March 1916

March 1916

1 MAR WEDNESDAY

Things quiet in Auchel, although there was some excitement, there was a football match played today, the 13th were involved so I went to support them. Although the match was a bit scrappy and the pitch was not very level, the game itself was a very close affair indeed. It was end-to-end stuff, with it all level, at one apiece at the end of the first half. The second half was fiercely contested, with the 13th eventually losing out, by the odd goal in five, the referee took some stick over a penalty decision that he didn't give, which left us walking around Auchel shouting “referee!” at anyone for no apparent reason at all. Although it could have been the bottle of vin blanc that we had during the game. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing, even though I am a Rugby man myself and judging by the amount of noise they made, the rest of the rather large crowd also seemed to enjoy the match.

2 MAR THURSDAY

Pay day, 15 francs that is about 12/6. Went to a French cinema in Auchel tonight with a couple of the lads. The cinema was a scruffy, stuffy, smoky hole, full of noisy louts, who sang songs during the whole show. Tried shouting “referee!” but it didn't do any good, still Charlie Chaplin was funny anyway and it all helps take your mind of the war for a time and again, anything that does that, can’t be that bad.

Just enough time for a quick drink afterwards, before getting back for another good nights sleep.

3 MAR FRIDAY

A German airplane dropped a bomb on Auchel early this morning, I heard the noise it made but did not see the damage it did. I can see Airplanes becoming quite a nuance in this war, fly in drop a bomb and fly straight back out, damage done and with little chance of being hit.

Wet snow coming down again today. Relieved of orderly sergeant by sergeant Watson on the afternoon.

Got letters from Jane, George Stout and Aunt Rose today. George is in the Northumberland war hospital, he writes, that all of the nurses are so beautiful and that he has fallen in love with most of them since his arrival (he certainly knows how to make you envious). He also says that he is eating good food and sleeping well in a most comfortable bed with crisp clean sheets. He finished by wishing me well and asking me to keep him informed of all of the latest news from the front and of how the lads are doing.

Aunt Rose sent me some razor blades, what luxury, new razor blades, as I have mentioned before, razor blades are much sort after around here, must write and thank her soon.

4 MAR SATURDAY

No parade this morning, there has been plenty of wet snow coming down all day.

Sergeant Burns has been stripped of his rank, for being drunk on duty.

Sergeant A Shearer transferred to B Company and had J Green returned to us, Carter and Hays (the two lads wounded on the 14th of February) came back from hospital, not as lucky as George Stout then.

Went for another walk around the town tonight, Auchel is a typical colliery village, not unlike those back home in the north east, in and around the Durham coalfield. Got a birthday card for little Meg and had a look round for a little present for her.

Later tonight I wrote a letter to George Stout in the Northumberland hospital, I told him how bad the weather is over here and how he is better off, well out of it, although the way he got out of here, could have been under slightly better circumstances. I told him all about Carter and Hays and how I had broken the glass in my watch, I told him about the football match and of how much he would have enjoyed it, I also told him that he is a jammy so and so and that we are all very jealous. I also took the opportunity tonight to write to Jane and to Aunt Rose, to thank her for the razor blades.

5 MAR SUNDAY

This morning we assembled for church parade, but when we got there, the church was full, so we about turned and marched back to camp. Seemed to be all marching today, after the morning march to church there was a route march in the afternoon.

Went back to the cinema tonight, it's still a scruffy hole and it was the same Charlie Chaplin film. Not all bad today though, I got a parcel from Plymouth today.

6 MAR MONDAY

Plenty of snow about again today.

There was a big snowball fight near the aerodrome this morning, with us against ‘D’ company. Great fun, running about and making lots of noise, rather cold though and who can tell who wins a snowball fight. Tried throwing a few snowballs at the airplanes, without any successes though, they must be higher up than they look.

In the afternoon, it was back to business as usual, with instruction in grenade and bomb throwing (just what we had been doing all morning). Tonight my arm is aching with all that throwing, I may never be able to play darts or lift a pint again.

7 MAR TUESDAY

Snow still here, did a route march and bayonet drill in the snow, bayonet drill was not as interesting as yesterdays snowball fight and somehow it was much, much colder.

We are under orders to move tonight. It was Shrove Tuesday today but there were no pancakes for us, probably because of the movement orders.

8 MAR WEDNESDAY

We left Auchel at 8.30 to march, in the snow, over the hills to Hermin. Arrived at about 12 after a long and difficult march, my feet are really bad (freezing cold, wet and aching). We relieved the French in some old barns. I was just glad to get my boots off and warm my feet up.

9 MAR THURSDAY

The Barns and surrounding area were filthy after the French, we spent most of the day hard at work cleaning and patching the place up, to try and make it a bit more comfortable and weatherproof.

Jim Robinson and I had a prowl around the area on the afternoon, looking for French or even better German souvenirs. Found a French beret, it is a bit tatty and mucky but it should clean up and be worth something. Also found a German ammunition clip, that must be worth at least a couple of francs. Quite a few of the lads collect souvenirs and the officers always seem to be ready to give a couple of francs for an interesting piece.

Remembered to send the birthday card that I had bought in Auchel last Saturday for little Meg, she will be four on Monday.

Tonight it is still snowing but at least after our efforts, the barns now keep out the weather and are relatively warm.

10 MAR FRIDAY

Morning parade followed by skirmishing and a charge snowball fight against the 7th and 8th, beat them easily, after all we had had some practice.

Whent out with Jim again latter but there were no more souvenirs to be found.

Got a parcel from Jane and a letter from my sister Meg tonight.

11 MAR SATURDAY

Still plenty of snow about today, route marching in the afternoon. Saw John West, an old friend during the march, just in passing though and did not get a chance to speak to him, as we were going in opposite directions.

We all assembled for a speech from the General in the afternoon, I could not hear much of what he was saying though, as we were hanging about at the back. Anyway, when you have heard one General speak, you have heard them all. The newer boys, who had never heard or probably even seen a General before, were at the front.

Got another parcel from Plymouth and a letter from George Stout, nice to hear from him again so soon. He appears to be on the mend, he got my letter and says the weather is not much better at home, also that he would like me to write again soon.

12 MAR SUNDAY

No church parade again this morning

Went for a stroll though Hermin with Jim Robinson. We walked as far as the artillery billet and had a bit of crack and a cup of tea with Fat Almond and the other artillery lads. We spent quite some time there, this, as it happens, turned out to be a bad move, as it started to snow heavily, wet snow and we had to walk all the way back to our barn. By the time we got back, we were soaking wet but thankfully, there was a blazing fire and another cup of hot tea waiting for us when we got back,

13 MAR MONDAY

Warmer today, which was good, as we had to do a route march early this morning. On the march, we practiced a new method of giving orders on route marches, we had to respond to whistled signals rather than verbal orders. The march was followed by company drill and then physical exercises (don’t they think we get enough exercise already).

There was no parade this afternoon so I took the opportunity to catch up on some reading. I was expecting a letter from Jane today but nothing came, its little Meg’s fourth birthday today, wish I was home to share it with her. Yet another birthday missed, yet another year missed, who knows how old our children will be before all of this is over and we are home with them again for good. There is also the new baby on the way and there is probably no chance at all of being home before the birth.

14 MAR TUESDAY

Doing manual exercises again today, followed by a whistle halt rout march, you would think we would get more rest.

Took a cross-country route into Houdain with Jim Robinson tonight, Houdain is a larger town that Hermin. In Houdain the estaminets were full of British soldiers, we managed to find one that was not quite as full as the others, where we had a large plate of egg and chips with a huge piece of bread and a bottle of vin blanc, all followed by a coffee with a nip of cognac. We were a bit late rolling back to our billet, traveling on foot cross-country is a lot easier when its light and you haven’t had a drink or two.

But on the way back, we did manage to stumble across a French rifle partially buried in the mud, which, when its cleaned up, should be worth more than all the other stuff we’ve found put together.

15 MAR WEDNESDAY

At it again today, marching and exercising. Afterwards we all trouped off for a bathing parade, it's nice to feel clean again. Practiced throwing bombs this afternoon, Jim and I had a bit of a competition to see who could throw the farthest, I won.

Tonight I sold the French rifle (which had cleaned up quite nicely) to Captain Blake, for 15 francs and the German ammunition clip to Lieutenant Oliphant for 2 francs. Quite a profitable night and I was right about the rifle being worth something.

16 MAR THURSDAY

Left Hermin this morning for Bouvigny, another colliery town like Auchel, we arrived about midday, Bouvigny is a lot closer to the front, and we will probably be back in soon.

Went for a walk down town tonight, it looks just like the colliery towns back home just outside my hometown of Hartlepool. Bouvigny looks like a decent place judging by what I have seen so far. Found a small eating-house, that was obviously used by the enlisted men, nice and cheap, with good-sized portions and large glasses for the beer.

17 MAR FRIDAY

What a luxury, we went for another bath up at the colliery this morning, two baths in three days, whatever next.

After bathing, we were joined by another new draft before moving out of Bouvigny in the afternoon for Calonne. Calonne is yet another mining village or what is left of a mining village. Took over the French trenches later in the afternoon. The trenches are among the houses, most made using parts of what was left of the old house walls. Thankfully all quiet tonight though.

18 MAR SATURDAY

Plenty of work here for the 13th (as usual), trenches to build and repair. Keeping our heads down as there is quite a bit of grenade throwing going on around us. Two men from the 14th were wounded today and a brick thrown up by a shell burst hit private Daly, he is only bruised though.

There is a nice field kitchen in the village, good food after a hard day work is just what you need for a good night's sleep, trouble is you do not get sleep in the trenches.

19 MAR SUNDAY

The Shelling has been very lively today, Potter was wounded early on and taken away to the field hospital. ‘A’ company had a go at bombing the Germans, with some success. After dark, I went out on patrol through the wire into No Mans Land with the Captain and Jim Robinson. I say after dark but it was a full moon, not bad for seeing what we were doing and where we were going but not that good for not being noticed by the Germans.

Always on the lookout for souvenirs, we found a German haversack in a bombed out trench. When the Captain examined the haversack, he found it contained some papers, he said that they might be important and that we should get them back pretty dam quick. Therefore, we started back towards the gap in the wire.

On our way back to our trenches, a German patrol, probably out doing the same sort of thing as we were, opened fire on us and we had to make a run for it. We managed to get down behind a low wall, and into a shell hole, quite a bit of luck for us that that particular bit of wall was still standing, as it gave us an advantage.

Made our getaway by throwing a few grenades each over the wall and then making a quick run for the gap in the wire, while the Germans still had their heads down. Thankfully, we all got back in one piece, much shaken but also very excited.

The captain wasted no time at all and took the papers straight up to HQ, leaving Jim and I to tell of our adventure. The lads had heard all of the commotion out in No Man's Land, the shots and grenades exploding but had not seen a thing, until we came running in.

Too excited to sleep, but reading a letter from my sister Meg, about life back home, has helped to bring me back down to earth a little

20 MAR MONDAY

Germans shelling all day today, the shelling managed to smash up two bays in the trench, which meant more work for us. Spent most of the daylight hours like this, doing running repairs to the trenches damaged by the shelling

Bit of a rough night, out on a bombing affair with Jim Robinson again, we appear to be getting the better of the Germans, although J Allen was killed tonight while out on a similar patrol, very upsetting.

21 MAR TUESDAY

The German shelling is still going on, the trench was hit yet again this morning and Daly was wounded for a second time, in four days, not his lucky week. Then we were relieved late in the afternoon by the 12th.

Back in the village of Calonne we were in a comfortable billet. Got a parcel from aunt Alice, containing some cake and biscuits, its funny how popular one can become among ones roommates and in such a short space of time, the time it takes to open a parcel in fact.

Went out on a working party tonight, I managed to get separated from the others and was very late finding my way back, I was quite worried for a while, actually I think worried could be a bit of an understatement and I do not want that experience again.

22 MAR WEDNESDAY

Got a letter from Jane, she says that little Meg loved her birthday card and wants to know when her daddy is coming home, wouldn’t we all like to know the answer to that question? Ginger is home on leave. Things fairly quiet all day, no working party on so, I spent the day resting and writing a reply to Jane and little Meg.

23 MAR THURSDAY

Things quiet again today, weather has also been rather fine. Featonby returned to duty today, I could not even remember what he was away for.

Out on a working party tonight, I always keep a close eye on the others now, after the other night I do not want to get separated again. Got full rations for tomorrow, no biscuits though, I don’t think that they should give us rations the day before, as it is too much of a temptation for some of the lads, who get stuck in as soon as they get them, and then spend the next day trying to cadge food from anyone soft enough to part with it.

24 MAR FRIDAY

Sutherland went observing this morning, I fancy a go at that, instead I have to go on a working party as usual. There is a fair amount of artillery activity, the York’s took some stick, I saw a few of their wounded coming down from the front.

The rations for tomorrow are pretty poor, only one loaf of bread per section.

25 MAR SATURDAY

Mail came in early this morning but no letters for me today though.

The airplanes were up again this morning and there has been lots of machine gun fire going on. Out on another working party this afternoon, followed by instructions for the working of the platoon.

This evening we handed over our comfortable billets to the 11th Northumberland Fusiliers, then we ourselves relieved the 12th in the trenches (so we eventually did get to relieve the 12th in the trenches again).

26 MAR SUNDAY

Rough in the trenches today, intense shelling, day and night, we are in reserve for a place called Barlin, I think.

27 MAR MONDAY

Still rough, shelling still intense, one dropped on No8, what a mess, J L Jones and one other I don’t know died, sergeant Rutherford and two others were wounded.

I am a bit down tonight, I does not matter how many times you lose someone in the company, it still gets to you. I think the day it does stops affecting you will be the day that you have given up and stopped being human.

28 MAR TUESDAY

Shelling still on but not quite a heavy, no casualties today, although a bay was blown in on No8. Two men were trapped but we got them out without injures.

K Dickson went on a pass today, another lucky blighter, like Ginger, it makes you want to go home even more than usual though, very depressing.

29 MAR WEDNESDAY

Shelling about the same as yesterday, but we now have the added nuisance of enemy snipers. P Hall was nearly caught by one, he was having a quick look over the top, some people never learn, no harm done this time though.

Relieved at about 6pm by the 12th, they said that they haven’t been able to get much rest while they have been out, with the amount of the working parties they’ve been on, coupled with the noise of the shelling. Told them not to expect any rest here in the trench, warned them about the snipers and to keep their head down.

Moved out of the trench and up to a different billet away in Bully.

30 MAR THURSDAY

The billets in Bully are in houses, here the Germans have shelled the barn where the Battalion Headquarters were and sadly the Battalion Commander was killed.

Met an airman early tonight, who informed me that they are only left with half a company after their losses and I thought that they would be fairly safe up there out of the way, but apparently that’s not so.

Out on a working party tonight, the lads of the 12th were right, there is no rest for us.

31 MAR FRIDAY

There was plenty of airplane activity today, since my conversation yesterday evening, I have a newfound respect for airmen.

Got a parcel from Jane this afternoon and I suddenly find that I am the most popular corporal in the billet again, and that I also have so many friends.

No rest though, out on working party again tonight, along with all my new friends.