A.A. Laporte Payne letter 5 March 1917.

B.E.F.

France.

March 5^th 1917.

Darling,

The post is just going out by wagon so I am sending this hastily scribbled note to you to let you know I am still think of you and hoping for leave – and to send you my love.

So many thanks for your letter, photo, and the box of chocolates. Your letter was what I wanted most and the photos  were a delightful surprise – how well you are looking!  They seem to bring you so much nearer to me.  Thay were just what I was wanting.  The chocolates are much too much appreciated by the Colonel and the Doctor for my liking.  They only arrived to day and already they are nearly finished alas!  Maude seems to have had a bad time.  I hope she is better now and able to accompany you to the Guildhall.  I hear Reg is coming out to France.  I wish he were not.  I am afraid it will make my people worry although a parson can look after himself if he likes but I don’t think Reg will be content with that sort of thing.

Can’t you get a job out here as a typist or something? I will sack one sergeant if you like and you can come to our office.  What a lot of work I should have to do them!  But I am afraid they will not allow them into the firing line – the lady clerks I mean.

I wish you would write nonsense as you call it for hours. I am quite content to read anything you write.  I am developing into such a very bad correspondent that I am quite ashamed of myself – and when I do write I send such feeble attempts at a letter that it is even worse.  Perhaps you know what it feels like to be told to write about such a vast subject that anything that is written looks silly.  It is like writing an essay on ‘Life’ or something like that.  It is quite impossible for a person like me.  Perhaps someday when I send myself by post I shall make a better attempt to explain in person all what I want to say now and can’t.

Part of my work here is making out leave warrants for officers and other ranks to get home and I suppose if I made bold I could get leave too – now what do you think of me? You will say no doubt that I don’t want to get home or something like that.  But I should not have told you if that were really the case should I?

I don’t like asking the Col just at present as there is a lot to be done and he might possibly say no and then I could not ask again for some time.  That is the selfish reason – and the other reason is that there are several who want to get away for special reasons, relations dying and other such horrors – and I can’t say that I am in want of leave for that reason I am glad to say.  But if I get half a chance I shall put my name forward for leave.  I wonder how I shall be received in Finchley!

We are snowed up again. Isn’t it awful!  The ground will never dry up if it goes on like this.  Nothing can be done in this weather and it is wretched for the fellows in the front line.

We are living in a large empty chateau – it is very cold – the fires don’t warm the place a bit. The Col does not like it at all.  He is a most amusing fellow as he gets so angry about things that can’t be helped.  He is a typical regular soldier.

I hope you are keeping well. No colds or measles.  Wouldn’t it be nice for me if you got ill just as I was coming home!  I should return I think.

I must close now as the post is just going. With all my love & kisses

Ever yours

Archie.

No 27521

Pte. A.A. Smith

1^st Essex Regt.

15^th I.B.D.

A.P.O. (S24)

B.E.F. France

2/3/17

Dear Father

I expect we shall be settled here for a little time; so I shall be pleased to hear from you but do not send any parcels yet.

We had a good crossing & I expect we shall feel more settled when we get used to it again.  Sleeping 14 in a tent so it is a bit of a squash but it helps to keep us warm.

Well there is very little news I can tell you.

Pleased to say I am quite well & hope you are all in the best of health.

With much love

From your

Devoted

Son

Letter to Rev. R.M. Laporte Payne 2 March 1917

Embossed address and black edged.

Moss Bank,

Nether Street

North Finchley, N.

March 2^nd 1917

Dear Mr Laporte Payne,

My husband thanks you for your kind letter, and we should be very grateful for you to remember our dear boy in your service on Sunday afternoon, his name **** Douglas French 2^nd/Lieutenant 6^th City of London Rifles, and he was killed in action on Sept 15^th 1916 at High Road, Fleurs.  His last message written in his diary on the night of the battle was as follows.

Sept 14^th 1916.

“I am going into action tomorrow and in the event of not returning I would like all my family to know that I go as a soldier and with no sentiments except for breaking the bosche, therefore if they want to see me look at the beauties of England and weep not for me while she is free.  I have no enemies and forgive and ask the same from any I do not know.  If May Edna and Alistair carry on and help Father and Mother, God bless you all.  B. Douglas French.

I should very much like to go to the service, but it will have to depend on the Drs if they will let me go out, as I have not been out yet. Mr F the Gr and the house hold will go.

May I ask if you ever have your memorial services printed, if so I would like to order some.

I had no idea you had a son out there, and please tell Mrs Payne how I feel for you both the anxiety is so great, I know what a mother’s heart feels, and I will daily pray that your sons will come safely back to their loving parents, and that you will have your **** for your measuring mark for the good of mankind. Your kindness and sympathy to us in our time of sorrow we will never forget, if your lips are silent our hearts are full and grateful.

Yours sincerely

Dolly H. French.

WAR DIARY of AA Laporte Payne 1 March 1917

Extracted from

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

Correspondence

—————–

R.P. March 1, 1917.

We are having another move. The day before yesterday I was working in the office doing Adjutant’s work from 9 a.m. to 3 a.m. the next morning without a break.

I see that there is an account of our raid in the “Times” of 28^th February.  It was quite a good raid, and I spent many hours working our part of the scheme out for the batteries.

We are now billeted in a huge empty house, but it is dry at any rate. I do not suppose we shall be long here.

Ref: Boyeffels 36.b S.E.2. 1/10,000 Hazebrouck 5.a. 1/100,000

9^TH Canadian Artillery Brigade Operation Order No 52

By

Lieut. Col. H.G. Carscallen Comdg.

26.2.17

1. The 9^th Canadian Artillery Brigade will march from present wagon lines to old rest billets at Amettes on the morning of the 27^th inst.

1. The starting point will be road junction in Hersin, Q.5.b.8.0. The head of the column will pass the starting point at 0.00 a.m.

1. Order of March:-

Brigade Hdqrs.

33^rd Battery

36^th Battery

32^nd Battery

45^th Battery

1. Route:- Hersin – Barlin – Houdain – Divion – Ferfay.

1. On arriving at Amettes batteries will move independently to their wagon lines.

1. Advanced parties of one officer and one N.C.O. and One horseholder from each battery will proceed in advance to arrange billets.

1. The pace of the march is to be slow with frequent halts. Detachments (drivers & gunners) are to walk the greater part of the way.

1. The unexpended portion of the days rations and forage and one days rations and forage will be carried.

1. The batteries will march with full echelons – 75% shrapnel 25% H.E.

Lieut. Col

Comdg 9^th Brigade C.F.A.

9^th Canadian Artillery Brigade  Operation Order No 51

By

Lieut. Col. H.G. Carscallen Comdg

19.2.17

1. Under instructions from Canadian Corps the 9^th Brigade C.F.A. has been placed at the disposal of the 1^st C.D.A. to take part in a minor operation.
2. The Brigade will march at 7.30 a.m. tomorrow, the 20^th instant to the 1^st C.D.A. area.

1. Route:- Amettes-

1. Cauchy-a-la-Tour
2. Divion-Houdain
3. Barlin
5. The order of march will be,

Brigade Headqtrs.

32^nd Battery

33^rd Battery

45^th Battery

36^th Battery

Starting point as given verbally.

4. Wagon lines Barlin will be selected by 1^st C.D.A.

5. Advanced parties consisting of one officer, one N.C.O. and horseholder per battery, and one officer from Bde Hdqrs Barlin will report at 10.00 a.m. on the 20^th inst at Hdqrs 1^st C.D.A. and will be shown the wagon lines. These parties will meet the Brigade at Barlin and guide the units to their wagon lines.

6. The batteries will march with full echelon, Ammunition to complete establishment will be issued by the D.A.C. as the brigade passes through Calonne Ricquart.

1. The batteries will march with the unexpended portion of the days rations and one days rations.

1. The 1^st C.D.A. have been asked to arrange for the issue of forage on the 21^st inst in the 1^st C.D.A. area.

1. Lines and billets at present occupied must be left in an absolutely clean condition.

1. Before moving into action Battery Commanders will ensure that all ranks have gas helmets, steel helmets, indentify discs, field dressings.

Lieut.

for O.C. 9^th Brigade C.F.A.

SECRET

Ref: Roclincourt 1/10,000

9^TH CANADIAN ARTILLERY BRIGADE  Operation Order No 50

By

Lieut. Col. H.G. Carscallen Commanding

15.2.17

1. In accordance with instructions from R.A., Canadian Corps, systematic night bombardment of roads, communications trenches and billets in rear of the enemy’s lines will be carried out, with the object of harassing the enemy, preventing his getting up rations, ammunition, or material, and generally wearing down his morale.

1. Commencing on the night of 15/16^th instant all objectives detailed below will be fired on nightly by the batteries.

33^rd Battery           Sachsen weg and Bereitschaft Stellung

32^nd Battery           Albrecht Avenue

36^th Battery           Sunken Road, A.18.a.1.6 to A.12.c.35.70.

Ammunition Allowance (each night)

32^nd Battery           A.        10 rounds

AX      56 rounds

33^rd Battery           A.        10 rounds

AX      56 rounds

36^th Battery                        BX      68 rounds

1. Targets will be fired on at irregular intervals with occasional bursts of fire.

1. Reports on targets fired on and enemy retaliation, if any, to be sent in to Group Headqtrs. by an orderly each day, not later than 5.a.m.

Lieut. Col

Comdg CARSCALLEN’S GROUP

SECRET

Ref:

Lens 1/1,000,000

Hazebrouck 1/100/000

9^TH CANADIAN ARTILLERY BRIGADE Operation Order No 49

By

Lieut. Col. H.G. Carscallen Comdg

9.2.17

Relief.             1. The 9^th Canadian Artillery Brigade will be relieved in the line on the nights of 15/16^th and 16/17^th February, by the 5^th Brigade, C.F.A. (Lieut. Col. R.H. Britton.)

One section of each battery will be relieved on the first night and the remaining section on the second night.

Each section on being relieved will march direct to its wagon line.

Guns.               2. Guns will not be handed over.  Aiming posts of batteries that are being relieved will not be removed, and aiming posts to replace those left in position will be taken over from relieving batteries.

Ammunition.   3. All ammunition at gun positions will be handed over to relieving units at 12 noon on the 16^th inst and receipts taken.

Communications.

4. All laid telephone wires will be left intact and handed over to relieving units and receipts taken.

The following will also be handed over receipts taken:-

Artillery boards, secret maps, air photographs, diagrams of communications, defence schemes, trench stores.

Advanced parties.

5. One officer with telephonist per battery of the 5^th Brigade C.F.A. will arrive on the 14^th inst Battery Commanders of relieving batteries will arrive on the 15^th inst.

Sanitation.       6. All gun positions and dugouts are to be handed over in a thoroughly clean and sanitary condition.

Reports.           7. Reports will be made to Brigade Headquarters each night on completion of reliefs.

Lieut. Col

Comdg CARSCALLEN’S GROUP

CONFIDENTIAL

WAR DIARY 9^th CANADIAN ARTILLERY BRIGADE

For the Month of FEBRUARY 1917

PLACE – G.9.b.2.8.

1.2.17.       9 p.m.        Visibility fair.  In the early morning there was considerably hostile T.M. shooting occurred.  Our T.Ms retaliated vigorously and quickly neutralized enemy’s fire.  At 3 p.m. this afternoon 6 hostile planes attacked two of our machines over the German lines.  One of our planes was disabled and forced to land in NO MAN’S LAND.

2.2.17.                         Visibility poor.  Very quiet day on both sides.

3.2.17.                         Visibility fair.  Enemy T.Ms quite active.

Our 4.5s Howitzer Battery bombarded several sensitive points in enemy’s lines with good effect.

4.2.17.                         Visibility good.  Our 18-pdr batteries fired upon and dispersed several working parties.

5.2.17.                         Visibility poor.  In the early forenoon enemy shelled our front line and supports with 77 mm and 4.1s.  Our batteries vigorously retaliated.

6.2.17.                         Visibility poor.  At noon today a hostile machine crossed our lines and succeeded in reaching ARRAS.  At that point he was engaged by our A.A. guns and driven off.

7.2.17.                         Visibility poor.  Both our own and enemy planes quite active.  For about an hour this morning our T.Ms actively bombarded enemy’s front line.

8.2.17.                         Visibility fair.  Both sides were normal today.

9.2.17.                         Visibility fair.  Our T.Ms intermittently shelled German lines throughout the day.  At 12.30 p.m. a small balloon drifted over from enemy’s lines.

10.2.17.                       Our planes were quite active throughout the day.  Our 33^rd Battery blew up a heavily timbered dugout in one of the enemy’s craters.  It was reported that this was used as a Bombing Post.

11.2.17.                       Visibility fair.  One of our 18-pdr batteries engaged an advanced enemy Bombing Post obtaining a number of hits, two of which caused a large explosions.

12.2.17.                       Visibility poor.  Our medium T.Ms carried out a heavy bombardment of the enemy’s lines during the greater part of the day.  Early in the forenoon the enemy lightly shelled the left of our zone but immediately stopped upon our retaliating.

13.2.17.                       Visibility poor.  Both enemy and ourselves were unusually quiet on our zone.

14.2.17.                       Visibility good.  Our Medium T.Ms fired upon and set fire to a dugout in enemy front line.  Enemy aircraft has been quite active.

15.2.17.                       Operation Order No 50 was issued today.  This calls for systematic night bombardment of roads Communication Trenches etc in rear of the enemy’s lines with the object of wearing down his morale.  This will be commenced tonight and carried on until further orders.  An allotment of 76 rounds per 18-pdr battery and 68 rounds per 4.5 Howitzer battery has been made for this task.

In compliance with O. O. No 49 issued on 9^th inst. a section of each of our batteries was relieved by a section from each battery of the 5^th Brigade C.F.A.  The sections which have been relieved marched back to wagon lines at CAMBLAIN L’ABBE.

16.2.17.                       The relief of the 9^th Brigade C.F.A. by the 5^th Brigade C.F.A. was completed tonight.  In accordance with orders received from 3^rd C.D.A. the Brigade moved tonight from present wagon lines to new billets at AMETTES.

17.2.17.                       Brigade in rest.  Syllabus of training carried on.

18.2.17.                                   do                                do

19.2.17.                                   do                                do

Operation Order No 51 issued today which calls for the 9^th Brigade C.F.A. to be placed at the disposal of 1^st C.D.A. to take part in a minor operation.

The Brigade will move off at 7.30 a.m. tomorrow.

20.2.17.                       The Brigade moved today from AMETTES to SAINS-EN-GOHELLE.  We arrived late in the afternoon and immediately went into the wagon lines.

21.2.17.                       Instructions received from Commander of North Centre Group, 1^st C.D.A. for batteries to come in position this afternoon.  Brigade and Battery Commanders went forward this morning to make a reconnaissance of the new position.  All batteries were in position by dusk this evening.

22.2.17.                       Weather very foggy.  As a result we were unable to calibrate our guns but battery commanders visited their various O.Ps and studied the enemy’s lines as well as could be done under the circumstances.

23.2.17.                       Visibility fair.  Our batteries calibrated guns and registered as many points as it was possible.

24.2.17.                       Our 18-pdr batteries were engaged all day on wire cutting tasks.  Our 36^th Howitzer Battery fired in the neighbourhood of 400 rounds at various strong points in enemy’s lines causing great damage to trenches and material.

25.2.17.                       Wire cutting continued.  Our 18-pdr batteries continued on wire cutting tasks with good results.

26.2.17.                       In the morning wire cutting was continued with 18-pdr batteries.  At noon orders were received to vacate gun positions at 4.00 p.m.  All batteries were back in wagon lines by 6.00 p.m. tonight.  O.O. No 52 issued ordering move of brigade from present wagon lines to old billets at AMETTES tomorrow morning.

27.2.17.                       Route March from SAINS-EN-GOHELLE to AMETTES.  The Brigade arrived at the latter point at 4.30 p.m.

28.2.17.                       3^rd C.D.A. notified us today that an inspection of the Brigade would be made on March 3^rd.  Batteries immediately started to prepare for this.

WAR DIARY Of 2/6^th Sherwood Foresters

From February 1917 – To April 1917

Place       Date    Hour                                                Summary of Events and Information

No 6 CAMP HURDCOTT

25/2/17               Bn marches out of Camp.

26/2/17 FOVANT                  Bn entrains and proceeds to FOLKESTONE.

Crosses from FOLKESTONE to BOULOGNE.  Spends night in ST MARTIN Camp.

28/2/17 BOULOGNE            Entrain at BOULOGNE & proceeds to SALEUX (pres d’AMIENS) detraining there & marching to PONT DE METZ.  Night spent in Billets.

1/3/17 PONT DE METZ        Bn marches via AMIENS to GLISY.  Night spent in billets.

9.30 p.m    Bn marches via AMIENS to GLISY.  Night spent in billets.

2/3/17 GLISY                         Bn marches via VILLERS-BRETENNEAUX to WARFUSEE-ABNACOURT.  In billets.

8.30 am     Bn marches via VILLIERS-BRETONNEAUX to WARFUSEE-ABANCOURT.

3/3/17 WARFUSEE-ABANCOURT.           Bn. in Billets.

2.3.17 to 9.3.17                       In billets.

9.3.17                 12.30 pm     Bn marches to FOUCAUCORT.

FOUCAUCOURT

9.3.17 to 15.3.17             Bn in billets.

15.3.17                            4 Platoons attached for instruction to 5^th Bn Leicester Regt.

16.3.17         7.15 pm.     Bn marches to BERNY. N.32.d.8.2 (Map Sheet 62C S.W.) and is attached to 176^th Infy Bde, and takes up position in reserve line.

BERNY   16.3.17 to 19.3.17 In reserve line at BERNY.

19.3.17 9.0 am.      Bn marches to CIZANCOURT via MAZANCOURT and MISERY.

19.3.17 3.0 pm.     Two Companies cross river SOMME and take up positions in Notre Dame Trench (Map Sheet 62C S.W.) U.16.c.4.9. to U.16.a.3.9 and Sauterelle Alley U.15.d.2.3 to U.16.c.4.9.

CIZANCOURT 20.3.17 6.0 pm.        One Company moves to Outpost position in FOURQUES as support to Cavalry.

22.3.17 9.0 am.  Outpost Company withdrawn.  Bn marches via VILLIERS-CARBONNEL to P.C. NANCY on ESTREES-VILLIERS-CARBONNEL Road.

P.C. NANCY 26.3.17 1.0 pm.           Bn marches to BRIE and occupies Bridgehead defences.  Bn. H.Q. at O.28.c.9.5.2.5 (Map Sheet 62C S.W.)

BRIE   27.3.17  2.0 pm.         Bn marches to VRAIGNES.  Bn. H.Q. at Q.19.b.7.3.5.

VRAIGNES 28.3.17 7.0 pm. Two Companies take up outpost position and dig in on line covering Q.4.a.6.1., K.33.d.5.1., Q.22.b.6.9.

29.3.17 7.0 pm. Two Companies out digging support trenches on line to posts at Q22.b.9.9 and Q.17.c.4.5.

VRAIGNES 31.3.17 2.30 am.          Battn left for BERNES and occupied Quarry at Q.4.a.4.2.

BERNES         31/3/17 2.0 pm.          Battn launched attack from ridge Q.4 central and attacked in waves, came under heavy hostile shell fire but carried village of VENDLELLES successfully.  Line pushed forward, and captured JEANCOURT.  10 Prisoners captured.  Battn then took up position from R.1.c.8.5. to R.1.d.2.5.

VENDELLES 1.4.17 11.30 pm.        Two Coys with Battn H.Q. were relieved and returned to BERNES.  Remaining two Coys went in support to 2/8^th Bn. Sherwood Foresters in trenches R.1.d.2.5 to R.1.d.9.1, but rejoined Battn at BERNES at 12.0 noon 2.4.17.

BERNES         3.4.17 7.30 am.           A and B Coys went in support of 2/5^th Sherwood Foresters to VENDELLES returning at 11.0 pm same date.

BERNES         4.4.17 8.0 pm C and D Coys went to VENDELLES and dug posts along line from L.27.c.2.2. to L.33.b.2.1. returning at 1.0 am 5.5.17.

BERNES         6.4.17 9.0 pm Battalion marched to R.9.b.4.5. in support of 2/8^th Sherwood Foresters who attacked enemy positions S.E. of LE VERCUIER.

HANCOURT  7.4.17 3.30 am           Battn withdrawn to HANCOURT into rest billets.

HANCOURT 16.4.17 2.30 pm         Inspection of Battn by Maj. Gen. C.F. Romer C.B. C.M.G. Comdg 59^th Division.

HANCOURT   17.4.17 12.30 pm      Brig Gen F.W. Stansfield Comdg 178^th Infantry Brigade presented Meritorious Service Cards to  Sgt W. Smith, Pte A. King and Pte Rillyald.

HANCOURT   19.4.17 2.0 pm         Battn marched to L.3.c.7.8. and took over the front line from 2/5^th Lincolnshire Regt.

ROISEL           22.4.17  9.0 pm         Battn was relieved by 2/7^th Sherwood Foresters and marched back to ROISEL in reserve.

ROISEL             27.4.17 1.0 am         Battn marched to HARGICOURT ROAD from L.11.b.0.5 to L.11.b.5.0. to deploy prior to an attack on QUARRIES and COLOGNE FARM (L.6.c.4.6.)

The attack was launched at 3.55 am and the QUARRIES were successfully captured and a line was consolidated EAST of the QUARRIES from L.5.d.9.5. to L.11.b.9.9. Seven prisoners and 1 Machine Gun were captured.