrs of 49th Bde will be at BRIQUETERIE.
On relief units of the 61st Bde attached to the 59th Bde will move to CRATERS. On arrival there the latter units will come under the command of the Brigadier General 59th Bde.

4. The Field Company and Pioneers attached to the 59th Bde will not be relieved until the morning of the 5th September. They will then be relieved, under orders of the C.R.E. the Field Company returning to its Bde. Group, the Pioneer Coy returning to its Battalion.
5. Medical Units attached to the 59th Bde will not be relieved at present.

6. The 49th Bde. on taking over will detail a permanent garrison for GUILLEMONT South but inclusive of MOUNT STREET, which is a defensive locality and should be strongly held.
O.C. 96th Field Coy will advise and assist. Arrangements made and garrison detailed should be reported as soon as completed.

7. In view of the complexity of the situation G.O.C. 59th Bde will issue strict orders that no troops are to leave their posts until relieved by troops of 49th Bde.
8. Completion of relief will be notified by wiring the word “FLARES” and time to this H.Qrs.

9. Until relief is completed command of the Right Bde. Sector will be vested in G.O.C. 59th Brigade.

10. Acknowledge

(sd) C.A.MILWARD, Major for
Lieut. Colonel,
General Staff, 20th Division.
Issued at 4 p.m.

Distribution overleaf.

Copies to:-

No. 1. XIV Corps (G),
2. XIV Corps (Q),
3. 5th Division.
4. 7th Division.
5. 16th Division.
6. 47th Brigade.
7. 48th Brigade.
8. 59th Brigade.
9. 60th Brigade.
10. 61st Brigade.
11. C.R.A. 24th Divn.
12. C.R.A. 6th Divn.
13. C.R.E.
14. A.D.M.S.
15. A.P.M.
16. 11th Durham L.I.
17. Adv. “Q”.
18. A.A. & Q.M.G.
19. XIV Corps H.A.
20. 9th Squadron R.F.C.
21/24. Retained.
25. Signal Coy.
26. 49th Brigade.

SECRET Copy No …….
4th September, 1916

20TH DIVISION OPERATION ORDER NO 97

Ref – Trench Map LONGUEVAL Sheet,
57 c S.W. – 1/10,000.
GINCHY – GUILLEMONT Map 1/5,000.

1. The 7th Division have consolidated parties in several houses in GINCHY and are fighting their way from house to house.

2. At 6.30 p.m. the barrage which will start 200 yards E. of the GINCHY – WEDGE WOOD ROAD, will again become intensive and creep forward at the rate of 50 yards a minute. Under cover of this the 5th, 20th and 7th Divisions will push strong patrols, with Lewis guns, forward to the line S.W. corner of LEUZE WOOD – T.20.a.6.5. The patrols from 20th Division will be found from 59th and 60th Inf. Brigades.

On reaching this line the patrols will establish themselves thereon and will at once be supported. The ground then seized will be consolidated. Special parties should be told off to bomb up the trench from T.20.c.2.6. to T.20.b.7.3. and to secure the QUARRIES at T.20.d.2.1.

The Heavy Artillery will arrange to bombard all these objectives.

3. The 9th Squadron R.F.C. will detail 2 contact aeroplanes to be in the air from 3.15 p.m. to 6.15 p.m. and one after that hour until dark.

4. Flares will be lit on reaching the objectives and at 6.45p.m.

5. The boundaries between Divisions and brigades will be as stated in paras. 5 and 6 of Operation Order No 90 (Revised copy).

6. Strong points will be constructed at the following points:-

Right Brigade – QUARRY T.20.d.2.1.
Road T.20.d.2.5.
Left Brigade – Trench junction T.20.a.6.5.

7. To assist in the construction of these points and the consolidation of the line, 2 sections 84th Field Coy R.E. will be placed at the disposal of 59th Inf. Bde. and remaining 2 sections of the same coy at the disposal of the 60th Inf. Bde. A working party of 100 infantry will be provided to assist the R.E. allotted to each brigade. these two parties will be provided under arrangements made by C.R.E.

8. O.C. 20th Signal Coy. will synchronise watches at 4.30 p.m.

9. ACKNOWLEDGE

(sd) R.H. JAMES Lt. Col
for Lieut Colonel
General Staff 20th Division
Issued at 3 p.m.

Distribution overleaf.

Copies to:-

No. 1. XIV Corps (G),
2. XIV Corps (Q),
3. 5th Division.
4. 7th Division.
5. 16th Division.
6. 47th Brigade.
7. 48th Brigade.
8. 59th Brigade.
9. 60th Brigade.
10. 61st Brigade.
11. C.R.A. 24th Division.
12. C.R.A. 6th Division.
13. C.R.E.
14. A.D.M.S.
15. A.P.M.
16. 11th Durham L.I.
17. Adv. “Q”.
18. A.A. & Q.M.G.
19. XIV Corps H.A.
20. 9th Squadron R.F.C.
21/24. Retained.
25. 20th Signal Coy.

Copy No …24.
4th September 1916.

20TH DIVISION OPERATION ORDER NO 96.

1. In continuation of G.893, 4th September the 48th Inf Bde will relieve the 47th and 60th Brigades tonight, and will take over all trench stores, maps and dumps provided for these Brigades. Arrangements for this relief will be made between Brigadiers. Officers of the 48th Brigade should make them selves acquainted with the trenches beforehand.

On relief being effected the 47th Bde will concentrate at CARNOY, the 60th Brigade at TRONES and NEW GUARDS TRENCHES and units of 61st Brigade attached to 47th Brigade will move to CRATERS. On arrival there of the latter units will come under the command of Brigadier 61st Inf. Bde.

2. Headquarters of 61st Brigade will be at CARNOY, Red House.
Headquarters of 47th Brigade will be at CARNOY & BRICK ALLEY.
Headquarters of 60th Brigade will be at BERNAFAY WOOD.
Headquarters of 48th Brigade will be at DUMMY TRENCH.

3. The Field Coys. R.E. and Pioneers attached to the 47th Brigade will not be relieved until the morning of the 5th Sept. They will then return under orders of the C.R.E. to CARNOY, the Field Company rejoining its Brigade Group there.

4. Medical units attached to the 47th and 60th Brigades will be relieved under instructions which will be issued by the A.D.M.S.

5. The 48th Brigade on taking over will detail a permanent garrison for GUILLEMONT North of MOUNT STREET which is organised as a defensive locality and stronghold. O.C. 83rd Field Coy will advise and assist. Arrangements made and garrison detailed should be reported as soon as completed.

6. In view of the complexity of the situation G.Os. C. 47th and 60th Infantry Brigades will issue strict orders that no troops are to leave their posts until relieved by troops of 48th Brigade.

7. Completion of relief will be notified by wiring the word ”Flares” and time to this Headquarters.

(sd) R.H. JAMES Lt. Col.,
for Lieut. Colonel,
General Staff 20th Division.
Issued at 1.30 p.m.
Copies to:-
Distribution overleaf.
Less 6th Bn. Oxf & Bucks L.I.

Copies to:-

No. 1. XIV Corps (G),
2. XIV Corps (Q),
3. 5th Division.
4. 7th Division.
5. 16th Division.
6. 47th Brigade.
7. 48th Brigade.
8. 59th Brigade.
9. 60th Brigade.
10. 61st Brigade.
11. C.R.A. 24th Division.
12. C.R.E.
13. A.D.M.S.
14. C.R.A. 6th Division.
15. A.P.M.
16. 11th Durham L.I.
17. Adv. “Q”.
18. XIV Corps H.A.
19. 9th Squadron R.F.C.
20. A.A. & Q.M.G.
21/24. Retained.
25. 20th Signals.

SECRET
Copy No ……
4th September 1916

20TH DIVISION OPERATION ORDER NO 95.

1. The XIV Corps will renew the attack today.

(a) At 3.10 p.m. the 5th Division will attack the line B.2.d.4.8. – WEDGE WOOD and the trench from T.26.c.4.5. to T.26.a.8.5½.

(b) The French Corps will simultaneously attack the trench from ACK HANGER WOOD to B.2.d.4.8.

(c) The 7th Division will simultaneously clear up the situation in GINCHY.

2. Subsequently, the exact hour being notified later, the 5th and 20th Divisions will capture the line LEUZE WOOD – T.20.a.6.5., the dividing line between Divisions being the N.W. corner of LEUZE WOOD (T.26.b.8.8 ½.)

3. The 48th Brigade will detail two Battalions for this attack and will assemble in GUILLEMONT and the SUNKEN ROAD T.25.a. before 4 p.m. Dividing line between battalions the road GUILLEMONT – COMBLES inclusive to the right battalion.

4. On gaining the position the troops will entrench themselves.

5. The C.R.A. 24th Division will arrange for a creeping barrage between the GINCHY – WEDGE WOOD ROAD (T.20.a.1.5. – T.26.a.1.5.) and the objective.

(sd) R.H. JAMES Lt. Colonel,
General Staff, 20th Division
Issued to Signals at 8.30 a.m.

Copies to
1. XIV Corps (G), 13. C.R.E.
2. XIV Corps (Q), 14. 11th Durham L.I.
3. 5th Division. 15. A.D.M.S.
4. 7th Division. 16. 20th Signals.
5. 16th Division. 17. A.P.M.
6. 47th Brigade. 18. A.A. & Q.M.G.
7. 48th Brigade. 19. Adv. “Q”.
8. 59th Brigade. 20. 9th Squadron R.F.C.
9. 60th Brigade. 21/25. Retained.
10. 61st Brigade.
11. C.R.A. 24th Division.
12. C.R.A. 6th Division.

Gerald Benham’s notes from diaries

1 September 1918 Moved to Somme – Merr***

Alfred George Richardson’s Diary September 1916

HEDAUVILLE.

Friday 1^st September 1916:     Cold, windy day.  Tons of mud in lines.  Couldn’t keep warm.  Weather “no bon”.

Saturday 2^nd September 1916: Wet, cold day.  Delivered 266 A, 38 AX to C/247 batty at 6 pm.

HEDAUVILLE.

Sunday 3^rd September 1916:   Terrific artillery bombardment, followed by infantry actions.  “The Glorious 3^rd Sept”.  49^th Divisional infantry opposed by a stubborn resistance.  Failure in front of Thiepval. – Hot shop.

Monday 4^th September 1916:  4 am to B/247 – 400 A.  3 pm to B/247 114 A, 38 AX.  Heavy day.

HEDAUVILLE.

Tuesday 5^th September 1916:  Showery.  Artillery fire terrible beyond words.  Went to “Tykes” at night.  Splendid performance.

Wednesday 6^th September 1916: 456 A, 152 AX to A/247 at 8.30 am.  Many Boches aeroplanes visit us.  Two (2) bombs dropped on dump.  3 men slightly wounded, 4 horses wounded one having to be shot.  Got there practically first.  Pieces of bomb as souvenir.

HEDAUVILLE.

Thursday 7^th September 1916: A quiet day.  Fine weather; gun fire never ceases.  Tremendous “straffe” at night.

Friday 8^th September 1916:     Delivered 304 A, 76 AX to C/247 Battery at 7 am.  The Boche sent 16 balloons over our lines with newspapers containing slanderous matter etc.  Got one as souvenir.  Anti-aircraft fire at them.  Great joke.

HEDAUVILLE.

Saturday 9^th September 1916: Rose at 7.30 am.  Fine day.  Heavy Artillery bombardment never ceases.  Received 684 A 228 AX from 49^th Dump 7 pm.

Sunday 10^th September 1916: Rose at 7.45 am.  Glorious day.  Great artillery duels.  456 A 152 AX to A/247 at 1.30 am.

HEDAUVILLE.

Monday 11^th September 1916:  Fine day.  Artillery at it in early hours.  Nothing doing rest of day.  Busy with nominal rolls of sect etc.

Tuesday 12^th September 1916: Delivered 228 A 76 AX to C/247 Batty at 1.30 am.  Glorious morn up.  Very fine but ghastly sight over        towards THIEPVAL.

HEDAUVILLE.

Wednesday 13^th September 1916: Cold morning, early on.  Received 228 A 228 AX from Dump at 6 pm.

Thursday 14^th September 1916: Delivered at 11.30 am to A/247 Battery: – 228 “A” 172  “AX”.  “Heavy” artillery duel.  Nothing doing   much at MESNIL.

HEDAUVILLE.

Friday 15^th September 1916:   Awfully cold morning.  2 Boch aeroplanes over, but no bombs.  Fine in middle of day.  “Heavies” at it all        morning, great artillery duel.

There are no further diary entries after 15^th September 1916.

H.E. WITTY Sep 16

18^th SIEGE BATTERY R.G.A.

1. Section

1^st September 1916.  Friday.  Stayed in trucks overnight and left for Fricourt (German 1^st line before advance) 10 A.M.  (Met everything *** “pertaining to war on our march).  Albert Statue plainly visible.  Spent day getting in stores with lorry – slept in German dug-out.  This dug-out excellently constructed about 20’ underground – reached by two flights of steps.  Connected with next dug-out by a small tunnel.  Remains of dead bodies everywhere.

2^nd September 1916.  Saturday.  Extra hard day near Mametz Wood (German 2^nd line defence).  Preparing dug-outs in chalk hill.  This will undoubtedly be a long affair.  Gun position being prepared near our dug-outs.  German prisoners pass constantly.

3^rd September 1916.  Sunday.  Strenuous day – turned out at 5.45 a.m. and walked with Mr. Mallins to O.P. in front line trench near Martinpuich.  Present at attack on High Wood – too thick with smoke from German guns to distinguish details.  Had a good view of mine explosion which was signal for the attack.  Our vicinity heavily shelled.  Twice hit with fragments of shell.  Mametz Wood a mass of ploughed ground – also surrounding country.  Contalmaison non-existent.  Odour from dead bodies.  Phew!!!

4^th September 1916.  Monday.  On telephone – had my first attempt at washing.  Rain in morning but fine rest of day.  Fricourt Wood shelled.  NO MAIL.  Wrote R.  Shelled FRICOURT CIRCUS.  BOTTS’ visit from Albert.

5^th September 1916.  Tuesday.  On telephone – weather variable.  Very cold.  Nothing doing thro’ bad weather.  Letter from Douglas.  ANS.

6^th September 1916.  Wednesday.  On telephone and lines – badly broken.  Walked to Becourt Wood (2 ½ miles) for an open air shower bath.  Splendid.  Discovered some huge “Minnies” 10” diameter in a dug-out.  Good mail.  Letters Pa, R., Mary and home.  Papers home and Scott.  Fine day.

7^th September 1916.  Thursday.  On telephone – also on lines in afternoon.  No 1 Position heavily shelled.  Hit on hand with a splinter of shell.  60 Pounder got away safely.  NO MAIL.  Weather dry but overcast.

8^th September 1916.  Friday.  On telephone – also on bty line.  Completed dug-out and then learnt we were leaving at 4 p.m.  Travelled to Meaulte and reached Maricourt about midnight.  Letters R., Kathie and book from Miss R.

9^th September 1916.  Saturday.  Worked on gun unloading shell cartridges etc until 5 a.m.  Had two hours rest and then put in 4 hours laying lines.  Met 45 Siege on same loop as us.  Expecting a big shoot subject to good weather.  First acquaintance with ”ARMADILL”.  Conversation with Lors soldier – sad case of wife and girl.  Weather fine.  Went into action but only fired 12 rounds owing to faulty recoil buffer.

10^th September 1916.  Sunday.  On telephone 3 a.m. – slept splendidly last night in bivouac.  Laid a line to 45 to get through to H.Q. – Line to 83 broken repaired after tea.  Saw remains of 9.2.  Enormous crater.  Neighbourhood heavily shelled.  Little damage Loss of Ginchy.  NO MAIL.  Weather fine and warm.  “The Garrisons’ Deathtrap” Maricourt.

11^th September 1916.  Monday.  On telephone – unable to shoot owing to ineffectual observation.  Received orders to pack up and depart tomorrow.  Fine day – Letters R., Ma home, N.T., Humberstone and Gladys.  Ans.

12^th September 1916.  Tuesday.  On telephone 3 a.m. to breakfast – also 9 a.m. to 12.  Standing by to fire 40 rounds to E. of Combles in support of French.  Observation from Balloon failed.  Received orders to move out at 1 o’clock.  Day fine but cloudy.  “Shelled at Latrine at 2 a.m.” Ugh.  Moved to new siding.  On telephone.  Letter from Mr. Woodthorpe.

13^th September 1916.  Wednesday.  On telephone 3 p.m.  Expecting to fire 40 rounds in support of the French attack.  Fired 1 rd at 7.25.6.  New CB idea to fire from many bties so that shells fall at one time.  NO MAIL.

14^th September 1916.  Thursday.  A great day.  Left at 7 p.m. for LEUZE WOOD O.P.  (200 yds from Germans – in front of our 1^st line).  Passed thro’ Hardicourt and had view of GINCHY and COMBLES.  Horrible sights en route.  Heavily shelled all day – especially when repairing line.  Hit in groin with a piece of shell – most painful.  Hostile balloon brought down – in flames.  Great activity.  What does it portend?  MAIL; Pal & letter (R.).  Letters N.T. and home.  Ans tomorrow.

15^th September 1916. Friday.  Grand attack on LEUZE WOOD front – great successes.  1^st use of the “Armadill” – conflicting reports re their advantages.  3000 Yds advance.  Saw many wounded both English and German.  Cavalry reported in action.  We fired many rounds on MORVAL and LES BOEUFS.  On telephone in morning.  Glorious day.  Balloon breaks away – descent by parachute.  NO MAIL.

16^th September 1916.  Saturday.  On telephone most of day.  Reported success at Les Boeufs and MORVAL.  Grand French advance – in action all the day.  Case of the Zouave and the letter to his officer’s wife.  Fine weather.  NO MAIL up.  Case of pea-soup.  (code).

17^th September 1916.   Sunday.  On telephone Mallins at 0.P. with Caller, Gill, Candlin.  Knight returned to duty.  Great shoot on the quadrilateral – very dull – 92 rounds fired.  Mail up.  Letter R.  Papers home and Scott.  P.C. Gilbert.  ANS.  A few shells fall in vicinity of camp one just missing the telephone hut.

18^th September 1916.  Monday.  On telephone 3 a.m. – very rainy morning – in action 5.50 a.m.  Fired 9 rounds on MORVAL.  Quadrilateral captured after our preparation.  Heavy rains make bivouac life most unpleasant.  Letter from Ira.  Major idea that I should be B.C.s assistant to help him with his calculations.  Thanks of the Infantry.

19^th September 1916.  Tuesday.  Heavy showers today but mainly fine.  Recover from my attack of diarrhoea which has been troubling me for the past 36 hrs.  Laid a line to m.c. in French lines.  Line laid to north of Ginchy.  Expectation of big shoot for tomorrow.  Postponed.  Letters R., Peg.  Ans.  Saw French ammunition ‘Dump’ go up.  Some sight.  Laid line to M.C. in French line.

20^th September 1916.  Wednesday.  On telephone 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. (fine & moonlight but intensely cold.  Am a little better off then Scroogs clerk as I warm myself a little with the Primus.  On M.C. line twice in morning & afternoon – drenched – visit of the General.  No mail.

21^st September 1916.  Thursday.  Big shoot – fired 110 rounds in preparation for tomorrow’s attack on Les Boeufs and Morval.  Aeroplane observation – fine day – rather chilly but sunny.  Walked down to the Loop for Kit (4 miles).  No Mail.  Bombardment postponed.

22^nd September 1916.  Friday.  On telephone 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. & then on line to C.M. (in French lines).  Lovely sunny day – cool.  Enjoyable after last night’s bitter cold.  Fired 34 rounds on”Sunken Road” near Les Boeufs.  (Aeroplane and balloon observation).  Fritz retaliates.  One shell falls 3 yds off amn (Dud) while another just misses gun and explodes 4 yds away.  Poor Stemp killed instantly.  Had a narrow escape one falling just short of telephone hut and covering me with dirt.  Acted as Major’s assistant today.  Hope the job continues.

23^rd September 1916.  Saturday.  Off duty today but went out to repair M.C. line.  Another lovely day.  Good Mail.  Letters N.T., Home, Scott.  Paper Scott.  ANS.  Inspection of gun by I.oM. who condemns it after yesterday.  Camp again shelled during the night.

24^th September 1916.  Sunday.  Expecting to move back to Loop.  Very little doing.  On telephone.  Mail.  Letters Kathie and Alice.  Another fine day.  1 detachment for amn fatigues.  On night duty.  Moving tomorrow.

25^th September 1916.  Monday.  Getting lines in before removing at 10 a.m.  packed up and moved to Loop.  Had a ride in train up to Mountauban.  Letter R.  Parcels R. (letter from Ma) and Mother.  ANS.

26^th September 1916.  Tuesday.  Finally settled down after a good night.  .  Barney goes sick with a crocked ankle.  Another fine day.  Saw many prisoners and wounded Huns yesterday.  Reported capture of LES BOEUFS and MORVAL.  Saw some 2000 prisoners – rather poor specimens.  Very different from those I saw dead in the Sunken Road     GINCHY.  NO MAIL.

27^th September 1916.  Wednesday.  Had a good night.  Heard from French soldiers that COMBLES had been taken.  Heard of the capture of THIEPVAL, GOURDECOURT and COMBLES.  Neighbourhood bombed last night by two Taubes.  NO MAIL.  Showery.

28^th September 1916.  Thursday.  Fine with occasional showers.  Good news still pouring in.  Spent day in the ‘office’.  Letter from R. ANS.   No further news of COMBLES.  BRAY shelled with little damage.  Letter from Gilbert.  ANS.

29^th September 1916.  Friday.  Spent the day with Clements in the ‘office’.  Barney’s ankle broken (Court of Enquiry).  Day wet and unsettled.  Heavy firing up Combles way.  Letters N.T. & Home.  Ans.

30^th September 1916.  Saturday.  Fine day – very windy.  Another busy day in ‘the office’.  Leave commences today.  Turner and Cousins.  Letter R. Dorothy and papers from home.  Our old pn. very heavily shelled.

War Diary of AA Laporte Payne

EXTRACTED FROM.

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

Correspondence

—————–

September 1916.

NEW ORGANISATION.

The Brigade was reorganised in Six gun batteries, and became a Brigade of two six gun batteries instead of three four gun 18 pdr. batteries. B Battery was split up between A/175 and C/175, and the latter battery renamed B/175.

SEPTEMBER 1, 1916.

The weather has been truly awful this last week. For two days it rained continuously.  One night I spent in the trenches, living like a water rat, and I felt like one.  The dug-out or what passes for one in this area leaked badly, and my silly servant opened my bedding, and when I turned in I found a large pool in the middle.  Cursing is ineffective for drying blankets.

We have ceased moving about for a bit, and after living in caves and holes in the ground the battery personnel is housed in a farm-house, and the guns in pits under the trees of an orchard, firing over a country lane much to the surprise of the unaware passers-by. Certainly the house is a dilapidated one and full of holes.  But there is one fairly good room though small.  One side boasts of panelling of sorts, and to cover up blemishes I am having it painted with white enamel with a blue edging.  So it will look a bit more cheerful.  At present we lack furniture, but looting will cure that defect.

We have returned to our old area. I have left my old battery and am now in a six gun battery, but in the same brigade, A Battery.  The battery commander is an old Etonian and “shop” boy.  He will now be a major.  The subalterns are all regulars.

The battery is still in the line, and we do some firing when the spirit moves us; but it is very quiet. I am going into the town of A… this afternoon for tea at the tea shop.

Last night I watched the infantry rations come up. It was most amusing.  The major wanted them to come up sorted ready for distribution in the G.S. wagons.  But no!  What has been must always be.  Such is the army way.  Rations must come up in bulk and the division made after dark where they are unloaded.  The usual confusion followed.  The orderlies seemed to chuck the rations in the air like small boys with nuts and scramble for them.  Result, some men had two loaves, some two tins of bully beef, one had all the company’s salt ration.  Another man looking miserable was asked by the O.C. what his trouble was, and replied that he had his dry ration of tea, but could find no water.

On the way up the relief had discovered a French civilian lying with his head on the metals of a railway which had not been used for two years. He must have been trying to wreck a train due for the next advance.  The party did not know what to do with him.  Can’t you imagine their consultation in the dark?  And the varied advice offered?  Eventually they took him along with them for some distance.  At last the officer in charge discovered a civilian in his ranks.  So as they could not possibly take a civilian into the trenches with them they lost him on the way.  He must have been mad or drunk, the civilian, I mean.

The flies worry us a lot here too, but they are not as bad as they were in the south. There they were big and fat drunken looking blue and green things, and seemed to be every where.  Here we also get mosquitoes, which love feeding on us.

The old routine has begun again, but it seems worse now after all our recent excitement.

Have you read “The Great Push” by Patrick McGill? I have sent for a copy.

R.M.L.P.

September, 3, 1916.

A/175, Bde. R.F.A.

B.E.F.

I am now with a six gun battery, and in accordance with the Colonel’s orders second in command.

At present we are living in an old and broken down farmhouse just outside a small village. There is one small but fairly watertight room which we use for a mess.  It is panelled and we are painting it white with a blue border.  The ceiling is also white and the beams black.  Two polished cartridge cases serve as the only mantelpiece ornaments.  One wall is papered with maps.  We have looted some chairs, a table and a carpet.

The O.P. is quite near by, but does not afford a very good view, and is certainly not watertight. However I have had worse.

It is somewhat of a relief to get away from the south. Our artillery were there longer than most other troops.

One of my best friends, Haydon by name, an old Marlborough boy and a good officer, was killed only two days before we left while acting as Liaison Officer.  He went up into the trenches and was never seen or heard of again.  He was an excellent fellow.  It was bad luck going through that time only to get killed at the last moment.  He was in our battery for some time.  Another officer, who was the Colonel’s Orderly Officer, was killed early on.  Two F.O.Os were casualties on the 1^st July.  One, Hickman, was killed.  I understand he was shot when wounded by a Boche.  The other was badly wounded in the stomach, and is now in England.  I suppose I am lucky.  I was knocked over once and scratched, but nothing very serious.  Well, it is something to have been through.  Now we are out of it we can look back with some pride and say, “I was there.”

R.P.

September 5, 1916.

I am now in A Battery, to which all letters should now be sent.

The weather is typical Flanders weather.  It always seems to be raining.  In contemplation of a winter here we are trying to make ourselves as comfortable as possible.  We have removed the horrid French stove in the mess together with its iron chimney, and chopped away the plaster and exposed the brick.  It looks quite nice and I hope will give a good fire.  The woodwork is being painted white.  The windows are a problem as the glass is all broken, and it will be difficult to find unbroken panes.  We need some chairs too.  But I have no doubt we shall find some in the houses in the neighbourhood.

As ornaments brass cartridge cases when polished do very well with an old enamelled ginger jar. We must do something to cover up the atrocious wall paper.  On a shopping expedition last Saturday the B.C. and I bought a lamp, table cloths, and other requisites of civilization.

Today I am up at the O.P., but there is very little doing as it is pouring with rain.

Have you seen any moving pictures of the Somme battles.  I hear they are worth seeing.  We do not come into any, but I saw an operator one day.

R.P.

September 11, 1916.

The Thatched Cottage,

(at least it was once.)

What a fuss they are making at home about the Zeppelins, and the fellow who was lucky enough to bring one down. I understand it is contemplated erecting a large monument.  It would be better to use the money for other purposes, for instance the wounded and disabled soldiers after the war.  When the danger is all over they will be forgotten.  We can hardly expect this war to be an exception from the rule of other wars when the returned soldier stank in the nostrils of civilians.

Our mess is now furnished with a round table, two arm chairs, and four small chairs, and large oak chest, three earthenware jars, and one solitary picture.

At present things are very quiet here, but there is plenty to do as we are one officer short.

It is raining hard this afternoon again.

After our meagre fare on the Somme we are indulging our appetites a little.  A little greediness may be excused.  The other night we had for dinner: Sardines and olives; mock turtle soup; curried prawns; Roast beef with potatoes, cabbage and beans; fruit salad and cornflower; anchovies on toast; cheese and biscuits; your melon (most acceptable) and grapes (the contribution from home of another member of the mess); and coffee.  For drink we had French red wine, beer, liqueur brandy and whiskey.

Another blessing is that we can get our washing done decently, and not by one’s servant, badly and only occasionally.

There is hardly any night firing either, and we can now get a good night’s sleep.

So you see we are in luck’s way. Of course it is as it used to be when we were first here, but the comparison after the Somme makes it so different.

My clothes are sadly dilapidated. I am still wearing the old service jacket I had when I first joined two years ago.  It will be pleasant to wear mufti again.

Then the gramophone is nearly worn out and makes scratchy noises, but it still has to go on duty every evening.

SEPTEMBER 14, 1916.

“THE THATCHED COTTAGE”

FRANCE.

We are glad to be in a “house” again. I have put its name on my letter.  Some one painted it up the other day, but he was rather off the mark, as there is not much thatch left now.  Other names have been suggested, e.g., “Au retour du Somme”, or “The Berkeley”, or “Porty’s Estaminet” or even “Au Reve de Blighty”.  This place is not merely a house.  There is the usual courtyard with the usual square brick manure pool, which we have filled in with earth, and planted with rose bushes.  It was necessary.  Then there is a delightful orchard full of shell holes at any rate.  There are also two or three barns where the troops sleep and nibble their biscuits by way of rations.  Last but not least there is what looks like a lodge at the entrance where the officer’s mess cook presides over tin plates and broken glass.  These hereditaments deserve, I think, the description of park or demesne.  Further description I may not give you, for you may be a German spy.

The other evening I was alone in the battery, sitting in proud but lonely occupation of our mess, and feeling more or less contented (unusual), and censoring letters (usual), when bang! A 5.9 landed right in the middle of our estate. My first reaction usually urges instant flight.  On this occasion I actually hesitated.  How could I leave the precious mess we were trying so hard to make decent and comfortable to the hard hearted 5.9. H.E.? On second thoughts, however, I fortunately realised that it would be better to save myself, as I could not put the mess in my pocket and run away with it.  I dashed out shouting the necessary orders to leave the buildings, but the place was deserted.  Even the officer’s dinner was left to look after itself.  It is always best to leave bricks and mortar when H.E. is flying about.  No, you are wrong, quite wrong, for after a few rounds, doing no more harm than cover the place in dirt, and churn up a bit more of the orchard, and without hitting the precious mess, the Hun left off.  Delicately, like Agags, the troops came trickling back.

The cooler weather has settled the flies for us; but I would rather have flies than the cold of today. I am at present perched on two bits of wood in the rafters of the top attic of a house (Moat Farm), and supposed to be observing.  The wind is cold and high.  It is raining hard, and the water comes in through the roof.  On my right is a 60 pdr.  Observing officer using most vile language; on my left is a 4.5 How. ditto pretending he likes it.  Down below whispering together are our respective signallers or telephonists and look out men.  When the rain clears, the everlasting buzzing of field telephones will begin again, and the monotonous repetition of “’ullo, ‘ullo, Battry, ‘ullo, ‘ullo”, till the light quite goes.

My horses are not bad, but nothing like the chestnut I used to have, which got killed by the Boche. The old thing is buried near here.  I am glad I am with the guns in this weather.  The wagon lines would drive me frantic.  I might take care of three or four horses in this weather, but when one is responsible for keeping two hundred in good health and well groomed and the harness clean with too few drivers to do the work it is a melancholy job.  In such conditions personally to superintend in pouring rain early morning stables, the watering of horses four times a day in meagre troughs, and other wagon line work in open muddy fields is hardly exhilarating.  I prefer the excitement of the gun-line.

You ask me what I think of Patrick MacGill’s book “The Great Push”. Not much.  I am suspicious of all war books.  It is not possible to describe for those who have not been here what the war is like because there is no common experience, and words are inadequate to convey impressions of it to another.  There is also the writer’s bias, which usually tends to give another wrong ideas.  The emphasis is of too high or too low.  Ian Hay is cheerfully optimistic, leaves out the horrors, and writes for maiden ladies or boys.  His presentation is not true.  MacGill, on the other hand is realistic, but dwells on the horrors disproportionately.  Certain incidents are not perhaps overdrawn but life here is not a continuous series of such incidents.  While the war is on I do not see the use of writing such books, for they only upset those whose men are out here without being able to alter things in any way.  The idealistic books are of far more value while the war is on.  We should make the best of conditions while it lasts, and so hearten people.  But I daresay he wants to make some money.  Even MacGill has to be reticent about some things.  “The battle line is a secret world, a world of curses.  The guilty secret of war is shrouded in lies, and shielded by bloodstained swords; to know it you must be one of those who wage it, a party to dark and mysterious orgies of carnage.”  It sounds silly doesn’t it?  But still there is something in it.  So why write about it?  It is certainly a contrast to the rot journalists write in the daily papers.  He describes Loos.  One day stronger language will have to be used about the Somme.

For the rest he is sometimes inaccurate. By “star-shells” he means “Very Lights”; few cellars are safe; cats don’t “croon love songs”; concussion shells are usually called “High Explosive” or H.E. for short; and all soldiers do not get drunk the night before they “go over the top”.  Finally gunners do not sleep all day, and they do not organise “strafes” of their own free will without being ordered to do so.

Now you see what a wet day in the line can produce.

R.P.

September 16, 1916.

We are still in our Thatched Cottage. Things are getting much more lively here now.  Excellent news comes from the Somme, but I always feel now that I have to discount a good deal of what one hears.

The weather is still bad, and it is much colder now. Our bedroom requires considerable renovation, especially as all the windows are out.  There is no proper door either.  The wheeler must do something about it.

R.M.L.P.

September, 16, 1916.

The Thatched Cottage

France.

I am told I am getting blasé and easily bored. I admit it.  But I never am when I get the chance of killing Boche.  It is far more exciting than killing pheasants because, I suppose it is more dangerous.  But the job is not so easy.  One has to keep cool and send to the battery some sort of intelligible orders, “5 minutes more right, add two five, Corrector 160, repeat.”  That sort of thing.

The weather is as usual beastly, and now it is getting cold.

We had a dinner party the other night. It was as follows, Sardines and olives, bottled mock turtle soup, tinned fish, joint and three vegetables, tinned fruit sweets, savoury of anchovies on toast, three kinds of wine, fruit, coffee and cigars.  We do not dine like this every night.

SEPTEMBER 21, 1916.

From Bois Grenier the Brigade moved to Houplines and came under the orders of the C.R.A. Frank’s Force.

This Force relieved the 51^st Highland Division in the line.

M.F.L.P.

September, 23, 1916.

We have left our happy home, and moved again. They cannot leave us alone.  We moved out at three hour’s notice, and were clear in ¾ of an hour.  Then we marched eight miles.  As we could not move until it was dark, we were rather late in turning in.  We had to leave our precious mess, and it was the staff who robbed us of it and not the Boche.  We went into action in another place two nights afterwards in quite different surroundings.  Still we have an excellent billet with plenty of furniture.  We each have a bedroom with doors still on, which is unusual.  We are short handed, one officer away and one short.

SEPTEMBER 30, 1916.

34^th Division carried out a raid with the Mushroom Salient as the objective, and captured one prisoner.

SEPTEMBER 30, 1916.

There are people who write “How fine and jolly it must be giving the Germans a good hiding”. This was actually written to one of our officers the other day.

The Y.M.C.A. are doing a great work out here. Of all institutions for helping the troops they are the best.

You seem to be having an exciting time with Zepps in London now; but they seem to have a rotten time when they arrive.  I suppose more heroes will be getting V.Cs and untold wealth.

The Boche after all did not deprive us of our mess. It was our wonderful Staff who did that.  They moved us out at an hour’s notice.  Now we are in another part of the line.  (Houplines).  We have a large billet (a factory), and much more furniture.  I have a large bedroom to myself.  Two officers are away.  One was posted elsewhere, and the other is on leave as he had not been home since last November.  But leave for the rest of us has now been stopped just as we were hoping to get away.  Of course all the Staff and the A.S.C. have theirs regularly.  Poor things!  They do have such hard work and nerve shattering times in their offices and chateaux and seaside towns behind the line.  We cannot grudge them their little relaxations.

The Captain is away and I am in charge with only two subs to help in all there is to do. The Colonel has been worrying on the phone all the morning; numerous notes have been arriving from various higher commands; the men are getting slack and lazy.  I have lost half my kit and the rest is not fit to wear.  The weather is getting much colder.  I was up late last night or rather this morning playing bridge.  Now I have sore ribs from falling down a big hole in the road the other night with the B.C. on top of me.  We were coming back in the pitch dark from dining out (in Armentieres).  No we were quite sober!  But we were walking along what used to be the pavement when it suddenly ceased in a big shell hole.  I fell in first.  And twelve stone on top finished me.  Such is my tale of woe.

But still today is fine. It is getting nearly time for the mail to arrive, which it does soon after dark.

So tennis is still going on. Heavens!  I have not seen anyone in whites this year, except the B.C. in his wonderful “robe de nuit”.

One or two famous institutions run by civilians have closed down owing to the unwelcome attentions of the Boche, but the tea shop carries on though depleted somewhat of its former glory.

I have discovered a delightful old oak chest well carved. Unfortunately it has been covered with cheap varnish.  This is now being scraped off by various members of the mess with bits of glass, at odd moments.  How I hate varnish.  It is of the same moral category as eye-wash much in evidence in H.M. Army, especially among the higher ranks.

CONFIDENTIAL.                                                                                          MS/H3631

Franks’ Force R.A. G/69

175^th Bde. S/39

Headquarters,

2^nd Army.

In future the Victoria Cross or other immediate reward will not be given for the rescue of wounded, excepting to those whose duty it is to care for such cases.

Such attempts, more often than not, result in the death of would-be rescuer and rescued. Moreover, it depletes the fighting strength of Units perhaps at most critical moments.

Please communicate this decision to all concerned as soon as possible.

(sd.) W.E. PEYTON, Major General,

Military Secretary

to Commander in Chief.

General Headquarters,

29-9-16.

2.

Headquarters

2^nd Anzac

Passed to you for information and communication to all concerned.

(sd.) J. Knowles, Major,

A.M.S., Second Army.

2^nd Army

30-9-16

(175^th Brigade  Right Group, R.A. Franks’ Force 5-10-16

Addressee T. Smith Esq., 24, Palmerston Rd., Bowes Park London N. England

Passed Field Censor 1555. Signature unreadable.

Sept 26^th 16

Dear Father

Just to let you know I am still jogging along alright, although still in bed.  I cannot say that I feel very ill but the doctors know best.  I don’t expect it will do me any harm to stop here for a bit although it gets rather tiring.

We came here last Saturday had 11 hrs ride in an ambulance train.  It was packed.  I had the middle bed so I had a good view of the country the first time I have had a chance of seeing much of it was we travelled at night when we went up the line.

I am very close to “Blighty” now. It is only the water in between but I don’t think I am bad enough to get over to England worse luck.

I expect I shall be convalescent in a few days & I shall probably be there long enough to give you an address to write to. I shall be very pleased to get some news again.  I come off alright for new laid eggs now.  Always have one for tea.  They are tres bon.

Well I think I must conclude now.

I hope you are all in the best of health.

With much love from

Your devoted

Son