Chapter II: Letters From the Front (3)

"We have been in here a fortnight to-night. You can
imagine how we long for clean clothes. Most of the
officers have not been out of their clothes all that
time, but I have been very lucky. I had two good cold
baths when I was down here before, and to-day I had a
lovely hot one in a full-length wooden bath. A tremendous
luxury! Also I had some clean socks to put on....

"On the day I was shelled out of my dug-out my servant,
Bailey, was hit on the leg by a piece of shell and has
gone down the line wounded, not very seriously, I think.
He is a great loss to me, but I have got another one now,
Gray, who shapes very well. He is young and willing, and
quite intelligent.

"You ask whether that time when the mine went off was the
first time I had used these guns. Yes, absolutely. The
plan adopted in trench warfare is to place your guns in
position with a good wide loophole in front of them, then
block this up and keep a sharp look-out. When the enemy
attacks, you blaze away at them, and then shift hurriedly
to another gun-position and watch the old one being
shelled to blazes.

"If you fire on other occasions you are rather apt to
have your guns knocked out, and we can't afford to lose
_any_. That is why I was rather horrified to find one gun
had fired 500 rounds the other night. However, it was
not discovered. I think the long grass in front hid the
flashes....

"Yes, the sandbags might be damp when used for a bed, and
I always lay my waterproof ground-sheet on top of them. I
either sleep on that or on some new clean bags laid above
that again. It is not only dampness, though, that one
fears!

"As a matter of fact, one is not very sensitive to
damp when living so much out of doors. It is common to
get one's feet slightly wet and go for about four days
without removing one's boots--most unpleasant, but not in
the least damaging to health."

"_Monday, 16 August 1915, Noon_

"We are now out and resting after doing a long spell.
I did nineteen days, and some did a few more days than
that. Three weeks is a long time to live continuously in
clothes, boots, and puttees....

"I came out of the trenches on Thursday night, and was
really a day too soon, because on Friday we were having
Orderly-Room right in the country, in front of the C.O.'s
tent; the Colonel was there surrounded by most of the
officers, when we heard a shell. Well, that's nothing
unusual, but this one got crescendo, and we all looked
up in alarm. Then it got very crescendo, and finally
cleared us and landed with a loud explosion about 50
yards beyond us, and not far from several groups of men.
It was an 8-inch 'crump.' One man only was killed, but
we knew that more were likely to come over, and so we
gradually spread out to the sides. Four came altogether
at two-minute intervals, but we only had two casualties.
Rather upsetting when we were supposed to be resting. I
don't know whether they could see our (officers') white
tents, or whether they saw the cricket match that took
place on the day before.

"Anyway we moved our tents slightly--every one put their
tents where they pleased, and then the Pioneer Sergeant
came and amused himself daubing green paint on them
in patches. Ours (three of C Coy.) was the best; the
splodges looked just like hazel nuts (?) when there are
three together in their little green cases, and they
were interspersed with a kind of pansy-shaped flower.
Altogether a very tasteful and pleasing effect....

"A couple of gun stocks have come. They arrived from
Walker's, the makers, and I should very much like to know
who had them sent. They are ripping, sniping attachments
with periscopes for use with the ordinary rifle. I shall
stick to one, and unless I hear otherwise I shall present
the other one to our sniping officer (honorary rank)."[5]

"_Wednesday, 25 August 1915, 3 p.m._

"I am in the trenches once more. We marched in (about
10 miles) last night. We had a meal at 3 p.m., and
marched off soon after six. Our rations (officers')
went astray, because they were on a hand-cart in charge
of our servants, who missed their way, so we have had
practically nothing to eat since late lunch yesterday,
and are pretty hungry. I have had a piece of chocolate,
and my water-bottle was nearly full of lemon squash....

"We are in support trenches at Hooge, just on the left
of our former position up here. Except for some shelling
(chiefly ours), things are fairly quiet.

"Since we were here last the position is greatly
improved; the Germans have been driven over the ridge in
front (during the recapture of trenches here), and the
whole place is much 'healthier' in consequence....

"I have been out here five calendar months to-day, and in
the Army just over eleven months. They will be pensioning
me off soon as an old soldier."

"_29 August 1915, 11.30 a.m._

"I am having a very quiet and lazy time at the moment,
and feel I deserve it. We went into support trenches for
three days, and worked two nights from 7.30 p.m. till 3
a.m. building and improving the fire trench. Then on the
third night we had a most exciting time. One company,
under Captain Taylor, was sent up right in front to dig a
new fire trench to connect with another on our left. We
had to go up a trench which ran right out into space, and
which had only just been built itself, and when there we
had to get over the parapet and creep forward to the new
line we were to dig. Of course we had to be dead quiet,
but there was a big moon, and of course they saw us. Most
of the way we were not more than 30 yards away from their
front position (and they had bombing parties out in front
of that). While we were digging we had one platoon with
bombs to cover us, and some of this party were as close
as 25 yards to their front position. It was awful work,
because they kept throwing bombs at us, and what was
almost worse was the close-range sniping.

"'Very' lights were going up from the German lines all
the time, and you could see the bullets kicking up the
dust all around. When we first got out there I picked out
my ground pretty carefully before lying down (because the
recent scrap there was much in evidence), but when the
snipers got busy I didn't worry about what I was on, I
just hugged the ground as close as I could. They would
put the 'Very' lights right into us, and one just missed
me by a yard. If they are not spent when they come down,
they blaze fiercely on the ground, and when they finish,
they look like a little coke fire. They would burn you
badly if they fell on you. I have seen a dead man that
one had fallen on afterwards. His clothes were fearfully
burned.

"The Germans were on the edge of a wood and our ground
was tipped towards them, so it was extremely difficult to
get cover. Shell holes were the best. Soon the men got
their trenches down, and things were a little better. The
men worked extremely well, and the Wilts were working on
our left, and we eventually joined up with them. After
about five hours' work, the trenches were fit to hold,
and we filed out and the new garrison filed in. Our
casualties were much lighter than I should have thought
possible. The Colonel came along the new trenches just
before we left, and he was most awfully pleased with C
Company, and so is the General. Captain Taylor is very
bucked about it.

"The scene of this affair was right against the Château
of Hooge, and close to the mine crater. We found a German
machine gun half buried, but in good condition, and any
number of souvenirs. The Captain has got a helmet--a
dirty thing; he had to have it cleaned out, because part
of the owner was still inside it! It is a rummy shape,
so flat-topped and square, with a brass spike and a gold
band down the back. I expect it was an officer's.

"Oh! I have seen my first German (not counting
prisoners). I was standing up and a 'Very' light went up,
so I kept perfectly still. I was looking towards the wood
where the Germans were (I was 40 or 50 yards away), and I
saw one quite distinctly walking into the wood.

"Our men that were killed (sniped) were buried just
behind, within a quarter of an hour of being hit. Rather
awful.

"The actual digging was rather trying in places, and in
one case they actually came on a horse!--which dates
it back to November, when we were pushed back to these
positions in the first battle of Ypres.

"The men in such places work with their respirators on
and are often actually sick. I have had whiffs of the
smell since in my food. Once smelt never forgotten. I
can tell the difference between a man and a horse, but I
don't know which I like least.

"Rather a morbid topic, I am afraid. Well, after leaving
the scene of our labours (and glad to get out), we called
for our packs and had to march about two and a half
miles. We were dead beat when we arrived here (nice safe
dug-outs--roomy and comfortable--with our valises ready
to sleep in when we arrived), but we found a good meal
awaiting us, and about half-past four we 'got down to
it' and slept till noon. Holden and I share a palatial
dug-out, and we had breakfast in bed, and I did not get
up till just before our evening meal at 7. I washed and
dressed in slacks--had a meal, and later on went to bed
again. This morning we had breakfast in bed again about
9.30, and then I got up, washed and shaved, dressed,
and am now sitting on my bed, leaning against the wall
writing my letters.

"The General let us off 'stand-to' because he knew we
were fagged out; and it is a great mercy. Turning out
fully dressed at about 2.30 a.m. and remaining up for
an hour does not improve one's night's rest. I suppose,
though, that we shall have to start it soon--perhaps
to-night.

"We are here till to-morrow night, I believe, and then
we go to some fairly nice trenches near the ones we were
in last. We are short of subalterns--rather--and they
have taken me off machine guns for the time being. I _am_
sick, but I get a bit in when I can. In the last trench
we built (I and my platoon), not the exposed one, there
was a machine-gun position, and I took great pleasure in
building it a really good emplacement....

"Are you doing anything about getting me back for
Munitions? I don't know what you think about it, and
whether you think I ought to carry on out here. I am sure
that after six months I shall be just about fed-up with
this business, but am not sure that after a couple of
months at home I shan't be wanting to come out again."

"_Wednesday, 1 September 1915, 4.45 p.m._

"I will just write you a short letter to let you know I
am still well and happy, and still leading the strange
life of the picnic-hermit.

"When I last wrote to you I believe I was in the very
same spot as now, namely, support trenches in the
neighbourhood of a now famous château. Last time we were
in for three days, and on the night we left we had a very
blood-curdling experience digging a trench which was to
bring us closer to our friends the enemy. But they were
inclined to resent our advances, and they welcomed us,
not with open arms, but with lighted bombs. However,
having completed our work to the great satisfaction of
those in authority over us (namely, the Colonel and the
General [Brigadier]), we made good our escape.

"Then for three blissful days we lived (with our valises)
in some magnificent dug-outs in one of the safest spots
in this accursed though much improved neighbourhood.
These days we spent competing who could sleep furthest
round the clock (if that is a permissible expression). I
think I won, and on my record day I got up and dressed
for dinner at about 7.30 p.m., made my bed afterwards,
and got back into it again. This halcyon period was only
interrupted once, when we all had to go out and dig a
trench one night long. However, the worst feature of
this expedition was the rain, which made 'going' very
difficult, and things in general rather uncomfortable
(especially for the men), so we hadn't much to grumble
about.

"Then we came back here and the first night we slept in
peace, getting up at about 3 a.m. ostensibly for the
purpose of 'stand-to,' but really to brew ourselves some
cocoa. Then sleep till 9, 10, or 11, I forget which.
I crawl to the door of my dug-out and shout for Gray,
who lives just opposite. 'Breakfast!' I say, and he
invariably asks, 'What will you have, sir?' just as if he
could command the larders of the Carlton or the Linga.

"Knowing my rations, and that an attempt at humour would
only put me off my _plat du jour_ or daily round, I
usually think for a few moments and then order eggs and
bacon, and face the common task. The only variation I
permit myself is that on one or two days in the week I
funk the bacon and have boiled eggs. Where do the eggs
come from? They are purchased out of the Mess fund by our
Mess cook who lives with the Transport when we are in the
trenches, and brings them up personally when the rations
arrive at night. Yes, he has a 'cushy' time of it, does
our Mess cook; and how can he avoid being happy, living
as he does in a perpetual transport?

"What of the days when no eggs are available? Why, then,
_horrible dictu_, I have fried cheese and bacon!

"It occurs to me here, although all this was not written
with intention, that this could be a good place to ask
whether sausages are yet in season. If they are, a few
cooked ones (or half cooked) sent out now and again would
make a splendid variant for our menu.

"The meat season is hard to follow out here. Bully beef
is such a hardy perennial. (This does not mean that we
live on it--I never eat it, there is always a good supply
of fresh beef.)

"Blackberries are coming on, I notice with pleasure,
and I can usually tell what shells are in season (the
season for sausages in this department is, let us hope,
mercifully short. I believe we are now in the middle of
the close-time for this sturdy little fellow, I trust he
is not utilising it to increase and multiply).

"I am sorry I have had rather a sharp attack of
parentheses lately, the touch of winter in the air cramps
my style. And I really did think this was going to be
quite a short letter. I cannot divine my moods, I find, I
did not feel like writing until I got going.

"Please thank father very much indeed for the
sniperscopes. I have given one to the Captain of D
Company, who is keen on everything. He is an engineer
(civil), and is a most useful man out here. I have not
tried mine yet, as I haven't been in a fire trench, and
it would hardly be fair to use it in a support trench,
the backs of our infantry in the trench in front being
too easy a target to give the thing a fair trial.

"Oh! I was telling you about my work in this trench but
got switched off on to food. Last time I was here I
(and my platoon) worked for two nights from 7.30 till
3 improving the parapets. Well, the second night of
_this_ period (last night) I had got all sorts of plans
ready and was going to have a thoroughly good night
building dug-outs, draining the trench, and building a
second machine-gun emplacement (not my job really at
the moment). However, word came along that the platoon
was wanted to dig another trench right in front again
and near the other one. They said, 'A covering party
with bombs will be provided, and send in your casualty
report in the morning!' So I asked if they were supplying
stretchers and all complete! But they were not. It is
a most cheering way of sending you off, is it not? It
is a wonder they did not make us take up our own grave
crosses, just in case.

"(By the way, it is most impressive to meet two men
walking along at night and one carrying a large white
cross. The burying and decking of the graves is done
very well here, and conscientiously. There is a special
organisation for making the crosses, lettering them and
putting them up. The position of the grave is reported to
them, with the particulars, and they do the rest.)

"The great difference in last night's job was that I only
had a platoon to deal with, while before the Captain had
a whole company. Also I was not quite so close to the
enemy (we were 30 yards off, and less, before), and the
moon was mostly obscured. I determined not to let them
know we were working, so I crept out and explored the
ground with the Corporal of the covering party (this was
the worst part of the job, because you did not know when
you might not come across a party of the enemy in the
many shell holes and old trenches with which the ground
was covered). I had my large revolver in my pocket, but I
did not want to use it, as it would have given our game
away.

"All went well, and I got the men placed out in absolute
silence, with the covering party pushed out in front to
listen and watch. The men worked very quietly, and when a
light went up they got down and kept still. Lights were
very few, because the enemy had got a working party out
too--at one side, and we could occasionally hear them
driving in stakes for wire.

"We had to use picks in some places where the ground
was stony, and these are the hardest to keep quiet. We
got through it all right, and only one shot, I think,
was fired all the time. It came fairly close, too. I am
sure they guessed we were out, because when one light
went up I hadn't time to get down, so I kept still and I
plainly saw a Hun standing upright on his own parapet.
He straightened up as the light grew bright, and I just
caught sight of the movement and saw him then distinctly.

"The ground out there has been fought over a good deal,
and there are plenty of souvenirs about. I have got one
myself--a Hun rifle. The original owner, who was buried
with it--probably by a shell--happened to lie exactly
where we dug our trench, and we were obliged to move him
elsewhere. I brought his rifle home and put it over the
door of my dug-out. That was early this morning. But the
enemy have been putting shrapnel over us (in reply to
a good 'strafing' by our guns), and one piece has gone
clean through the stock.

"Our artillery are going great guns nowadays. It
certainly feels as if the shell supply was all right--or
nearly so.

"I don't know whether we shall be wanted for any job
to-night, or whether we shall rest, or whether I can get
on with my projects. I must go round and see Captain T.
in the other trench. By the way, he came to see how I
was getting on last night about midnight, and was very
pleased with the work and with the fact that we were
having no casualties.

"That cake was fine, and much appreciated in the Mess.
The little knife you gave me when home on leave is
proving most useful.

"Please thank Lionel for chocolate received and Alec for
gourdoulis.

"I have sent another box of Surplus Kit home addressed
to Noël. Rather late to do it, I know, and I shall want
one or two of the things sent back later, but not for
a long time, and it is a relief to get rid of some of
my impedimenta. The socks returned want mending. That
reminds me, thank you and please thank Miss Leith very
much for the socks. They are quite all right for size.
Perhaps not so long and narrow in the foot might be
better, but it doesn't seem to affect the wear; they are
most comfortable.

"I am still attached to the Company and not to the
machine guns--much to my annoyance."

"_Monday, 6 September 1915, 9.30 p.m._

"Thank you so much for your inspiring and encouraging
letter. I hope I am being useful out here. I sometimes
doubt if I am very much use--not as much as I should like
to be. Possibly I help to keep C Company officers more
cheerful! I am very sorry they have taken me off machine
guns for the present, I hope it may not be long.

"Great happenings are expected here shortly and we are
going to have a share. We are resting at present and have
been out a few days now. We had only two periods of three
days each in the trenches last time in....

"Our last two days in the trenches were appallingly wet.
My conduct would have given me double pneumonia at home.
My rain-coat was soaked, so I had to sleep in shirt
sleeves under my tunic, and the knees of my breeches were
wet.

"The next day the rain was incessant, and presently I
found the floor of my dug-out was swimming--the water
having welled up through the ground below and the
sandbags.

"I didn't have to sleep on it luckily, because we were
relieved that night. But before we went I had to turn
out with fifty men and work till midnight in water up to
one foot deep. So at 8.30 p.m. I got my boots full of
cold water and sat out in them till 12, then marched some
eight miles. After nine hours' rest and some breakfast we
came here, another three or four. It was nice to get a
dry pair of boots and our valises and a tent.

"That night I rode into Poperinghe with Captain Taylor,
and we had a really good dinner there--great fun.

"We have a full set of parades here unfortunately,
otherwise things are all right....

"Alec has very kindly had a 'Molesworth' sent me. Most
useful.

"I would like a motor paper now and then, I think! _The
Motor_ for preference--or _The Autocar_. Aren't I young?

"Captain Taylor has sprained his ankle by falling from
his horse one night, and has gone to a rest home near.
So I am commanding C Company at the moment. Hope not for
long. Too responsible at the present time of crisis.

"_9 September, 3.30 p.m._

"Must just finish this off for post.

"We have just had an inspection by the Army Corps
Commander, Lieut.-General Plumer [Sir Herbert].

"I am still in command of C Company, and had to call them
to attention and go round with the General, followed by a
whole string of minor generals, colonels, etc. He asked
me a good many questions:--

"First.--How long had I had the Company? Then, how long
had I been out? I said since March. He then asked if I
had been sick or wounded even, and I said no!

"Then he said, 'Good lad for sticking it!' at least I
thought he was going to.

"We are kept very busy nowadays. I must try and write a
proper letter soon. I do apologise.

"A box of cigarettes has arrived from, I suppose, Alec.
Virginias, I mean, and heaps of them.

"We have just got another tent--we have been so short and
have been sleeping five in. Now we shall be two in each.
The new one is a lovely dove-grey--like a thundercloud.
After the war I shall buy one.

"I shall be quite insufferable, I know; I shall want
everything done for me on the word of command. Never
mind--roll on the end of the war!

"Cheer-ho, lovely weather, great spirits! Aeroplane
[English] came down in our field yesterday slightly on
fire. All right though.--Good-bye, much love,

"RAYMOND [MAURICE]."

"_Sunday, 12 September 1915, 2 p.m._

"You will understand that I still have the Company to
look after, and we are going into the front-line trenches
this evening at 5 p.m. for an ordinary tour of duty. We
are going up in motor buses!...

"Capt. T. thinks he will be away a month!"

TELEGRAM FROM THE WAR OFFICE

"_17 September 1915_

"Deeply regret to inform you that Second Lieut. R. Lodge,
Second South Lancs, was wounded 14 Sept. and has since
died. Lord Kitchener expresses his sympathy."

TELEGRAM FROM THE KING AND QUEEN

_21 September 1915_

"The King and Queen deeply regret the loss you and the
army have sustained by the death of your son in the
service of his country. Their Majesties truly sympathise
with you in your sorrow."

[Footnote 3: See Note by O. J. L. at the end of this
letter.]

[Footnote 4: This must have been part of my book "The War
and After."--O. J. L.]

[Footnote 5: Thos. Walker & Son, of Oxford Street,
Birmingham, had kindly given me two periscope rifle-stock
attachments with excellent mirrors, so as to allow
accurate sighting.--O. J. L.]

[Footnote 6: Lieutenant Case himself, alas! was killed
on the 25th of September 1915. It was a fatal time.
Lieutenant Fletcher also has been killed now, on 3rd July
1916.]