With cover addressed to Mr. T. Smith, 100, Arcadian Gardens, Wood Green, London North.  Postmark unreadable.  German censor stamp obliterated by “Opened by Censor P.W. 918. London postmark Sep 21. 18.

Kriegsgefangenensendung

Englischen Kriegsgefangenen

Private Alfred A. Smith

53^rd Machine Gun Coy:

Nummer 27521

Stammlager Friedrichsfeld

Deutschland

E.K.6

July 22^nd 18

My Dear Father,

I am very pleased to have the opportunity of writing you a few lines, but I expect if you compare my letters you will find it is the same each time as we are still anxiously waiting for letters from home; you can guess what a grand day it will be when the mail does arrive as it is over four months now since we were taken prisoners but we are still in the land of the living & doing our best to be cheerful.

Well Dad I will start off by making the usual enquiries about the dear old home-land we are always thinking about it & singing ‘take me back to dear old Blighty’ &c which I hope will very soon become true.  How is Wood Green looking?  I expect very nice the country is very beautiful here & would be enjoyable if we had our freedom but no doubt this is a blessing in disguise as there must have been plenty of hard fighting since March, but I would give something to be back with the boys again in some of our good old camps.  I have one pal here who lives in Imperial Rd.

There are two men just joined us who have been prisoners about nine months you ought to see the grand parcels they are receiving through the Red Cross it makes one envious when you see them opening tins of food but of course they had to go through the same as we are at first or even worse as it was the winter when they were captured; but I think we are nearing the turning point now as we have heard there are parcels &c arriving for us at the main camp, but they are not sent on until there is a large consignment of them so I hope to have some good news to tell you before writing again in another fortnight.

Now a few enquiries about yourselves.  I hope you are all merry & bright & quite comfortable in Arcadian Gdns.  I hope Albert, Affie, & Joyce are in the best of health also Ciss, Charlie, & Peter give them all my love when you write or see them.  Have you heard from Albert Taylor lately?  I hope he is safe & well.

I have come to a full stop now cannot think of anything else to tell you.  We had a bit of a sing song between ourselves the other night it helped to pass the time away as it is rather a job to know what to do during the evening not having anything to read.

There is plenty I could tell you if I was home but I must leave that until after the war so here goes for a finish.  Glad to say I am quite well & I trust you are all in the best of health.

With much love to Jess, Ethel, Winnie & yourself let me know all the news when you write.  Take all the care you can & enjoy yourself as much as possible.  Au revoir.

Your devoted

Son

22/9/18

My dear daddy,

Many thanks for your letter dated 13^th.  You seem in good form which is good news to me.  The old adage that no news is good news seems pretty true as applied to the female side of the family, for jaunts to London which you tell me about seem evidence that all is well.  I am glad you had a good time at Mr. Prestons.

The course is over & the students went away this morning. My own students invited me to dine with them last night & we had a very jolly evening together.  I had to make two speeches but got through all right.  I had to rise at the unusual hour of 4.30 a.m. this morning – Sunday morning too – I was detailed to march the officers to the station 3 miles away.  It was a beautiful morning – a full moon till long after daylight.  The dawn was wonderful & I have never seen such weird colouring.  The moon turned green – an extraordinary effect.

Arrived at the station we were treated to a wonderful exhibition of French shunting. There are 3tracks like this illustration The main portion of the train was on C (main) track & there were 5 trucks on A track which had to go on the rear of the train.  He took them one by one from A track & put them on to B & then repeated the process & got them eventually on to C.  A more rag-time affair I have never seen.  All this was done to the accompaniment of blowing whistles & excited shouting.  I saw the shunter propping open one set of points with a brick-end!

However things weren’t so bad really as we got the train off just short of half-an-hour late. They have got a journey of 25 miles to do, but they are due in at 6 p.m. tonight!

I hope you managed to find Win all right. She would be delighted to see you.  I had an amusing & interesting letter from her the other day.

There have just been two excitements in the farm yard. The pond is flooded, & an old hen in a desperate hurry to get to the other end of the yard tried a short cut by attempting to fly across.  She “crashed” half-way & went down like a stone in the middle of the pond.  Later a tame rabbit got loose & was immediately hunted by the dog.  An exciting chase round the yard ensued – the dog after the rabbit & an infuriated madame (who must at least weigh 20 st) after the dog.  Strange to say the dog didn’t win.  Hoping all is well

With very best love to all

Your loving son

Geoff.

In cover to A.W. Allen Esq. Duffield Nr Derby.  Postmarked Army Post Office S35 dated 23 Sp 18.  Passed by Censor No 34** signed G. W. Allen.

19^th of Sept 1918

REPORT ON SHORT SHOOTING
OF ARTILLERY
DURING NIGHT OF 18/19 Sept

The following was reported to me at 5^th C.M.R. H.Q.:-

1. 7.20 P.M. – 6” shells falling short in vicinity of Q.28.b.00.70.
2. Reported to 9^th Brigade C.F.A., 10^th Brigade C.F.A. & 8^th C.I.B. at once.
3. 8.40 P.M. – 3 Gas shells reported from forward as having fallen in vicinity of Q.28.b.00.30.
4. Reported to H.L.O. at 8^th C.I.B., 9^th Brigade C.F.A. and 10^th Brigade C.F.A.
5. 9.20 P.M. –T.M.s reported from forward to be falling short in vicinity of Posts around Q.28.b.10.80. Reported.
6. 9.45 P.M. – Gas shells reported to be falling short in same vicinity as in (1).
7. At 11 P.M. written report timed 10.45 P.M. from Capt. Curran O.C. ”D” Company to the effect that battery reported firing short on Outpost Line at Q.34.c.40.00 – appeared to be gas shell of 18-Pdr. Or 4.5” Hows., also 6” or 8” firing short on same location.9^th Brigade C.F.A. notified by me.NOTE –           Subsequently it turned out that location given in report was a mistake. It should have been Q.28.c.40.00.The following reports were made to me on the subject:-Lieut. DOW 3^rd C.D.T.M. ”Y” Bty.                        Lieut Dow, at my request, went up front to look into the matter and on his return at 5.30 A.M. reported the following:- At Q.28.c.55.25 he located the hole made by one of these shells which had been a “dud”. He dug a hole and came to the shell but did not succeed in getting it out. He thought it was a 6” (certainly bigger than a 4.5”). He feels sure that it was one of the shells he had heard coming over. (He found another hole exactly the same, about twenty feet away from this one) and the men in the post on the road close by, agreed with him that it was owing to noise of unsteady flight which both he and they had noticed. Lewis gun crew in post in position were in charge of Lieut Weldon of “D” Coy.                        This “dud” had hit the ground, bounced, and was lying where Lieut. Dow saw it with its base towards the front. He took a bearing from the shell to the groove it had made when it struck and found it to be 274 Deg. Magnetic.                        Lieut. Savage ”C” Coy 5^th C.M.R. whom I saw at Battn. H.Q. at 8 A.M. 19^th said:- About 7 P.M. 18^th he was at Q.28.b.10.95. in front of his platoon H.Q. when a shell which made a big explosion, and he judged to be a 6” How fell at approx 22.d.20.40.                          When he saw shells he was standing at approx. Q.27.b.20.30. The shells were coming from his left rear. Sgd. Robertson Fleet, Lieut
8. L.O. 5^th C.M.R.
10.                         When at about 9.15 P.M. it was reported by Lieut. Savage that T.M.s were firing short into his platoon area, he sent for the T.M. Officer (Stokes) who has a German T.M. firing from about Q.21,d.80.40. This officer said that it could not be his gun that was firing short but Lieut Gifford told him to stop, and after that there was no more trouble forward from T.M.s.
11.                         LEIUT GIFFORD – “C” Coy O.C. said that at about 7 P.M. (18^th) he saw from the rise behind our Outpost line our shells falling short in the vicinity of Q.22.d.30.00 to Q.22.d.20.40. Whole battery firing more right and 1 gun appeared wild and short. Big explosion – probably 6” How – Ran back and telephoned battn.
12.                         At about 9.15 (he thinks) our own T.M. bombs began to fall all around in his area – about 15 rounds in all – most of them “duds”. Telephoned Battn. H.Q. and Lieut Gifford of”C” company and T.M.s ceased firing.
13. 2 or 3 guns apparently of same time were firing battery fire about 1 minute in vicinity of Q.28.d.50.30. In all 3 or 4 shells, all apparently from same How fell in the vicinity mentioned, the nearest about 25 Deg. North of Post at 22.d.30.00. seemed to come from rear and slightly left. He ran back and telephoned Battn. H.Q. Guns stopped at that time. Lieut. Savage thinks shells were coming from about Due West. At about 7.30 P.M. when in his post at 22.d.30.00 this officer observed 3 gas shells (our own) drop short at approx. Q.28. Central. He could not tell what calibre they were. The nearest Post to this is one at Q.28.c.70.65 Lieut. Savage telephoned Battn. H.Q. about this and no more fell than he saw.
14.                         (With regard to the 6” shells, Lieut Dow feels sure that they came from the direction of due West).
15.                         Lieut Dow investigated also the “dud” shell mentioned in report of Capt. Curran. It was an 8” but had evidently not come in that night. He said that the man at the post informed him that it had come in the night before (Lieut Short of ”A” Coy, was in charge of that post on the night of 17/18^th.
16.                         He visited Battn. H.Q. at 4 A.M., 19^th and said that about 8.45 P.M. (18^th) he was on road in Q.27.d. at approx 1005 when three successive shells passed over his head and fell in vicinity of Q.28.c.40.05. Very small burst. The How. which was firing appeared to be located to his left rear as shell was passing overhead on his left as he walked towards where it was falling.
20. 3 shells dropped short during night, also several during evening. One “Dud” reported by Runner as about an 8”.

REPORT ON OPERATION NIGHT 13^th /14^th

In support of 4^th C.C.M.Rs

OBJECT         To establish posts on the West side of the Canal on our Brigade Frontage.

Our barrage opened up at 12.20 a.m. and was reported by the Infantry to have been most satisfactory in keeping down M.G. fire from each side of Canal bank.  Infantry advanced meeting with very little opposition and succeeded in establishing posts according to plan.

When our barrage opened up enemy retaliated about 400 or 500 yards West of the Canal his fire was fairly heavy and scattered along this general line 77 and 10.5 being principally used.  Time between the opening of our barrage and the commencement of the enemy’s barrage 4 minutes.  It took the enemy nearly 15 minutes before his barrage became heaviest.

Infantry casualties 2 killed and 2 wounded.

Initialled. Unreadable

Lieutenant

for Major

A/O.C.9^th Canadian Artillery Brigade

Embossed Government notepaper with Coat of Arms.

c/o British Embassy

Rome

16^th Sept 1918

My dearest Lillie,

I hope you are both flourishing. This has been a charming day- no heat – and I would feel kindly disposed towards everyone if only my pay would begin to come in.  I am due £100 in allowances alone from the Admiralty at the end of this month!  I am beginning to wonder if I shall ever get it, and I am sending out ultimatums and S.O.S. in all directions.  My Bankers have been very decent in allowing me to draw up to the amount of the pay I am legally entitled to get (exclusive of allowances) and they are doing their utmost to get the War Office to pay up the arrears of my salary.  My allowances should come from the Admiralty.  Of course it will be settled one day and then I ought to get a handful of money.

I left my Hotel about a fortnight ago and took a room near the Villa Borghese. I get my meals provided in my room.  The whole thing costs only 8 ½ lire a day.  That is very cheep for Rome.  Prices are shocking here now.  It did not matter to us as long as the lire was worth about 6^d but whereas in May we used to get 45 lire for the £1, we now only get 30 lire for the £1, and the prices of commodities remains the same.  I am going to try to be transferred to the Military Mission soon, as the work should be more interesting, and there would not be so much difficulty about my pay &c.  my position at present is so anomalous, it is very difficult to get things settled, as the Admiralty have got to get the approval of the W.O. for everything, and it takes ages to get things done.  I am afraid this letter is very uninteresting, but I like to tell you how things stand.  Of course I am very happy and enjoying every moment of my stay in Rome.

Write soon please

Best love to you & Anna

from Willie

With cover in On His Majesty’s Service envelope postmarked ARMY POST OFFICE L.8 17 SP 18. Addressed to Miss de C. Dillon M.T. ASC No 1 Reserve Depot, Grove Park Lee London S.E. 12. Redirected to c/o Mrs Creagh, 3 Ormond Terrace, Dalkey Co Dublin Ireland.

Censor mark No 253 signed W. Dillon

REPORT ON RAID BY 42^ND BATTALION NIGHT 11^TH/12^TH.

OBJECT.-       To re-establish post in Q.34.b.  Zero hour 9.05.  Barrage well spaced, bursts low and reported very effective.  The 42^nd Battalion succeeded in establishing posts at Q.34.d.05.95 and Q.34.b.20.40. and also a group of posts at Q.25.d.50.20.  These posts have cut off the post in Q.34.b. which was the object of the raid.  The Infantry were, however unable to get into the Brick Kiln owing to heavy machine gun fire.

During the operations the enemy put up numerous split greens and two Golden Sprays, retaliating fairly heavily on our front and in P.30., Q.25. and Q.36.

No further details are available to date.

sgd H. Webster Lieut

for Major

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

G35/4

September 13^th 1918

TO/ Major Cosgrave,

Cmdg. 9^th Brigade C.F.A.

Dear Cosgrave,

The barrage was excellent.  During the intense period it kept the Hun’s Machine Guns absolutely down.  He opened up as soon as the intense firing stopped.

We were able to establish posts along the bank but did not succeed in kicking a pocket of Huns out of the Kiln as further operations would have prevented the relief, which was in progress, before daylight.

Many thanks for your cordial assistance.

Signature unreadable

Lieut Colonel

Cmdg 42^nd Canadian Battn. R.H.C.

Has permission to travel by boat & train

If a General Mobilisation is ordered every soldier on pass must return immediately to his unit without waiting for instructions

No.           Transport & Workshop Coy

Regiment. M.T. ASC

PASS                  Women’s Legion

No.     –   (Rank)………….. (Name)… Miss L. Dillon

Has permission to be absent from his quarters, from after duty Tuesday Sep 17^th 1918           to 9 AM Friday Sept 27^th 1918 for the purpose of proceeding to Dalkeny Co Dublin.

(Station) Grove Park

(Date) 13-9-18

J.B. Lidstone

2^nd Lieut A/Adjt

for OC Transport & Workshop Coy

No 1 Res M.T. Depot, GrovePark

With cover addressed to Mr. T Smith, 100. Arcadian Gardens, Wood Green, London North.  Postmark unreadable.  German censor stamp 47.  OPENED BY CENSORP.W. 969. stamp. London postmark Sep 12. 18

Kriegsgefangenensendung

Englischen Kriegsgefangenen

Private Alfred A. Smith

53^rd Machine Gun Coy:

Nummer 27521

Stammlager Friedrichsfeld

Deutschland

April 23^rd 18

My Dear Father,

At last I am able to write you a letter & you may guess it is a great pleasure as I know you must be worrying about me but glad to say I am quite safe & well as you see by the address a prisoner of war was captured an March 21^st your moving day I thought about you.  This is the first time we have been allowed to write & you can just imagine we are all very busy to-night we are allowed to write two letters a month so I must get you to let Albert & Ciss know I am quite safe.

Well Dad I hope you are in the best of health write at once & let me know I also want a parcel but I will speak about that in a few minutes. How do you like your new house I suppose you are nearly straight now I hope Jess, Ethel & Winnie are well & all getting along merry & bright.

I should not advise you to try & speak German or I am thinking you might dislocate your jaw. We go out to work each day up in the woods but do nothing on Sundays we are being treated very well but of course there is no chance of coming home now until after the war which I hope will be long one great thing we are out of all danger from shells &c we have finished with fighting.

Well now I will start on the parcel as I am just longing for some goodies as there is no chance to buy much now. I will start on the list:- Cake, Biscuits, Chocolate, Quaker Oats, Tin Golden syrup, Cigarettes & Soap I don’t know whether you will be able to send all these things but whatever it is will be very welcome.  I expect you will find out at the Post Office what you can put in & how to send it or else through the Prisoner of War Fund.  It is rather a cheek on my part to suggest it but I was thinking if Albert or Ciss was going to send anything you might be able to arrange it so that I get about one each week I hope they will not mind my mentioning this but it would be best to have them come at equal times as near as possible.  A magasine [magazine] or some thing to read would be very useful but no newspapers.

Cannot think of any more news to tell you this time I shall be anxiously waiting to hear from you. I hope Albert, & Affie, & Joyce are quite well also Ciss, Charlie, & Peter give them all my very best love & kisses for Joy have you seen them lately I want to hear all the news tell them I will write the first opportunity.  So Cheerio & keep the home fires burning as I think we shall all be home in a few months & we will have a good time then.

With much love to you all.

From your

Devoted Son

Alf

P.S. There are several of my friends here captured at the same time so I am not amongst strangers.

9^th Canadian Artillery Brigade

Sept 10^th 1918

REPORT ON WORK OF FORWARD SECTION ON AUGUST 27^TH/28^TH 1918

(45^TH BATTERY)

On the morning of August 27^th I was ordered to take the Left Section of the 45^th Battery forwards to H.36.a.10.75. which I did, and took up a position in support of the 58^th Battalion.  I established communication by telephone with the Battalion Headquarters, visited them frequently throughout the day, and remained with them during the night of August 27^th, and the morning of the 28^th, while Lieut H.B. Devine remained with the Section.

We fired 628 rounds on various targets, including BOIRY NOTRE DAME, JIGSAW WOOD, ARTILLERY LANE AND HATCHET WOOD and PELVES. Enemy concentrations, reported at HANDLAIN ROAD, were engaged by our guns.

There were 2 – 77 cm. guns in a position at H.26.a.30.90 with parts missing from both.  But after some difficulty we succeeded in getting parts enough to put one of these into action and on the night of August 27^th/28^th fired 125 rounds from this gun on HAMBLAIN, RIACHE ST. VAST and ETERPIGNY.  On August 28^th and night of Aug 28^th/29^th 150 rounds were fired on VITRY-EN-ARTIOS, the low ground and roads round HAMBLAIN and SAILLY-EN-STREVENT and ETERIGNY.  On August 29^th and the night of Aug 29^th/30^th 350 rounds were fired on VITRY-EN-ARTOY SAILLY and roads west of ETAING.  Of the total 625 rounds fired from this gun, about 30% was gas, (Blue, Green and Yellow Cross) the remainder being about evenly divided between shrapnel and instantaneous H.E.  This exhausted nearly all the ammunition at the position and the crew was called in on August 30^th.

The gun worked exceedingly well, being easy to lay and handle, and running up well at all ranges. It was very steady and the gunners found it was not necessary to relay after every shot but that three or four could be fired without any appreciable error.  Only the first two shots were observed, the remainder being fired entirely from map.

(sgd) L.B. KINGSTON, Lieut

45^th Battery C.F.A.