Private C J Barringer, Royal Army Medical Corps

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Just a few hasty lines (from Alexandria) to you in answer to your letter and parcel which I was so pleased with and I can assure you so were all the boys in the tent in which I sleep. I was pleased to hear that you received the souvenirs quite safe. I registered them to make sure. Well I am under the same impression as yourself about a few more of the young fellows in the village, not only to take my example but of those who are under Military age and have had pluck to say they are because their looks do not betray them. There is just one small illustration I should like every one of these single men who have not had the pluck to come up. There was a man came in the Hospital the other week, he was recommended for the Victoria Cross and I think he had earned it, as he had got his right arm blown clean off from the elbow, he had several smaller wounds all over him and I am sorry to say he will never see his mother again as both eyes had to be taken out, and as I am in the operating theatre at present I can assure you it was no pleasant sight to see him, and just before the doctors were going to put him under he said he would like to know how many fire-side warriors had got what he had. I am pleased to say he is still living and cheerful. He can sing like I nightingale. He has a fine voice and can use it. I daresay Eaton Socon is rather quiet just now. Pleased to hear the harvest is in. Well we don’t get much cold weather here, but it is quite as cold at night as it is in England just at present I would say. I am pleased to say we are under a lot better conditions than we were when we first landed, although still have to lie on the ground. We don’t mind that so long as we get plenty of food. Well I think I have told you about all this time so I will close once again thanking you for your tin of cigarettes, which were much appreciated by the boys as well as myself. I should like you to see some of them jumping for joy, as they had been making cigarettes out of the paper off the jam tins and newspaper. So I will close with best respects to all at home.

Private A Davies, Northamptonshire Regiment

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Dear Brother and Sister – Just a line to let you know that I have arrived in Hospital in Aberdeen, but don’t know how long I shall be here. I have been wounded in my left hand, and the bullet passing through the bottom of the thumb and coming out just below my finger. I don’t know if I shall be able to use it anymore after it has healed, but it is very painful and swollen at present. I think I am very lucky being alive. I was in the big charge on Sat, Sep 25th (in the morning), and you can bet that we gave the Germans a great surprise. We used everything we possibly could against them. As I belong to the bombing section I had to carry bombs in a Bandolier in the front of me, and it is owing to this that I am alive as a bullet struck one of the bombs and glided off. We had to charge a distance of 700 yards, in short rushes. After doing about 500 yards we had just got to make another rush when a shower of bullets came along and I received my wound. There was a lot of prisoners taken and they looked as if they were fairly done up. I know that they hadn’t had any rest for some days as our artillery had kept them awake, especially the day before the attack, they poured shells into the German trench, and the noise of the guns was just like one long roll of thunder, lasting all day long. I think we will now close as I don’t feel up to the mark to write any more. Hoping to hear from you soon.

Private W Chamberlain, C Company 1st Bedfordshire Regiment

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It has been very wet lately and very cold at nights. We have had one Christmas in the Trenches and it looks a great deal like having another, but never mind we can stick it. I think we have made a great improvement in the line, and I think it is right what Lord Kitchener says that Germany has shot her last bolt. I am very sorry to hear of the death of Captain Smythe from the wounds he got doing his bit for his King and Country. Remember me to the old boys. I always remember the old motto at School: “Whatever you do, do it with your might”. And if we do that we will see this war to a victorious end.

Corporal G Bult, 1st 5th Bedfordshire Regiment

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I am in good health at present, we have had some very hot times. The first Sunday we landed we had a big charge and gained a lot of ground, and got a very proud name which I hope we will keep. I am very sorry Col Butler has finished with us. We have lost a lot of officers and men. We keep gaining ground every night. It is very hot in the day and cold at night. I often think there are some more young fellows in St Neots who could come and do their bit over here. We were on the water just over a fortnight. We stopped at Malta and Alexandria. I was bad the first two days, but soon got used to the water, just the same as we get used to the bullets and the shells flying about. A few of our fellows got wounded but I don’t think there were many killed. I am in the trenches 24 hrs and out for the same time. We only get a quart of water to last us all day, so we don’t get much to do our cooking with. We get no bread at all out here, it is all biscuits, but we shall have to make up for that when we get to England. I have not seen a house since I landed, it is all rocks and hills. I have not had a wash for nine or ten days, so you can guess how I feel. I hope you have got plenty of work on the go. I shall know how to rough it when I get back to England, as I hope I shall. The worst thing in the day time is the flies, you cannot rest for them. Some kind person has sent us some nets to put right over our faces which we find very useful. There are lots of aeroplanes flying about. We cannot get hold of cigarettes, and the only pleasure we get is smoking.

Private Walter Gale, Army Cyclist

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I am about three miles behind the firing line and am not doing much just at present, but I don’t let us rest many days together. We are having some splendid weather here, and the country looks lovely, the people are busy getting the harvest in and gathering the fruit. One could hardly believe there was a terrible war on near, except for the roaring of the guns everything seems quite peaceful. I wrote to thank you very much for the books you sent me, I received the last ones before I left Le Harve.

Private F Woodard, 1st 5th Bedfordshire Regiment

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I am just writing in a few spare moments a letter to you from the trenches on behalf of the old boys. We have just been out here three weeks yesterday, and during our time here we have had some experiences of what war is like. Well our first was on the Friday after we landed, we were digging trenches under heavy shell and bullet fire, when one of the boys got wounded by shrapnel: it was Albert Markham. We, the boys, happened very lucky on Sunday 15th August, as we were on guard in the trenches when or battalion went into action and made a fine bayonet charge, when they captured a hill and drove the Turks a good distance back. We afterwards re-joined the battalion and helped them to hold the hill until the next Sunday, when we were relieved. The next week passed off rather quietly when we were on fatigue work at the base when we came across Sidney Sawyer and P C King late of St Neots. After this we moved back to the trenches again to a different position, where we still remain, and getting on comfortable, except the heat and the flies, they are enough to eat us: also it is very cold at night. All the boys are pretty fair excepting one or two of them who are a bit queer, being overtaken by the heat. W. Pope is with me while writing this letter. He had a narrow escape the other day whilst fetching water, as a shrapnel bullet entered his rifle and smashed all the wood where it hit.

Trooper J Perry, Bedfordshire Yeomanry

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We have had some lovely warm weather out here lately, and the farmers have got all the corn up all but a few beans, which are all ready to get up. They have also pulled a lot of the ground up for next year, but it is not like it is at home. It is only ploughed up a few inches and most of it is cultivated with a scuffle, such as is used in England on rough land. Everything out here is done the old fashioned style like you see in books, carts are drawn by chains, and are on three wheels and mules are used a lot. They have no shafts on the old farm carts or wagons. The light traps have nearly always a hood, and they nearly always have them up, but they are high on the wheels and built strong. One sees very few civilian cars knocking abut in this part although people would think there was no war on. People go about, taking no notice of anything. Women do most of the farm work, also carting and stacking. In some parts the soldiers have helped.

Private G Sawford, Royal Army Medical Corps., 21 Casualty Clearing Station

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I am pleased to say I am quite well, and we are very busy with the wounded now. We are close to the line, and on Friday last had the pleasure of seeing a German airman brought down by two French airman. The guns are on the go night and day, and the noise at times is awful. I have also met Pte. Watson in our Unit from Little Stukeley. We have our hospital in an old mill partly, and part under canvas. Some very fine doctors with us too. Living is very good too, considering we are so far up country.

Private S. J. Cross, Machine Gun Section 1st 5th Bedfordshire Regiment

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Before the War Private Cross was employed at Messrs Jordan and Addington’s Mills, in a letter says:

We arrived here on the 11th leaving some of our Battalion at —— we stayed the night and in the morning we were taken for a route march round the town, it is a bit different from our English towns, is it not? As soon as we arrived in the harbour here we were under shell fire and have been ever since. It made us duck our heads the first day but we are quite used to it now. We went into action on the 15th for the first time, and our Brigade were told off to take a very important hill. Getting in grips with the enemy about 2 pm our boys cleared everything before them and gained the top of the hill in about twelve hours. It was a splendid feat, as the hill is a mile long. I am sorry to say we lost very heavy. . . . . our Battalion, but you would have been proud had you seen how the boys died. Since that battle other Battalions have given us the name “The Yellow Devils ” on account of us wearing a little yellow badge on the back of our hats. Our machine guns did some good work, our officer getting recommended for D.S.O., but I am very sorry to tell you that two days ago
he got shot through the head by a sniper and died. It was a great blow to us as he was such a good and daring leader. The worst thing we have to put up with here is the water. We get such a small quantity that it is almost as big an enemy as the Turks. The Turks are no good whatever with the bayonet, as soon as they see the white steel they shriek and run like hares. It is really only their artillery that we are fighting against. They are not such bad people as you have no doubt heard they are, as I know several cases where they have bandaged our wounded up and either sent them back to our lines, or if too bad have left them with some water by their side. You may not believe this, but the other day two Turks found one of our boys badly wounded so they bandaged him up and themselves brought him back to our
lines, and of course we took them prisoners, as no doubt they wanted us to do. It is surprising what a number of snipers there are here, women as well as men, they seem to be everywhere; they have been found with their faces and hands painted green as well as wearing green clothes. I haven’t time to write more as we are going into action again tonight at 8 o clock, so please remember me to Mr. Bonham, and tell him I shall come back to the “Old Mill ” safe again and sound. So goodbye for the present, hoping soon to have a reply.

Corporal J. Mardlin, 8th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment

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We are getting on very nicely now about here, and you needn’t worry over me being here. I also hope Fred will return home safe. You needn’t worry about us, we are only doing what a lot more are doing and what a lot ought to be doing who are staying at home. I am very pleased that I am in the Army, and taking my share, but when I hear and think of so many young fellows home who are hanging out of this terrible war it makes our blood run to think of them. I know there is hardship to put up with in the Army, but we are getting fed well out here, and nobody ought to grumble. We cannot expect everything as nice as at home, but we got plenty of food. I am as happy over here in some respects I was in England, because I am doing my duty, and also pleased that I have a brother who is doing his bit in another part of the fighting. You, mother and father, ought to be pleased that both your single sons are serving in the Defence of the homeland, and if we die in doing it you will know we have done our duty. Cheer up! let us hope to meet again in England. The enemy can visit England in airships, but will not land in England if England’s single young men turn out well.