February 1916

February 1916

31 JAN MONDAY

Starting this journal, here in a cold dark Kings Cross train station, waiting for my final connection for home still miles away in Hartlepool. It is hard to for me to imagine that it was only yesterday morning, I was still in those dreadful trenches, so far away in France.

We had been relieved in the trenches late on the Sunday morning by our old friends the 12th D.L.I. I had made my way out wearily but with an extra eagerness, that extra eagerness to get out, that comes from the knowledge that you are due a leave, a home leave. I collected all that I needed from our billets, and went for a much-needed bath, shave and change of clothes. After bathing, almost cutting my throat with a blunt razor blade (must try to get good supply of new ones), and donning a fresh clean uniform, I felt a different person altogether.

I made my way up to the transport field and was astonished by how much, even better I felt, after receiving two hundred francs and a pass for England from Major Walker. The rest of Sunday was spent in transit through France to the coast, catching up on lost sleep whenever possible.

The channel crossing on Monday was mostly uneventful but bitterly cold, although the sea was relatively well behaved for the time of year. Passed away the time by chatting to others going on leave and also those walking wounded who were fit enough to talk. Heard some really horrific stories from the front but fortunately most of the talk was of what was going happen once they were home and what they were going to do, see family, meet up with old friends, drinks with the lads, etc.

Delayed in Folkston because of Zeppelin action, all very frustrating when all you want to do is get home to your loving wife and children.

Here in London the delays have been just as bad, Zeppelins again.

A raid by six Zeppelins over East Anglia and the Midlands that day killed 70 (29 men, 26 women and 15 children), and injured another 113 (44 men, 50 women and 19 children), all of the dead and all but one of the injured were civilians.

I have been well looked after while I have been waiting, I have been fed and supplied with continuous hot drinks, from various religious organisations. I have also been given packets of cigarettes and chocolate from complete strangers, wishing to welcome home the brave fighting troops. Managed to change most of my Francs for real money in the station, before eventually leaving for home at 3.45am.

1 FEB TUESDAY

Got into Hartlepool at 11.30am, over two days after leaving France and about five months since the last time I was home. The familiar sight of St. Hilda's church, the harbour and even the coal staithes and docks all look unbelievably magnificent. I think at this point, after over two days of travelling, I was probably more tired than when I had set off but the thought of seeing Jane, little Meg and baby Jim again was all that was keeping me going. Much the same way as that thought had been keeping me going for the last five months in France.

It was so good to see them all and spent the rest of the afternoon hugging, laughing, crying, talking about anything and nothing, and asking and answering all manner of questions, until sleep eventually caught up with me after tea.

Later that night I went to see a review at the palladium, although not exceptional it was far superior to anything in France (well anything in France anywhere near where I've been), and it felt good to be doing something normal, really normal, again for a change.

2 FEB WEDNESDAY

There is so much to catch up on. Spent all day at home with Jane and the children, it is so good to be together again and Jane looks wonderful, especially as she is five months pregnant. It is also good to be eating normally again, normal food, at normal times, hot food with plenty of hot sweet tea, food that you know what it is you are eating.

Other members of the family and lots friends popped in and out during the afternoon, far too many to mention by name. Everybody wanted to know everything and anything that had happened to me since I had last been home, there is so much interest in the war. They had me telling stories all afternoon, until I was hoarse, and we were eventually left alone to have our tea.

That evening I took Jane and the kids over to West Hartlepool to see Dick Whittington at the Empire. There’s nothing like a good pantomime to cheer every one up, its so good to see the young ones enjoy themselves, especially at times like these.

3 FEB THURSDAY

Today, even though it was bitterly cold, after dinner we all went for a walk around the croft, all those familiar, friendly faces and everybody wanted to shake me by the hand or pat me on the back. So many questions about the war, we could have been there all day but eventually we managed to escape down towards the fish quay. Got a nice piece of cod off Jane’s uncle for tea. Remembered about razor blades so we made a detour on to Northgate to get some and got a couple of extra packets for the lads back in France.

Put the children to bed early and had a quiet night in, sat in front of the fire, still catching up on all that I have missed while away in France.

4 FEB FRIDAY

Weather changed today, started raining but I was not going to let that get me down. Took little Meg to Port Clarence to visit my sisters Meg and Jem. Funny, not so long ago a journey of that length seemed to be to the far side of the world, not any more though, well not to me anyway, to little Meg though it was still a big adventure.

While there, we went to see the new Transporter Bridge across the river Tees, what a magnificent structure, truly an incredible feat of modern engineering. If you haven’t seen it it’s almost impossible to describe, it’s massive, hundreds of feet high and a section of the road actually moves across the river suspended by long cables from the bridge high above, like a ferry flying across the river. Meg and I had to have a go, so we flew over the river Tees to Middlesbrough and then back over again to Port.

That night it was out with Syd and some of the other lads, it's a long time since we had a night out together, quite a few other servicemen out, in and around the many ale houses in town. It is hard to buy a drink for yourself when you are out in uniform, as everyone wants to buy one for you. The Navy seems to be out in force tonight, all drunk and all singing but who can blame them. After all, it can’t be any better at sea than it is in the trenches, especially when it's freezing cold and also these lads are only on shore leave, not at home with their families, as I am.

5 FEB SATURDAY

Went round to visit the folks on the morning, I had seen most of them on Wednesday but now it was time for a proper visit.

Syd called round to see us in the afternoon, then together with Jane we all went down to Allison's the jewellers, to get me a new wristwatch, to replace one that I lost in France some months ago. Got quite a good watch fairly cheap and the jeweller said that it’s supposed to be “practically indestructible”, just right for the trenches then.

Tonight visited Old Boys Rugby club and the Grand for a few drinks. Old Boys was heaving and I took some stick in there though, playing for the Seamen’s rugby team as I do, but the good beer and familiar friendly company made it all worthwhile.

Bed early though, back to France tomorrow.

6 FEB SUNDAY

What a Sunday no lie in for me and no church ether, up at 4am had breakfast with Jane, wasn't in much of a mood for eating but it's a very long journey back and it could be quite a long time before I got my next hot meal.

Said a tearful good-bye and made my way to the station, walking along Northgate in the pouring rain carrying a full kit bag. A kit bag loaded up with sandwiches for the journey and other necessities unobtainable in France, the razor blades for instance.

Left Hartlepool station at 5.38am, what an ungodly hour to be setting out on a trip like this. The sight of the station lights, disappearing into the distance, was so depressing. Some good news though, shared the carriage with Stanley Britten and John Wilson, good company at least helps detract from the fact that we are leaving home and going back. To pass time we played pontoon most of the way down, Stan had a flask of rum and we had the odd nip to help keep us warm. Spent some time in London during the night and stayed at Earl Roberts club.

7 FEB MONDAY

It takes some time to get anywhere and I spent most of the day getting back over to France.

Eventually arrived back in France, at the camp in Boulogne at 2.30am very tired and managed to get my head down for the night in a hut near to the wireless station. Very tired, so all the noise from the station personnel did not bother me at all.

8 FEB TUESDAY

After a hearty breakfast of bacon and eggs at the Y M, I took the opportunity to go for a walk around the town of Boulogne. Boulogne is not unlike other coastal towns of the same size, in England or France, its funny how the towns in France are not very different from the ones back home. I went back to the Y M for a huge dinner before leaving for Steenwerck at 7.45pm, to rejoin my old company.

The French train carriages seem very dirty and uncomfortable after travelling in England, in fact the carriages are so uncomfortable it is impossible to get any rest or sleep at all on the long journey back towards the front tonight.

9 FEB WEDNESDAY

Arrived in Steenwerck about two this morning (I always seem to be arriving in places and looking for somewhere to sleep in the middle of the night), thankfully I got a ride up to the transport field, where I eventually managed to get some sleep in a barn, real luxury after the train.

Up early, fed, then marched up to the billet, not a long march, the lads were all glad to see me back, there had been a few casualties, while I have been away but thankfully, nothing too serious.

Just got settled in when the shelling started, now I really know that my leave is really over and that I am really am back. Kept our heads down, the shelling didn't last long but it was fairly heavy, heard later that W Stoker was wounded, do not know how bad though.

10 FEB THURSDAY

Still in the same billet as yesterday, quite comfortable, dry and draught free, the shelling started again about midmorning, not as heavy as yesterday though. I felt a little better when I discovered there were no more casualties.

Went on Headquarters guard after the shelling. It was all quiet up at Headquarters. Headquarters are not like our billets, there are in a big house and are very clean. Nothing to do, so I took the opportunity to write a letter to Jane, was it only Sunday this week that I last saw her.

11 FEB FRIDAY

Still on Headquarters guard and it's raining again, nothing much doing in our quarter but it’s not as quiet everywhere. Up at headquarters we watched the Germans bombard Erquinghem and Bac-St-Maur, could see quite well from our position. Seems strange to just stand and watch and not be able to do anything to help the poor sods down there.

Anyway I was relieved of Headquarters guard this afternoon and rejoined the rest of the company.

Met Ginger later and started chatting about home and got a bit depressed, Ginger hasn't been home for ages. Cheered ourselves up by having a big feed together, think I may have eaten too much but it's best to eat good whenever you get the opportunity around here. Field rations are not quite what they are made out to be and often in the trenches they are very scarce. So me and Ginger just ate what we could while we could.

12 FEB SATURDAY

Said goodbye to Corporal Readmen this morning, he is off to join No5 company. Then eight new drafts came in as replacements this afternoon, the usual assortment, some loud and brash, others quiet and nervous. I felt sorry for all of them, it doesn't mater what they think its going to be like, they couldn't possibly know just how bad it really is here. Well it didn't take long for them to find out, we got shelled out of our billets twice in two hours, what a baptism of fire for the new boys, luckily when it was all over, we are all still here.

Later that night, along with the new boys, we marched of and took over in the trenches from the 12th. Things are quieting down and no more shelling going on for now, thank god.

Heard that my old mate George Stout was wounded in the arm today, he has been taken to the field hospital for treatment, hope he is not injured too badly.

13 FEB. SUNDAY

A week since I left home to travel back to France, only one week gone and already it seems like an eternity. Sat here in this trench, I wonder if anyone who has not been through the trench experience themselves, can understand just how much pressure we are under and just how frightening all of this really is.

The shelling started again this afternoon, it was very rough, although most of it was away to the left of us though. Hope Corporal Readmen is all right, as it was No5 Company who were on our left, they took a real hammering today and had at least six casualties.

The one bright spot of today, was getting a letter from Aunt Rose, nice to hear from her, as I did not get to see her last week and I must write back to her soon.

14 FEB MONDAY

The area as a whole has been quiet today, but unfortunately, not for us. There was a bit of a panic when a shell exploded just down the trench from our position, the blast knocked me off my feet. I had heard and seen the damn thing coming but had had no time at all to react. By the time I got back to my feet, there were people scattered all over the trench and there was debris everywhere. The dust in the air, mixed with the smell of the explosive mixed with the ever-present smell of the dead, was almost choking. My ears are still ringing from the noise of the explosion, these things are loud enough but when it is that close, its unimaginable.

Two of the lads were wounded, do not know who yet, but I think one of them, was the lad that we had sniping for us, in fact, that could be who the shell was meant for. Thankfully, the word from the field hospital is that they are only slightly injured and they are going to be all right. The rest of us had to spend the remainder of the day working hard, cleaning out and rebuilding the damage done to the trench.

I managed to break the glass in my new “practically indestructible” watch sometime today, must have been when I was blown over, or perhaps it was just while I was working on the trench.

15 FEB TUESDAY

The weather took a turn for the worse this morning, wind and rain at first, followed by snow and sleet in the afternoon. The trench is not in a bad condition though, it is still dry and the weather has cleared up tonight, although it is still very cold.

Carter and Hays were the two lads wounded in yesterdays explosion, latest word from the field hospital is that they were not badly injured and should be back up the front soon, I can’t help wondering whether that last bit of information is good news or not.

16 FEB WEDNESDAY

It has been quiet around our trench today for a change, although it’s not quiet everywhere along our front, there’s quite a bit going on to the right and left of us. The sky has been lighting up on both sides of us way into the night, so there is not much chance of any sleep tonight with all that noise going on.

17 FEB THURSDAY

Eventually relieved late in the day by the 12th and after some friendly banter between our lads and theirs, we made our way out of the trenches to a bivouac some way back from the front, wondering if all of the 12th would still be there when we relieve them in a few days.

What a relieve it is to be able to relax for a while. Received some news of George Stout, he’s got a Blighty and has been shipped out to a Hospital back home, hope he’s well again soon. I will have to write to him as soon as I find out which hospital he has been taken to.

Got letter and newspapers from Jane tonight. I do not know how me and the other lads would cope here without our contact with home, so the regular mail we get from home is a godsend. I would reckon the main topic of conversation between us lads, whenever, we get a spare minute, is the news that we have got from home. Any news at all, news about Grandad, Uncle Tommy, little Johnny, news about the weather, news of friends, news of the dogs bad leg, the news papers themselves, it all help take your mind off the war and anything that dose that is always welcome.

18 FEB FRIDAY

Had a nice quiet relaxing day in the bivouac, spent much of the time watching the heavier than normal aeroplane activity. Amazing things those aeroplanes, I had only ever seen one or two before I enlisted and now I think I could watch them all day but I do not know if I would fancy going up in one though. It is only thirteen years since the first aeroplane flight and now there are hundreds of them. I eventually stopped watching when the rain started to teem down.

Got paid 15 francs today but there’s nowhere to spend it though, well not without getting very wet anyway, might have a walk out tomorrow, if the weather improves.

19 FEB SATURDAY

Sitting in my bivouac watching aeroplanes was getting a little bit boring by the afternoon and as the weather had dried up somewhat. I decided I would go and dig out Jim Robinson to see if he fancied a walk in to the town. Found him in his bivouac, sitting, getting bored just like I had been, so it didn't take much to talk him into going for a walk down into Erquinghem town. Erquinghem had been quite badly damaged by the bombardment I had watched from headquarters on the night of the 11th but fortunately, despite the bombardment, quite a lot of Erquinghem is still standing.

The devastation in parts of France and Belgium is so unbelievable, that I do not think it is possible for the people back home to imagine just how bad the destruction of the area around the front line actually is. Some of the places that are still called towns are in fact just piles of rubble, with the odd wall still standing here and there, some don’t even have that much. Even more unrecognisable, are the places we are sometime sent to called woods, as the trees are long gone and all that is left to show that a wood was once there, are a few splintered stumps dotted around the open fields. I cannot imagine the area of the front line ever recovering from what we have done to it.

Anyway we had a relatively nice walk out and even called in for a drink but not too many.

20 FEB SUNDAY

Aeroplanes at it again all day, quite a lot of them up there, getting used to them by now, watching there antics is not such a novelty as it was two days ago, although they are still fascinating.

Went down to Erquinghem with Jim again today, to get a new glass put in my watch. We had found a place the previous day, where a little old French watch maker, had promised to have a new glass ready for me by the next afternoon. The glass was fitted in no time at all and the watch now looks as good as new.

Tonight mounted an all night guard at headquarters (complete with a new glass in my watch), it was here where I discovered that sergeant Burns is under arrest, not sure what for yet.

21 FEB MONDAY

Dismounted the guard at 7am and took over as orderly sergeant on the afternoon. Relived in the bivouac by the 15th Royal Scots and moved off to new bivouacs at Hall-O-Beau, so it looks like we will not be relieving the 12th in the trenches after all.

Still have not been able to find out what sergeant Burns has done.

22 FEB TUESDAY

Quiet time, took the opportunity to write some letters, its nice to have the time to be able to catch up my correspondence. Wrote to Jane, Aunt Alice, Aunt Rose, my sister Meg, and Syd.

23 FEB WEDNESDAY

The weather is deteriorating and getting colder, there was a frost last night and now it is snowing.

The latest news on sergeant Burns, is that, he has been remanded for court martial, somebody must know what he’s supposed to have done but nobody is saying of sure, I get the impression that he was drunk on duty though.

24 FEB THURSDAY

The early morning parade was late this morning, it is still frosty and is snowing on and off. Was in the orderly room most of the day, lots of reading to catch up on, got newspapers and a letter from Jane, also got a letter and some more newspapers from Syd.

25 FEB FRIDAY

Relived in Steenwerck by the 4th and marched along the road to Sailly-sur-la-Lys, where we relived the 3rd at Rue de Quiray. We are in Canvas bivouacs and the weather is turning very nasty, there is a heavy frost and now it has started snowing, it is so cold, I do not think I will get much sleep to night.

26 FEB SATURDAY

Left the cold bivouacs at Rue de Quiray and Sailly for Morbecque at 10am, Sailly to Morbecque is quite a long march, someone said it’s about 20 kilometres, I think that’s about 12 miles, it does not sound as far in miles. On the march we passed through Estaires, where we encountered the 19th DLI going the other way, there was quite a lot of friendly banter between us.

We eventually arrived at our billets at 8pm, there we had some food then straight to bed.

27 FEB SUNDAY

The billets are actually between Morbecque and Hazebrouck, we had a rest day after yesterdays march, still plenty of snow about.

28 FEB MONDAY

Early morning parades started again today, there was also a forenoon parade as well, but we were allowed some rest in the afternoon. Although the weather is still very cold, the thaw has begun set in.

29 FEB TUESDAY

After the early morning parade, we got orders to move out, eventually left the billet at 1.30pm and marched to the station at Morbecque. Boarded the train at 4pm, traveling this way is better than marching, not very comfortable but still better than marching, in fact, any form of transport is better than marching. Arrived in the station at Calonne-Ricouart at 7.30pm then marched up to the billet in Auchel, the billet is in the Rue de Ecole.

There was just enough time before lights out, for me and Jim Robinson to have a quick scout about the area, found somewhere to get something to eat and when we went inside we found that Ginger had got there before us. The three of us had a good feed and a small libation, in honour of the splendid food. Before walking back to the billet together and despite the cold, all feeling rather warm inside, not a bad way to spend this years extra day.