Will you kindly allow me space in your valuable paper, of which I am a reader every week. I have met one of my old friends out here, Pte H Gilbert, who do doubt you have heard from before. We have just been having a chat together. It is about 14 months since I met him. He is attached to the Machine Gun Corps, so I shall not be able to see him very often. I saw in the paper that our 8th Battn. have had it pretty hot lately. We send our deepest sympathy to the relatives and friends of those who have fallen. We also regret to hear that the Vicar, the Rev. W J Wickins, of Abbotsley is leaving, as he was very interesting to us when we were at home, he being connected so many years with the forces. Wishing your paper every success.
https://www.stneotsmuseum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/st-neots-museum-logo.svg00Kelly Garnerhttps://www.stneotsmuseum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/st-neots-museum-logo.svgKelly Garner1916-06-09 09:18:112018-10-20 09:20:15Corporal E J Cannon, Bedfordshire Regiment
I was sitting in my dugout somewhere in France reading in your “Advertiser” news of the dear old home, and a thought struck me I should like to write a letter to the old town. I came out of the trenches yesterday for a few days’ rest from a week of sniping and other jobs on the front line. While I was staying in Egypt I was made a marksman for firing, so I was put in the Sniping Corps when I landed in France a few weeks ago. Now this life of sniping is not so bad as I thought it would be. I told one of my mates it was a good job, popping the Germans off as they show their heads. All the week I was lying behind a row of sandbags waiting for them to show their heads so I could knock it off for them. When I got back to the Company for a rest they all wanted to know if I had made a cricket score with the Germans. I have not run across any of the boys from St. Neots yet, but I am always on the lookout for them, you can bet, to have a good talk about the old town. I should just like a pull up the old river now in one of the Rowing Club boats.
https://www.stneotsmuseum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/st-neots-museum-logo.svg00Kelly Garnerhttps://www.stneotsmuseum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/st-neots-museum-logo.svgKelly Garner1916-06-09 05:37:372018-10-21 05:40:31J Stallan, Sapper, Royal Engineers
The part where we are now fighting is much more hilly than the last place, all great chalky hills, and we are under the ground about 20 or 30 feet in places. Our front line is about 200 yards from the Germans, and in some places saps run forward so as we pretty well meet them. In one part of the line a communication trench runs from our front line to the Huns, and this is still held by our bombers. We get hundreds of shells every day and night, but thank god I have managed to dodge them so far. They now send us large tin canisters, which are filled up with old pieces of iron, razor blades and scissors which do awful damage. Last night they gave us a pretty stiff time of it. One large shell came right through our parapet in our second line and killed two men and wounded seven, but this morning our artillery are paying them back with interest. Yes, it will be a good job when it’s all over but the end seems a long way off at present. All the Croxton boys are well, also Bunny and Pte. Milton from Abbotsley.
https://www.stneotsmuseum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/st-neots-museum-logo.svg00Kelly Garnerhttps://www.stneotsmuseum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/st-neots-museum-logo.svgKelly Garner1916-06-09 05:29:002018-10-21 05:33:37Private Joe F Jacques
Just a few lines hoping they find you quite well. Pleased to say I am feeling fine myself, after getting over that short time at Blighty. I suppose you heard that E Croot was wounded. I did not know myself for about three days after it was done. I went round to give them all some cake, but everything was in hospital. According to land his just a nice little Blighty one, nothing serious, so I hope he will get away with it all right. Enclosed with this letter you will see the name we got from the strafe on April 19th, this is from Divisional Orders:
The G.O.C —-Division visited —– Regiment Headquarters today, and personally congratulated the Commanding Officer on the Battalion’s coolness and steadiness on the evening of the 19th inst. under the fierce bombardment of two hours duration.
From information obtained from prisoners taken last night, it has been discovered that about a thousand Germans were launched to the attack immediately after the bombardment on 19th inst, and that our men who were then alive and able to fight accounted for 50 of these. The Germans state that 57 of the Regiment were taken prisoners.
The GOC —— Division wishes all ranks to be informed that the Division are proud to have such a splendid Battalion serving with them as the —- Regiment has proved itself during the operations of the past few days in withstanding after heavy bombardment an attack with the odds against them.
https://www.stneotsmuseum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/st-neots-museum-logo.svg00Kelly Garnerhttps://www.stneotsmuseum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/st-neots-museum-logo.svgKelly Garner1916-06-02 09:15:392018-10-20 09:17:59Private E Sewell
I had an awful time on Sunday night. We were seven miles back at rest camp, having come out of the trenches only two days before, and being due a rest. At 5 o’clock they called out and told us we were badly needed at once, and in twelve minutes we had packed our kit and on the move. It was awful when we got up. The shelling caused a never-ending cloud in each direction. The Bosches had tried to break our front, and had taken five lines of trenches from the …… Reserves were hurried up to drive back. I received my first experience in weeping shells, which was terrible. Chaps say Loos and Hill 60 were not as bad nearly. The shelling was awful too. We were not more than five minutes when our Captain came along, fixes his monocle and says “Boys, our chance has come, let us take advantage of it, and show the Bosches that’s the …. Company know how to use the bayonette, pass the word to charge, magazines and fix.” We go over in just under five minutes. I don’t know why but I didn’t seem to funk it at all, once I was over the top and tearing across the open in the face of hell. Men dropped all round, still I wasn’t hit. I felt a tingle in my chest, and find afterwards that the bullet had gone through my top left pocket, right through the papers and books there, but deflected and only scratched me. At last they nobbled me, and I went down hit with a bit of shell. The Prussian Guard in front of us ran like kittens, so as to leave room for their artillery to play on us. I crept into a shell hole, and until Wednesday I existed there on no food, and half a bottle full of water. I had a terrible dread of my water running out, so in the darkness I managed to crawl 250 yards back to our lines, as we have been forced to retire again. It took me four hours. They got me back here, and I’ve had two operations. The piece of shell had gone through my side pockets first, and taking part of the corkscrew and a box of matches through my leg, entering at the fly I’m coming out neither groin. I have two rubber tubes through my leg now. In three weeks also, when I get stronger and a bit better, I shall be back in Blighty, and they say I shan’t come out again. This is a grand hospital, the doctors are splendid, and the nurses are angels. I was operated on yesterday, but feel it easier today. Don’t worry about me, as I shall be all right soon, and back in Blighty, and then you can come and see me. I hear only one officer and eight men in our Company (180 men) got through unhurt. The Captain is still over the top dead, along with the company Sergeant Major.
https://www.stneotsmuseum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/st-neots-museum-logo.svg00Kelly Garnerhttps://www.stneotsmuseum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/st-neots-museum-logo.svgKelly Garner1916-05-26 09:12:522018-10-20 09:15:26Private L Shaw
Corporal E J Cannon, Bedfordshire Regiment
/in A letter homeWill you kindly allow me space in your valuable paper, of which I am a reader every week. I have met one of my old friends out here, Pte H Gilbert, who do doubt you have heard from before. We have just been having a chat together. It is about 14 months since I met him. He is attached to the Machine Gun Corps, so I shall not be able to see him very often. I saw in the paper that our 8th Battn. have had it pretty hot lately. We send our deepest sympathy to the relatives and friends of those who have fallen. We also regret to hear that the Vicar, the Rev. W J Wickins, of Abbotsley is leaving, as he was very interesting to us when we were at home, he being connected so many years with the forces. Wishing your paper every success.
J Stallan, Sapper, Royal Engineers
/in A letter homeI was sitting in my dugout somewhere in France reading in your “Advertiser” news of the dear old home, and a thought struck me I should like to write a letter to the old town. I came out of the trenches yesterday for a few days’ rest from a week of sniping and other jobs on the front line. While I was staying in Egypt I was made a marksman for firing, so I was put in the Sniping Corps when I landed in France a few weeks ago. Now this life of sniping is not so bad as I thought it would be. I told one of my mates it was a good job, popping the Germans off as they show their heads. All the week I was lying behind a row of sandbags waiting for them to show their heads so I could knock it off for them. When I got back to the Company for a rest they all wanted to know if I had made a cricket score with the Germans. I have not run across any of the boys from St. Neots yet, but I am always on the lookout for them, you can bet, to have a good talk about the old town. I should just like a pull up the old river now in one of the Rowing Club boats.
Private Joe F Jacques
/in A letter homeThe part where we are now fighting is much more hilly than the last place, all great chalky hills, and we are under the ground about 20 or 30 feet in places. Our front line is about 200 yards from the Germans, and in some places saps run forward so as we pretty well meet them. In one part of the line a communication trench runs from our front line to the Huns, and this is still held by our bombers. We get hundreds of shells every day and night, but thank god I have managed to dodge them so far. They now send us large tin canisters, which are filled up with old pieces of iron, razor blades and scissors which do awful damage. Last night they gave us a pretty stiff time of it. One large shell came right through our parapet in our second line and killed two men and wounded seven, but this morning our artillery are paying them back with interest. Yes, it will be a good job when it’s all over but the end seems a long way off at present. All the Croxton boys are well, also Bunny and Pte. Milton from Abbotsley.
Private E Sewell
/in A letter homeJust a few lines hoping they find you quite well. Pleased to say I am feeling fine myself, after getting over that short time at Blighty. I suppose you heard that E Croot was wounded. I did not know myself for about three days after it was done. I went round to give them all some cake, but everything was in hospital. According to land his just a nice little Blighty one, nothing serious, so I hope he will get away with it all right. Enclosed with this letter you will see the name we got from the strafe on April 19th, this is from Divisional Orders:
The G.O.C —-Division visited —– Regiment Headquarters today, and personally congratulated the Commanding Officer on the Battalion’s coolness and steadiness on the evening of the 19th inst. under the fierce bombardment of two hours duration.
From information obtained from prisoners taken last night, it has been discovered that about a thousand Germans were launched to the attack immediately after the bombardment on 19th inst, and that our men who were then alive and able to fight accounted for 50 of these. The Germans state that 57 of the Regiment were taken prisoners.
The GOC —— Division wishes all ranks to be informed that the Division are proud to have such a splendid Battalion serving with them as the —- Regiment has proved itself during the operations of the past few days in withstanding after heavy bombardment an attack with the odds against them.
Private L Shaw
/in A letter homeI had an awful time on Sunday night. We were seven miles back at rest camp, having come out of the trenches only two days before, and being due a rest. At 5 o’clock they called out and told us we were badly needed at once, and in twelve minutes we had packed our kit and on the move. It was awful when we got up. The shelling caused a never-ending cloud in each direction. The Bosches had tried to break our front, and had taken five lines of trenches from the …… Reserves were hurried up to drive back. I received my first experience in weeping shells, which was terrible. Chaps say Loos and Hill 60 were not as bad nearly. The shelling was awful too. We were not more than five minutes when our Captain came along, fixes his monocle and says “Boys, our chance has come, let us take advantage of it, and show the Bosches that’s the …. Company know how to use the bayonette, pass the word to charge, magazines and fix.” We go over in just under five minutes. I don’t know why but I didn’t seem to funk it at all, once I was over the top and tearing across the open in the face of hell. Men dropped all round, still I wasn’t hit. I felt a tingle in my chest, and find afterwards that the bullet had gone through my top left pocket, right through the papers and books there, but deflected and only scratched me. At last they nobbled me, and I went down hit with a bit of shell. The Prussian Guard in front of us ran like kittens, so as to leave room for their artillery to play on us. I crept into a shell hole, and until Wednesday I existed there on no food, and half a bottle full of water. I had a terrible dread of my water running out, so in the darkness I managed to crawl 250 yards back to our lines, as we have been forced to retire again. It took me four hours. They got me back here, and I’ve had two operations. The piece of shell had gone through my side pockets first, and taking part of the corkscrew and a box of matches through my leg, entering at the fly I’m coming out neither groin. I have two rubber tubes through my leg now. In three weeks also, when I get stronger and a bit better, I shall be back in Blighty, and they say I shan’t come out again. This is a grand hospital, the doctors are splendid, and the nurses are angels. I was operated on yesterday, but feel it easier today. Don’t worry about me, as I shall be all right soon, and back in Blighty, and then you can come and see me. I hear only one officer and eight men in our Company (180 men) got through unhurt. The Captain is still over the top dead, along with the company Sergeant Major.