Flanders

July 13^th 1916.

My dear Ethel,

Thank you for note, and for the parcel you are going to send me.  If you get this note before it’s dispatched will you put in a toothbrush that you have finished with, as they come in very handy for cleaning rifles?  If you have sent the parcel or have no used toothbrush don’t bother.  I am very interested in the breast pocket affair & am waiting to see what it is like.  We are not the only occupants of our dug-out.  We have to tolerate things that can be felt and not seen.  Last night we plastered ourselves all over with “Trench ointment”.  It is very much like bicycle solution in appearance, smell and stickiness.  There is such a strong smell of this stuff about us & the dugout that we are wondering whether the bites are not preferable.  Harry was telling me in one letter that when he was at school his parcels always seemed to boast of camphorated chalk in everything.  Well in the next parcel mother sent me she put two packets of the stuff with the result that the cake was affected.  I never use the stuff.  We can buy what I use in the canteens here.  I met a boy in C Company who used to be at school with me & we have great chats on the happy days.  The weather has been very decent for the past week & the forest is lovely.  There are any amount of flowers that I haven’t seen before.  Trees are not allowed to grow as they please.  All the side branches are lopped off till the tree gets to a certain height; there is very little brushwood so the forest carpet has a chance to be very beautiful.  A large patch of a certain flower is encountered here and there & you have no idea what a sight it is.

Well, with fondest love, I am,

            Yours affectionately

                        Alan

Our dinner was a huge success.  Tender beef, new potatoes & green peas!

This was enclosed with the letter to Harry of 12^th.

Flanders

July 12^th 1916.

My dear Harry,

Very humbly indeed I am able to approach you after hearing the startling news from yours of the ninth that you have written me without one of my numerous efforts having been before you.  However without a doubt you had a letter from me on the tenth.  We have been and are still very quiet at our part of the line.   We have recently been in a rest camp but it is much better being where we are now as we don’t have half as much work to do.  We had to spend the best part of the day digging.  The march to the digging place took as long as the digging.  Also – very awful, you must agree – we had to get up at five-thirty.  Having breakfast at six-fifteen & a rifle, chin & button inspection at seven-thirty one couldn’t stretch a point beyond six.  In the bargain I was vaccinated the second day after the arrival at the rest camp.  Digging under such conditions was bad enough but I suffered most mentally as I thought I had dodged it.  At the rest camp however there were two canteens, a coffee & recreation room, farmhouses & estaminets.  That part was prettier too than any other place we have been to.  There were some lovely flower gardens in all their glory.  Today I had to go to the Medical Officer – being fifth day after the vac; – & I am excused digging & heavy fatigue.  My arm is quite the usual case.  None of your or Bernard’s affairs for me.  Oh of course I am in the best of spirits.  Give me some new clothes & I feel a terrible blood.  Mother sent me a pair of drill (or duck I forget what they are called) khaki shorts, and with bare knees I am a nut.  Our present dug-out is one of the best we have struck & we are very cosy.  Have you “More Fragments from France” by Capt Bruce Bainsfather?  It is his second volume of cartoons & it is surprising how true they are.  By the way I am not a runner to any publishing firm.

Last letter I suggested a magazine, I remember.  That also brings another thing to my mind.  Have you any news of the sale of your book of poems?  Have you received any dibs therefore lately?  Are you still thrusting objects of art on an undeserving nation?  One of my dug-out pals – of a literary turn of mind – is desirous of purchasing a copy of your “Sonnets”.  I don’t know how the business will be carried out.  We have been having new potatoes for the past week & a dozen of us volunteered to shell peas this evening so we are to have green peas tomorrow.  Incidentally we had a shelling competition in which I gained no prize but the last place.  I think I will now turn to your letter of the second which arrived the day after the letter I sent you last.  Of course I needn’t tell you that.  It goes without saying.  I am glad to see you are writing me every Sunday.  The steel helmet is my constant companion.  Our Company Sergeant Major sees to that.  Yes, the gas helmets are very effective.  If your helmet is all in order – and they are very careful on that score – and you put it on quickly enough you are absolutely safe from gas.  Without the helmet half a dozen whiffs are fatal.  You carry your helmet with you everywhere & see that they are within reach before going to sleep.  A spare one is issued to every man.  I expect you have understood that there has to be an easterly wind before we can be attacked & the moment the wind changes a gas alert is put on.  I have asked an R.G.A. sergeant if he knows where Bernard’s crowd is but he didn’t know.

I think I will close now.  I am enclosing a note for Ethel but I don’t know what I am going to say.

            Cheers!

                        Yours

                                    Alan.

On Active Service envelope addressed to Harry R King, Esq., Munmore, Zion Road, Rathgar, Dublin.

Postmarked FIELD POST OFFICE 124, 15 JY 16.  Hexagonal Passed Field Censor 3274 cachet.  Signed but unreadable.

By

Major-General T. Bridges, C.M.G., D.S.O.

Commanding 19^th Division.

**************************************

11/7/16.

            The General Officer Commanding 19^th Division congratulates all ranks on the results achieved by the Division in the fighting of the last few days.

The storming of the village of LA BOISSELLE and its surroundings, fortified with every contrivance that an ingenious enemy could devise, almost impervious to artillery fire, and garrisoned by desperate men is a feat which will live in history.

During these first nine days of operation the Division has successfully carried out every task that it has been allotted.

In the course of a victorious advance in which every unit of the Division took part, it has captured over 500 prisoners, some guns and mortars and many machine guns, and has inflicted great loss on the enemy in morale, men, and material.  The determination and gallantry shewn by all ranks under conditions of the utmost difficulty and discomfort has been the subject of congratulations from the Commander-in-Chief and the Army Commander.

The G.O.C. is proud to command such a fine Division and though many brave Officers and men have fallen, the loss of whom he greatly deplores, he feels confident that the same fine spirit, the same high standard of gallantry and devotion to duty will continue to be shewn by the men of the 19^th Division, until complete victory is finally assured.

P.M. Davies. Lieut-Colonel.,

A.A. & Q.M.G., 19^th Division.

On YMCA headed notepaper

July 10 1916

Address Reply to Pte J.W. Weston 25739

3^rd attd to 1^st Leicestershire Reg

12^th I.B.D. c/o A.P.O. S 17

B.E.F.

France.

My Dear Mr Walters,

            You will think it is a long while since I wrote to you, I was looking forward to seeing you when I was home but you were away on your holidays, but I will see you when the war is over, that is if I have any luck.  I am finding a lot of fellows I know here, and I know I will find a lot more men in the firing line when I get there.  I expect you are not getting many men at our men’s service now, but they will come back when the war is over, which we hope will not be long.  Remember me to all.  I often think of you all now I am far from home, but I am trusting in God to bring me back safe.  I am in the best of health, hoping you are the same.  Well I dare not tell you any news so you must excuse short letters but I know you like to hear from us.  Well I will close with best wishes

From

Yours Sincerely

Will Weston. 

In envelope addressed to Rev T.W. Walters, Vicarage, Whitwick, Nr Leicester.  England.  Redirected to 8 Kilvey Terrace St Thomas Swansea.

Letter postmarked FIELD POST OFFICE S 17.  12 JY 16.

PASSED BY CENSOR 1447 in hexagonal cachet in red.

France

Saturday July 8^th 1916.

My Dear Harry,

            Thanks for your last Sunday’s letter which I received yesterday.  I am glad that you have at last received a letter from me, but I have written two & possibly three.  I daresay, however, you will by this time have received another.  I believe that owing to the bombardment you read about in the English papers our letters are held up somewhere as of course it is most important that no news however insignificant shall leak through.  I think there is no harm in my saying we are doing our share, and everyone is very optimistic here, which feeling is quite justified even by the scant news you get in England.  As B.J. Dillon and all the other critics say, this is an artillery war which means a huge amount of work and effort by the artillery.  Lessons have of course been taught by previous efforts, with I am sure advantageous results in this instance.

            I am afraid you must have been disappointed at not receiving letters from me for such a long time but as you will see by the date of my letters it is no fault of mine and therefore your opening remarks are not deserved.  I always endeavour to answer any letter within two days of its receipt, and usually succeed.  My letters to Mother must also have been delayed, although lately she seems to be receiving some.

            It has not been anything like as pleasant here during the past week as it was the first fortnight we were here.  The weather has been wretched, possibly owing to the gunfire and the consequence is that our position is a sea of mud of a most tenacious nature.  To add to our troubles our dugout did not prove proof against the heavy rain, but by hanging up mess tins here and there we have managed to keep dry while sleeping.  Everything however is dismally damp but it will take much worse than that to damp our spirits.  After the little I have already seen out here I am much more inclined to agree with Alan’s comparison of our lot with that of the Infantry, as altho’ we get plenty of hard work we can make ourselves infinitely more comfortable and settled.

            I would very much like to be able to write you freely as to the position out here but the authorities now are justly very strict and the safest plan is to mention nothing at all; this makes letter writing very difficult as we are in no way concerned with anything but military matters, and except with letters from home and an occasional newspaper are quite cut off from the World.  My opinion is that all us fellows being out here away from home for such a time, will be the making of home life when the War is over, as it is impossible to imagine how some of the fellows now talk about their homes and people and how they now value them.  It is not a question of homesickness at all.

            They are keeping you in suspense as to your new appointment and station, but I hope you will shortly hear some news and that you will soon be settled.

            I am glad to hear of Alan and to know he is well.  Seeing so much makes me very concerned with regard to him, altho’ our efforts are making it easier for them.

            It is good of you to ask what you can do for me and I know I need not be afraid of mentioning anything that I imagine I could do with, but at present there is no need for my troubling you.  I would like you, more than anything, to continue writing me every Sunday, even though you don’t get anything from me, which I can promise will not be any fault of mine.

            Give my fondest love to Ethel & with best wishes

            Yours,            Bernard.

P.S.  Do you remember the name of the place just outside Dublin where I had a game of golf when I was in Ireland last?  I have been trying to think of it recently, one of the fellows here has played on most courses round Dublin.  B.

P.S.S.  A very funny thing happened here today – some German prisoners were being escorted back and when they were not far from here the German guns opened fire.  The prisoners ran like mad and the escort (with full pack on) had a hard job to keep up with them.  Of course the Germans did not know they were shelling their own men, they were just indulging in a quiet straff.  B.

In envelope addressed to Harry R King, Esq., Munmore, Zion Road, Rathgar, Dublin.  Ireland.  Ans^d 16.7.16

Postmarked FIELD POST OFFICE R.30.  JY 10 16.  Hexagonal PASSED FIELD CENSOR 3447.  Signed F.G. Dwerryhouse

On YMCA headed notepaper.

No 20141 B Company 10^th Leicester Regt

Deerbolt Camp

Barnard Castle

 5 July 15

Dear Sir,

            I have now been away from home over a week and thought I should like to write a line or two to you.  I have had a rough time of it my arm has pained me through vaccination, but I hope soon to be alright again.

Our camp is situated in a very nice part quite near the ruins of Barnard Castle, the town is a very quiet old place, being only a small market town.  The life here is very different to home life, one has to mix with all kinds of fellows, but I am alright, we get plenty of good food, and exercise, and apart from this vaccination I am keeping well.

I shall be glad to have a letter from you anytime, as I often think of home and it is nice to receive news.

With kind regards

I remain

Yours truly

Pte A. Fellows

There is no envelope with this letter.

By

Major-General T. Bridges, C.M.G., D.S.O.

Commanding 19^th Division.

**************************************

4^th July 1916.

            The Army Commander called at Divisional Headquarters this morning in order to congratulate all ranks concerned in the capture of LA BOISELLE.  He considers this is a fine feat of arms, and ordered the Divisional Commander to convey his appreciation to all concerned.  He hopes that ground so well won and at such sacrifice will never be allowed to fall again into the hands of the enemy.

P.M. Davies. Lieut-Colonel.,

A.A. & Q.M.G., 19^th Division.

Sunday July 2^nd 1916

Dear Harry,

            I don’t quite know who’s turn it is to write – yours or mine – as the last letter I received from you was sent before you received my letter, and was therefore no answer to mine.  I wonder whether you have yet had the letter I sent you.  I believe they are held up for a while somewhere to stop any news of movement from possibly leaking through.  I am wondering what the papers are saying with regards to events out here.  I am just wondering if I have not already answered your letter of the 25^th. (Wondering is one of the few hobbies we have out here).  Did I tell you that in the arguments you had with Ethel she was wrong.

            During the past two nights I have had no sleep at all but manage to get just sufficient during the day to keep me fairly bright.  Don’t tell Mother as I simply tell her we are working very hard.

This must be a very short letter as I am expecting to be called on duty any moment.

            Give my fondest love to Susan and Ethel.

            Yours,

                        Bernard.

P.S.  the noise here during the past two days has been terrible.  Early yesterday morning I suddenly became quite deaf, which has saved me a lot altho’ it is inconvenient.  Today I am hearing a bit better but there is a most fearful noise in my head.  B.

In envelope addressed to Harry R King, Esq., Munmore, Zion Road, Rathgar, Dublin.  Ireland.

Postmarked FIELD POST OFFICE T *7.  5 JY 16.   Hexagonal PASSED FIELD CENSOR 3447.  Signed F.G. Dwerryhouse

Dear Sir,

            Just a few lines hoping you got my last letter I sent about a fortnight.  I received the Book safe as you sent & thank you very much for it.  I write a line or two hoping you in the best of health as it leaves me at present.  What sort of Wheather are you having over their very Warm I suppose.  We are having some lovely weather at present.  We have not had a drop of rain as a Week or so it as been Warm three or four days the rest it as **** cold.  We can’t Grumble at the Weather out hear.  We have a Church Service twice a week they are very good services as Well.  I went to the Y.M.C.A.  We had a Church Service on Sunday.  I should like to hear the Whitwick Church Bells ring once more their in non out hear like them.  I hope We shall all meet again those from Whitwick once more  all been Well & Good.  I hope the War will soon be over and I may have a safe Return home. I must close my letter with love from myself to all.

I remain your friend

Sincerely J.J.

This is the way how to put my address

1862.  5^th Leics D^r. J. James Transport Section.  Lincs & Leics Brigade, Britt Expd Force.

In envelope addressed to Rev T.W. Walters, Vicarage House, Leicester Rd, Whitwick, Leicestershire.  England.

Letter postmarked FIELD POST OFFICE 138  2 JU 15

PASSED BY CENSOR 405 in triangular cachet in red.