1915.

1^st December 1915. Headquarters and “A” “C” Companies arrived at Kamptee and relieved the 1/5^th Buffs proceeding to Mesopotamia, 2 officers and 92 other ranks forming the Infantry Detachment at Fort Sitabuldi, Nagpur.

2^nd December 1915. “B” and “D” Companies, under Major G.H. Heelis, arrived at Allahabad and relieved the 1/5^th Hampshire Regiment, 2 officers and 104 other ranks forming the Infantry Detachment at Fort Allahabad.

At Poona, in spite of a number of men unavailable for parade owing to guard duties, very substantial progress had been made in the training of the Battalion.  Officers and N.C.O.’s had attended schools on instruction.  Platoon, company, and battalion drill had been well learned.  Preliminary musketry had been finished.  Table A had been fired, and a considerable part of the Battalion had completed Table B.  Scouts and signallers were trained.  Simple company schemes had been carried out, and the Battalion had learned how to look after itself in India.

14^th December 1915. Lieut. E.C. Kinghorn proceeded to Mesopotamia and was attached to 1^st Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry.

22^nd December 1915.  Inspection of half Battalion by Brigadier-General C.G. Prendergast, C.B., G.O.C. Jubbulpore Infantry Brigade.

25^th December 1915. Major F.W. Halton, T.D., appointed D.A.Q.M.G. 6^th (Poona) Divisional Area.

On YMCA headed notepaper.

Pte J. Cato 22885

2^nd Sherwood Foresters

6 Infantry Base Depot

France

Sir,

            No doubt you will think it strange of me writing to you but as Christmas is now approaching and I may be going further up Country would you kindly think of my little daughter which is at Whitwick.  I have nothing that I could send her for a Christmas Box in fact if I had shall never know where we shall be by then.  Splendid country out here hoping all are well at Whitwick.

Remember to Mother tell her am alright I have met several boys from Whitwick one from Golden Row Dumps name of Bice.

Wishing all a Merry Christmas at Whitwick.

From Cato J.

In YMCA envelope addressed to Rev Walters, Vicarage, Whitwick, Nr Leicester, Leicestershire.  England.

Letter postmarked ARMY POST OFFICE S.15  15 DE 15

PASSED BY CENSOR *** triangular cachet in red.

No 4564 A Coy 3 Plat

3/5 Leicesters

Wesleyan Chapel

Main St

Bulwell.

Notts.

Dec 30^th 015.

Dear Rev Walters,

            You will see by my address that I have arrived at Fresh Billets.  Here it is a great deal better than where we were last stationed.  Bulwell is a small town, about 4 miles from Nottingham & we can travel there on the Tram for a 1^d, so I think you will have an idea of the pleasant change from a camp 3 miles from “anywhere” to Billets in a Town, where, as you know, there is always plenty of life & enjoyment.

I would like to tell you also of how we spent Xmas here.

First of all, we Parade for Breakfast, & a right royal feast we had of Bread, Tea & Sausages (“not German”) & after Breakfast we had another Parade  & we went to church & chapel.

After coming back from Divine Service we again Paraded for Dinner, & such a Dinner that was set before us would have been the envy of many a cook.

We had Pork & Rabbits with a plentiful supply of Potatoes & Cabbage after which we had another course, Xmas Pudding, but during the few moments we had to wait while dinner was being served, we had a supply of apples & oranges, & a good time at pulling Xmas Crackers, which caused endless amusement.

After such a Dinner, we rested, & I can assure you that we needed a rest, but eventually tea-time arrived with Bread & Butter, Tea, & Pineapple Chunks & another display of “Cracker” pulling.

The Tables were then cleared, & we had a concert, at which I sang.

During the concert, we were regaled with, nuts, apples & oranges, Pldin, milk, & loose chocolate, Figs & Dates, Cigarettes & Tobacco, so you will see what a time we had.

It almost seemed like being at home.

Well Sir, In regard to myself I am still alright & it may be my pleasure in a week or more to come to see you again, when I shall be able to tell you something of our future movements.

Now I would like to say just few things about our soldiers.  First of all, there are no better class of men in the world than soldiers, & the soldier of today is a man of honour.  Mark you, I am speaking of him as a soldier, other elements of his life I leave out.  One outstanding fact of our men today is an eager desire to avenge themselves of their adversity.

Our men have fought & they will still fight.  The battle is not yet won, but it will not be long, especially when our men who are in training have entered the conflict not that those who have gone before us have not done their duty, but we are fired with an intense spirit of patriotism which shall never be ***** until the aggression of the German has been destroyed, & the world is liberated from the tyranny of might.  You tell our men of Serbia & Belgium, & you touch their heart cords, you arouse their ire, & receive such a vow of sacredness for the cause of freedom from them, that it makes one dread as to what will happen should they come to close quarters with the enemy.

Sir, We as soldiers will never rest until we have conquered & a ruthless foe subdued.  We are not out for personal gain; we fight not because we hate, but because we love.  Hamdrift is dead when it ceases to love ‘Freedom’, when it is unwillingly to battle for the right.

I say we fight because we love.  We love freedom; we cherish the sacredness of child life; We hold in reverence the name of matter, & honour the virtue of young girls & women.

Ah; We detest lust & vice, or if we can help it we will see that our womanhood is never ravished by the fiends of Hell, but that it shall be tended & cared for by the love of Heaven.  Sir, that is why we sacrifice.  Is not that fighty because we love.  We not only wait to save those who fought against us; to save them I say, from misrule & injustice.

I think I have said enough.  I do wish you may joy in life & I trust that the year that is just dawning may be a memorable in the annals of Whitwick Church.

I know you need much grace & wisdom, & I do pray God to be with you that He, directing you, may lead you on to great things in His Service.

Accept my humble wishes for ”A Happy New Year”

I remain

Yours very sincerely

J.W. Brotherhood.

In envelope addressed to Rev T.W. Walters, Vicar of Whitwick, Whitwick Vicarage, Leicestershire.

Letter postmarked Bulwell 30 De 15.

No 2346 Lc Cpl A.W. Hanson

“A” Coy 5^th Leicester Reg^t

North Midland Division

Sawbridgeworth

Herts

Rev^d TW. Walters.

Rev^d Sir,

            I know you will be pleased to hear from me again & get our little bit of news, which now is not much as we are having such a quiet uninteresting time.

            Last Sunday week we had a journey by train back to Luton to complete our course of shooting.  Monday was a very bad day, snow & rain & the range was ankle deep in mud, but we stuck it out & finished about 5 o’clock in the afternoon & so were able to go back home on Tuesday.

It has been a very big disappointment to all having our leave cancelled & on top of that not being allowed to leave the village, however we put a bright smile on & tried to make the men as happy as was possible.  We had very good meals indeed on Xmas Day & also a Concert in the afternoon.  I did very little towards helping on Xmas Day because I was supposed to be off duty, but I had about 18 men at my table.

On Wednesday night about 12/45 I was woke up & told the Captain wanted on me, so I dressed & ran down to his house, & he told me that it was probable that a message would come thro during the night & we should have to move away.  He gave me a key of the house so that I could wake him up.  I then had to go & wake all our Coy up & I can tell you it took some little time to get some of them.  I finished at 3/30 & then went home & packed my own kit & then went out & had to walk up & down the road for the rest of the night.

About 9 o’clock in the morning the Captain sent me home to bed & I managed to sleep till 1.

In the evening I had to turn out again with a fatigue party helping to get the Hall ready for Xmas dinner etc.

It was 12/30 on Xmas morn when I got to bed & was up to go to the 6/30 service at Church.  I think there was only 7 officers & 9 men present out of over 1000 in the Battⁿ.

Have no more news this time so must close wishing yourself & family & all the members of our service, the very best of health & prosperity during the coming year.

            Yrs obediently

Albert Will

In envelope addressed to Rev^d T.W. Walters, The Vicarage, Whitwick, Nr Leicester.

Letter postmarked SAWBRIDGEWORTH HERTS 23 DE 14.

Christmas card undated but signed L/Cpl A.W. Hanson

Saturday

Rev^d T.W. Walters.

Rev^d Sir,

            I know you have been expecting to hear from me before now, but I have had very little time to write till this morn.

            Since I last wrote to you we have been moving about & our orders are that we must not mention the places we go thro or stay at.

            At out last stopping place, I had an exceedingly nice billet & was sorry to leave it so soon.

            Our billet at present is in a small village about 2,000 people & somewhat similar to Thringstone, altho the inhabitants are of the poorer working class they make us very welcome, & are only too pleased to do their utmost to make us homely.

I am with a couple who have been married about two years & have 1 child.

For the first 3 days here we did very little, but have made up for it since.

Last Sunday we had Church Parade in the Village Church, our Band played the service thro & they managed the Psalms very well.  Afterwards I went to the Ordinary morning Service & again in the Evening & I hope tomorrow to be able to go to H Communion.

This week we have had two 11 mile Route Marches, the second was Divisional & they told us when we marched back into our village that the last company had only passed thro about ¾ hour before we got back, so you can tell what a length it was.  We were the first company in the march & started at 9 o’clock & arrived back at 11.20, on the way we were reviewed by Field Marshal Sir E. Wood, the General of the Division & his staff.

We have had several lectures on what we must do & observe when we reach the Front, our Discipline & courage & braveness.

I should very much like to be able to see home & friends for a few hours, but all leave has been stopped, so we do not know when or if we shall get any more before we leave.

I don’t think I have anything more too tell you this time, I hope yourself & family are in the best of health.

I myself am excellent & since I left home have gained 16 lbs in weight.

Kindly remember me to the Men’s Service, my thought other wander back to our pleasant services & week night meetings, when you have the first Annual Book issued, I should very much like one if we are still in England.

Must now close with very kind regards to all.

            Yrs obediently

Albert W. Hanson               

P.S. The postal address now is: – No 2346 Lc/Cpl AWH  ”A” Co 5^th Batt Leicestershire Reg^t North Midland Division.  3^rd Army.

Please excuse my writing, but hard work trench diggings has made my hand too unsteady to write as I should like.

I expect the postmark will show you where we are, altho I dare not put it in the letter.  We are told that if letters have name in they will be destroyed.

In envelope addressed to Rev^d T.W. Walters, The Vicarage, Whitwick, Nr Leicester.

Letter postmarked SAWBRIDGEWORTH HERTS 5 DE 14.

No 4564 “A” Coy 3/5 Leicester  Belton Park Grantham.  Dec 4^th.

Dear Rev Walters,

            I have just secured a fine Post card photo of Grantham church which I thought might interest you.  So I ask you kindly to accept it.  It has the greatest steeple that ever I have seen.  It is a magnificent church.  I am pleased to say I am well.

Please don’t  write back as we are coming back to Leicestershire about  Wed or Friday next.

Yours sincerely

            J.W. Brotherhood

In envelope addressed to Rev T.W. Walters, Vicar of Whitwick, Whitwick Vicarage, Leicestershire.

Letter postmarked Grantham 10 pm 4 Dec 15

Also in envelope a post card of The Church Grantham.