Below is the text relating
to Fred Rothwell
Wigglesworth
of the Prince of Wales, West Yorkshire Regt. until 7th May 1919, originally in
the 7th Bn.
Introduction
This account is composed from the few letters to his mother which remain together with one to him from his eldest
brother. There is also a small notebook he kept with important information of
all sorts, written in the indelible copying ink pencils of that time. Documents
he chose to keep from after the war signify important happenings. He was a
member of the old comrades’ club which has given some of the background
recorded in "The Salient" their newsletter from the 1960’s. As always
one regrets not having encouraged him to reminisce it was the case however he
never himself chose to do so except to say that day was the start of the
It was Andrew Motion, the Poet Laureate who said "... the fighting felt remote - all the more so because my father rarely talked about it. I used to think this was his modesty and reserve - and so it was. Now I realise it was also because he didn’t want the shadow of what he’d been through to fall across my own life. I’ve always been grateful to him for this, but I’ve also wanted to know his story. It’s been one of the shaping paradoxes of my life."
The recent scenes from actual documentary film regularly shown on television gives more than enough reality to those with any sensitivity, showing something of what front line soldiers experienced and helps one to understand why they did not want to articulate it. These letters can only hint.
Fred Rothwell Wigglesworth was
born in 1891 in Embsay (near Skipton)
going to school there and subsequently in Skipton, Wetherby and
His father was a grocer, learning the trade in Embsay and running his own shop in Skipton.
His mother and mother in law had both married again to inn keepers, the one at
The Elm Tree, Embsay the other at the Devonshire
Arms, Cracoe. The re-marriage of his mother seems to
have led to him needing to seek employment eventually managing a grocer’s shop
at
From 1906 Fred worked in the warehouse of W E Yates, a
worsted manufacturer on
He did his initial training in
Pte. FRW., had Regt. Number variously given as 612612
(or265605) (or 2728) enlisted on the 8th Sept 1914 and served in the Prince of
Wales, West Yorkshire Regt until 7th May 1919, originally in the 7th Bn.. His parents and sister lived in
|
To |
15 April 1915 |
|
Letter |
25 Sept 1915 |
|
Letter |
22 Dec 1915 |
|
|
24 Dec 1915 |
|
Posted to Orderly Room |
3 Jan 1916 |
|
Letter |
23 Feb 1916 |
|
L Cpl |
29 Mar 1916 |
|
Letter |
24 June 1916 |
|
Wounded, Authville |
15 July 1916 |
|
|
17 July 1916 |
|
|
26 July 1916 |
|
Discharged from Hospital |
10 Nov 1916 |
|
Engaged |
14 April 1917 |
|
|
1 May 1917 |
|
Rejoined 1/7 West |
26 May 1917 |
|
Gassed Paschendale |
20 Nov 1917 |
|
Posted 15 P.O.W Coy (Labour Corps) |
29 Apr 1918 |
|
Letter from George |
20 Oct 1918 |
|
Discharged |
3 April 1919 7 May 1919 |
The first letter we have is dated Sept 25th that year. It was no doubt characteristic with some details of realism together with reports of post and family matters. George is FRW's elder brother, Harold, Frank and Dick (Richard) are all younger than he is. They all served in and survived the First World War thinking of themselves as "the lucky Wiggs." Margery is their sister. Nellie and Gertie are neighbours. Elsie became his wife.
Sept
25/1915
My
Dear Ma and
Thanks for
your letter of 21st, the YEPs (Yorkshire Evening
Post) and George's letter.
I also got
Auntie Annies parcel this morning. We did not get any
parcels while we were in the trenches, it was too
dangerous for ration carriers.
At one part
on the trenches it was too low to pass during the day, you were under fire all
the way.
Our trench
was in front of the others and this was the only way out so you can guess it
was a case of holding out at all costs if we were attacked, we couldn't get
back.
I went up to
see Herbert Jaques and Dick (Dickinson) one morning
just before when dinner ought to have been, they were just behind us, I had to
go on my hands and knees and then they saw me.
Will Margery
send me a copy of Collinsons letter,
I would like to see it. Got a letter from Nellie yesterday and sent her a
letter.
Graham and I
came out with the satisfaction of knowing we had hit one or two. A chap who had
been in our trench went to Warburton who was in the telephone box at the second
line with a harrowing story of how he had been peeping over the top and saw a
German in front of their trench, all at once Graham fired and he went down.
I dont know whether he was killed or not but I fancy he was
hit.
We had one
or two nice shots and I think altogether our platoon did fairly well.
Margery said
I had not mentioned about the Battalion coming back on Home Service, well I dont know that we are.
I am about
the same over leave. One or two are getting it for special cases.
Dont bother about it, I
know it is hard for you, but it can't be helped.
I think I
once said let Frank join if he wishes, also George, but I dont
think I would. Frank could not stand it, in an infantry Batt
at any rate.
Keep them to
look after you at home, 2 out of our house is enough.
I dont want any underclothing or things like that thanks.
We are going
to get Cardigan Jackets and we have already got rubber boots up to the knee for
the trenches.
Sept and Oct
are the warmest months they have at here and no one knows where we shall be at
the end of October.
Anything I
want I will tell you, but please dont send unless I
ask, they would only be washed and are all to carry.
I will write
to George tomorrow, I think the same as you do, also about Frank joining, it isnt right they should.
Besides it
would spoil Frank's trade
Pleased to
hear Margery went to a concert with Elsie.
We are
having a pudding today made of soaked biscuits and currants in.
Its a bit
heavy, but still,its like
pudding.
Hope you
have a nice time when Harold comes home, he does get a fine lad.
I will write
to Dick for his birthday.
My cough has
got loose now, so it is a lot better, it was only a bit of one.
I am quite well,
there is nothing to worry about.
I feel more fit than I have done for a long time. Rather a warm
time last time in, but its a toss up whether we would
be sooner in than out. I think I told you we had Mr
Calvert and Sergt Taylor wounded.
How does
Dick like his work, and can he stick the early rising.
I often
think about him when I am on early morning sentry and think of Richard climbing
out of bed.
Nellie told
me what fine lads they had both got.
We are as a
rule on fatigues for the ...who are in the trenches at night and nothing more.
Sleep in our
blanket oilsheet and coat with all off, it is fine to
get things off at night. The trenches we were in had no dugouts.
How are Pa
and you keeping, I hope you are not fretting, just take things easy and make
the best of it.
God bless
you all, best love Fred.
Fred writes
in "The Salient" "One autumn day in 1915 there was a tragic
occurrence near |Brierlin. A young lad named Clarence
was under close arrest accused of disertion. This was
how it came about.
The previous
day, being a stretcher bearer, he had been detailed to take some of the lads
down to Poperinghe for dental treatment. When the
work was done he let the sufferers make their own way back to camp because
meanwhile a Belgian girl had invited him to a birthday party that was going to
be held that night. (Invitation - yes, birthday party - hardly, Ed) He left the party
very late and in the darkness took the wrong road out of "Pop". He
trudged along the dark road, the guns were grumbling as usual over the Salient,
the horizon was lit up by gun flashes and flares and hge
felt for all the worl like Napoleon retreating from
Moscow. In he wouldn’t have been surprised to hear a band burst forth into the
"1812 overture". What he did hear however was a voice shouting
"Halt!" and a bayonet was presented to his belt buckle. The guard
turned out and after a lot of questions and unintelligible answers he was at
last given a blanket and allowed to sleep, though still in the guardroom. The
next morning they still didn’t seem to accept (or was it understand) his
answers and returned him to his unit in the care of a mounted escort of the
South Irish (or was it Scottish) Horse. The horse (South Irish or Scottish,
which ever) was about 16 hands and Clarence’s head only reached his girth, him
being the smallest chap in the Regiment. He could easily have butted the horse
in the belly and made good his escape, but perhaps the escort might have shot
him! He entered the Rifles camp a dramatic sight and all the spectators gave
him a standing ovation. |He was handed over to Sgt Bill Stead but it all ended
happily though as Clarence got away with it, as was no doubt his habit.
December 22
1915
Dear Ma,
Thanks for
Pa's letter of the 17th also YEPs and Pro Rege.
We are now
in reserve trenches and have had a good night's sleep in a duguot.
Of course
our Sheepskin Greatcoats etc were soaked but we were too tired to notice and
being wet they were heavy and kept us warm.
I took my
boots and socks off and pushed my feet into Gerties
muffler and had my feet warm for the first time in three days.
As you will
see by the papers we had an exciting time Sunday.
They came
over after the gas, but got messed up by our fire, since then it has been one
continual stream of shells both ways.
They have
been quiet today for a blessing but it the hottest time we have ever had.
We leave
here tomorrow night (2nd line) and dont know if we
are going to the 3rd or the tents. Shall get your parcel
tomorrow night anyway.
Had
a bad time in the front line for the two days. No shelter except 3
sheets of corrugated iron and three of us always in the wet.
The parapet
was very low and water upto the knees everywhere,
naturally our waders took wet after a while. No sleep at all. I did drop off
for an hour once, but felt so rotten when I woke that I took care not to do it
again. We had only about 5 yds to move about in and
with water it was impossible to stamp our feet.
The Kompo came in handy, we tried a
fire now and again and made some soup of it hot with sugar in.
As usual we
came through all right and only had one man wounded in my platoon.
A shell has
just dropped behind this dugout and shook it up, it doesn't half jump.
Have always
to be ready for Gas now, we had a wiff
before it came off this time
Am glad you
like the souvenirs.
Graham is
falling into the old way again, its a bad time for
them first 2 days, they think of the warm fireside etc.
Have you
heard from Harold lately, I dropped him a line today.
Thanks for
your loving letter of 15th I do love all your letters.
It must be
hard for both you and Pa to write and I appreciate them all the more for it, if
that is possible..
Margery's
came while we were in the front line and I couldn't wait for the morning light
to read it so lit a candle.
Its a bit
risky shewing a light, it shows the sentry up with
the parapet being so low.
Still it was
worth it, she writes wonderful cheery letters like all of you and it took me
away from it all, back to dear old home. I often get your old letters out of my
pockets and read them.
Bless you
for them, I dont know what I should do without them.
I laughed,
didn't know whether Margery said her costume would only want a yard or whether
it was 6d a yard until I read it over.
Kind
of a Maud Allen costume if it would come out of a yard, narrow.
Tell her I dont want a photo of her if all she has on is a yard of
cloth, positively indecent.
I'll take
her out when the pass comes through. Mornings I will sit and talk to Pa,
afternoons I will take you out visiting and nights, well, I will make the most
of them, there are plenty of claimants.
I hope you
haven't been worrying and will have had a nice Christmas by the time this
arrives.
Thanks Ma
for praising Elsie's icing, she is very sensitive and I know likes you a lot.
As for Pa,
well you know , or perhaps you dont
know how genial he is with ladies. Now for a row, pull his hair Ma.
I think we
boys have inherited his courteous ways with the opposite sex..
The cake
will be fine for Christmas day, I will think of you all when I eat it. Made for me by my mother, almonded by my
sister, iced by my Sweetheart, and paid for by my dear daddy. Bless you
all. Its all that I love best united.
By the way
the streak on the other page was not a tear but a drop of water from the roof.
I think I cant cry if I want to, one sees too much and have to control
their feelings.
Its only
when I think of you at home when it seems hard.
The life
itself doesn't bother me, I can stick that well enough, it is what you are all
suffering at home , the anxiety for you all.
Thanks for
the music, there is quite sufficient in these two copies. Tell Margery I would
like some Mistletoe had we any girls to Kiss, but
without girls it is like an Egg without salt.
By the way
it was very indiscreet of Frank to have his photo in the Mercury, enlisting.
Within 3 days of it appearing the Kaiser made his final(?)
effort to get through..
Do you think
by any chance a copy can have got into
I am proud
of him for going but would rather he kept out of this
lot if he can.
How are Pa's
hands? I asked Graham how you all were as soon as I saw him.
Did my green
envelope get through all right two days ago? It had got stuck up with my tunic
being wet and I had to fasten it down with paper.
Now all keep
cheerful until I come home, I will want you all to look bright and well. You
must go into training for about three weeks and then you will be all smiles.
Will have to
close now, it is dark and I am on a Ration Party to the front line. Will finish
it tomorrow if possible, Best love to you all,
Your loving
son, Fred
The Yser canal is at
It was at Poperinghe in the Ypres Salient that Toc H was founded as an all ranks club for the 6th Division. "Abandon rank all ye who enter here." A house was found in the Rue de l’Hospital to be called Talbot House. The Senior Chaplain of the Division was Neville Talbot and it was named after his brother Gilbert, killed in the Hooge sector. He appointed the reknowned "Tubby" Clayton, the chaplain of 16th Infantry Brigade to run it. Tubby celebrated his 80th birthday in 1965 when a street in "Pop". was named after him. The club was still there that year including the Chapel on the top floor and the writing room where letters home were written. It served for 2 ½ years until compelled to close because of the German advance in May 1918, to re-open when they withdrew. Notices still adorned the walls. One is notable - "If you spit on the carpets at home you can spit here." It was a time when disease of the chest and throat were common, alleviated, but also spread, by spitting; even in 1950 trams had notices upstairs saying "Spitting prohibited". The situation was exacerbated by war. In the front line you resisted lighting up because the flame might silhouette the lookout on the palisade, mind you we are told Sgt Bill Stead stood there even when emitting sparks from his pipe. However many men chewed tobacco rather than smoke.
Many other canteens were limited to a corps or regiment. One rifleman remembers being refused at a Royal Artillery canteen because he had a Leeds Rifles cap badge. A friendly gunner seeing his problem temporarily swopped caps.
Christmas
Eve
Tunnel
Dugouts
My Dear Pa
and Ma,
There has
been no letter mail for a few days and there is no mail at all today.
We have a
small plum pudding between two men and two mince pies ea also a piece of cake
and chocolate from Col Kirk.
Rather a dry
do, I went into Brielin and bought 4 francs worth of
candles to have a light on the scene at all events.
There was a
chap playing 'Peace, perfect peace' on the organ in Brielin.
It has had
the steeple blown away and it seemed rather strange. Christmas Eve there wasn't
a sound in the line only the star lights going up. The fields
and part of the road under water and the village in ruins.
We had a
real do last Sunday. We were in the Elverlinghe Woods
in Tents.
At 5.30 the
Officers came round and warned us that Gas was at Brielin.
We got
dressed and put our equipment on, just pouches and bayonet with two extra
bandoliers of five rounds each and gas helmets handy.
We were all
ready to start when a heavy shell came tearing over the woods.
That did it, of we set down the road two platoons at a time.
It was dawn
and we could see shells dropping all round and flying
over.
Our
artillery were in action and their ammunition limbers 6 horses in each came
bearing down the road, bellys down to the floor.
We came
through safely and got to the bank without loosing a man
I fancy we
were first to get here. About half an hour after the Notts and
Men were
coming down nearly dead with gas.
A dug out here
had been hit and we could see 3 men partly buried with their gas helmets on.
We stayed on
the Bank until night and then relieved the 8th in the front line.
Our Division
lost 400 men gassed and wounded and 100 killed in the 24 hours.
Capt. Cox in "The Salient" Dec 1965 wrote "If I remeber rightly, the 7th were the first troops to go to Elverdinge Chateau after the family had been evacuated. I think we had just got there after the furniture vans had driven away. On going into the Chateau, and being allocated a room to sleep in, I immediately had a look round to see if there was anything to scrounge and found a small eiderdown that had been left behind. This went into my fleabag and certainly contributed to my warmth during the winter. It came home and my wife used it to stuff four cushions."
Elverdinge woods was full of singing nightingales until the Germans shelled it.
Letter written after FRW was posted on 3rd Jan 1916 to Company HQ Orderly Room from his Platoon.
Feb 23/1916
My
Dear Pa and Ma.
I am afraid
I have more bad news for us all.
A shell
dropped in the traverse held by number 9 this morning.
Graham was
rather badly smashed also another chap named Wood.
Dickenson
(my pal Dickie) was killed by the shock of the
explosion and Cox was killed by splinters.
It was what
we call a Whizz Bang.
Poor Graham
was down here and away before I knew about it.
I asked the
Doctors Orderly and he said there was a good chance for him. I do hope so.
Am enclosing
a letter for Mrs Graham but I can tell her nothing.
Please read
it and address it for me, I have forgotten where he lives.
Cox was the
chap I met in the Empire while at home, Frank and Dick
did not see him but will remember it.
I came and
went back on leave with him, I spoke to him on the station, tell Margery he was
the party who had the Whiskey bottle, a young well built lad with a round face.
As soon as I
hear news of Graham I will let his Mrs Graham know.
But as I
told you the first news we get of men who have been wounded is from
I feel as
though I cant write much tonight.
Birdsall and Dickie dead, Graham wounded and perhaps.... Bedford in
I dont think I want to go back to the Company now, the 8 of
us always hung together ever since we came out.
Still I
would like to get my own back. A lot took Dickie and
I for brothers we are rather alike and I often got called Dickie.
Its a million to one I would have been in it if I had
not come to the Orderly Room. I have been up to see Graham and Dick every night
since we came in.
Last night abouyt 10.30 we were all three sat in their dugout, all the
rest were on guard and they had just come off. I hasd
taken a candle up as I had promissed and a paper or
two also a few things I had been able to pinch for them. Graham was in his
blanket and Dick sat on his bed.
Just when I
was going Graham thanked me for getting the things and trailing up with them; its a long lonely way and perhaps a tyrifle
risky alone, because if anything happens you might lay there for a while.
I remember
answered "Its a pleasure boys, I only wish I
could take you backwith me, if there is anything you
want, let me know and do take care of yourselves." Dickie
chimed in with "We could do with you back wi’ us Wiggy, chuck it up and
come, we miss him a lot don't we Tim?"
He is the
one I told you tales about, he talks very broad. I have seen him pull out his
pipe just before we finished a lot of our marches and light up,
the majority of us could hardly breathe let alone smoke. It was a vary big, French pipe and somone
would shout "Dickie’s kitchen is going".
Then he would turn to Tim and me and say "get yours out and kid ‘em up a bit."
He was a
typical Yorkshireman, slow but he always got there.
He never went sick since he joined and never missed a day in the trenches. He
got more than his share of fatigues. The three of us were always together and
very rarely had a quiet time.
Graham was a
comical chap and Dickie the driest humorist I ever
struck. I wish a record had been kept ofhis original
remarks, he never lacked an answer. Between us we hadn’t an enemy in the
Battalion I am sure.
The last
night we had together will always be one of my happiest memories and if only we
had known.
I don't
think I have ever had a blow as hard as this in all the war and I have had a
few. It’s the fortunes of war and all we can expect but God it’s hard. I am
glad I went up last night, I was going up again tonight but they are both gone.
Now don't
worry about me, I shall get over it and I know you feel for me.
God bless
you all, Fred
PS Feb 24th
1916
Am all right now, we go
out of the line tonight.
As Syd Appleyard said reporting his
return to the Salient in 1965 "Speaking to a pal one moment and then he
was dead. Even soldiers can cry you know.
The back of
the notebook had extracts of poems transcribed, Walter Scott and Robert
Browning together with less well known poets. The only writer I remember Fred
recommending to me was Seigfreid Sassoon, known for
his "war" and the attitudes against the bleak war he developed, the
contempt for was leaders and patriotic cant and expressed in poems, throwing
away his Military Cross before being invalided out.
June 24th
1916
My Dear Ma &
Pa
Thanks for
Pa’s letter of the 19th.
Sorry to
hear Fred Todd is not himself again, rather a heavy penalty for the poor lad.
I have not
seen Ernest Pottage for an hour or so, we had a nice talk together, I was going to slip over and see him but have too much work
on. Saw Roland Gooderidge the other day.
If you don't
hear from me for a while don't get worried. I will write if I can but I don't
think I shall have the chance.
Garnett came
up with a Draft today but I have not had an opportunity to speak to him yet. Wrote to Harold and Vic Whitely today. The weather is grand
although we had a very heavy thunderstorm last night. I can't give you any
news. Have a fair lot of work today & shall have for a while.
Tell Mrs Garnett I will look up her son and have a talk with
him, he has been out before so knows his way about. Will try and let you have
another Green Envelope day after tomorrow if I can. Have just got the second
edition of "Fragments from
Pottage
looked very well indeed & so did Gooderidge. I
fancy Reg has been missed off the Draft on account of
his teeth. Washed two shirts a towel and 6 pairs of socks this morning so have
been busy. Best to have all clean & am having a bath tomorrow. We are in
Billets here for a day or two. The other Battalion who had
their Orderly Rooh here got rather at loggerheads
with the lady of the house who is slightly lacking in mental balance.
She chased
the Regtl. Sergt. Major with a pitchfork and threw a billhook at him, he had
to jump through the window into the street. However young Hudson & the RSM’s batman and I are fluent linguists and she will not
attack us now we have smoothed her.
Just fancy
going home with a gash across the face & when anyone says what charge were
you wounded in you have to say a daft French woman did it with a pitchfork.
Hudson and I
bought two quarts of milk last night & with a tin of Custard Powder
commenced operations. When we had got it made we found we had no sugar &
sent a little Frenchie for some. It came back with
those sticky French sweets instead. Anyway we had to sweeten it with something
so we put them in. If you were lucky you got a chocolate Cushion and a lump of
congealed custard.
All my love
Fred
This letter links up with memories recorded in "The Salient"
Harry Thackray told of marching to the bath house and using the big tubs. Their shirts were "running wick" with lice and got nice clean fresh ones. The lice would be the many that avoided the candle treatment which many used to kill lice in the seams where thumb nails couldn’t do the job. The whole battalion came out in a rash which brasshat doctors diagnosed as German measles. It only affected them above the waist and in fact was due to the fresh shirts being washed in too strong ‘creosol’ which caused a rash. Alas the quarantine was ended and they went once more into the line
Fred, tongue in cheek, claims he is a fluent linguist, but the standards are fairly low. Toot sweet, dooze oofs, san fairy Ann were about the limits for many. Ernest Kirkland reported "a small detachment in billets had received orders to move. The NCO in charge detailed one of the men to go and borrow a shovel from the nearby farm to bury the rubbish. The rifleman, who didn’t know French went to the house and asked "will yer lend us a shovel, missus?" Madame, who knew no foreign language either, looked puzzled for a moment, then suddenly brightened. She immediately went to the stable and led out a horse. "Voila! un cheval!" she cried. "Nay missus, I can’t dig a hoil wi’ a bloody horse.".
The errors were not just between nations. There are sometimes misunderstandings between two English speakers. One day, coming out of the line, a warning was passed back "mind the hole". The Leeds Rifles used the vernacular "mind the ‘oil" which the following southerners took literally and looking for oil fell into the hole.
An "old comrade" had been to evening class to learn French which
he used when on a visit to the old battlefields by
The above has hints that something is ahead. "If you don't hear from me for a while don't get worried. I will write if I can but I don't think I shall have the chance." " Am afraid my letters are getting rather stale, but shall be able to describe new sensations to you soon."
The note book records the casualties in July 1916 : Officers Other Ranks
Killed 2 32
Wounded 7 244
Missing 1 35
The last communication we still have is the postcard he sent to his mother shortly after he was wounded.
Hospital
Train July 17 1916
My Dear Ma,
I have been
slightly bent but not broken. Stopped a piece of shell in the back & left
shoulder.
Had a slight
operation yesterday & am in the pink now. Will let you know when I get to Blighty. Don't worry
Best love
Fred
This proved
to be a blighty wound and he was posted to 15
Prisoner of War Coy. Labour Corps. We know nothing of his service with them from his
memories. Records show early in 1918 they were in
This shoulder wound fascinated a niece at family holidays when it was revealed by swimming costume. However the pain was an intermittent problem throughout his life. The removal of his disability pension, although small, was resented for many years. He was awarded £37.10.0 as a final payment in September 1920. The Local Committee of the Medical Appeal Board even spelt his name wrongly!
The final letter is to him from his elder brother George. I have got a copy of his Army documents from the National Archives of Canada. Throughout his middle name is spelt ‘Metcalf’ even though his grandfather’s name was Metcalfe and his mother’s name was so spelt with this final’e’ when she left Casterton School in March 1881. [This was the school the Brontes went to.]
883583 Pte GMW attested to the 187 Bn of the Canadian Expeditionary Force on June 13th 1916 at
He sailed from
Letter
from George Metcalfe Wigglesworth, of the Canadian Infantry to his brother
Fred.
My Dear
Fred,
Well hows things. I did not get to write during the week as we
were too busy. We did great work too boy know what I
mean. Eight of us with the Officer took 48 Prussian infantry prisoner; like
knocking pups off a log. It sure was great we got them asleep the whole
shooting match with 5 machine guns. It happened this way. We were advancing in
a town very early in the morning and there was a bit of a fog on when we ran
onto a German Sentry and he hadn't an earthly, we were into him before he knew
what was up. Well one of our fellows could Spracken
Zee Dutch and he asked him about his comrades. Heine told us there were 15 of
them asleep in a house further down the road. So they were our meat:– we made him take us down there and then surrounded the
house and invited them to come out in the usual way:– talk about a row; the
Devil among the Tailors (*) is a fool to it. They yelled and grunted and
started to come out in the true camarad style Hands
at the high port. I thought they were never going to stop: Lord they were a
crowd against us but we sure had them with their pants down that time: Luckily
it was a broad street and we could keep them in the centre and there was no
chance at all for them once we got them out. I guess they thought we were like
the Yanks, 10 million strong instead of hardly a Corporals Guard. One had to
laugh even then to see us stick them up and you can bet your life there was no
bluff to use what came handy: I'll bet their arms ached before they got the all
clear sign and were allowed to drop them. One fellow was trying to take a leak
and our boys made him keep his hands up at the same time:–
they were ugly looking bastards when we got them properly sorted out:– I didn't
get a watch tho, I sure was anxious for one. But we
were all alone and I had to go for an escort for them so I only got two of them
frisked and they were blanks just a little money and a bunch of photos which I
have sent home. Still I went through their outfit afterwards and got 4 pair of
Heine glasses, 3 revolvers and two daggers. I would like to have sent you
something down: I am getting a pair of glasses home by a fellow going on Leave.
But the revolver will have to stay with me as there is too much risk that it
might clotch his pass if they caught him with it. gave a pair of glasses and a small revolver to the officer.
He had no luck you see and had to stick round and see that things went alright.
May give the fellow a small gat to take my glasses home as he is going to
If only I
had a chance to send you a pair. Do you think registered mail would be safe
enough: let me know quick and I will hang onto them untill
I hear from you. They are the usual NCOs glasses but
pretty good ones at that and well worth having. If you can think of a better
way just let me know:– I have just written home a good
long letter to give them the news. Now don't worry boy as I am quite alright
and I guess we have a bit of rest coming to us. We took 3 Villages of a pretty
fair size in under 12 hours so thats
going some and casualties practically Nil. Its a sight
better than trench warfare you know and ones chances are better as he is
getting out all he knows how these days. We are in good billets and have plenty
of good grub and sleep warm at nights. I also have a good time. Dick will now
be over here poor kid. I think he will be quite allright
tho and when he gets used to it he will not mind much
as like all of us he will make friends and it will be quite (illegible)..... I
think this is all just now. Dont worry I am quite
alright. Be good old man, Bless you,
Your
affectionate brother George.
The 1st/7th finished its fighting at Famars near Valencienne and it was there in 1793 it got its regimental march Ca ira. The claim of Lloyd George that they would return to a land fit for heroes proved a very sick remark to many soldiers facing unemployment and little regard.
A Working Party
Three hours ago he blundered up the trench,
Sliding and poising, groping with his boots;
Sometimes he tripped and lurched against the walls
With hands that pawed the sodden bags of chalk.
He couldn’t see the man who walked in front;
Only he heard the drum and rattle of feet
Stepping along barred trench boards, often splashing
Wretchedly where the sludge was ankle-deep.
Voices would grunt ‘Keep to your right - make way!’
When squeezing pas some men from the front-line:
White faces peered, puffing a point of red;
Candles and braziers glinted through the chinks
And curtain-flaps of dug-outs; then the gloom
Swallowed his sense of sight; he stooped and swore
Because a sagging wire had caught his neck.
A flare went up; the shining whiteness spread
And flickered upward, showing nimble rats
And mounds of glimmering sand-bags, bleached with rain;
Then the slow silver moment died in dark.
The wind came posting by with chilly gusts
And buffeting at corners, piping thin.
And dreary through the crannies; rifle shots
Would split and crack and sing along the night,
And shells came calmly through the drizzling air
To burst with hollow bang below the hill.
Three hours ago he stumbled up the trench;
Now he will never walk that road again:
He must be carried back, a jolting lump
Beyond all need of tenderness and care.
He was a young man with a meagre wife
And two small children in a
He showed their photographs to all his mates,
And they considered him a decent chap
Who did his work and hadn’t much to say,
And always laughed at other people’s jokes
Because he hadn’t any of his own.
That night when he was busy at his job
Of piling bags along the parapet,
He thought how slow time went, stamping his feet
And blowing on his fingers, pinched with cold.
He thought of getting back by half-past twelve,
And tot of rum to send him warm to sleep
In draughty dug-out frowsty with the fumes
Of coke, and full of snoring weary men.
He pushed another bag along the top,
Craning his body outward; then a flare
Gave one white glimpse of No Man’s Land and wire;
And as he dropped his head the instant split
His startled life with lead, and all went out.
Siegfried Sassoon