Letter to the Hammonds 29 August 1917.

62 Benyon Road

Kingsland

London N1

29-8-17

Dear Ted & Mary

I got your P.C. just as we were leaving the house on Sat morning & received one this morning.  We had a very nice holiday the weather kept up until last Friday & then it was so windy that we could scarcely keep on our feet & it went much colder so that we felt quite ready to return to London.  I am very sorry that the weather is so bad for you.  It is brighter here today but windy.  We have had a lot of rain since Sunday.  We took our Mothers to Chingford yesterday but it was rather rough for nieces & the Vicar slipped & dislocated his shoulder so it was rather unfortunate.  I am glad to say that he is going on as well as can be expected.  I am glad to hear that Fred & George are alright.  You are not far from Neston.  What sort of place is Hoylake it was *** **** when I was at Neston.  I must close now ***.

Love to you & Mary also to the boys & Gladys

P.S. I don’t know whether Will wrote to you Kibby Walls husband joins up today.

A.A. Laporte Payne letter to Muriel 27 August 1917

B.E.F.

August 27^th 1917.

Darlingest mine,

Your letter of the 22^nd has just come – thank you so much for it.  It cheered me up a lot to know that someone, and that one you, still cared – everybody plus the elements seem to be against us – you and your letters are the only bits of sunshine I get now.  It has poured for two days and a gale so ferocious that we can hardly stand up has blown for a day.  It was really most amusing of course but I am like a cat and hate the wet.  All our tents were levelled on top of us last night, and to make matters worse the Boche shelled us and killed one of my best horses – it was a marvel it did nothing else – the first shell I mean as it landed right in our lines – we cleared out with all the gees and in the confusion I managed to ‘make’ another horse which was going stray and no one has claimed it yet so I shall stick to it.

You would have laughed to have seen me in pyjamas and a pair of old gum boots with a large hole in one of them.

Forgive my telling you about some of my worries but I feel sometimes I must write and tell you. It helps me a lot and you will also understand why my temper is not of the best always.  It is difficult to be a philosopher – even to the most philosophical among us – under some circumstances and I am selfish enough to want someone who is not one of us here to sympathise with me in these silly little troubles.  It is the little things which try us most isn’t it?  It is easy to pose as heroic in some great thing but very hard in the multitudinous little things of everyday – and that is where you come in for me, darling.  But don’t tell anyone else for I hate anyone else’s sympathy real of affected – and after all I should not worry other people with these silly things – not even you but I can’t help it at times.

So you are back at Finchley again. It is great getting home again after a long absence.  I hope you found everybody well and everything as you wished.  I don’t suppose you will get any tennis yet unless you have different weather to this.  You are not very far away you know.

How are you all keeping? All well and jolly I hope.  Give my love to Mr & Mrs Cross.

So you are doing some reading again. I have not read a book for months and have not seen a paper for days.  I shall soon be forgetting how to read, or is it one of those things you can’t forget.  I hope so.  I should never have the energy to learn to read again.

With all my love dearest and a long kiss

Ever your

Arch.

G. Hammond letter 26 August 1917.

Sunday

26-8 17

My dear Mother & Father

By the time you receive this I shall most likely have had my 3^rd birthday away from home.  Am I 23 or 24.  I quite forget.  Well I must be getting on in life now judging from the way my moustache flourishes.  Now I have a little surprise for you both.  I am sending your birthday present on Wednesday don’t think this is a decoy to get you to send me something.  I would much rather you gave me the money to Pa to look after for me.  He takes such good care of it.  The only difficulty is Pa sees something he likes and having no money of his own say, Oh well I will buy it out of this and to pay it back next week.  Knowing all the time it is hopeless.

Now I am sending a pipe for Pa only to be smoked on Special occasions.  The paste is to polish it with not to smoke, and for Ma there is a little silver purse.  I have already written and told Gladys it is your purse and not to be ***.  You will also find my watch inside which wants repairing immediately, cleaning, new second hand, new luminous figures & fingers & a new saddler made wrist strap.  If you can get it done within a week or 10 days send it here.  I want it as soon as possible especially as the nights are getting dark.  Glad to hear you have managed to secure good digs see & have a good time.  I expect to find ma looking very fit when I come on leave.  I had a letter from Gladys today she says Salman is going home on leave.  Well this is all at present we are working very hard 7 am until 7 pm.  I shall be fit for a Brig Gen after this – perhaps – I forgot to tell you Mr Smith*** could have given you the address of some digs in Hoylake.  Don’t forget the watch.  Had a FPC from Gus the other day.  He is OK

Fondest love

George

PS I shall send the parcel home G

F. Springett letter 26 August 1917.

FOR GOD, FOR KING & FOR COUNTRY

Y.M.C.A.

H.M. FORCES ON ACTIVE SERVICE

August 26^th 1917

Same address

Sunday afternoon.

My Dear Brother Sid,

Just a few lines in answer to your welcome letter received a few days ago.  Glad to hear that you were quite well I am still A1.

I am sorry to hear that you haven’t much work but perhaps by now you have.  I do hope they still keep you busy at Crayford if they don’t anywhere else. Ha Ha!

Yes we keep getting a few air raids, we were up till 12.30 one night last week when the Zepps came over Yorkshire.  We had just gone to bed when the order came through, to get up and get full pack together.

You can bet there was a little cursing going on.

Of course we didn’t see anything of them.  That’s the sort of thing that ones has to put up with.

Still it makes a bit of sport as well as being a damn nuisance.

It’s quite a bit of sport when they come in the day time.  We had to run and get our gas helmets, and then bolt off to the trenches that are made for the job.  Some of the chaps get the wind up.  They never worry me very much it’s no use worrying in the Army.

We are doing a lot of trench warfare work now, practically every day we are in the trenches.

We are also finishing our bombing course shortly and also bayonet fighting.

We have just started on Lewis Machine Guns this week.

So you will see they want us to know something of anything.

Last Monday they brought two German Destroyers in “down here”.

Perhaps you have heard about it, or read it in the papers.

I have seen them today, they are painted very funny, half black and half white with big black spots.

The weather here is fairly good. Only we are on the top of a hill and the dust is something awful when it blows.  I shall be jolly glad when we get away from this place, and besides it is getting quite cold enough for canvas life.

Well, Sid I don’t think I have any more news this time, I hope you enjoyed your trip on the river.

Well Goodbye

Best Love

From Your

Affec Brother

Frank W

With cover to Mr S.K. Springett, 29 Bath Road Dartford Kent

Postmarked HARWICH 7.15 PM 25 AU 17.

A.A. Laporte Payne letter to Muriel 24 August 1917.

B.E.F.

August 24^th 1917

Darling,

Thank you very much for your letter and the photo of Mrs Lowe and the baby which is exceedingly good; but why did you not send me one of yourself instead? I am very glad you are having such a good holiday.  I hope you have recovered from your strenuous labours as a farm hand and that Mr  & Mrs Cross are keeping well and enjoying themselves.

I am sending this note to Benchfield as I think you are returning to Finchley to-day.

This is only a short note, dear, to let you know I am fairly well and thinking of you. I have got a rash like the stupid thing that I am.  The doctor says it is the water or something I have taken – at any rate it wasn’t whiskey.  I must get rid of the it before my leave mustn’t I?

Everything goes on as usual. It is not at all like August – much too windy and wet.

The wretched inhabitants are struggling hard to get the harvest in, in spite of the rain and shells. They are extraordinary people.

How did you find Finchley after your long absence? Much the same I suppose

With all my love, dearest, & kisses

Ever your

Arch.

Letter to Rev. R.M. Laporte Payne 23 August 1917

Y.M.C.A. Headed notepaper.

LCpl J. Tomlinson 140310

R.E.                                                                                                                 abt 23 8/17

Fulham Military Hospital

Hammersmith

Dear Sir,

I am writing this letter to you to ask you if you can do me a favour by giving me a little advice as to the welfare of my children. My address is 56 High St. N^th Finchley.  My wife has been in Hospital 12 months suffering from Heart disease and being Paralyzed is quite helpless.  I have therefore had to rely on the kindness of neighbour’s to look after my children of which I have three the eldest one being nearly 12 years old and the youngest one 5 years.  I was able to get out of hospital yesterday and went to Finchley to see them and I am sorry to say that they are not getting the proper attention that I should like them to have.  I did not have time to call and see you which I should have liked to have done as I was advised to do so I have taken the liberty of writing to you.  What I should like to do, would be, to get them into a good home where they would get proper education and good care, so if you would be so kind to do anything for me in the matter I should be very thankful, as it is a great worry to me, I might say that a lady visitor from the Church used to call on Mrs Tomlinson while she was at home ill and offered to get them away, but Mrs Tomlinson would not hear of it then and myself being in the service I was helpless.  If you could arrange a day & time I could probably get over to Finchley to see you, that is if you think you can do anything for me.

Trusting that I am not imposing on you.

I Remain

Yours Truly

L Cpl J. Tomlinson.

A.A. Laporte Payne letter to Muriel 18 August 1917

B.E.F.

August 18 1917

My own dearest,

Is the weather any better for your holiday now? I do hope so.  It is much better here and it is drying up quite nicely.  We shall be able to get on with the war soon.  Thank you very much, dear, for your letter which has just arrived.  So you return on the 24^th.  I am afraid I shall not be able to get away so soon as that.  No officers are on leave at present except those who are sick and everybody wants to go now.  Battery Commanders will go first I expect.

How are you all keeping? Well and having a good rest I hope.  Give my love to Mr & Mrs Cross.  There is no news to tell you as usual.  Everything is very much the same.

I am losing my ‘stable companion’. He has to go up the line alas!  I hope I shall be going soon too.  It is rather dull down here at times although there is plenty to do.  The last two days have been a bit slacker.

I was to have gone on a joy ride with the Colonel yesterday in a car he had borrowed to a large town some way away but I could not get away in the end as some stupid thing turned up which had to be done. So I was done out of a frivol in the afternoon and a good dinner at night.  However I may be able to go some other time.

This evening I am expecting the major down to inspect the Wagon Line but he has not turned up yet. Things are not as ship-shape as they might be but what can you expect with less than half the number of men we ought to have.

It does seem a long time ago since I saw you last. I am just longing to see you again.  I hope you will be kind and treat me well.  Or are you going to keep me in order this time?

With all my love dearest & many kisses

Ever your

Arch.

War Diary of AA Laporte Payne 17 August 1917.

EXTRACTED FROM.

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

Correspondence

—————–

17^th August 1917

August 17, 1917.

August is now living up to its reputation. It might be April or March.

The team horses are not looking up to the mark. The rain and mud have spoilt their coats, and I have not enough men to groom them properly.  The gun-line have too many up there and many are on leave.

The attitude of people in England now is strange.  The men come back from leave with impressions they should not have.  I have asked several how they enjoyed their leave.  A typical answer I get is “Oh! Alright, sir, but everybody is fed up with the war, and grumbling”.  Now this is strange.  Surely the troops out here are the ones who might be expected to grouse immoderately, and be forgiven.  There is no comparison between the conditions.  If at times the men here do grumble, there is hardly one who wants to get out of it or finish the war until we have the Boche well beaten.  Thank heaven, there is no peace talk out here.  I have come to the conclusion that all the men who have got any spirit at all are out here.  At home you have now only physical wrecks, politicians and socialists avid for higher wages as munition workers.  If you come across any mumblers of peace tell them off on our behalf.  Out here we are quite cut off and inarticulate as the war correspondents have no time for the opinions of mere regimental officers or troops.

A.A. Laporte Payne letter to Muriel 17 August 1917

B.E.F.

Aug 17^th 1917

My own dearest,

I am so glad to hear that you are a united family once more. You must be very glad to see them both again after such a long time away.   How were they after their strenuous time in town – Mrs Cross cooking & housekeeping and Mr Cross moving?  I hope you survived the gay time you had at Bagston Hill and will not find Welshpool too dull for you.  The weather too ought to behave itself a little better for you now – it is struggling hard here but is not succeeding very well.  How long are you going to stay up north?  I suppose you will not be able to face town in August.

What a relief it must be to get away from fruit picking, small quarters and early hours. You used not to like Sundays, but don’t you appreciate them now after your late experiences?

Are you getting any tennis or is it too wet? August seems to be living up to its reputation!  It might be called April, I think, or even March.  Perhaps September will make up for it.

Have you heard anything of Maude? I think she ought to have come away when you did.  She will be quite a hardened old farmer when she arrives home again.

It is just about feeding time for the horses and they know it and are getting very impatient. They are not looking up to the mark – the rain has spoilt their coats and I have not enough men to groom them properly; so many drivers are on leave.  I shall be glad when all the men have had their leave.  The men who are going now have not had any at all since they have been out, poor devils.

There is no news to tell you. Everything goes on as usual.  The attitude of people in England towards the war is annoying me at present.  The men come back from leave with impressions they should not have.  I have asked several how they enjoyed their leave and the answer I usually get is “Oh! Alright, but everybody is fed up with the war, and grumbling”.  Surely the men who are entitled to grouse are the fellows who have a rotten time of it and if they do so at times there is hardly one who wants to get out of it until we have well beaten the Boche.  There is no peace talk out here thank goodness.  If you come across any such creatures you might tell them off from me will you?

How are you keeping dearest? Quite alright I hope.

I am still living for leave and you but the former seems a long time coming.

With all my love & kisses

Ever your

Arch.

F. Smith letter 16 August 1917.

Aug 16^th 17

Dear Father

I will now endeavour to answer your welcome letter also the enclosed 10/- note thank you very much it is very kind of you indeed.

Well here goes for a little bit of news in general.  I had a parcel from Albert to-day, also a card to say he was safe after the air raid; did they visit your way this time?

I see you are on your lonesome at present but no doubt you manage to pass the time away by running round the houses & having a chat with some of your old friends.

We have been having a rough time lately went in the line last Friday & came out on Tuesday it was a very rough shop & the weather being so wet made it much worse.  We are a little way back at present & don’t expect to go in again I believe we are going right back for a good rest very soon.

I mean to have a good time too.  Your money will come in fine then.  I am always glad to have a parcel but it is rather fortunate you have not sent one lately as we have been on the move so much.  I hope we shall be settled down in a few days again & I have it a bit easier it has been all work cleaning up &c have not had any leisure time.

You ought to see me now clothes all torn where I caught them on the barbed wire & am feeling very hitchy-koo am looking forward to a bath & a clean change.

Please tell Mrs. Warman & Lilian I have not forgotten their letter I hope they are well.

I think you must excuse more news now as I have so many letters to answer.

Hoping you merry & bright & keeping in the best of health.

Au revoir

With much love

Your devoted

Son

P.S. Did Clara receive the two cards I sent the children about three weeks ago or longer.