Category Archives: 1918

F. Springett post card 2 March 1918

FIELD SERVICE POST CARD

 

Mr S. K. Springett,

29 Bath Road,

Dartford

Kent England

 

Postmark Field Post Office 5X A 11 MR 18

 

NOTHING is to be written on this side except the date and signature of the sender. Sentences not required may be erased. If anything else is added the post card will be destroyed.

 

I am quite well.

I have been admitted into hospital sick wounded and am going on well and hope to be discharged soon.

I am being sent down to the base.

I have received your letter dated telegram parcel

Letter follows at first opportunity

I have received no letter from you. Lately for a long time.

 

Signature only Frank S

Date March 9 1918

 

 

 

Alf Smith letter 1 March 1918

March 1st 18

 

My Dear Father

 

I hope you are quite well & keeping merry & bright; glad to say I am in the pink although rather fed up but still that’s a soldiers privilege to grumble.

I have been expecting to hear from you for sometime, have not had a letter since I came back only the two Pictorials; but possibly they have been delayed as the post has been very small lately or there may be something waiting for me as we are up the line at present, & yesterday was the first time any letters were sent up so I am looking forward to a big budget when we go back.

What sort of a time have you been having lately no air raids I hope?  It is farely quiet here & the weather is very nice; the worst trouble are the rats they are as big as elephants but still when you are right tired it takes more than that to trouble you.

Have you heard from Southend lately I had a letter about a fortnight ago & one from Charlie about the same time I hope they are all well.

Cannot think of much news to tell you so must finish now.

Au revoir.

With much love

From your

Devoted

Son

 

With envelope to Mr. T. Smith, 24 Palmerstone Rd., Bowes Park, London N 22 England.  Postmarked FIELD POST OFFICE 25 3 MR 18.  Passed by Censor 1392 stamp.

War Diary of 9th Canadian Artillery Brigade February 1918

CONFIDENTIAL

 

WAR DIARY Of 9th CANADIAN ARTILLERY BRIGADE

 

From February 1st 1918 – To February 28th 1918

 

 

HALLICOURT

1.2.18 to 22.2.18    The weather continued fair and mild.  Batteries took advantage of the weather and were able to carry on with the Syllabus of Training.  Besides the regular drills the 45th Battery had a very instructive day in open warfare.  The Brigade made a very creditable showing in a Route March on Wednesday afternoon February 6th headed by the Piper Band of the 42nd Canadian Battalion.  The Brigade carried out Map Reading tests on Saturday afternoons, mounted, in which the 33rd and 36th Batteries did particularly well.  The men were entertained to many very fine moving picture shows in the local Cinema Theatre, which consisted of a lofty French barn with excessive ventilation.  On Thursday evening February 14th a very good concert was put on in the above Opera House, by Brigade talent.

O.O139 was issued February 18th with regards to the relief of the 2nd Canadian Division Artillery by the 3rd Canadian Divisional Artillery in the AVION-MERICOURT Sector, the 9th Brigade relieving the 5th Brigade C.F.A. on the 22nd instant.

On the 21st Feby the brigade marched to new wagon lines at LA TARGETTE and were inspected by the C.R.A.  The 33rd and 36th Btys made a very creditable showing.

 

S.10.d.9.6.  23.2.18              The enemy’s artillery and Trench Mortar activity slightly above normal.  Considerable movement observed in N.28.34 and 35.  Our low flying aeroplanes were active firing into enemy trenches in the AVION Sector.  Batteries carried out considerable harassing fire throughout the night on the points w[h]ere movement was observed during the day.

 

 

 

24.2.18            Hostile activity was slightly above normal during the past 24 hours.  Movement was again observed in N.28 and 35.  Our planes very active throughout the day, and were energetically engaged by enemy A.A.s.  One E.A. crossed our lines at 12.30 PM.

 

25.2.18              Minor Operational Order No. 1 was issued today with reference to a proposed raid by the 52nd Canadian Battalion on the AVION front for the purpose of obtaining identification and destroying three dugouts.  The 33rd 45th and 31st Batteries detailed to take part.  The night proved too bright and the raid was postponed.

The enemy’s artillery and trench mortars were active in the forward areas. MELVILLE ROAD and the BULL-RING again showed considerable movement.  No enemy aerial activity.  Our planes very active throughout the day.  The morning was misty owing to slight rain, clearing in the afternoon.

 

26.2.18            Enemy’s artillery and trench mortar activity quiet.  A great deal of movement is still being observed in the BULLRING.  Enemy’s aeroplanes fairly active.  One of our planes was brought down in the vicinity of MERICOURT.

Our patrols made daylight reconnaissance in front of AVION entering the enemy’s lines and returned without being discovered. During the night the 52nd Battalion raided the enemy’s trenches about the same spot meeting with considerable opposition, capturing a M.G. and causing six casualties to the enemy.  We had a few slightly wounded.

 

27.2.18            Enemy’s artillery more active than usual, the forward areas receiving a considerable amount of scattered shelling; T.Ms remaining quiet.  Constant movement still being observed in the BULL RING.  Two E.As flying low, patrolled our lines between LENS and VIMY.  Our low flying machines fired many drums into the enemy’s front line between MERICOURT and AVION.  Visibility in the morning – fair.  Afternoon – good.

 

28.2.18            Enemy’s artillery quiet.  Our batteries very active sniping movement on our front.  Considerable train movement observed in the direction of MONTIGNY.  Four E.As attempted to cross our lines during the day but were turned back by our patrols and A.As.  Our planes showed considerable activity throughout the day and night.  Our bombing planes were engaged by the enemy’s A.A. batteries firing chain lights and phosphorus sprays.  Visibility was indifferent, owing to sleet.  Some bright spots during the day.

 

 

Major

A/C.O. 9th Canadian Arty Brigade

War Diary of 2/6th Sherwood Foresters for February 1918

WAR DIARY Of 2/6th Sherwood Foresters For February 1918

 

 

Place       Date    Hour                                                Summary of Events and Information

 

Fighting Strength 52 Offs  936 O.R.s

MAGNICOURT-SUR-CANCHE

H.10.d. (Sheet 51c) 1/2/18 to 4/2/18             Battalion in Rest.  Brigade, Battalion & Coy training carried out, also training of Additional Specialists.

H.4.d                      5/2/18  11.20 am.           Brigade inspected by G.O.C. VI Corps.

5/2/18 to 7/2/18                                             Battalion and Company training carried out.

GOUY en ARTOIS   8/2/18 10.15 am.          Battn proceeded by march route to GOUY en ARTOIS, Q.13.c.

DURHAM CAMP 9/2/18 10.10 am.             Battn proceeded by march route to DURHAM CAMP S.11.a.

MORY L’ABBAYE 10/2/18 10.0 am.          Battn proceeded by march route to MORY L’ABBAYE B.22.a

11/2/18                           Battn relieved 21st Middlesex Regiment in front line running from U.21.a.75.10 to U.20.B.40.80.  Sheet 51b S.W.

B.21.d (Sheet 57c NW) 23/2/18 7. pm.         Battn relieved by 2/5th Sherwood Foresters and proceeded by march route to NORTH CAMP, MORY B.21.d.

24/2/18 to 25/2/18             Battn on Working Parties.

Sheet 51 B SW     26/2/18  5.45 pm.              Letters A & C Coys proceeded to Railway Reserve (24.d.7.5) to construct accommodation for Reserve Bn. in Brigade Sector.

28/2/18 6.0.pm.                 Battn H.Q. & Letters B & D Coys proceeded to 25.b.3.4

 

Fighting Strength   53 Offs   883 O.R.s.

 

All entries countersigned K.F. Bunting

War Diary of 20 Siege Battery for February 1918

WAR DIARY of 20 Siege Battery for February 1918

 

Place       Date    Hour                                                Summary of Events and Information

 

FEB

10th                  No 276082 Sergt WILMER H. awarded Belgian CROIX DE GUERRE.

16th                  2 O.R wounded.

17th                  Major LGRFH BELL admitted Hospital sick.

24th                  Lt. H.L. PAUL, R.G.A. (T.F.) joined Battery from England

27th                  1 O.R. wounded.  Destruction shoot by 8” How (2 guns) in Forward Battery position.

Tactical

1400 rounds fired during month in destructive shoots on Hostile Batteries. 7 OKs & 21 Y days ranging. Battery neutralised on several occasions. Battery positions as on Jany 1st

Officers throughout the month as in January, with addition of Lt. H.L. PAUL from 24th Feb

 

MARCH 1918

MARCH 1918

Western Front

The Allied leaders finally did what they should have long before and named a supreme commander for the Western Front. A conference was held at Doullens on the 26th March 1918, with ten Allied politicians and generals present. Their choice was French Marshal Ferdinand Foch and he was appointed on the 26th March 1918 to counter Erich Ludendorff’s German Spring Offensive, Foch unselfishly loaned French troops to the beleaguered British and the Allies weathered Ludendorff’s spring storm until American troops began to arrive in significant numbers.

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Operation Michael – The Spring Offensive

With the signing of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk between the Central Powers and Russia, on the 3rd March 1918, the German army had available thousands of experienced troops. These troops would be deployed as reinforcements on the Western Front as part of the Spring Offensive. Operation Michael was a major German military offensive launched from the Hindenburg Line that began the Spring Offensive on the 21st March 1918. Starting from Saint-Quentin the goal was to break through the Allied lines and advance north-west to seize the Channel Ports, which supplied the British Expeditionary Force (BEF). Chief of the German General Staff, General Erich Ludendorff, changed the plan and headed due west along the British front north of the River Somme. The plan was to separate the French and British armies, by capturing the strategically important town of Amiens.

The Battle of St. Quentin began on the 21st March 1918, along a 60 km (40 mile) front. The German artillery bombardment began at 04.35 and lasted for five hours whereby over 3,500,000 shells were fired. The British front line was badly damaged. When the German infantry assault began at 09.40 they had mixed success. The 17th and 2nd Armies were unable to penetrate the Battle Zone, but the 18th Army reached its objectives. Early in the afternoon the German infantry broke through reaching the Battle Zone. The first day of the battle had been costly for the Germans, who had suffered more than 40,000 casualties, slightly more than was inflicted on the BEF. The attack had failed to isolate the Flesquières Salient. On the 22nd March 1918, British troops continued to fall back but the biggest danger facing the British was the 3rd and 5th armies might become separated. The first French troops entered the battle on the southern flank. During the daylight retreat British Engineers blew up both canal and railway bridges, but the Germans were soon able to cross the canal and advanced to the Crozat canal. Early on the 23rd March 1918, the Germans had crossed the Crozat canal and the British were retreating across the southernmost edge of the 1916 Somme battlefield. By the evening the German infantry were beginning to show signs of exhaustion, and their supplies and heavy artillery were lagging behind the advance. On the 24th March 1918, the British front line was badly fragmented and highly fluid, as the remnants of all divisions were fighting and moving in small bodies. By nightfall, the British had lost the line of the Somme.

The First Battle of Bapaume began in the late evening of the 24th March 1918, after enduring unceasing shelling, and Bapaume was evacuated. The whole of the British Third Army had retired seventeen miles (27 km). The new line, consisting partly of old trenches and partly shallow ones dug by the men themselves, started at Curlu on the Somme and ran past places well known during the first Battle of the Somme, and then extended north to Arras. Fresh British troops had been hurried into the region and were moved towards the vital rail centre of Amiens. The German breakthrough had occurred just to the north of the boundary between the British and French armies. The new focus of the German attack came close to splitting the British and French armies. As the British were forced further west, the need for French reinforcement became increasingly urgent. After three days the German infantry were exhausted and the advance slowed down, it became increasingly difficult to move artillery and supplies over the Somme battlefield of 1916 and the 1917 area vacated by the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line. German troops were surprised when they examined abandoned British supply dumps and they found the Allies had plenty of food despite the U-bout campaign. During a late night meeting between the British commander-in-chief Sir Douglas Haig and the French commander-in-chief General Pètain on the 24th March 1918, Pètain informed Haig  the French were preparing to fall back to protect Paris, if the German advance continued. Haig requested a conference to resolve the French/British positions and the Doullens conference took place on the 26th March 1918. The British movements on the 25th March 1918 were confusing with different battalions and divisions being ordered to take up new positions. With the inability to locate anyone anywhere, constant orders were received to retire. The Royal Flying Corp (RFC) flew sorties at low altitude in order to impede the German advance, where they were particularly active west of Bapaume. Rear-guard actions by the cavalry of the Third Army slowed the German advance and the British had ordered a further retirement beyond the Ancre.

The Battle of Rosières was fought on the 26th & 27th March 1918. The Germans tried to capture the village of Colincamps, which is on the St. Quentin-Amiens road. The New Zealand forces held Colincamps and were there to fill the gap in the British lines. Twelve British Whippet tanks, which were far lighter and quicker than the Mark IVs, drove away two German battalions who were about to enter Colincamps. Nevertheless, the Germans were able to take the towns of Roye, Albert and Montdidier, but the British were able to hold onto the town of Rosières.

On the 28th March 1918, at the Third Battle of Arras, the focus of the German attack changed again, with the British 3rd Army based around Arras, being the objective. Twenty nine German Divisions attacked the 3rd Army but was repulsed. The German Army east of Arras advanced only 3km (2 miles) during the offensive, largely due to the British advantage on Vimy Ridge, the northern anchor of the British defences. The German operation known as Operation Mars was hastily prepared, to try to widen the breach in the 3rd Army lines but was repulsed, achieving little but German casualties. At the same time, German troops were advancing against the 5th Army, which was located south west from the original front at St. Quentin, had penetrated some 60 km (40 miles) reaching Montdidier. The 5th Army was thinly spread over a 38 mile (61 km) front which was forced into a rear-guard action. They contested every village, field and, on occasions every yard. With no reserves and no strongly defended line to its rear, and with eighty German divisions against fifteen British, the 5th Army fought the Somme offense to a standstill on the Ancre, not retreating beyond Villers-Bretonneux.

The last general German attack came at the First Battle of Villers-Bretonneux on the 30th March 1918, when the Germans renewed their assault on the French, south of the new Somme salient. In the meantime another German attack was being launched toward Amiens against the British. Some British ground was lost to the Germans as they advanced toward Amiens, but the attack was rapidly losing momentum. The Germans had suffered massive casualties during the battle. In some areas the advance slowed when German troops located and looted Allied supply depots. Stubborn resistance allowed the Allied forces to fall back to Bois de Hangar on the 5th April 1918.

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Eastern Front

On the 3rd March 1918, the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed by Russia and the Central Powers. The signing of the peace treaty ended Russia’s participation in the Great War. The treaty was signed at Brest-Litovsk after two months of negotiations. The treaty was agreed by the Bolshevik government under threat of further advances by the German and Austrian forces.  According to the treaty, Soviet Russia defaulted on all of Imperial Russia’s commitments to the Triple Entente alliance of Russia, France and England. Vladimir Lenin, leader of Bolshevik government, requested that the Bolshevik representatives should get a quick treaty from the Germans to bring about an end to the war so that the Bolsheviks could concentrate on the work they needed to do in Russia itself. While Lenin wanted to accept the German peace proposals immediately, a majority of the Bolshevik Central Committee disagreed. The “Left Communists” believed that Germany and the other Central Powers were all on the verge of revolution. They wanted to continue the war while awaiting revolutions in these countries. Thus the Soviet delegation returned to the peace conference without instructions to sign the proposed peace treaty. After a temporary ceasefire, whilst the discussions were taking place, the Germans resumed hostilities on the 18th February 1918, seizing most of the Ukraine, Belarus, and the Baltic countries during Operation Faustschlag. Lenin again pressed for acceptance of the proposed terms. This time a majority of the Central Committee supported Lenin. The Soviet government sent a new delegation with instructions to accept the proposals. On the 3rd March 1918, the treaty was signed, and the new Soviet government agreed to terms worse than those they had previously rejected. In the Treaty, Bolshevik Russia ceded the Baltic States to Germany. Russia also ceded its province of Kars Oblast in the South Caucasus to the Ottoman Empire and recognised the independence of Ukraine. Congress Poland was not mentioned in the treaty, as the Germans refused to recognise the existence of any Polish representatives. The treaty marked Russia’s final withdrawal from the Great War. In all, the treaty took away territory that included a quarter of the population and industry of the former Russian Empire and nine-tenths of its coal mines. Lenin argued that though the treaty was harsh, it freed Bolsheviks up to deal with problems within Russia itself, and Lenin’s pragmatic, realistic approach enabled him to strengthen his hold on the party even more.

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The Balkans

The Battle of Bakhmach was fought from the 8th to 13th March 1918. The city of Bakhmach, in the present day Ukraine, was fought over by the Czechoslovak Legion in Russia and German forces occupying Ukraine. When Russia signed the Brest-Litovsk peace treaty with Germany, it gave up control over the Ukraine. On the 8th March 1918 the Germans reached Bakhmach, an important railway hub and the Legion was in danger of being encircled. The threat was grave because captured legionnaires were summarily executed as traitors of Austro-Hungary. The Assault battalion of the Czechoslovak Army Corps of the Legion, together with the 6th and 9th Rifle Regiments, set up defensive arrangements for the city against the incoming German Infantry divisions. Not only was the fighting for the Bakhmach railway junction, but also for the bridge over the river Desna. On the 10th March 1918, the Czech Legion’s victory over the Germans, by holding the city, led to a negotiated truce. During the truce Czechoslovak armoured trains could freely pass through the Bakhmach railway junction. The Czechoslovak Legion (approximately 42,000 soldiers) set up an escape route from Russia via the Trans-Siberian railway. The armies of Germany and Austro-Hungary began to occupy the land on the 13th March 1918 without much resistance. Losses of the Legion were 145 killed, 210 wounded and 41 missing. An estimate of German losses was approximately 300 dead and hundreds wounded. The Battle of Bakhmach became one of the iconic symbols of Czechoslovakian Legions in their fight for independence.

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Other Theatres

When the Germans launched their spring offensive on the 21st March 1918, they introduced a new weapon to terrorise the people of Paris. The new weapon was the long-range railway–mounted Paris Gun, which could fire shells a distance of 120 kilometres (75 miles). Beginning on the 23rd March 1918, three hundred and three of these huge shells were fired into the city and on the 29th March 1918 one shell struck the St-Gervais-et-St-Protais Church, killing 88 civilians, approximately one third of the total casualties sustained in Paris. The Paris Gun was not a great military success as the 21 metre (69 ft.) long barrel required frequent replacements and the guns’ accuracy was only good enough to hit city-sized targets. The German objective was to build a psychological weapon to attack the morale of the Parisians, not to destroy the city itself. The gun was taken back to Germany in August 1918 as the Allied advances threatened its security. It is believed the guns were destroyed as they have never been found. Another enemy struck Paris in the spring of 1918, even deadlier than the German artillery, which was the outbreak of the European epidemic of the Spanish influenza.

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Mesopotamia and the Middle East

When the British Army captured Jerusalem and Jericho during the Sinai and Palestine campaign in February 1918 the occupation of the Jordan valley began. The Battle of Tell ‘Asur took place between the 8th to 12th March 1918 and fighting was extended over an area from the Mediterranean to the edge of the Jordan valley. General Edmund Allenby’s Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF) right flank was secure but was not broad enough to support the planned operations across the Jordan to the Hedjaz railway. During these operations a general advance on a front of 14-26 miles (23-42 km) was required. The British infantry attacked two separate Turkish defending forces on the 8th March 1918. The British XXI Corps engaged with the Turkish Eighth Army along the Mediterranean coast. The final objective was the line near the ancient town of Arsuf which the XXI Corps took on the 10th March 1918. The Turkish forces evacuated the area on the 11th March 1918 leaving behind 112 soldiers who were taken prisoner and about 40 dead. The main advance by the British infantry was inland against the Turkish Seventh Army on the 8th March 1918. They advanced north astride the Jerusalem to Nablus road cutting off all tracks and roads leading to the lower Jordan Valley. The objective was the capture of Tell ‘Asur. The Tell was a valuable observation post with views extending north to Galilee, east and south east to the Dead Sea, south to Hebron and west to the Mediterranean. It was captured after a heavy artillery bombardment but the position was far from secure owing to a successful counter-attack which was eventually driven off. The final line was captured, on the 12th March 1918, and was found to be overlooked on all sides so a slight retirement to the just south was made and the positions consolidated.  The success of these infantry operations provided a sufficiently large base to support the Transjordan operations which began later in the month with the first Transjordan attack on Amman.

………………….

Following the successful Battle of Tell ‘Asur, the First Transjordan attack on Amman took place between the 21st March and 2nd April 1918.  Firstly the crossing of the Jordan River was successfully captured between the 21st and 23rd March 1918, followed by the first occupation of Es Salt in the Moab hills on the 24th/25th March 1918. The First Battle of Amman took place between the 27th and 31st March 1918 when the Anzac Mounted Division and the Imperial Camel Corps Brigade were reinforced by two battalions of the 181st Brigade followed by a second two battalions from the 180th Brigade and artillery. The Turkish Forth Army headquarters located in Amman was strongly garrisoned and during the battle received reinforcements on the Hejaz railway. Meanwhile, the mounted columns continued marching north and south of the infantry column on to Amman 30 miles (48 km) east of Jericho on the high plateau. Their objective was to effectively cut the main supply line to the north and south of Amman by destroying long sections of the Hejaz Railway. Amman was strongly defended by the Turkish Army and the blown up sections of the railway were quickly replaced to allow reinforcements to continue to arrive and strengthen the defenders. British Empire infantry and artillery reinforcements were also sent forward from Es Salt, both of which took considerable time to cover the difficult terrain.  Although the combined force and mounted troops made a determined attack on Amman, Allied troops were forced to retreat to the Jordan Valley from both Amman and Es Salt when it became clear the defenders were too strong. The operation objectives proved to be almost impossible to achieve and the attacking forces had to retire back to the Jordan Valley between the 31st March to the 2nd April 1918. The Jordan Valley would continue to be occupied by the Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF) through the summer until the middle of September 1918 when the Battle of Megiddo began. The only territorial gains following the offensive were the establishment of bridgeheads on the eastern side of the Jordan River.

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The Action of Khan Baghdadi was an engagement during the Mesopotamian Campaign was carried out on the 26th and 27th March 1918. The 15th Indian Division had been at Ramadi since its capture of the town in September 1917. On 9th March 1918, it advanced and occupied the town of Hit in a bloodless victory, the Turkish forces evacuating without a shot being fired. The next objective along the Euphrates was the town of Khan al Baghdadi, present day Iraq. Most battles in Mesopotamia had been tied to the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers. Securing a proper victory was difficult. In an attempt to break with the usual pattern, the 15th Indian Division were supplied with 300 Ford lorries, the 8th Light Armoured Motor Battery (armoured cars), and the 11th Cavalry Brigade. A mobile blocking force was assembled using divisional infantry in the lorries, the armoured cars, the cavalry brigade, and one of the artillery batteries. This mobile force was sent on a wide flanking march around Khan Baghdadi, and dug in behind the Turkish positions. The remainder of the division then assaulted frontally in the normal fashion, and the Turkish forces retreated from the town. They ran unexpectedly into the blocking force, and their discipline quickly disappeared. The entire force of about 5000 men were taken prisoner. The mobile force was then dispatched further up the Euphrates in the direction the Turkish had expected to retreat. 46 miles further upstream was the settlement of Ana. Here was the main Turkish supply base, which was now captured along with some high-ranking German officers attached to the Turkish Army. This was the last attack on the Euphrates Front.

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March 1918

March 1918

Western Front

26th March                                      French Marshal Foch appointed Supreme Commander

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Operation Michael – The Spring Offensive

21st March                                     First phase of the Spring Offensive

21st to 23rd March                         The Battle of St. Quentin

24th to 25th March                         First Battle Bapaume

26th to 27th March                         Battle of Rosieres

28th March                                     Third Battle of Arras

30th March to 5th April                  First Battle of Villers-Bretonneux

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Eastern Front

3rd March                                         Bolshevik Russia signs peace treaty with Germany at Brest-Litovsk

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The Balkans

8th to 13th March                             Battle of Bakhmach

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Other Theatres

23rd March                                       Artillery bombardment of Paris

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Mesopotamia and the Middle East

8th to 12th March                             Battle Tell ‘Asur

21st March to 2nd April                   First Transjordan attack on Amman

27th to 31st March                            First Battle of Amman

26th to 27th March                           Action of Khan Baghdadi

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War Diary of AA Laporte Payne Feb 1918

War Diary of AA Laporte Payne Feb 1918

 

EXTRACTED FROM.

 

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

Correspondence

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February 2, 1918. Rome.  Today we visited the Coliseum and other places in the vicinity.

 

Feb 1 1918.

We go to Rome, I think, tomorrow.                                                              (CP)

 

Rome   Feb 2, 1918.

The Catacombe di Santa Domitilla                                                                 (CP)

 

Rome Feb 3, 1918

Il Colosseo Arco di Costantino                                                                      (CP)

 

Feb 4, 1918

View from the Cupola of St Peter’s                                                               (CP)

 

Feb 4. 1918

Today we crawled to the top of St. Peters and afterwards visited the Vatican. (CP)

 

Feb 10 1918

Antico Caffe Greco. Via Condotte founded 1760

(Sent by Field Post Office, and mutilated)

 

Two others, both stamped 15th Feb, and mutilated. I have returned.  Feb 14th 1918.

 

 

Sunday February 3, 1918.

Grand Hotel, Rome.

 

We have been having a great time down here in the south. Amour came with me.  The weather has been perfect, and except for travelling conditions delightful.

 

We left a week ago, and travelled by our horses and motor lorry to Padua, whence we took train to Rome.  We secured a luxurious wagon-lit compartment for two which Jock and I shared.  We slept comfortably in bed.  The train started from Padua leaving about 8.45 p.m. and arriving in Rome at 11.30, the next morning.  Changing trains we went straight on to Naples, which we reached at 6.30 p.m.  In the evening we sampled an Italian Music Hall; but we did not care for it at all, much too loud and vulgar.  Are these the descendants of the ancient Romans, renowned for their “gravitas” and “pietas”?  The following day we shopped, visited the National Gardens, via the Via Roma, and the Opera, returning for lunch on the balcony of the Bertolini Hotel, high up on the hill overlooking the Bay of Naples.  After desiring so long to visit these famous places, it is strange to be here and in these circumstances.  I wonder what an old legionary legate would have said to and of us if we had met him.

 

But the next day was the DAY.  I at last realised my great desire to visit Pompeii.  We determined to do as much as we could in the short time at our disposal.  Our first step was to obtain a guide, whom we kept for four days.  He was quite a pleasant chap, but did not appear to know much except how to get to places, for most of his information was of the nature of fairy stories.  I am sure poor old Jock Amour was very bored as I dragged him all over the place to see what I wanted.  Certainly I made him and myself very tired; but it was worth it, every bit.

 

I had been interested in Pompeii for many years, and my Father had sent me a great tome of six hundred pages, al about the excavations, which I just had time to read before I left for the south.  So I knew pretty well what I wanted to see, and certainly more than our guide who soon gave up talking in disgust when I kept on referring to my book and notes.  However he knew the names of places and how to get there, which was all I wanted.  At times he talked the most amazing rubbish, and I could appreciate the sort of stuff tourists were fed on.

 

A cab took us to the Electric Station from our hotel on the hill, and the train to a place called Torre Annunziata, a filthy picturesque village built on the larva amid orange trees and vineyards.  Another vehicle took us to the excavations themselves.  First of all we visited the Amphitheatre and other places nearby which had been covered by the eruption of A.D. 79.

 

Then we had lunch at the Hotel du Suisse. We began our exploration about 1 p.m. and finished about 5 p.m.  It was much too short, and rather apt to give me mental indigestion.

 

There is so much to see. The Forum, the Temples of Venus, Apollo, Jupiter, Mercury, and to me of special interest, of Isis.  Then to the Large and Small Theatres, the Barracks of the Gladiators, the Old and New Baths, and the houses known as of Apollo, Citharoedus, Siricus, Marcus Lucretius, Vetii, Labyrinth, Faun, the Tragic Poet, Pansa, and several others, finishing up with the Villa of Diomedes outside the Herculaneum Gate in the Street of Tombs.  So we did not waste our short time.  I hope I shall be able to revisit the place some day.

 

We returned very tired and had dinner at Gambrinos on our way up to the hotel.

 

The next day we spent in Naples, visiting the Royal Palace, the Picture Gallery, the church of Santa Chiara, and the Cathedral, which has a shrine and the blood of the patron saint of Naples, San Gennaro, who is supposed to have been martyred under Diocletian.  This man’s blood boils whenever anything is about to happen.  The credulity of some people is amazing.  I wonder if it foretold the war.  We also visited the delightful little chapel of Sansevero.

 

In the afternoon the Museum occupied our attention. From some of the things I saw there I can quite believe that the present inhabitants of this district are the descendants of the people who inhabited Naples, Pompeii and Herculaneum; but they were not of the race of the old Roman.  They are descendants of Greeks, Asiatics and slaves.  A cosmopolitan crowd with all the vices.  The Pompeian collection is wonderful, and also the Farnese collection of statues and bronzes, containing the Farnese Hercules, and the Bull.  Again there was far too much to see.  However the gods may perchance favour me with another visit one day.

FEBRUARY 1st.

We climbed Vesuvius to the crater, choked in the sulphur smoke, saw flames and boiling lava, and returned. A whole day’s hard work; but well spent.

 

On our last day in Naples we visited Bagnoli, Pozzuoli or Puteoli, where St Paul landed, and saw the extinct volcano at Solfatara.  Thence we went to the Greek amphitheatre, and the ruins of the so-called Serapeum or Macellum.  Then we went on to Lake Avernus, which was regarded by the ancients as the entrance to the infernal regions.  And so by Baiae back to our hotel.  That night we left by the 11.15 p.m. train, and have just arrived in that city at 8 a.m.

 

At the Bertolini in Naples one night a bishop came in to dine.  When I saw him I recognised my old tutor at Cambridge, Dr. Knight, now Bishop of Gibraltar.  He has given me several introductions to people in Rome, one to Archdeacon Sissons, but I do not think we shall use them as we have so little time.

 

R.P February 15, 1918

Italian Expeditionary Force

 

It is over a month since I received any letters from home. That was the only pleasure my return from the south gave me, for we have had a delightful time in Rome and Naples.  Our leave of two weeks is all over, and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.  It has seen the fulfilment of a long desire, and renewed my interest in those places.

 

We arrived in Rome on a Sunday morning nearly a fortnight ago, and that day we spent fairly quietly as we were tired after our night journey from Naples.

 

The following day we started in earnest to see the sights. We visited the Coliseum, the Forum, and took a cab to see the Appian Way.  On the way we went into the catacombs and then the church of St. Paul outside the walls, the Thermae of Caracalla; St Peter’s and the Vatican filled the next day, where we saw the collection of antiquities, the Egyptian Museum, and the Borgia apartments.  On the day after we completed the Vatican so far as we could, visiting the Sistine Chapel, Raphael’s Stanza and the Picture Gallery.

 

The Palatine and Capitoline, together with the Pantheon and many churches were visited the following day.  The churches I like best were S. Clemente with the ancient of Mithras recently excavated below ground, and S. Maria in Cosmedin.  In S. Maria sopra Minerva I met a priest who was an Oxford man and a lately “verted” C. of E. clergyman, who was most interesting.  With him in his seminary there is a man named Poskitt, who was at Corpus Christi when I was up at Cambridge.  He is also now a Roman Catholic.  I cannot understand how these men can do it, and my amazement is not lessened by my visit to Rome.

 

The Ghetto, other churches, museums, baths filled up our time on two other days. We managed to get a day’s trip to Tivoli and Hadrian’s Villa, and another to the Alban Mountains and the Largo di Nemi.

 

I made use of Bishop Knight’s introduction and called on Archdeacon and Mrs. Sissons, who were most kind. He spent an afternoon with me to show me several places, and he gave me a lot of most interesting information about Rome and its inhabitants.  Mrs. Sissons took me to the artists’ quarter where we had tea in one of the studios there.  I met a sculptor, by name Signore Sciortino, who is the Director of the British Academy of Arts in Rome.  He has won fire international competitions, and has recently created a statue of Christ, which has been put up in Malta to commemorate the Eucharistic Council held there some time ago.  He was particularly kind to us, and through him I met another sculptor, Toti, and also a painter, Guidi, whose studios I visited.  We also met several Italian, Russian and American people.  It was Sciortino who arranged the most delightful trip to the Alban Mountains and Lakes.

 

We left Rome by the night train, and it took us four days to get to our batteries which had in the mean time moved.  Now we are back at work again, and instead of spring like weather we have snow, ice, wind and dull days.

 

When we were at Vesuvius I had hoped to go up on a pony, but the war had done away with them all, so we had to go up by the tram.

 

The Boche is a great nuisance about here bombing quite a lot. Especially about Padua and to the north of that place.

 

February 15 1918

Italian Expeditionary Force

 

Back again! The change from the delightful weather of Naples and Rome with their blue skies and spring warmth to the cold, dull wintry weather of the north is too too horrible.  I have hardly enjoyed a trip more.  The contrast in conditions of living and circumstances heightened what for me would in any case be one of the great events of my life, seeing Naples and Rome.  Now it is all over and we are back in the cold north and war area.

 

We arrived in the city of Augustus and the pope on a Sunday morning.  After a bath, a shave, a change and breakfast, we wandered into the Borghese (Villa) and the Gardens of the Pincio.  The following day we visited the Coliseum, the Forum, the Catacombs, the Via Appia, and some churches.  St. Peter’s and the Vatican fully occupied our time the next day, spending some of it in the collection of antiquities and the picture gallery.

 

We revisited the Vatican the next morning to see the Sistine Chapel, and the Raphael Stanza.

 

All the following day we spent in the Forum and on the Palatine, where we met a very distinguished American Admiral.  Then on to the Capitoline, the Pantheon and a large number of churches.  The most interesting, for me, were S. Clementi, with its recently excavated ancient temple of Mithras, three stories under the medieval church, and S. MARIA in Cosmedin.

 

That night we went to the Opera to hear Puccini’s La Boheme, after dinner in the restaurant Ulpia, the walls of which were built by Trajan nearly 2000 years ago.

 

There followed excursions to Tivoli, and Hadrian’s Villa, to the Alban Hills, the Largo di Nemi. and other places in the vicinity.

 

After all I used my introduction to Archdeacon Sissons and his wife which Dr Knight had given me. I had lunch with them one day, and spent an afternoon with him visiting a few of the out of the way places.  On another afternoon Mrs. Sissons took me to call on an artist in the artists’ quarter the Via Margutta.  There I met a number of Italian, French, Russian, American and English people, among them one, Sig. Sciortino, a sculptor and director of the British Academy of Arts in Rome.  He was particularly kind and three of us spent many interesting days at his studio and at the Caffe Greco in the Via Condotti.  He took us to see several artists, among them Toti, a sculptor, and Guidi, a painter, in their studios.  He and his friends also arranged several excursions for us, one of them for a whole day into the Alban Hills.  Twelve of us went, and we spent a most enjoyable time.  One man was an Irish artist and another an American Captain.  We went by electric train most of the way and then walked, and not by car as we did to Tivoli, as no ladies are allowed to travel by car in Rome without special permission.  We got back about 7 p.m. and this trip concluded our visit to Rome, for we left that night at 9 p.m.

 

We spent four days finding our Brigade, which had moved in the meantime in our absence.

 

The Caffe Greco is a most interesting place. It is the rendez-vous of the artists of Rome.  It is the custom for a leading artist to appropriate a corner of the Café and his circle of pupils and admirers, and there to gather together of an evening.  In the picture which I sent Sciortino is sitting at the back.  It was taken some years ago.  He still sits in the same place, and on several occasions we joined him there.

 

He sculpted a figure of Christ, which was erected in Malta to commemorate the Eucharistic Conference held in that place by the Roman Church some time ago.  He has won an international competition five times, and has done a lot of work in Russia.

 

Altogether it has been a delightful time, and we do not appreciate returning to the line once more.

 

February 24 1918

Italian Expeditionary Force.

 

It is a perfect evening, warm and fine, with a lovely sunset. The cold weather has departed at last, not to return, I hope, till next year.

 

I have just returned after a few day’s absence, not on leave this time, but on duty. I may be away again shortly.

 

Thank you for the Times Literary Supplement and the Nineteenth Century. I have just read John Masefield’s “The old Front Line”.  It gives a good account of the particular part of the line we took in July, 1916.  I read the Quest from cover to cover.

 

Warfare in Italy is very different from warfare in France, but it is still war.  The novelty makes it very interesting.  I don’t know how long it will last.  Not long I am sure.

 

I am sick to death of reading the English papers now. Cannot the politicians stop squabbling, and get on with the war?  I hope you are not starving yet.  We are not, and the doctor is very bored as he gets no patients to kill or cure.

 

Raids over London still continue I see.  I hope you are all safe.

 

The Colonel has again asked me to go to Headquarters as Adjutant. I half promised to do so when I left to go to a battery, and although he recommended me for promotion, he does not want me to go elsewhere and still thinks I am willing to go as his adjutant.  I am unwilling to offend the old boy, and to insist on remaining with a battery or going elsewhere on promotion.  Last night I had to go to dinner with him, but I managed to keep away from the subject.  It is bound to crop up again soon, and I really don’t know what to say to him.

 

R.P. February 25 1918.

 

I have been away from the battery for a few days on duty. And I may be away for a few days again soon.

 

The weather is now beautiful with perfect warm days and light nights with wonderful sunsets. I am thoroughly enjoying this truly Italian weather.

 

I am in a hole. The Colonel thinks I am willing to go to Headquarters as Adjutant.  I half promised to do so when I went to a Battery, and although he recommended me for promotion in this Brigade, he has refused to do so to go elsewhere.  I do not want to go to an office again if I can help it, but I do not want to offend the old boy.  What am I to do?  I had dinner with him last night, but I managed to keep him away from the subject.  I see I have got my Captaincy alright.  It has been a long time coming through.  It went in last September.

 

My kit is accumulating in a horrible way with books, clothes saddlery and what not. I must have a clearance soon.

 

5th DIVISIONAL ARTILLERY No HBM/283/15/3.                       SECRET.

 

5th DIVISIONAL ARTILLER INSTRUCTIONS No 1.

 

  1. The concentration of Field Artillery for the forthcoming Operations will be carried out in accordance with the attached Table.
  2. Teams of the 48th Divisional Artillery will return to their own Wagon Lines after bringing their guns to 5th Divisional Artillery Wagon Lines.

Teams of 41st Divisional Artillery will be accommodated in 5th Divisional Artillery Wagon Lines.

  1. The 48th Divisional Artillery will please time the march of 175th Brigade and 241st Brigade on 28th inst. to allow as much interval as possible between the times of their arrivals at 5th Divisional Artillery Wagon Lines.

 

(Formations involved XL Corps, 5th, 7th, 41st, 48th Divisions)

 

A/175, Bde. On 28th February, 1918, six guns from Rest TO Wagon Lines 120th Battery near OFF ELECTTRICA O.46.15.

To be taken into action on night 28/1st by teams 5th Divisional Artillery, under orders of Group Commanders.

175th Brigade teams return to their own Wagon Lines.

 

Headquarters 175th Brigade TO Wagon Lines H.Q. 76th Brigade LA FORNACE.  To move to Battle H.Q. under arrangements of Right Group.

 

175th (Army) Brigade R.F.A  S/1301

SECRET.

 

March to the 5th D.A. Area on the 28th FEBRUARY 1918.

 

Route and Time of starting:-

H.Q. ISTRANA-POSTIOMA

8 a.m.

A/175, ISTRANA-POSTIOMA-Cse. STRETTE

7.30 a.m.

B/175, ISTRANA-SOVERNIGO-CASTAGNOLE-C. VICENTINI-PONZANO-C.CAUTORTA-CCAMPAGNA.

7 a.m.

C/175, ISTRANA-SOVERNGO-MERLENGO-C.STEFANETTO

6 a.m.

D/175, route as for C/175

6.30 a.m.

 

1.30 p.m.

25-2-18.

 

F. Hammond letter 28 February 1918

28.2.18

BEF

Dear F & M

Just a line or two to say I am jogging along merry and bright and thanks to Par’s quick response I am in a flourishing condition once more.  We have been having a very nice time after a rather rough wintry spell and I feel in the pink.  Some of George’s lot passed thro our village a few days ago and I found they were only about 2 villages away.  So the next day I got leave to visit him and set off over the hills on a cycle full of excitement in the hopes of seeing him.  Eventually I arrived at my destination wet with drizzle but as it was just noon I dropped into an estaminet and took of a little liquid refreshment before digging him out.  Well I landed at the Orderly Room and found to my dismay the bounder had been admitted to hospital the day before suffering from a cold or chill.  So you can tell how I felt after my exertions.  It would seem destined that we should not meet out here still I will have another try before long if I get a chance.  Anyway I searched round to see if I could find anyone I knew and ultimately spent the day with Charlie Higgins.  So I was a little recompensed for my trouble.  I spent a nice time with him.  He was quite surprised to see me in fact he couldn’t recognise me for some time.  As you know I have lost a lot of surplus weight these last 3 years.  He looked quite an old sweat and keeps his buttons bright & shiny.  Well how are you all going along hope you are keeping well.  The spring is showing signs round here and the weather has been delightful.  Well I think this is all at present remember me to all enquiring friends.  Yes I thanked the Mr Taborites.  Well cheerho

Fred

Letter to father 26 February 1918

26/2/18

 

Dear old dad,

 

I am downright sorry to hear you have been seedy.  Do take care of yourself.  I hope you are all right again now.  The first news of it came from Tutbury.

 

Many thanks for your letter dad & the enclosures. One was a bill & the other was a letter from old “John” Doc in America.  It was good to hear from him.  He was serving out here for a time then went home to a job.

 

Apparently when America came into the war he joined the army again.  But his father had a stroke of paralysis & left his mother penniless.  So Doc was honourably discharged, & has got a berth with a firm of attorneys in Wisconsin.  He says he will be in at the death though, & if any one will look after 2 invalids for him he will come now.  He was a good fellow.  Doc, & I should like to see him again some time.

 

It was diplomatic of you to get a word in with the Chairman dad. I shall have to rely on now to get me a job somehow & somewhere, but it doesn’t look as though I shall be wanting it yet awhile – worse luck.

 

I hope you enjoyed your trip up North & that it has set you up again. Where did you get to?

 

I hope all is well at home.

Very best love to all.

Your loving son

Geoff.