Private W Sherman, C Company 1st Bedfordshire Regiment

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Just a few lines to let you know that I am getting on all right and that I received the parcel, but it was rather smashed and knocked about. The apples and oranges were smashed, but I thank you very much for the parcel as the other things were all right. I was very pleased to hear that you are all getting on all right and that Jack has got his uniform and is getting on all right. We have had it a bit rough lately on Hill 60 and just round about there. The other day I was nearly asleep when some of my mates came rushing on me and said there was a lot of smoke over the German lines. I got up and before I could look at the smoke it was all over us. It was poisonous gas, and we soon had some pads over our mouths and noses. It gave us a “good doing” but we stuck it, and the wind took it away on time. It really made us cough for a time, and made us feel rather sleepy. I expect they can’t shoot s so they think they will poison us. I have seen that fellow from Waresley who is in the 1st Dorsets, and he is getting on all right, but he said he don’t think much of that gas, he said it made him feel rather funny for a time, but they stuck to it. I don’t mind the shells so much, but I don’t like the gases that they use. I have got plenty of mates with me – but only Medlock from Gransden. We are having some very nice weather here now. We are having a rest now, and are footballing nearly all day. I expect the garden is beginning to look all right now, as it is nice weather. I have some peas and potatoes up in full row about here, so I expect they are coming on about Gransden. I was very pleased to hear that the Gransden soldiers are getting on all right. I expect they are all cricketing about there now, as it is about the time they used to make a start. We get plenty of food – jam and cheese and such things, so you know I am all right and there is a canteen here where we can buy nearly everything we want. We are getting paid to-day (20 francs) – that is 16/8, and I expect some of us will get together to-night and have a drink. You can tell my mates I am all right.

Lance Corporal Webb, D company 1st Bedfordshire Regiment

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Once again I am pleased to say I have managed to scrape the great battle of Hill 60 after 28 days in the trenches. It has been nothing more or less than murder. It is impossible to call it war. I had one very narrow escape whilst being relieved by another Regiment. I was coming down the line when one of our enemies’ big shells dropped between the line and there were more than fifty men with me and not one of them was hit. I was knocked down by the explosion, it fell about two yards from me. I got up after I got my breath back and went on with the others, and still the shell kept dropping behind us ; it is a miracle how we all got out alive ; it was heart breaking to see all the poor fellows coming down the line wounded – some with hands off, some with half their heads blown away. And what makes it worse, they sent us some asphyxiating gas to poison us. They cannot beat us with shell and rifle so they are trying to poison us; they are a cowardly lot , they cannot fight fair like men, they drove us from our trenches with gas and charged, and our maxim gun did some deadly work, there were Germans lying all over the ground afterwards. We made a counter attack and drove them back with more heavy losses to them. I got a little gas, but not enough to take effect, as we were told that the gas was coming, so we put our pads over our mouths to stop it a little. I was very busy bandaging a poor fellow up who was wounded and who had run to get away from the gas. There are one or two of our men from the Old Country wounded and dead, some are almost dead with poison. I am sorry to say that my brother was seriously wounded in the same trench as me, he had his arm smashed above the elbow with a shell, one piece in his left thigh, and one in his right. I can tell you it is horrible to see poor fellows dying with wounds. What a blessing it will be when this is all over. I would like to tell you more, but I am not allowed.

Private W Sherman, C Company 1st Bedfordshire Regiment

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Just a few lines to let you know I am getting on all right. We have had it a bit rough but are getting on all right now. The Germans attacked us several times lately but we gave them it a bit rough. Ted Medlock has had another narrow go, he had a bullet through his hat, it cut his hair off as it went through but did no other damage. He is getting on all right. I am sorry I did not write before but we had several days in the trenches and have not had much time to write, I received the parcel quite safe and thank you very much for it as it came in very handy as I received it when we came out of the trenches. I expect you have seen a good deal about Hill 60. We were there so you know we had it a bit rough. I had a letter and parcel from Bedford the other day. I was glad to hear that Jack is getting on all right scouting. I did not think much to the shooting cards. Tell them they ought to put every shot in the black piece at that distance. They don’t seem much like winning the cup if they don’t shoot better than that.

Private G Corbett, C Company 1st Bedfordshire Regiment

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Just a line hoping to find you well at home. I was admitted into Hospital on the 6th May. I have got a dose of gas poison, but I am getting over the effects of it now. The Germans shelled our trenches with poisonous gasses. It was awful. We could hardly breathe in it. I don’t know how I got out. I am afraid a lot of our chaps could not escape and a lot of them died when they did get out. It is not fighting now. We expect shot and shell, but no one can stand against that stuff.

Private W. Chamberlain, C Company 1st Bedfordshire Regiment

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I am very sorry to tell you Bob has got wounded but I don’t think it is very serious. He got in the biggest fight we have been in this last few days, and that was the battle of Hill 60. It was just like Hell – and worse than that. It was simply awful and I am glad to say the gallant old 1st Bedfords and others stuck to the Germans like glue. Three times one night they came for us, and each time they came they received a warm reception and went back with very heavy losses. You ought to see what they have done, they have lowered Ypres to the ground, and what they could not knock down with shells they set on fire, and they have not left a house standing. It is simply murder not war. They are doing it because they cannot get through and they know it is no good trying to. I thank the Lord I got through it without a scratch. We have gained some ground and their trenches and also taken some prisoners. I have had a field card from Bob, and do not think you need to worry as he was not badly hurt. Previously I had heard he was dead.

Private W Medlock DCM, 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment

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Please allow me a small space in your valuable paper for a short letter I give you the greatest pleasure to publish. I have several friends and old chums –I know not where they are now- who I know who would like to hear of my welfare. I wrote last November while I was at home wounded, and had a few lines from old friends who I had thought had forgotten me altogether as I have not lived at home for many years now. I am sorry to say I am in Hospital sick. I think this will be a worse enemy to fight against as the weather better than German diseases of all descriptions, which will be a little bit cut off Germans, and leaves the germs, but we all hope that this terrible war will soon come to a close for it is too awful to mention. Things don’t seem to have altered much lately, it has been the weather which has been keeping us back all the way along, but we will make them sit up later when we get a shift on – and something has got to shift one way or other before long at any rate. I hope it wont be too long for I think all the boys are anxious to get a move on too. They will make something shift, I can tell you, when the time comes for they are all in the pink of condition and waiting for the fray. They are British every one of them. I have come across North, South East and West, and all have the same old tale for England and the dear old Flag. We must not let it be trampled under foot. I doubt Kaiser Bill and Little Willie find out they have got too far in the mud, and when they get the Bulldog on their track, with the French poodle close behind, and not leaving out the Elephant who tracks rather hard with the Ostrich and Kangaroo who kick very hard when put out, with the Russian Bear – or more like the rushing bear by the way he is tracking along, – I don’t think Mr. Kaiser has the ghost of a chance. By the look of things you people at home have to content by the newspapers, while we have to be content with a few return shells at the enemy every now and then when he ventures out and I can tell you there is more than one watchful pair of eyes on his track, and the gleam of several rifles levelled at them, they have to be jolly quick if they escape the 303. But I will leave the fighting part of the business now, as it will tire the printer to print it, and I don’t want to take up much room in your paper, but I can say every man at the Front will do his bit the same as he has done up to now, and no one in England would hesitate to answer answer his country’s call if he could only see how much he is needed. So all shirkers, rally round the old Flag, don’t hesitate and say “ I will wait till tomorrow,” for to-morrow never comes. So boys who are Britishers and true Englishmen don’t hesitate, but answer you country’s call, for I have met several of the St Neots boys and others from all around the outskirts. One says “What do you think to it?” and they don’t really know what to say only “ I shall be glad when it is all over.” I know the whole world will rejoice at peace one more, for it’s not two countries at war, it the whole world, which is big to look at.
I must draw my short letter to a close now, as it is getting late and I am not up to the mark just at present, but hope to be about again shortly and at it again.

A F Rowlett, HMS Spitfire

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I am quite well and still going strong. Don’t I just wish I was at St Neots, but one thing at a time, must finish the Germans off first, then for a good time. I guess the old place must look quite lost with all the Boys at the front. Thanks awfully for cigarettes they came in just right and the St Neots papers, you know how I like the news from my old home. I see Mr Jordan has been appointed an Alderman, I guess he is the right man in the right place. Everything is going on fine with us, always come out on top. Haven’t had time to write more this time, give my best to al at St Neots.

Eynesbury Boy ” B ” Co.,1st Batt Beds Regt. BEF

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l have much pleasure in writing a few lines to you, hoping it will find you in the best of health, as it leaves me at present under the circumstances. We are in rather a hot place just now, that is to say, we are not above thirty yards away from the Germans. It does not do to show ourselves much in the day time, but I may say we make up for lost time at night, and that is the time to get our own back. The weather is improving grand, and when the warm and dry weather comes that will be the time to pay them back for the dirty and barbarous work they have done. I bet they will be very sorry for what they have done to poor people – turned them out and blown up their houses. It makes our hearts bleed to we what they have done, but they will be sorry enough for it. We are doing our best as Eynesbury boys will. I often think of what you put up on the School walls: ” whatsoever your hand findeth to do, do it with your might.” We are trying to do it, and will do it. We have answered our country’: call. “ Men, your King and Country needs you ! ” and we must keep the old flag flying. Trusting this will find you quite well, I am, one of your old boys in the fighting line, R C.

Gunner H Marshall Waresley R.G.A

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I am pleased to tell you that the weather is better now, it is not cold here at present, and I do hope the worst is over now.  Most of our horses have gone through the winter well, though the work is very anxious and trying for them, but they are now hardy and fit. I am glad to hear there is a good sale for the oils.  I have just finished a cure for poisoned foot. A man had a chilblain, it broke, letting the dye of his sock get into it: he let it go until he had a very severely poisoned foot.  I have been treating him for five or six weeks now, and he is completely cured. I have also had several cases of the same kind recently. I am still doing night duty and have got quite used to it now. As regards the war, we have been very busy recently, we have heavily bombarded the German positions on several occasions lately, but they will take a lot of bombarding, but once we have got them on the run and away from their present positions they will have to go many miles before they can turn into a good position again; but we are in hope of doing big tings when that happens. For hour after hour we put shells into them, and the number of bullets must be awful, the hundreds of shells passing through the air at the same time sounds just like express trains. I do not know how they can stand it. It would be very nice to right away from the firing and screeching of shells. We have been in action practically all the time we have been out here : the only time we were out of action is when we have to move from one part of the line to another. We have been in this one position four-and-a-half months, and been in action every day. We have had a few wounded, but only one killed, one of our Majors was wounded in four places, he was a soldier to the backbone, he was observing our fire on the enemy’s position from the top of haystack. The Germans sent out a “Jack Johnson” which burst between the haystack and the barn. He got off the stack to find out which direction the battery (German) was firing from. He was taking measurements and such like when a second one came, wounded him and killed a Corporal. He was in hopes of finding the German Battery and silencing it : he has been through several wars. We were on the march one day when a large party of Uhlans were seen a short distance away, they spotted us and prepared to make a charge, we whisked round into action but the distance was too short for our guns, so we had to resort to riles. He (the Corporal) came amongst us and said “Now lads, let them have it hot, when your ammunition is expended use your fists, I want none of my men to surrender.”  I think that time was about the closest I have had. We should have been cut up if it had not been for a timely manoeuvre of our cavalry and infantry.  The Uhlans got wiped out instead.

 

H Harrison, Royal Engineers, St Neots

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We saw the big attack our troops made on Feb 6th from a hill about 3 miles away. It was a sight to see the shrapnel bursting in the air, and the other shells making the earth and dust fly all over the place. Our Artillery is fine, also the French. I was told by one of the N.C.O.’s who was in the attack that when they made the final charge they found the Germans in their trenches absolutely petrified with fright, so much so that they offered no resistance whatever. The ruin out here is awful, it makes one say: “Thank God the war is not taking place in England.” I am afraid that very few people in England really realize the damage that has been done. The Germans generally round about here have had quite enough of it from all accounts. I was told the following by a man who was in the trenches at the previous place we were at, which shows how some of the Germans feel. One night the troops who were in the German trenches put up a big board on which was written: “We are Saxons in these trenches and do not wish to fight you, so do not shoot at us, and we will not shoot at you, but keep your shots for the Prussian Gaurds who are relieving us to-morrow night” – and the shooting stopped, except for the outposts occasionally firing shots up in the air, for the 24 hours which the Saxon troops remained in the trenches. The German shells are not anything like so good, according to all accounts, as they were at the beginning of the War. The other day the section I was in was working near the village where the severe fighting has recently taken place, and the Germans fired 11 “Jack Johnsons” at it, and nine out of that number did not explode. When the war started the Germans were firing about 20 shots to our one, now we are firing about 23 to their one, which seems to point to their being short of shells. The chief thing we require out here is more men, so that men can be relieved more often, as it is a sight to see troops returning from the trenches all over mud and water, and it makes you wonder how they can keep their smiling faces, and make jokes as they pass you along the road. It speaks well for an Englishman’s endurance. I am glad to see that men are enlisting in St Neots and round about, for the more men we get the sooner the war will be over.