Pozieres described by Lance Corporal Arthur John Foxcroft.

Lance Corporal Arthur John Foxcroft, 3090, 4th Battalion, A.I.F., describes the fighting at Pozieres. He was wounded at Mouquet Farm on 19th August 1916 and eventually retuned home to Australia on 26th September 1917:

"On 23 July we captured the village of Pozieres and went through a rough four days and nights all without sleep. The taking wasn't so hard but consolidating our gains is terrible because they know the nicety of our position to shell us. They rely on their biggest shell, 9.5 inch, which throws up a mountain of dirt and buries you. We have nearly all had a turn at being buried, some several times, and if you are not noticed at the time you are almost in your grave. I will not detail it for it is too horrible but as our artillery is more dreadful than theirs they must have suffered properly, in fact we saw proof of it when we got amongst them. Some of them are so demoralized by our guns and by our bombardment preventing them getting their rations they just staggered into our trench and some cried like kids.

At Mouquet Farm.

If you are killed you are left there and your pockets or disc are not even looked at and you are known as dead by being missing at the assembly after coming out of the trenches after being relieved. If bodies were buried they would only be rooted up again by shells- for as far as you can see all around us to the horizon is torn up, over and over again. When we get the Hun a good way back the cleaning up parties will bury the dead and pick up all the material off the field."

(Arthur John Foxcroft – enlisted on 9th August 1915 the son of W. Foxcroft, Blenheim, 30 Cameron Street, Coburg, Victoria, he was 24. He embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A29 “Suevic” on 20 December 1915. He returned to Australia 26 September 1917.)

For other posts on Pozieres :

Pozieres - today

Pozieres an account by C.E.W. Bean

Pozieres as recalled by Phillip Gibbs, War Correspondent.

Pozieres an account by Lieutenant J.A. Raws.

Lieutenant Thomas Anderson, 8th Battalion, AIF

Lieutenant Thomas Anderson, 8th Battalion, AIF, was born in July 1886, the son of F. Anderson from Windermere, Ballarat, Victoria.

Lieutenat Thomas Anderson (in the centre of the picture) February 1918.

He enlisted on the 30th December 1914, aged 28, number 1703 and embarked with the 4th Reinforcements of the 8th Battalion from Melbourne on the 14th April 1915 on board HMAT A18 “Wiltshire”.

He was promoted through the ranks and as a Sergeant he won the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his incredible work on 4th October 1917 at the battle of Broodseinde Ridge. The citation reads:

“During the attack on BROODSEINDE RIDGE east of YPRES on 4th October 1917, this N.C.O. who was acting C.S.M. did splendid and courageous work during and after the advance. With 8 men he attacked and captured a pill box, inside our own barrage, which was punishing the attacking line with Machine Gun fire. To do this he had to penetrate our own barrage line.

He rushed the pill box and shot the Machine Gunners and captured the Machine Guns and three men, in spite of a strong resistance by the enemy with bombs and Machine Guns. He also rendered valuable work in reorganisation and consolidation showing no regard for his own personal safety."

He was promoted through the ranks to 2nd Lieutenant on 15th October 1917 and to Lieutenant on 28th February 1918.

He was awarded the Military Cross for his work on the 9th and 11th August 1918, the citation reads:

“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during the attack north of ROSIERES on the 9th August 1918.

Lieutenant Anderson was in charge of the platoon on the extreme right of the battalion and when the troops on our right flank failed to advance, he showed fine judgement and tactical knowledge in forming a defensive flank. He led his platoon with fine dash and personally mopped up several pockets of Germans who were putting up a strong resistance.

When his company commander became a casualty Lieut. Anderson took command of the company and led it in fine style, doing splendid work personally supervising consolidation and fighting the enemy back with Lewis Gun and rifle fire.

During the attack on LIHONS on the 11th August 1918 Lieut. Anderson, who was in charge of the right line company, again distinguished himself by fine leadership and courage.

Throughout the operation he sent frequent and accurate reports of the sistautaion to the rear. On reaching his objective he found that his right flank was in the air on account of the troops on our right not having advanced. He skilfully formed a defensive flank and beat off a strong German counter-attack.

He set his men a splendid example of courage, always leading them, taking his share of the hand-to-hand fighting and inspiring them to such an extent by his own courage that they threw back a far stronger body of the enemy numerically that themselves. He personally supervised the consolidation and established same on such a sound tactical basis that with a very weak garrison he was able to repel several attempts of the enemy to drive him back.”

Lieutenant Anderson returned to Australia on 23rd September 1919.

Captain William Barnsley Allen VC DSO MC & Bar, R.A.M.C.

William Barnsley Allen was born in Sheffield on 8th June 1892, and was the only son of Percy Edwin Allen and Edith Allen (nee Barnsley). He was educated at Worksop College and Sheffield University. He gained the Gold Medal for Pathology in 1913 and has also won three bronze medals; M.B., Ch.B, Kaye Scholarship and Second Class Honours.

He joined the Army on 8th August 1914 being gazetted Lieutenant on that date and was promoted Captain on 1st April 1915 (T.F.). In May 1916 at Gainsborough he married Mary Young (“Mollie”), younger daughter of W. Y. Mercer, Esq., of Gainsborough.

In August of that year he gained the Military Cross. Near Mesnil, Somme, France, on 3rd September, 1916, his splendid behaviour under fire in the circumstances mentioned below gained him the Victoria Cross (London Gazette, 26th October, 1916):

“For conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty.

When gun detachments were unloading high explosive ammunition from wagons which had just come up, the enemy suddenly began to shell the battery position. The first shell fell on one of the limbers, exploded the ammunition and caused several casualties.

Captain Allen saw the occurrence and at once, with utter disregard of danger, ran across the open, under heavy shell fire, commenced dressing the wounded and undoubtedly by his promptness saved many of them from bleeding to death.
He himself was hit four times during the first hour by pieces of shell, one of which fractured two of his ribs, but he never even mentioned this at the time, and coolly went on with his work until the last man was dressed and safely removed.

He then went over to another battery and tended a wounded officer. It was only when this was done that he returned to his dug-out and reported his own injury.”

In July, 1917, he was awarded the Bar to the Military Cross and was invalided to England on 22nd July. On 4th January 1918, he was made acting Major. On 17th October 1918, he was wounded for the third time and invalided for the second time to England, and awarded the D.S.O. on this date. He served in France three years and two months; was transferred to Regular R.A.M.C., and dated back to Captain on 8th February, 1918, which rank he held to the conclusion of the war.

He died on 27th October 1933 at Bracklesham, Near Chichester, Sussex and is buried at Earnley Parish Church, Sussex.

His last resting place in the shadow of Earnley Parish Church.

Earnley Parish Church with Captain Allen's grave in the foreground.

For more info : Earnley Parish Church at Looking at Sussex Churches

& William Barnsley Allen.

Crater Pool by Henry Weston Pryce

This excellent First World War poem is by the Australian poet Henry Weston Pryce.

Crater Pool

Draw near-draw near, brave soldier!
Through the darkness to my side draw near!
Here I wait who e'er may chance,
Dreaming darkly, dreaming deep,
And my cruel musings creep
O'er my face as trench flares dance;
Cold is my heart, O soldier!
As thy lips are cold with fear.

Beware! beware, good soldier!
Others such as thou, have come this night,
In the dark, the rain and sleet,
Pressing each upon his foe....
Saw, to late, my face aglow,
Felt my fingers clutch their feet;
Dark are my depths, good soldier,
But thy fevered eyes are bright!

Look down! Look down, poor soldier,
Where the bubbles of decay arise:
See them, note them-how they lie,
As they grappled, as they fell:
Foes in life-in death as well,
Foot to foot and eye to eye;
The pestilence I send thee, soldier,
Is the hate that dimmed their eyes.


(Henry Weston Pryce was born at Woolway Station in Monaro, New South Wales in 1891. His occupations included salesman, insurance agent, clerk, soldier and journalist. He contributed verse and stories to Australian literary journals for several years. Pryce joined the 9th Machine Gun Company of the A.I.F. on 16 June 1916 and sailed from Melbourne in October 1916. He returned to Australia on the 25 November 1917. Both his brothers died in the war. Pryce joined the staff of the Sydney Sun. He died in 1963).

Supplying Drink to Convalescing Soldiers

This article was published in the Eastbourne Gazette in June 1915. The Convalescent Hospital, Summerdown Camp was opened in April 1915.

The request from both the camp commandant and the Officer in Charge of troops at the Royal Engineers base to stop public houses serving alcohol to soldiers carried enough weight for the motion to be agreed. But reading further reports in the newspaper during the war, I think it very unlikely that this action carried with it any weight at all, as numerous cases were brought before the courts of alcohol related crime committed by drunken soldiers!!


"Treating Wounded Soldiers

Licensed Victuallers Wise Decision

At a meeting of the members of the Eastbourne and District Licensed Victuallers Association held on Monday at the Royal Hotel, Terminus Road under the presidency of Councillor Horace Morgan, the following correspondence was read:-

Officer in command troops,
Ordnance Yard,
Eastbourne,
June 5, 1915

To Mr H Morgan, Archery Hotel, Eastbourne.

Sir,
I beg to draw your attention to the enclosed copy of a letter from Major J.W. Bostock, commandant, Convalescent Hospital, Summerdown Camp and should esteem it a favour if you could instruct your members not to serve convalescents directly or indirectly, with drink and use the utmost discretion in trying to carry out the commandant wishes.

Yours faithfully

Lieutenant-Colonel W.F. Cheesewright, R.E. Officer commanding troops, Eastbourne.


Convalescent Hospital,
Eastbourne
June 4, 1915.

To the officer in command of troops, Ordnance Yard, Eastbourne.

Sir,
I have the honour to bring to your notice the importance of keeping men from this hospital from promiscuous drinking in the town.
I would urge that the licensed victuallers of Eastbourne be approached on this question, with a view to their refusing the men drink in the interests of the patients themselves and also the good of the nation.

Your obedient servant,
Major J.W. Bostock, R.A.M.C., Commandant Convalescent Hospital.


After discussing the matter it was decided by an almost unanimous vote, there being only two dissentients, to refrain from serving men in blue invalid uniforms."

Sergeant Frank Alberry, 867, 8th Battalion AIF.

Sergeant Frank Alberry, 867, 8th Battalion was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his heroic action on 25th July 1916 at the battle of Pozieres on the Somme.

During this action he was badly wounded and had a leg amputated. After he was released from hospital he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, where he was commissioned as a Lieutenant and qualified as a pilot. He was subsequently wounded again and returned to Australia 20th November 1918.

He enlisted on 24th August 1914, aged 21 at Broadmeadows in Melbourne. He came from Hobart Tasmania. Interestingly on his application form it stated that he had previously served for 1 ½ years in a Welsh Regiment, where he had deserted but had been granted a free pardon.

In March 1916, at the training school he gained a distinguished pass with Lewis Guns.

Below is the official recommendation for the D.C.M.

“At Pozieres France, on the morning of 25th July 1916. Sergeant Alberry controlled 4 Lewis Machine Guns & teams and showed great skill in their disposition. When our Right company “C” was checked during attack this N.C.O. personally took a gun to a flank & by the aid of this fire the Company was able to again push forward.

Whilst the Battalion was digging in, he took a gun forward into a shell hole and gave good covering fire. The following night the Battalion was ordered to establish a Strong Post East of Orchard. Sergeant Alberry again rendered valuable service by establishing his gun on a flank, thus giving good protection for this party. When the Strong Post was established this N.C.O. took a gun there and assisted to hold it during the next two days. He was under constant fire and showed a splendid example to his men. A good deal of success of this attack was due to his splendid handling of L.M. Guns and great credit is due to Sgt. Alberry for this. He was badly wounded whilst being relieved from this Strong Post, and has since had his leg amputated. He had never been away from the Battalion since its formation in August 1914.”

The published citation in the London Gazette on 20th October 1916 reads:

“For conspicuous gallantry in action. He controlled four machine guns with great skill and determination and did fine work with them throughout. He was wounded while being relieved from holding a strong post and has since lost his leg.”

Here is a summary of his service record:

24.8.14 Enlisted at Broadmeadows, Victoria, posted to the 8th Battalion.
19.10.14 Embarked from Australia.
5.4.15 Embarked to join M.E.F at Gallipoli.
27.12.15 To be Lance-Corporal.
7.1.16 Disembarked at Alexandria.
26.2.16 Promoted to Corporal.
15.3.16 Promoted to Sergeant.
26.3.16 Proceeded to Join the B.E.F. in France.
31.3.16 Disembarked at Marseilles.
26.7.16 Wounded in action, awarded the D.C.M.
1.8.16 Invalided to England, Leg Amputated.
26.3.17 Discharged ex Hospital to duty.
3.8.17 Joined No.1 School of Aeronautics, Reading.
13.9.17 Attached 29th, Training Squadron as Cadet.
6.11.17 Having graduated as Flying Officer (Pilot) is appointed 2nd Lieutenant in AIF.
4.4.18 Proceeded to France, attached to A.F.C. Depot.
16.6.18 Taken on strength No.2 Squadron.
13.8.18 Wounded in Action (2nd Occasion).
15.8.18 Rejoined No. 2 Squadron.
20.11.18 Embarked for Australia.
5.1.19 Disembarked 3rd. Military District.
6.3.19 Appointment Terminated at Melbourne.

Source : National Archives of Australia

Is a Dachshund a German Dog?

Still on the subject of Dogs and the First World War, here are two letters that appeared in the Eastbourne Gazette dated 20th February 1918. It seems that quite a storm had arisen over the origin of dachshund breed.

Both letters remain anonymous, but I like the second as it displays the general mistrust of anything remotely German!


Is a Dachshund a German Dog?

Sir,
I learn from the letter of your correspondent, W.A. Jackson, that I a pure bred dachshund am not a German dog. Mr, (Mrs. or Miss) Jackson, in answering the letter of “A Lover of Dogs” says that your correspondent spoke “most ignorantly” about the dachshund. He (or she) goes on to assert that dachshunds “are English; were bred in England, being taught to turn the old-fashioned spit, which accounts for the somewhat strange formation of feet! “This Sir, is “all my eye and Betty Martin.”

True, W.A. Jackson, by his (or her) own confession, is the owner of only a mongrel; and that, perhaps, excuses him (or her) from knowing so little of the breed called dachshunds. I will, therefore, briefly give him (or her) their true history.

The name “dachshund” is adopted from the German, signifying “badger-dog.” The dachshund has been common in Germany for many years, but was unknown in England until introduced from Germany by the Prince Consort towards the middle of the nineteenth century i.e. after the days when the spit was generally used for roasting in this country. Moreover, the dachshund is largely used in Germany for hunting, and is especially favoured by the Kaiser for covert shooting.

I, as a German of high birth, consider it an insult to be informed by W.A. Jackson that members of my family were once employed to turn the spit! True, the old English dog formerly known as the “Turn-spit” is a poor cousin of mine; but that fact has nothing to do with my crooked feet. They were caused in years long past by rickets!

No, Sir, I am a German and am proud of it. Auf wiedersehen! Bow-wow!

Yours,

A DACHSHUND,

Eastbourne.

Sir,
Your correspondent is right about the dachshund not being German in origin. They were, however, adopted by Germany to its own uses (a not unusual thing) and being now German dogs to all intents and purposes are naturally looked on as such.

Yours truly,

“Another lover of Dogs.”

Dogs in the First World War.

This article was published during the war in the ‘War Illustrated.’ It is interesting how the publishers sold the public the idea of the usefulness of dogs helping the soldiers in the trenches.

In a previous article ‘Messenger Dogs’ it was noted how the Australians tried unsuccessfully to use dogs to carry messages. Perhaps other units had better luck!!

III - HOW DOGS BECOME GOOD SOLDIERS

The training of intelligent animals like these is carried on in five different ways, for various uses.

1. As Ambulance Dogs. The animal seeks for wounded men lost on the battle-field; he searches in holes, ruins, and excavations, and hunts over wooded places or coverts, where the wounded man might lie unnoticed by his comrades or the stretcher-bearer. The dog is especially useful at this work in the night-time, when he can often by his scent discover fallen men who would otherwise be passed over, for at night-time ambulance-men often have to work in the dark, as lights would attract the enemy's fire. Having found a wounded man still alive, the dog brings his master (or the ambulance-man to whom he is attached) some article belonging to the sufferer. This object tells the master, "I have found someone - search!"
Usually the object brought is the fallen man’s képi (or nowadays his helmet), and the trainers teach the dog to find the man's headgear, but if this is missing some other object must be brought. It is a fatiguing operation for the animal, as he has to return with closed mouth. The ambulance-man who receives the article at once puts the animal on a leash, and is immediately led to his wounded comrade. The leash is about two yards long, so that the movements of the animal shall be hindered as little as possible.

If dogs were utilized in this service long during wartime, their value would be incalculable; and their use is all the greater when fighting takes place over an extended area. The situation of the wounded man overlooked or abandoned on the battle-field is a truly horrible one; he has to wait in the forlorn hope that he will be found, for the army has gone on, and the more victorious it is the farther it will push ahead. In the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1 more than twelve thousand men were thus lost to the French alone, while in the Russo-Japanese War the Japanese lost over five thousand in this manner, showing that the methods then used for the exploration of the battle-fields were inadequate. In that war three dogs sent by a military dog society found twenty-three wounded men who had been abandoned after the battle of Cha-ho. In the Boer War the collie dogs taken out by the men, it is said, saved hundreds of wounded men who would never have been found by the ambulance-workers in the difficult country where fighting mostly took place.

2. As Trench Dogs or Sentinels. The sentry or trench dog is trained to stay in the trench itself or in a small "listening-post" made for him, either on the edge of the trench, outside it, or at a little distance away. There he remains on the qui vive, ready to signal the least suspicion of a noise or the presence of the enemy. In this work both his eyes and his scent help him. He is kept on the leash, and he gives the signal of danger by a slight growl, without barking, which would give the alarm. The greatest difficulty in the training of dogs for this work has been to rid them of the habit of barking, but this has been overcome with care and patience. The training of dogs for this class of work can be - and has been-carried to great lengths. A man crawling on patrol work takes a dog with him, also in a crouching position, on a leash. A little tug at the leash causes the dog to rise, to retire, or to change its direction, and a properly-trained animal will answer to the leash as satisfactorily as a horse does to the reins. Such a dog is of immense help at night, when he can be taken quite close to the enemy.

3. As Patrols or Scouts. The dog accompanies the human scout in his reconnaissance, and helps in finding advance posts or sentinels, and locating small groups of the enemy.

4. As Couriers or Messengers. The animal acts as a messenger, carrying written orders or information, and is used according to circumstances. He can carry messages between groups in the rear and fighting formations in the front - for example, between the artillery and the infantry, and vice versa; between two fighting forces, such as battalions, companies, or sections; between the headquarters and the various positions of the army; or between the main body and detached posts, such as patrols, scouts, etc. Taken along by a patrol or scouting party, he can be sent back to the main body with a message fixed to his collar. The note having been removed and read, a reply can be attached to his collar, and the dog sent back to the original body of men, even if they have changed their position, since he finds them again by his scent. A dog is not only much quicker in carrying these very special qualities, so that only a very few animals have been found capable of the work. It consists in sending him after a patrol en route with a message, or even in finding a lost patrol or scouting party and bringing it back to its base. It will readily be understood that an exceptional scent is required in a dog to do work of this sort.

In the two last-named classes of work dogs can pass swiftly backwards and forwards through brisk firing and run much less risk than a man.

IV - DOGS ARE HEROES UNDER FIRE

There are several societies in Paris which choose suitable dogs in order to make soldiers of them. The "Central Society for the Development of the Breeds of Dogs" gave three thousand dogs to the French army last August. After they have been tested, an operation which takes about three weeks, they are sent to special stations in the rear of the armies to be trained, and five or six days are all that are necessary for the training of animals for the simpler kinds of work. For more difficult tasks the training is naturally a longer business. When dogs are to be trained as communication agents the in- struction may take several weeks. They are taught to go from one master to another, first by a call, then by a whistle, then simply at a mere gesture. Distances are gradually increased, obstacles are placed in the way, the animal's goal becomes invisible, and so on. Much patience is required in this kind of work; and it is found that the best results are obtained by kindness and giving rewards for good work accomplished. The animals are taught to recognize only two masters, and to obey them alone. Outsiders are not allowed to pet or feed them. When they understand that they have to obey only one or two men, they have to learn to follow one or both of them when marching in a column of infantry, to recognize them when in a group, and so on. They are taught to endure the sound of gun-firing or explosions quite close to them. Above all, they are strictly trained never to pick up articles on their journey and to refuse delicacies offered them by strangers.

Specially-trained dogs only are chosen for this work, and they are mostly sheep-dogs or collies or animals whose business it was in civil life to be guardians or watchers, and always on the alert. These are all the easier to train for the special work - somewhat of the same order - which they are set to do in war.

When the question of transport through the mountain snow had become a matter of urgent importance, the French authorities conceived the idea of using dog-drawn sleighs for carrying supplies. Some hundred "huskies' - a cross between the Eskimo dog and the wolf -and other trained dogs from Alaska, North-Western Canada, and Labrador were brought over by Lieutenant René Haas, a Frenchman who had spent fourteen years in Alaska. Mr. Warner Allen, the representative of the British Press with the French armies, describing the work of these dogs, says the snow in the neighbourhood of the Schlucht Pass was deep enough until almost the end of April for the dogs to render yeoman service. "They were able," he says, "to draw heavy loads over almost inaccessible country, and to supplement to a valuable extent the wheeled transport. But their utility has not ceased with the disappearance of the snow. They are now being harnessed to trucks on small two-foot-gauge light railways, which run everywhere behind the Front, and they are capable of drawing the heaviest load up the steepest gradient. Eleven dogs, with a couple of men, can haul a ton up some of the most precipitous slopes in the mountains, and I was assured that two teams of seven dogs each could do the work of five horses in this difficult country, with a very great economy of men."

This correspondent adds that the best of these imported breeds of dogs is the Alaskan, as "his courage never fails, ani he will work until he drops, though he is perhaps the weakest of them. They are all shaggy dogs, with prick ears and bushy tails, their colour ranging from black to white, between greys and browns. Their chest development, so necessary for hauling, is remarkable. They are mainly fed on rice, horse-flesh, and waste military biscuits, and this fare appears to suit them admirably, as they are always in splendid condition, and disease is practically unknown. The experiment of transporting these do as to France has shown that they can be of real service in mountainous country, and represent a real economy."
Dogs that are specially adapted or have been trained for hunting or sporting purposes are of little use in war, as they have acquired habits incompatible with the work now demanded of them, Certain breeds, such as the Great Dane, and others of limited intelligence, are of no value at all. Some of these have the habit of rushing forward at the slightest alarm, which is of more danger than advantage to the soldiers to whom they might belong.

V - DOGS AS LOYAL COMRADES - FELLOW-WORKERS

The "dog soldier," like his master on special missions, has to see and hear without being seen or heard. It is amusing, but nevertheless true, that the dogs of smugglers and poachers, as well as those of coastguardsmen, have been found to be most useful animals in the army. A well-trained dog, acting with a sentinel or scouting party may be the means of preserving numbers of lives by saving them from unpleasant surprises,

The use of dogs in warfare was, of course, not invented in the present war, though their utility had been systematized and given more scientific scope than was ever the case before. In no previous campaign have men understood the full use that could be made of these highly-intelligent creatures.

It was the Belgians who first turned their attention to the subject of employing dogs more extensively. Everybody who has visited Belgium knows the use that is made of dogs for traction purposes all over the country. Nearly all the peasants who bring agricultural or dairy produce to market employ dogs to draw their small carts, sometimes harnessing whole teams to heavy loads. The dog is also greatly used in Belgium for sport, and from the sporting dog to the police dog is but a step. The dog in war - as sentinel, courier, scout, or ambulance worker - followed, and was the idea of Professor Reul, of the Veterinary School of Cureghem, and two journalists named Van der Snick and Sodenkampf. In 1885-6 the 11 first dogs trained to some of these purposes were shown at a dog show at Ostend, and shortly afterwards societies were started at Brussels, Liége, Lierre, Ghent and other places, not merely for the training of dogs, but to improve the breeds. Lieutenant van der Putte, of the Belgian army, started the Société du Chien Sanitaire for the express purpose of training dogs for ambulance work and soon afterwards similar societies were organized in Paris and Berlin.

It was quite natural that the Belgians should also think of using these draught-dogs for small machine-guns, thus providing an inexpensive but efficient light artillery. The Germans wished to imitate them, but it is related that when they tried to buy dogs from the Belgians, as they had no indigenous animals suited to the purpose, the Belgians refused to sell. In other ways, however the Germans were at the beginning of the war well provided with dogs for various purposes, including the ambulance service.

Since then the use of dogs in the German army has assumed considerable proportions. The animals used are mostly of the German sheep-dog variety, and a register of these, numbering several thousands, is kept for mobilization purposes by the German Sheep-Dog Club. Other breeds used by the enemy are terriers, red-haired griffons, Doberman pinchers, Airedale terries, and a sort of bull-terrier known as a "Boxer." Dogs, it appears, have been used by the German army chiefly on the Eastern Front, where the fighting was of a more open description than on the Western Front. The German papers published appeals from the authorities asking dog owners to offer their pets for war purposes, and many thousands were obtained as a result.

Article Source : The Great War in a Different Light

Eastbourne Suffrage and the War.

The Eastbourne Gazette, Four page pull-out on 20th December 1916 included a section, “What Eastbourne has done to Alleviate Distress and Suffering.”

In this Article Mrs. Fred Allen explains the work of the Eastbourne Society of Women’s Suffrage during the first two years of the war:

"Suffrage Societies and War Work

In accordance with the suggestion of the executive of the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies, to which the Eastbourne Society is affiliated, all political work was suspended when war broke out, and the society has strictly adhered to this principle. The principle will be rigidly observed so long as there is no proposal to alter the basis of the franchise for men. Regulations to prevent the disqualification of men who, but for the exigencies of war would have been qualified voters, have the approval and sympathy of the National Union and its affiliated societies.

The work of the Eastbourne Society during the year 1916 has been distributed amongst the various departments of war-work in the town rather than concentrated on any special effort of the society itself. The Belgian Club has been the principal financial responsibility – as some indication of its usefulness it may be mentioned that there are records of 1,100 loans of books from the French library connected with the club. The French Lending Library is now housed at the Free Library, as the Belgian Club is closed.

In the spring of this year (1916) the society took part in the “Munition Week” collection towards the Y.M.C.A. national effort to provide accommodation for the women munitions workers. In St. Mary’s Ward, for which the society became responsible, over £27 was collected.

Quite recently, in November (1916), an appeal sent out to the members of the society and a few sympathetic friends realised a sum of over £21 towards supplying urgent hospital necessaries to Dr. Elsie Inglis (Scottish Women’s Hospital N.U.W.S.S), who is in charge of the only hospital relief with the Serbian division of the Russian Army.

Many of the members of the society are engaged at the Red Cross hospitals, others are helping systematically in the canteen and entertainment work, mending for the soldiers and working in the Red Cross Depot. Others are making the Belgian refugees in the town their special care.

One happy result of the distribution of the society’s energies has been that it has provided opportunity with those who, while divided on the one and only ground which is the “raison d’etre” of the society, are one in the society in love of country, and in the passionate desire to help and heal which inspires all true women."

Lance Corporal John Schmidt, 8th Battalion, AIF.

Lance Corporal John Schmidt, 6142, 8th Battalion, AIF.

He enlisted on 2nd May 1916 at the age of 26 and a farmer from Quantong, Victoria.

He was awarded the Military Medal for service on the night 13th April 1918, during the battle of LYS.

The official recommendation was initially for the D.C.M, but the Military Medal was awarded.

“For gallant and distinguished service in front of Petit SEC BOIS near STRAZEELE on the night of 13th April, 1918. Lance Corporal SCHMIDT was in charge of a Lewis Gun Section in an isolated post guarding a road through No Man’s Land when he saw a party of the enemy about 40 strong approaching. With great coolness and presence of mind he allowed then to approach to within 10 yards of his gun post when he opened fire, killing 1 officer and 20 Other Ranks, the remainder retiring in disorder, leaving 6 machine guns, ammunition and tripods in our hands. He immediately put the captured Machine Guns into section against the enemy.

The presence of mind and great coolness displayed by him enabled us to inflict numerous casualties upon the enemy and gained valuable identification.”


The Official History of Australia in the War of 1914–1918 by C.E.W. Bean, covering the Battle of Lys records the action taken by Lance Corporal Schmidt.

“The first attack on the 1st Australian Division’s new front at Hazebrouck was made shortly after midnight of the 13th’ when a company of Germans came marching up a cross-country lane leading from Verte Rue to the Rue du Bois, across the Australian front. Behind a hedge bordering this lane was a Lewis gun post (Lance Corporal Schmidt’s) of Lieutenant Murdoch’s’ platoon of the centre company (Captain Fox’s), 8th Battalion.

The approaching troops, who were seen at some distance, were allowed to march without alarm to within twenty yards, when the Victorians blazed at them from every barrel, and continued to pour a withering fire into the Germans, whose survivors panicked and fled. Murdoch and some of his men went out and found a German officer and twenty men of the 141st Infantry Regiment dead and five abandoned machine-guns. Two nights later a sixth gun was found.”

He survived the war and returned to Australia. The West Wimmera Mail, 15th August 1919, reports his arrival and gives some extra details of his deeds on the night he won the Military Medal.

“Corporal C.J. SCHMIDT, of the 8th Battalion, and Sergeant C.A. SCHMIDT, 6th Battalion, who have just recently returned by the Port Darwin, are at present spending a few days with their uncle, Mr. John SCHMIDT, of Natimuk.

Both lads are very well known in the district, being sons of Mr and Mrs W. SCHMIDT, formally of Quantong, but who now reside in Footscray, Melbourne.

Corporal J. SCHMIDT, who has seen three years' service abroad, has been awarded the Military Medal for distinguished conduct in the field, having personally accounted for 40 Germans (killed), 8 machine guns captured, together with a number of rifles, ammunition, etc. "Jack" was keeping night guard (while the battle of Neippe Forest was raging) with six of his comrades who during a lull in the fighting were indulging in a much needed "forty-winks". Seeing a number of shadows advancing, Jack challenged the approachers twice, and on not getting any response unaided, lifted his machine gun over the hedge behind which they were ambushed, to a more advantageous position, but right out in the open road in a very perilous position to himself, and opened fire, with the result as above stated, the rest of the enemy advance party of an estimated number of 60, retreating in wild disorder.

"Charlie," who is now only 21 years, has also seen 3 years' active service abroad, and was twice badly gassed at Paschendaele.”

Messenger Dogs.

This article is from the Official History of Australia in the War of 1914–1918 by C.E.W. Bean. It relates to the experimental use of messenger dogs by the ANZACS during May 1918.

The Australians had seen and shot at German messenger dogs during May as the Australian snipers prevented all German movement by day. The German use of dogs was copied by the Australians but their experiments with messenger dogs were far less successful.


“The history of the 97th I.R (German) regiment states, “The enemy showed himself very lively and prevented almost any possibility of movement by day.” Indeed, for the carriage of messages in daylight on the most exposed portions both of the Morlancourt ridge and the Villers-Bretonneux plateau, the Germans at this time had to rely almost exclusively upon messenger dogs.

In the first fortnight of May, Rex and Greif, messenger dogs of the 3Ist I.R., made the dangerous run along the Bray Corbie road at least four times daily. After that regiment had been relieved by the 232nd R.1 R., “the communication service (says the historian of this regiment) was discharged to our greatest satisfaction by our splendid dogs Else and Wolf.” The Australian snipers often caught sight of the dogs, which had to run the gauntlet of their bullets, and at least one was shot and one captured.

The Australians on the Villers-Bretonneux plateau afterwards tested the use of messenger dogs, which were then being supplied for experiment. The trial was not very successful. Men and officers tended to pet the dogs and feed them, which should only have been done by their keepers at the terminals of the run.

For example, Dog 113, which had always been reliable, was sent to the, 18th Battalion where the headquarters mess, “fondled and patted it and finally fed it”. It then refused to leave headquarters, a good dog being thus spoilt. For success (which meant saving of men’s lives) the whole personnel of the corps would have had to be lectured on the need for leaving the dogs alone. A second impediment was the existence in Villers-Bretonneux of female dogs, left behind by the former inhabitants. In all, 21 messenger dogs were tested in the corps between May 2 and 9, of 8 of these it is recorded that 4 were unreliable. 1 was hit; 3 worked well, covering 1 1/2 miles in from 3 to 8 minutes, whereas runners would need 15-20 minutes. One dog took 1 1/2 hours on the Journey, and one 8 1/2 hours.”

Farewell by A.W.B.

During the early years of the war (before conscription), the rallying cry for young men to volunteer was a major part of local newspapers. This poem by A.W.B. was published in the Eastbourne Gazette on May 26th 1915.

It is one of the worst poem’s I’ve ever read, but I gives a really good indication of the feeling of the town and the overwhelming pressure for every man to enlist. I think it captures the feelings of the time pretty well.


Farewell

Good-bye, young Lewes laddie,
We grip you by the hands;
We never shall forget you,
While Lewes Castle stands.

You leave your home behind you,
You’ve heard your country call,
And Lewes town will mind you,
Till Lewes Castle fall.

You’ll think of those you’ve left lad,
You won’t forget your home,
We’ll have a welcome ready,
To greet you when you come.

For you’re come home a hero,
To sound of martial drums;
We’ll set the church bells ringing
“The Conquering Hero Comes.”

Your lass is at the gate, lad,
As you march down the lane,
And at the gate she’ll greet you
When you come home again.

Oh, come you back with speed, lad,
Your gong makes us sore,
And come you back a hero
From foreign fields or gore.

We never will forget, lad,
How you went at the call;
We’ll ever mind that debt, lad,
Till Lewes Castle fall.

A.W.B.

The Unnamed III- Pictures from Thiepval Cemetery, Somme.

Here are some more striking photographs taken by my friend Roger Stoakley.

These were taken at the Thiepval cemetery in the shadow of the memorial to the missing.

Roger can be contacted at: rjstoakley@btopenworld.com

Stone Cross War Memorial, Sussex.

Stone Cross War Memorial on the corner of Hailsham Road, adjacent to St Luke's Church, Stone Cross near Eastbourne, East Sussex.

In common with most War Memorials the names bear witness to the fact that many families lost more than one member.


Pictured above is a view of St. Luke's from the cross roads at Stone Cross. In the foreground is the war memorial with the names of local people who lost their life during two world wars. Their names are read out during each Remembrance Sunday service.

St. Luke's Church, which was built in the 1920s, fell into disrepair during the 1970s and re-opened in 1988.

For a details of those metioned on the Memorial please go to:

http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Sussex/StoneCross.html

And for more information on Stone Cross & St Lukes Church.

The Trenches by Frederic Manning.

I love this poem by the Australian Frederic Manning. It gives a real sense of what it must have been like on a cold frosty night on the Western Front:-


Endless lanes sunken in the clay,
Bays, and traverses, fringed with wasted herbage,
Seed-pods of blue scabious, and some lingering blooms;
And the sky, seen as from a well,
Brilliant with frosty stars.
We stumble, cursing, on the slippery duckboards,
Goaded like the damned by some invisible wrath,
A will stronger than weariness, stronger than animal fear,
Implacable and monotonous.

Here a shaft, slanting, and below
A dusty and flickering light from one feeble candle
And prone figures sleeping uneasily,
Murmuring,
And men who cannot sleep,
With faces impassive as masks,
Bright, feverish eyes, and drawn lips,
Sad, pitiless, terrible faces,
Each an incarnate curse.

Here in a bay, a helmeted sentry
Silent and motionless, watching while two sleep,
And he sees before him
With indifferent eyes the blasted and torn land
Peopled with stiff prone forms, stupidly rigid,
As tho' they had not been men.

Dead are the lips where love laughed or sang,
The hands of youth eager to lay hold of life,
Eyes that have laughed to eyes,
And these were begotten,
O love, and lived lightly, and burnt
With the lust of a man's first strength: ere they were rent,
Almost at unawares, savagely; and strewn
In bloody fragments, to be the carrion
Of rats and crows.

And the sentry moves not, searching
Night for menace with weary eyes.


(Frederic Manning was born in Sydney Australia in 1882. He attended Sydney Grammar School and at the age of 14 he went to England. During the First World War he served as a private in the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry Regiment and fought on the Somme and Ancre. After the war he spent most of his time studying and writing. He died in 1935.)

For more information please see: Frederic Manning at Wikipedia &

Frederic Manning at the Australian War Memorial.

A view of the trenches.

This is an excellent extract from the book “ Kitchener's Mob, The Adventures of an American in the British Army” By James Norman Hall, which can be found at Gutenberg.org

It gives a great description of trench life on the Western Front. I especially like the final paragraphs on rations, flies and rats.

“All of the dugouts for privates and N.C.O.s were of equal size and built on the same model, the reason being that the walls and floors, which were made of wood, and the roofs, which were of corrugated iron, were put together in sections at the headquarters of the Royal Engineers, who superintended all the work of trench construction. The material was brought up at night ready to be fitted into excavations. Furthermore, with thousands of men to house within a very limited area, space was a most important consideration. There was no room for indulging individual tastes in dugout architecture. The roofs were covered with from three to four feet of earth, which made them proof against shrapnel or shell splinters. In case of a heavy bombardment with high explosives, the men took shelter in deep and narrow "slip trenches." These were blind alleyways leading off from the traveling trench, with room for from ten to fifteen men in each. At this part of the line there were none of the very deep shell-proof shelters, from fifteen to twenty feet below the surface of the ground, of which I had read. Most of the men seemed to be glad of this. They preferred taking their chances in an open trench during heavy shell fire.

Realists and Romanticists lived side by side in the traveling trench. "My Little Gray Home in the West" was the modest legend over one apartment. The "Ritz Carlton" was next door to "The Rats' Retreat," with "Vermin Villa" next door but one. "The Suicide Club" was the suburban residence of some members of the bombing squad. I remarked that the bombers seemed to take rather a pessimistic view of their profession, whereupon Shorty told me that if there were any men slated for the Order of the Wooden Cross, the bombers were those unfortunate ones. In an assault they were first at the enemy's position. They had dangerous work to do even on the quietest of days. But theirs was a post of honor, and no one of them but was proud of his membership in the Suicide Club.

The officers' quarters were on a much more generous and elaborate scale than those of the men. This I gathered from Shorty's description of them, for I saw only the exteriors as we passed along the trench. Those for platoon and company commanders were built along the traveling trench. The colonel, major, and adjutant lived in a luxurious palace, about fifty yards down a communication trench. Near it was the officers' mess, a café de luxe with glass panels in the door, a cooking stove, a long wooden table, chairs,—everything, in fact, but hot and cold running water.


"You know," said Shorty, "the officers thinks they 'as to rough it, but they got it soft, I'm tellin' you! Wooden bunks to sleep in, batmen to bring 'em 'ot water fer shavin' in the mornin', all the fags they wants,—Blimy, I wonder wot they calls livin' 'igh?"

I agreed that in so far as living quarters are concerned, they were roughing it under very pleasant circumstances. However, they were not always so fortunate, as later experience proved. Here there had been little serious fighting for months and the trenches were at their best. Elsewhere the officers' dugouts were often but little better than those of the men.

The first-line trenches were connected with two lines of support or reserve trenches built in precisely the same fashion, and each heavily wired. The communication trenches which joined them were from seven to eight feet deep and wide enough to permit the convenient passage of incoming and outgoing troops, and the transport of the wounded back to the field dressing stations. From the last reserve line they wound on backward through the fields until troops might leave them well out of range of rifle fire. Under Shorty's guidance I saw the field dressing stations, the dugouts for the reserve ammunition supply and the stores of bombs and hand grenades, battalion and brigade trench headquarters. We wandered from one part of the line to another through trenches, all of which were kept amazingly neat and clean. The walls were stayed with fine-mesh wire to hold the earth in place. The floors were covered with board walks carefully laid over the drains, which ran along the center of the trench and emptied into deep wells, built in recesses in the walls. I felt very much encouraged when I saw the careful provisions for sanitation and drainage. On a fine June morning it seemed probable that living in ditches was not to be so unpleasant as I had imagined it. Shorty listened to my comments with a smile.

"Don't pat yerself on the back yet a w'ile, mate," he said. "They looks right enough now, but wite till you've seen 'em arter a 'eavy rain."

I had this opportunity many times during the summer and autumn. A more wretched existence than that of soldiering in wet weather could hardly be imagined. The walls of the trenches caved in in great masses. The drains filled to overflowing, and the trench walks were covered deep in mud. After a few hours of rain, dry and comfortable trenches became a quagmire, and we were kept busy for days afterward repairing the damage.

As a machine gunner I was particularly interested in the construction of the machine-gun emplacements. The covered battle positions were very solidly built. The roofs were supported with immense logs or steel girders covered over with many layers of sandbags. There were two carefully concealed loopholes looking out to a flank, but none for frontal fire, as this dangerous little weapon best enjoys catching troops in enfilade owing to the rapidity and the narrow cone of its fire. Its own front is protected by the guns on its right and left. At each emplacement there was a range chart giving the ranges to all parts of the enemy's trenches, and to every prominent object both in front of and behind them, within its field of fire. When not in use the gun was kept mounted and ready for action in the battle position.

"But remember this," said Shorty, "you never fires from your battle position except in case of attack. W'en you goes out at night to 'ave a little go at Fritzie, you always tykes yer gun sommers else. If you don't, you'll 'ave Minnie an' Busy Bertha an' all the rest o' the Krupp childern comin' over to see w'ere you live."

This was a wise precaution, as we were soon to learn from experience. Machine guns are objects of special interest to the artillery, and the locality from which they are fired becomes very unhealthy for some little time thereafter.

We stopped for a moment at "The Mud Larks' Hairdressing Parlor," a very important institution if one might judge by its patronage. It was housed in a recess in the wall of the traveling trench, and was open to the sky. There I saw the latest fashion in "oversea" hair cuts. The victims sat on a ration box while the barber mowed great swaths through tangled thatch with a pair of close-cutting clippers. But instead of making a complete job of it, a thick fringe of hair which resembled a misplaced scalping tuft was left for decorative purposes, just above the forehead. The effect was so grotesque that I had to invent an excuse for laughing. It was a lame one, I fear, for Shorty looked at me warningly. When we had gone on a little way he said:—
"Ain't it a proper beauty parlor? But you got to be careful about larfin'. Some o' the blokes thinks that 'edge-row is a regular ornament."

I had supposed that a daily shave was out of the question on the firing-line; but the British Tommy is nothing if not resourceful. Although water is scarce and fuel even more so, the self-respecting soldier easily surmounts difficulties, and the Gloucesters were all nice in matters pertaining to the toilet. Instead of draining their canteens of tea, they saved a few drops for shaving purposes.

"It's a bit sticky," said Shorty, "but it's 'ot, an' not 'arf bad w'en you gets used to it. Now, another thing you don't want to ferget is this: W'en yer movin' up fer yer week in the first line, always bring a bundle o' firewood with you. They ain't so much as a match-stick left in the trenches. Then you wants to be savin' of it. Don't go an' use it all the first d'y or you'll 'ave to do without yer tea the rest o' the week."

I remembered his emphasis upon this point afterward when I saw men risking their lives in order to procure firewood. Without his tea Tommy was a wretched being. I do not remember a day, no matter how serious the fighting, when he did not find both the time and the means for making it.

Shorty was a Ph.D. in every subject in the curriculum, including domestic science. In preparing breakfast he gave me a practical demonstration of the art of conserving a limited resource of fuel, bringing our two canteens to a boil with a very meager handful of sticks; and while doing so he delivered an oral thesis on the best methods of food preparation. For example, there was the item of corned beef—familiarly called "bully." It was the pièce de résistance at every meal with the possible exception of breakfast, when there was usually a strip of bacon. Now, one's appetite for "bully" becomes jaded in the course of a few weeks or months. To use the German expression one doesn't eat it gern. But it is not a question of liking it. One must eat it or go hungry. Therefore, said Shorty, save carefully all of your bacon grease, and instead of eating your "bully" cold out of the tin, mix it with bread crumbs and grated cheese and fry it in the grease. He prepared some in this way, and I thought it a most delectable dish. Another way of stimulating the palate was to boil the beef in a solution of bacon grease and water, and then, while eating it, "kid yerself that it's Irish stew." This second method of taking away the curse did not appeal to me very strongly, and Shorty admitted that he practiced such self-deception with very indifferent success; for after all "bully" was "bully" in whatever form you ate it.

In addition to this staple, the daily rations consisted of bacon, bread, cheese, jam, army biscuits, tea, and sugar. Sometimes they received a tinned meat and vegetable ration, already cooked, and at welcome intervals fresh meat and potatoes were substituted for corned beef. Each man had a very generous allowance of food, a great deal more, I thought, than he could possibly eat. Shorty explained this by saying that allowance was made for the amount which would be consumed by the rats and the blue-bottle flies.

There were, in fact, millions of flies. They settled in great swarms along the walls of the trenches, which were filled to the brim with warm light as soon as the sun had climbed a little way up the sky. Empty tin-lined ammunition boxes were used as cupboards for food. But of what avail were cupboards to a jam-loving and jam-fed British army living in open ditches in the summer time? Flytraps made of empty jam tins were set along the top of the parapet. As soon as one was filled, another was set in its place. But it was an unequal war against an expeditionary force of countless numbers.

"They ain't nothin' you can do," said Shorty. "They steal the jam right off yer bread."

As for the rats, speaking in the light of later experience, I can say that an army corps of pied pipers would not have sufficed to entice away the hordes of them that infested the trenches, living like house pets on our rations. They were great lazy animals, almost as large as cats, and so gorged with food that they could hardly move. They ran over us in the dugouts at night, and filched cheese and crackers right through the heavy waterproofed covering of our haversacks. They squealed and fought among themselves at all hours. I think it possible that they were carrion eaters, but never, to my knowledge, did they attack living men. While they were unpleasant bedfellows, we became so accustomed to them that we were not greatly concerned about our very intimate associations.”

An Appeal for Volunteer Policewomen.

This interesting letter appeared in the British Nursing Journal on 21st April 1917. An appeal for volunteer police women between the ages of 27 and 40 as men were being called up. The training period of three months seems very short, but I suppose that a shortage of police necessitated in quick measures being taken.

POLICE AND PATROL: WORK FOR WOMEN VOLUNTEERS.

To the: Editor of THE BRITISH JOURNAL OF NURSING.

Madam, - I am venturing to ask for permission to appeal once more through your columns for recruits for the work of Policewomen and Patrol-leaders. The depletion of male Police Forces, and the urgent need of combating the evils which sap the vitality of our country are creating a wide demand for women in Police Forces; and I am confident that if Women Volunteers could see the applications for Policewomen, Patrol-leaders and Paid Patrols which reach this School alone, and which, alas, we are too often obliged to refuse for lack of candidates, they would throw to the winds all doubts as to the need for such work, and would offer themselves in much larger numbers.

We want well educated women between 27 and 40, tactful, sympathetic and strong, with experience, initiative and common sense, for the work to be done must, in these initial stages, owe its value largely to the individuality of the workers. We charge no fee for training, which covers a period of three months and comprises police-court attendance, patrolling, report-writing, case-investigation, drill, first aid, etc., and though the cost of maintenance nominally falls on the candidate during the course a salary is sometimes paid her during the third month of it, whilst training grants are available for special cases. Previous experience in Patrol or Social work may also count as part of the course, and so curtail its length.

The salaries of Policewomen, etc., range from 30s. to £2 10s. a week, uniform being usually provided by the Appointment Committee. Volunteers are asked to write for details, stating age, height, experience, etc., to the Director, 814 Queen’s Road, Bristol.

I am yours faithfully,

D. O. G. PETO,
Director.
Bristol Training School for
Women Patrols and Police.
81A, Queen’s Road, Bristol.

Bosham War Memorial, Sussex.

The Bosham War Memorial stands at the northern end of Quay Meadow, which is now in the ownership of the National Trust. If you look closely at the names you can see that some of the families from this small village lost more than one son,

(click on the picture to expand).

The roll of honour is situated in the Church of the Holy Trinity.

A detailed listing of all the soldiers recorded on the Memorial can

be found at

http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Sussex/Bosham.html

'To All Brave Men.'

I like to give all poetry a good chance here at Out of Battle. Anyway this poem from an L.A.J. was republished in the British Nursing Journal on February 19th, 1916. I can’t decided if I like it or not, but I do find it interesting!


TO ALL BRAVE MEN:

They wind along in endless fours,
From every shire from Thames to Dee;
I know that uniformed in brown,
They all go East to fight for me.

More than a year has passed, and still
The air I breathe is fresh and free;
I know above, like tireless hawks,
Soar those who hold that air for me.

Where far away white horses leap,
Where sky and wave in one agree;
I know that there those fearless ride
Who curb these snowy steeds for me.

A sheeted and a shotted load
Slides swiftly to the heaving sea,
I know the ocean holds in trust
Some sailor-man who watched for me.

Rough crosses rise in Flanders, France,
And climb each hill, and dot each lea;
I know they mark the nameless graves
Of those who countered death for me.

But this I know not, when will fade
From Honour’s Roll, and cease to be,
Those gallant gentlemen’s renown,
Who watch, and fight, and die for me!

L. A. J. in the Glasgow Herald.

4th Sussex Bty, RFA special correspondant.

This article in the Eastbourne Gazette from May 1915, gives a small insight to some of the frustration felt by territorial soldiers who were sent to India to replace Indian troops sent to the Western Front. The 4th Sussex RFA came from and was stationed at Eastbourne before the war, and was part of the 44th (Home Counties) Division.

“Sussex RFA in India

A correspondent writing with the 4th Sussex RFA (Territorials) in India writes: “This daily work goes on and we seem to have been here for years. Even the rumours of bringing us back to the front have died out and we seem to have settled in Jullundur for the present at any rate. I hope to make a brief journey to Agra and Dehli and see some of the fine buildings. It is hot (102 degrees in the shade) as I sit and write. I can see sleeping forms stretching about in the rooms beyond, so I think I must finish and have a little siesta.”

(JULLUNDUR, or Jalandhar, a city of British India, giving its name to a district and a division in the Punjab. The city is 260 m. by rail N.W. of Delhi. Pop. (1901), 67,735. It is the headquarters of a brigade in the 3rd division of the northern army.)