Canadian Y.M.C.A headed notepaper

H.M. FORCES ON ACTIVE SERVICE

Pte. A A. Smith

No 27521

Reply to Essex Regt

15^th I.B.D  A.P.O 817

B.E.F. France

July 8^th 1916

Dear Father

You can see by the above address where I am stationed now; it is a bit further than Dovercourt now, too far to come home for a week-end but I must put up with it for a bit.

I cannot tell you very much news. We had a good crossing & the train ride was very interesting.

The food is very good here much better than Dovercourt. I don’t know much about the drills yet but I don’t think we have to work so many hours.  The ground is all sand it is very tiring for marching.

We are not allowed out of the camp but there are several recreation huts &c so we can pass the time away alright when we have finished duty.

I think this is all I can tell you now. Glad to say I am quite well & hope you are all enjoying good health.

With much love to Jess, Ethel & yourself

Your devoted

Son

Alf

P.S. I shall be pleased to receive a letter from you when you have time to write.

Fragment undated

matter in the Brigade either. The young ‘shop’ boy who was with us in the battery until April was killed on the first day of the bombardment.  He was an awfully nice cheery fellow – never in the dumps – He had worked very hard for sometime laying telephone lines – sometimes all day & all night.  When he had practically completed his job and was sitting down under a tree for a short rest a stray shell burst in front of him.  I dare say you saw his name in the papers – Freemen Cowan.

What do people at home think about the ‘move’? I should be interested to hear.  I have seen a paper of the 6^th – La Boiselle seems to figure very largely in the communiqués.  There really was some very hot fighting here but some of the things the reporters say are not exactly truthful.

I am disgusted to see that while the Ulster Division did such heroic work out here and suffered such a lot, the politicians at home betrayed them.

I am afraid I am writing a very serious and gloomy letter to you this time. Please forgive – it must be the weather which is again cold, windy & wet.

Au revoir

Yours very sincerely

Archie.

Fragment undated

matter in the Brigade either. The young ‘shop’ boy who was with us in the battery until April was killed on the first day of the bombardment.  He was an awfully nice cheery fellow – never in the dumps – He had worked very hard for sometime laying telephone lines – sometimes all day & all night.  When he had practically completed his job and was sitting down under a tree for a short rest a stray shell burst in front of him.  I dare say you saw his name in the papers – Freemen Cowan.

What do people at home think about the ‘move’? I should be interested to hear.  I have seen a paper of the 6^th – La Boiselle seems to figure very largely in the communiqués.  There really was some very hot fighting here but some of the things the reporters say are not exactly truthful.

I am disgusted to see that while the Ulster Division did such heroic work out here and suffered such a lot, the politicians at home betrayed them.

I am afraid I am writing a very serious and gloomy letter to you this time. Please forgive – it must be the weather which is again cold, windy & wet.

Au revoir

Yours very sincerely

Archie.

FOR GOD, FOR KING & FOR COUNTRY

Y.M.C.A.

H.M. FORCES ON ACTIVE SERVICE

6185

1^st London R.F.

14 Base Camp

Le Havre

B.E.F.

France

Monday Eve July 7^th

Dear Mother & all at home,

Just a few lines hoping they may find you all well at home. Glad to say I am very well at present.

I had a letter from Mary the other day. She says she likes her place allright no doubt she sees more life there than she did at the other place.

I had a letter from Dad, Sid & Ted last week.

Well Mother I must tell you that I am on the move again, we are shifting farther up the line. Don’t worry I shall be allright I will always look after myself wherever I am.  I will write to you as soon as I know my fresh surroundings & will write as often as I possibly can.

Dear Mother I have enclosed a 10/- note as I have no use for it now, use it for something that you like. Hoping that you may get it safe.

Well Mother I don’t think I have any more to say for now, hoping you are all well at home, but for the meanwhile write to me at the same address.

Goodbye for now.

So with love to all the Girls & all & ****

I remain from your loving son  Walter

P.S. for the girls XXXXXXXXXXX

PS I saw Jack Upton here last night he is in the London Scottish (Frank knows him) I was rather pleased to meet someone I know.

Tell Frank to ride the bike & look after it.

PICTURE POSTCARD

Of East Cliff – Martello Tower Folkestone

To T Smith Esq.,

24 Palmerston Rd

Bowes Park

London N

Postmarked Folkestone 2.30 PM 6 JUL 1916

July 6^th 16

Dear Father

Arrived here this morning leaving at 3 P.M. All well  Alf

APPENDIX A

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Date                Unit                                         From                            To        Starting Time              Remarks

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

5^th                    5^th Bde R.H.A.                       FRECHENCOURT                Area 2             12 noon                      Via ST. CRATIEN – MAINMONTIGNY-                                                                                                                                                                     AMIENS Road – AMIENS – DREUIL –                                                                                                                                                                 BREILLY-FOURDRINOY – Billets.

“                    33^rd Bde R.F.A.             ditto                                                   do     12.10 p.m.                                           ditto

“                    45^th Bde R.F.A.          BEHENCOURT                     Area 3.            12 noon.                      As for 5^th Brigade to AMIENS thence                                                                                                                                                               SAVEUSE – FERRIERES –                                                                                                                                                                                                 BRIQUEMESNIL – Billets.

“                   D.A.C.                                    BAVELINCOURT                Area 1 12 noon                       As for 5^th Brigade to BREILLY thence                                                                                                                                                                         PICQUIGNY – St PIERRE –A-GOUY,                                                                                                                                                                  CROUY.

Reference Map FRANCE Sheet 17 1/100000   (AMIENS)

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————G.R. Gover Major R.A.

Brigade Major 8^th Div Arty.

5.7.16

APPENDIX OO/15

SECRET                                                                                                         Copy No 1

8^th Division Artillery Operation Order No. 15.

——————————————————————————————————-

1. The Divisional Artillery will move to Billets South of the SOMME on 5^th July.
2. Brigades will march in accordance with Appendix A attached.
3. Billeting Parties to be sent on in advance and will report to Staff Captain of Billeting Area.
4. Tail of the Column must be clear of the entrance to AMIENS by 3 p.m.
5. Supplies. Instructions have already been issued.
6. Brigades and Divisional Ammunition Column will report their arrival to Divisional Artillery Headquarters CAVILLON.

C.R. Gover Major R.A.

Brigade Major 8^th Div Arty.

5.7.16

Copies to         8^th Division

12^th Division

19^th Division

All Brigades

3^rd Corps R.A.

Y.M.C.A

POSTCARD

To T Smith Esq.,

24 Palmerston Rd

Bowes Park

London N

July 6^th 16.  Postmark Harwich 8.30 pm 5 July 15

Dear Father

We are leaving tonight 7P.M. I will write as soon as I am settled again.

Alf

APPENDIX OO/14

SECRET                                                                                            Copy No 20

8^th Division Artillery Operation Order No. 14.

4^th July 1916

——————————————————————————————————-

1. The 8^th Divisional Artillery will hand over responsibility for Artillery Defence of the Line to the 12^th Divisional Artillery at 10 a.m. 5^th July.

2. The Headquarters R.A. 8^th Division will close at HENECOURT at 10 a.m. 5^th July and will re-open at CAVILON at a time to be notified later.

3. The following moves will take place to day as under.

UNIT.             FROM .                       TO.                              REMARKS.

——————————————————————————————————-

Adv Sections  HENENCOURT        Area 2             To march as a unit under

33^rd Bde               WOOD                                         the orders of the senior

Officer present.

Adv Sections           ditto                   Area 2             Head of column to start

5^th Bde            R.H.A.                                                           from BRESLE at 2.45                                                                                                p.m.  Head of column is          Adv Sections  BRESLE                     Area 3             not to cross the SOMME        45^th Bde                                                                      in AMIENS before 6 p.m.                                                                                                 tail must be clear by 8                                                                                                 p.m.

Route BRESLE-                                                                                                         FRANVILLERS – Main                                                                                            AMIENS Road – to                                                                                                   Billeting Area.

4. Remainder of the Divisional Artillery will be withdrawn tonight as laid down in O.O. No 12 dated 3^rd July.

C.R. Gover Major R.A.

Bde Major 8^th Divisional Artillery.

4.7.16

Copies to         8^th Division

12^th Division

19^th Div. Arty.

12^th Div. Arty.

3^rd Corps R.A.

All Bdes R.F.A.

8^th Div. Signals

12^th Div. Signals.

Div. Train.

S.S.O.

A.D.M.S.

A.D.V.S.

APPENDIX “B”

SECRET

BILLETING AREA

—————————–

No. 1 Area.     HANGEST SOUES – ST PIERRE a GOUY – CROUY.

COMMANDER

G.O.C. 23^rd                                       23^rd Infantry Brigade

Infy Bde                                 8^th Div. Train (SOUES)

Div. Am. Col.  (Near CROUY)

No. 2 Area.     LE MESGE – MONTAIGNE – RIENCOURT – FOURDRINOY.

COMMANDER

G.O.C. 25^th                                       25^th Infantry Brigade

Iny Bde                                   1 Field Ambulance (Riencourt)

5^th and 33^rd Brigades R.A.

No. 3 Area.     OISSY – DREUIL LES MOLLIENS – MOLLIENS VIDAME –                                                                                                              SAISSEVAL.

COMMANDER         G.O.C. 70^th                               45^th Bde R.F.A.

Infy Bde                                 70^th Infy Bde.

1 Field Ambulance (SAISSEVAL)

1      “         “          (MOLLIENS)

No. 4 Area.     CAMPS en AMIENOIS.

Commander

C.R.E.                                                             3 Field Coys. R.E.

1 Pioneer Bn.

Div. H.Q. Area                       CAVILLON.

C.R. Gover Major R.A.

Bde Major 8^th Div Arty.

4.7.16