Category Archives: World War I

Diary of 2/Lt. A. B. STREET Jan 16

Diary of 2/Lt. A. B. STREET

48 SIEGE BATTERY RGA

 

1st Jan. Saturday.  Went over to the Docks by train; they had now started loading Tentage and there was nothing for us to do.  Meade King went up to Town for the night to see his wife.  I returned to Bristol soon after midday.  Went to the Pantomime “Goody Two Shoes” in the evening, a very good show, amusing and some of the scenes very pretty.

 

2nd Jan. Sunday.  Went to church at 8.0.  Paid my bill at the Hotel and went to the Docks.  Meade King returned.  Went to the Rest Camp at 2.0 and marched our 15 men and the 30 for Malta down to the ship and embarked them.  Paraded them at 3.0 for inoculation against Cholera and I was vaccinated as well.  Meade King went off to his cousins at Stoke Druid for the night.  I slept on board.  Rain all evening & night.

 

3rd Jan. Monday.  Cleared up about 9.0 and was a fine sunny day.  Meade King returned at 10.0.  Said we were both asked by his cousins for lunch, dinner and the night if not sailing.  I went into Bristol to see Mr. Meade King re a power of attorney for Mother and returned to Stoke Druid to lunch with his wife; into Bristol again after lunch to sign P of Att: then to tea at Stoke Druid.  M. K. and I then went out to the Docks to see if the ship would sail.  On finding that she wouldn’t we went to Stoke Druid for the night which was very pleasant.

 

4th Jan. Tuesday.  Caught bus after breakfast and were at the Docks shortly after 10.0.  They finished loading by midday and we expected to sail between 4 and 8, no orders came however so we are here for the night.  Started raining in the afternoon and continued.  Sent a wire about 3.30 to say were off!!

 

5th Jan. Wednesday.  Fine sunny day.  Took a walk round the Docks in the m’ning.  Cast off about 6.10 p.m. and anchored off Barry at 9.30 p.m. awaiting escorts.

 

6th Jan. Thursday.  Left Barry Roads soon after midnight accompanied by our escort which was two armed trawlers whose speed was so slow that we had to reduce to half speed.  A fairly fine day but a bit thick.  A good many men were ill there being a fair amount of motion.  Meade King succumbed also.

 

7th Jan. Friday.  A fair day, fresh breeze and some sun.  Most of the men were ill., Meade King in bed all day, the ship was rolling a lot.  Made the Wolf Lightship about 8.0 am and picked up a new escort, 2 armed trawlers which could steam at our full speed, they left us at about 9.0 p.m. when off Ushant, we passed about 60 miles off.

 

8th Jan. Saturday.  Fine sunny day, light wind but a heavy swell.  Sunny.

 

9th Jan. Sunday.  Fine day, dull.  Wind veered round to the E.  Bigend of H.P. Cyl[inder] began to knock about midday.  Hove to at 6.30 p.m. for engineers to repair it.  Under way again about 10.0 p.m. Abreast off Cape Finisterre, about 150 miles out, at about 5.0 p.m.

 

10th Jan. Monday.  Lovely sunny day calm with an Easterly breeze.  Stopped in the forenoon for about 15 minutes to adjust Bigend.

 

11th Jan. Tuesday.  Lovely sunny day calm with an Easterly breeze.  Altered course about 9.0 p.m. for the Straits of Gibraltar.

 

12th Jan. Wednesday.  Lovely sunny day very calm Easterly breeze. Sighted land N. coast of Africa at 4.0 p.m.  Met Patrol boat outside Gibraltar about 9.0 p.m. and arrived in Examination Anchorage about 12.0.  Did not anchor.

 

13th Jan. Thursday.  Lovely sunny day, very calm, practically no wind.  Left Gibraltar at 5.0 am.  Saw Sierra Nevada 11,000 ft. snow covered.

 

14th Jan. Friday.  Fine sunny day, fresh breeze dying away in the evening.

 

15th Jan. Saturday.  Fine sunny day wind went round to the North.  There was a swell which caused her to roll rather heavily.

 

16th Jan. Sunday.  Fine sunny day.  Swell went down v. light wind.  Passed several ships, one a 4 funnel cruiser on the horizon.

 

17th Jan. Monday.  Hot sunny day calm light breeze.  Arrived off Malta at 4.45 p.m. and were sent round to St. Paul’s Bay to anchor for the night.  Anchored at 7.30.

 

18th Jan. Tuesday.  Weighed anchor at 6.30.a.m. and proceeded into the harbour, anchoring off the fish market about 8.30.  The 30 men for Malta were disembarked before noon.  Meade King and I went ashore in the afternoon, cabled home, did some shopping and walked about.  Fine sunny day.

 

19th Jan. Wednesday.  Fine day but cloudy.  Meade King and I went to lunch with 3 Subs. of 603 Coy. M.T. A.S.C. at Mosta Cross Roads about 7 miles outside Valetta.  Did some shopping and posted letters.  30 men R.N.D. ratings joined on board.

 

20th Jan. Thursday.  Fine sunny day.  Fresh breeze from N.  We left Malta at midday.

 

21st Jan. Friday.  Warm sunny day no wind.  Clouded over in the evening.

 

22nd Jan. Saturday.  Dull.  Rain on and off all day.

 

23rd Jan. Sunday.  Dull and wet in the morning but cleared up in the afternoon.  Calm sea fresh breeze.

 

24th Jan. Monday.  Arrived off Alexandria at daybreak and entered about 7.0 am.  We anchored out in the harbour.  Rather windy some showers but warm and pleasant in the sun.

 

25th Jan. Tuesday.  N. W. gale all day.  No communication with the shore.  Some sunshine and heavy squalls.

 

26th Jan. Wednesday.  Fine day fresh breeze.  Hill came on board in the m’ning and gave us news of the battery.  Pilot came on board after dinner and we berthed at No 44 at 2.45 and soon after cargo began to be discharged.  Meade King and I drove up to the town after tea and sent some cables.  30 R.N.D. ratings disembarked at 5.0.p.m.

 

27th Jan. Thursday.  Fine day fairly sunny fresh breeze.  Continued to discharge tentage.  Harvey, Lane and White came down in the afternoon.  Langford and Hutchings in the m’ning.

 

28th Jan. Friday.  Warm sunny day.  Began discharging lorries.  Sent a cable to Judith.

 

29th Jan. Saturday.  Lovely hot sunny day.  Continued to unload lorries and tentage.  Received mail from home.

 

30th Jan. Sunday.  Lovely hot sunny day.  Continued unloading all day.  Got 4 of the gun pieces out.

 

31st Jan. Monday.  Fine sunny day.  Finished discharging the ship at 4.15p.m.  After tea on board we all left for the Camp after just a month on board.  Had a very comfortable happy time on board and a very pleasant voyage.  Dined at Camp, sharing a tent with Harvey.  Quite comfortable.

Diary of 2/Lt. A. B. STREET 26 to 31 Dec 15

Diary of 2/Lt. A. B. STREET

48 SIEGE BATTERY RGA

Opened 26 December 1915

 

26th Dec. 1915 Sunday.  Paraded at 7.0am.  Sgt. Murphy and 25 men to escort guns and caterpillars to Avonmouth by road.  Raining hard.  Left the gun park at 7.40, weather cleared up shortly after starting.  Hutchings who was in charge of the caterpillars and I went to breakfast with Meade King’s whose house we passed.  Caterpillars going very well, passed through Bridgewater at noon and on the outskirts stopped for about ½ hr whilst a photo was taken, just after this had heavy shower of rain.  Weather otherwise bright and sunny.

Some miles further on Hutchings and I went ahead in lorry to arrange where to stop the night.  Decided on Cross a small village 28m from Taunton.  Caterpillars arrived just after 6.0.  Left a guard of 6 men and 2 NCOs and took remainder into Axbridge about a mile away, billeted the men for the night, it started to rain soon after 7.0 pm.  Hutchings and I had some dinner at the Lamb Inn Axbridge then went back to Cross to see that everything was all right.  Slept at Axbridge.

 

27th Dec. Monday.  Up at 5.0 am and took all the men back to Cross: Caterpillars got under way about 7.20, raining hard.  H & I returned to Axbridge for breakfast.  Soon after this it stopped raining and cleared up, paid the billets and followed Caterpillars up in lorry.  They were doing fairly well.  Very up and down country and pretty; Wind got up and was soon blowing a gale.  Trouble with one of the Caterpillars delayed us about noon when the convoy of lorries with Capt. Langford, Meade King and Hill came up with us.

Had some lunch at a Pub Meade King stayed with Hutchings and me.  The other two went on with the convoy.  Caterpillars were giving some trouble and delayed us; passed through Bristol about 4.0 and at Clifton Hutchings and I went on to Avonmouth to see Langford re arrangements for “packing” etc.  A very strong gale blowing.  Found I had to send my men back by 11.5 train; arranged for them to have hot meal at 8.45.  last gun arrived in about 7.45.  Marched the men down to their meal and went and had one myself with the others at The Miles Arms.

Soon after 10.0 went and paid for the mens’ meal and put them in charge of Hill to return to Taunton.  Langford, Hutchings Meade King and I motored to the Queen’s Hotel Clifton for the night.

 

28th Dec. Tuesday.  All motored over to Avonmouth shortly after 10.  Reported arrival of guns to Embarkation Officer who told us we were to sail in the Hunsgate a 600 ton German vessel captured off the E. coast of Africa.

We received instructions to load next morning at 8.0 and during the afternoon we were told to get the Caterpillars and guns ready on the wharf, this was done easily but on trying to get some of the lorries to the wharf they stuck in the road which was very bad  and 2 had to be hauled out by a Caterpillar.  The rest were then kept outside on the road.  We returned to The Queens for the night.

 

29th Dec. Wednesday. Up early and over to the Docks by 8.0.  It was decided to load the Caterpillars and guns where they were and then to shift the ship to another berth to which the lorries could drive up easily.  This was done about midday.  Langford with Hutchings and all the men except the 15 who were going with us on the ship returned to Taunton by the 1.53 train.  All but about 20 lorries were loaded at the end of the day.  Meade King and I returned to Queens Hotel, the men being in the Rest Camp.

 

30th Dec. Thursday.  From a phone message we heard that the whole of the remainder of the battery left Taunton at 2.0 am for embarkation at Gosport.

Over at the Docks again soon after 8.0.  They finished loading the lorries during the day.  Meade King and I, as all the cars were now loaded, had to use the bus or train for going to and fro.  I went to the Hippodrome but it didn’t please me much.

 

31st Dec. Friday.  Went over to the docks.  Still loading Tentage but were soon stopped owing to the rain.  Nothing to do, cannot get leave to go away as they will not say when the ship will sail, very fed up.

Letter from W Hammond 15 Feb 16

Customs & Excise Embossed Notepaper

Kibworth

15.2.16

Dear Father & Mother

Thanks very much for the birthday greetings and for the dainty pair of cuff links.  They’re just what I wanted and what I should pick choose myself.  32 is a very nice number.  It will divide by 2, 4, 8 & 16.  I feel I ought to be doing mathematics this year with such an accommodating number for a companion.  Had a letter from George this mng.  He has been in bed with the “flu” but is better now.  I suppose you know he has passed the divisional exam for subalterns only 14 passing in the Brigade and has also been put on the permanent establishment of his Battalion.

Also that friend Arthur is “hoist with his own petard” having scared both birds away.

I am expecting my leave next week so hope to see you all soon.

Hope Gladys is better by now she seems a wholesale dealer in whitlows, sties, heat bumps &c.  She should add a few corns and bunyans (bunions) by way of variety.

I enclose £2 in notes on account of premium

Love to all

Willie

 

Cover Postmark Kibworth Leicester 15 Fe 16 to E. Hammond Esq

9 Countess St Stockport

Letter from Willie Hammond 15 Feb 16.

Customs & Excise Embossed Notepaper

Kibworth

15.2.16

Dear Father & Mother

Thanks very much for the birthday greetings and for the dainty pair of cuff links.  They’re just what I wanted and what I should pick choose myself.  32 is a very nice number.  It will divide by 2, 4, 8 & 16.  I feel I ought to be doing mathematics this year with such an accommodating number for a companion.  Had a letter from George this mng.  He has been in bed with the “flu” but is better now.  I suppose you know he has passed the divisional exam for subalterns only 14 passing in the Brigade and has also been put on the permanent establishment of his Battalion.

Also that friend Arthur is “hoist with his own petard” having scared both birds away.

I am expecting my leave next week so hope to see you all soon.

Hope Gladys is better by now she seems a wholesale dealer in whitlows, sties, heat bumps &c.  She should add a few corns and bunyans (bunions) by way of variety.

I enclose £2 in notes on account of premium

Love to all

Willie

 

Cover Postmark Kibworth Leicester 15 Fe 16 to E. Hammond Esq

9 Countess St Stockport

Fred Hammond letter 14 Feb 16.

In biro “about Feb”

Dimanche 14 1916

Dear Mar & Pa

Just a line to let you know I am still OK.  I am still in a state of *** ****canna ** at present what will be my aboard.  Our old brigade is napour and we are at present waiting the final move as long as you hear from me **** until further notice address my letters as C/O 9th Signal Co.  We have had a good time in the old place and are all a little sorry to part more so as many of the Section will leave us after being out together for so long.  Still we have all said adieu to many of our old pals and some of us will stick together probably within a few days we shall be settled again and I shall feel more disposed to write a decent letter anyway we are not down hearted

So cheero for the present

Gussie

Letter to Hammond family 11 Feb 16.

62 Benyon Rd

Kingsland

London N

11-2-16

Dear Ted & Mary,

 

I just remembered that it is Gladys’s birthday either today or tomorrow so I want to wish her many happy returns of the day.  I hope you are all quite well.  I am not quite as I should like to be.  It is the blathering rheumatism that is troubling me.  I had a letter from George a little while ago. I hope I shall be able to see him before he leaves Crowboro.  How is Fred I hope alright.  I suppose Willie will not have to join.  There is enough for him to do here.  Is it true that they dropped bombs on Buxton.  I don’t think so but this is what I have been told.  I had a letter from Kingswereford telling me that they had passed over there but did not do any damage.  I never thought that they would get so far inland.  There seems to be no safety anywhere from them.  We fully expected them in London that night.  The trains were stopped before six pm & the people that had to go by train were in great difficulties.  We closed one meeting & came home to sit listening for the bombs to drop but thankful when they did not come.  Thinking they had been beaten back on the coast, but alas for the midlands.

I must close with my best love to you all

Yours affectionately

Martha Ann

Fred Hammond letter 9 Feb 16.

9.2.16

Dear Mar & Pa

Just a line to let you know I am OK.  We have settled down again to business after a good rest.  We have hit on a good place this time the office having a good room.  We are billeted in houses here and sleep in a bed of a nights.  I can tell you we take some getting up now.  When we do get up there is a nice cup of coffee awaiting us oh what a change.  I met Billy Garner out here about a week ago he said he was expecting to be going home any day so he might drop in and have a word with you of course he’s the same as ever.  You want to divide what he tells you by 4 and take the remainder for your answer.

The weather has been pretty decent it’s nice to see the sunshine.  I was quite surprised to know Gladys was 18 my word how time flys.  I must be getting an old un.  I have had so many letters to answer this last few weeks that I don’t really know who I’ve written to but I fancy I dropped a pc lately.  I was very pleased to hear of Gladys success I am very pleased indeed to think we’ve got such a clever kid in the family.  We are quite amongst civilization here and had a couple of eggs & chips for dinner finishing up with the ever present coffee quite nice to be able to get ones old chips but I am already beginning to feel bloated again.  I am OK for flash light refills at present.  Tell Mar glad to hear you are all OK I am.  One of our men went on leave yesterday Gladys might hear from him.

We heard about the Zepps alright & I am inclined to believe what you said when the weather gets settled & the wind in their favour but at least we shan’t be taken unawares.  So I think there’s very little to be afraid of.  Well Bye Bye for present.  Drop me a line Gladys if you get that birthday present OK.  Hope it suits you

Yours

Burgy

Alf Smith’s letter 8 Feb 16.

152 High Street

Southend on Sea

 

Feb 8. 16

 

Dear Father

 

Sorry you could not come down last week, but we are looking forward to seeing you this.

How do you like this weather it is very cold here I shall be very glad when the summer comes.

There is a book at home called “Guy Fawkes” I should be glad of it if you can find it without much trouble. It is a red covered book, farely thick I am almost certain it is on the shelf in the spare-room.  I also told Affie I believe you have a new table cloth at home; of course I may be wrong I cannot remember for certain; but if you have & do not require it at all she would be very pleased with it.

I have not joined the army yet, but it looks as though there will be a big move made after 3rd March.  What do you think about it all?  I am not anxious to become a soldier, but still it is no use to trouble about that; if compulsion comes into force one must make the best of it as plenty of others will have to do.

I am very sorry to have to trouble you; but I am very short of money almost on the rocks.  I brought a suit from a friend for 30/- cost 55/-.  Albert has lent me the money.  I did not like having it as I could not afford to pay for it, but as he said one does not get the chance of bargains like that every day.  I am also badly in want of socks & a few other small articles.

You will no doubt think this letter is nothing else but asking for things.  I would not trouble you if I could possibly avoid it, but everything seems pretty rotten at present.

Well Father I think I must conclude now.

Glad to say we are all well & hope you are keeping in the best of health.

 

With much love from

From your devoted

Son

Alf

Letter to Hammond’s from Canada 4 Feb 16

Feb 4th 1916

  1. 9 Avenue

Swift Current

Sark

Canada

Dear Mary

I received your letter after a long while waiting.  We are having some dreadful cold weather.  I should say the soldiers must feel it in the trenches it must be awful I shall be glad when the war is over.  What does Fred & George say about the war.  I suppose they have seen some awful sights.  Well I hope that they will keep in good health through it all.  How are you keeping.  I have had nothing but colds all winter.  You know I told you in one of my letters Arthur did not like baking so we are out of it.  He has sold the oven.  He sold it for 100 and 50 dollars.  He said he would pay me the money I put in but he as only give me 1 pound so far and we have been out of the baking about 8 months.  I can tell you he will never have anything of mine again and I never had any wages all the time you know while we were baking.  We brought a cow and chickens & lots of things which would take a long time to write about and I am in a hurry to write to you but you don’t write much.  His Dave at Sarah yet I thought of writing to him.  I am in a situation.  I want to buy myself some clothes and, am awfully in the want of a new wig and it all takes money.

I am thinking of sending to England for one.

Write soon from your affectionate sister

Annie

Love from myself and George