It has been several months since my last post because I've been finishing a new book. This one focuses on the early battles of WWI as well as the journal entries that describe the action.
Readers have offered me feedback and requested that I focus more on the journal entries than the story of the keeping the promise and my experiences on my trip to London. Therefore I've posted a new ebook on Kindle titled 'From Notes and Well Remembered Incidences', which reflects my grandfather's opening statement in his journal.
For the low price of $2.99 US Dollars you can download a piece of history. Or, you can wait until 4/11 and for three days you can download the book for free. My only request is that those who do download the book please post a review so I know if I found the target this time.
I'm trying to earn enough money to return to the UK this June to meet with the Western Front Association and tour the battlefields and follow my grandfather's footsteps. Royalties from this new book will go towards this goal. No doubt this experience will be emotional and could become the basis of a new story. So I would appreciate everyone's support in my quest to relive my grandfather's experience by purchasing my new book.
Sunday, April 6, 2014
Friday, January 3, 2014
Journal Entries January 1915
I was hard out, and handed over the instruments to Collins. [I] went in a stable and slept throughout the day - a little shelling took place, but I slept through it all.
Jan. 2nd to 23rd
During this period it was the usual give and take. We fired every day at any targets that presented themselves, and were occasionally shelled, very often at night.
The REDOUBT was retaken and lost many times, each attack meaning a fierce couple of hours work, till at length it was [undecipherable] ‘ no man’s land’ for neither side could hold it.
Rifle bullets at night made it rather uncomfortable.
The weather was very cold and wet, a few heavy snowstorms. I sometimes had a fever in a bucket[1].
Night attacks were very frequent – we were lucky in having only a very few casualties, [or] wounded, although quite a few went away sick.
One day during this period, I went to Bethune and had a much needed bath and change of underclothing. It was a relief for I, as most, was overstocked with ‘ livestock’ .
Jan 24th
During the day the enemy bombarded the lock of the canal and railway line (by our observing station) with their 8’ Howitzers. Sending over 129 shell[s], which did no material damage, one shell fell plumb on the railway line and flung a piece of the rail (about 4 foot) right over our guns fully a thousand yards, and fell a few yards from where I stood, I thought it was a shell coming over.
We afterwards read in the papers of this incident and smiled to read the lot they made of it, whereas when it happened, we took little notice. We were rather more interested watching the effect of their fire on the lock, which they failed to hit.
Jan 25th
The night passed rather quiet, rather less than the usual amount of shooting taking place.
About 7:15 am I received a message from 25th Brigade R.F.A. that information had been given them by a German deserter that a big attack on our front [at] GIVENCHY and CUINCHY was to take place at 7:30, preceded by a heavy bombardment.
I sent the message to the observing station, and hurriedly rousted the gun detachments and the officers. [When] it started, it was horrific, and we replied with rapid gun fire.
The enemy captured our first line trenches and our infantry fell back to our observing station.
Two out of my three lines got cut by shell[s], and while I attended to the instruments, Collins ran a line to the left Section.
[He] was knocked in the knee, the same shell wounding two men and fatally wounding Mr. Watkins, a young officer that had only joined us 8 days previous. I sent two of my chaps along the observing line, and [then] the line to the 25th Btty got broken. [ii]
I hastily got Collins, who was limping, to attend to the phones and I went along the line to the 25th.
It was warm for we were heavily shelled, [but] I found a couple of yards of the line had been cut out by shrapnel, where the wire ran along the top of a wall. I climbed on the wall and dropped very quickly, for a shell seemed to whiz inches by my head, bursting a little way behind. I got a piece of wire that had been holding up a vine of some description, and managed to fire up the line. [I] was very glad when I reached the 25th to find that communication was through.
I stopped a little while to recover my breath. On my return to the Battery I had a very close shave from a splinter from a shell, which burst directly in front of me. I fell on the ground, I think just in time.
Reached the battery without mishap – just as I reached them, another big shell burst right in the farm, about 20 yards from where my little shed was, luckily doing no damage except to the building.
Just opposite, a shell came right into the shelter where the telephones for the left Section was, severely wounding one man.
It was in all a horrific morning, our infantry had been forced to retire right back, and we thought it was all up.
We were the foremost Battery, and knew if our infantry lost the small ridge in front of us, it was the finish of us and our guns. Luckily the third line stood, and we kept up firing at ground range, [and] were credited with doing great execution among the masses of advancing Germans.
The Guards Brigade, consisting of the London Scottish, Seaforths, Camerons and Guards were brought up as reinforcements, and stopped the German advance, [by] entrenching themselves behind our original line. In spite of all attacks the Germans held on to the ground they had gained by overwhelming odds.
Jan 26th
At 7am our troops made a counter- attack on the lost ground. After a fierce bombardment, of about 3 hours, the Guards regained a little, but failed to get our six fire trenches, which was the objective. We fired feverously and were shelled in return. One 6’ going right into the cellar of the farm by the left Section, quite a few near the guns, but only two men were wounded.
The fight went on more or less all day, but we failed to get any further forward, but repulsed an attack from the Germans in the afternoon.
The 1st Siege Battery, on our left rear, got it hot, shell going right into the farm where they were in action. It was very soon ablaze – but in spite of the heavy shelling, I watched the gunners pluckily go to and from the farm, moving the wounded. After a while [they] managed to put out the fire in spite of the persistent shelling. It was grand to watch them, [although] at times they were obscured from view by smoke from the shells and fire. But they stuck it grandly and after putting the fire out, they started shooting again, as if it were to get their own back.
During this time some shells fell very near us, but did no damage.
Jan 27 and 28th
[In] two days of attacks and counter attacks, very fierce and severe scrapping, we regained all the lost ground, and numbers of prisoners were taken.
No further casualties at the guns, which was lucky considering the shell fire they put over at intervals.
The Germans did a great deal of entrenching during the night’s and we had some good targets to shoot at during the day.
Our guns were dandy, for considering the enormous amount of shooting they had done throughout this campaign, they were still perfectly accurate and our lyddlite accounted for many things.
Jan 29th to Feb. 5th
A rather quiet period, the enemy seemed to have [undecipherable] off a little, for at times they never replied to our fire, and the attacks of the previous week seemed to have quieted them considerably.
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
New Years 1914
World War 1 - An Unkept Promise the centennial is upon us
Dec. 31st
The morning was rather quiet.
At 2:30 pm we were subjected to a fierce bombardment and a heavy attack. The enemy capturing the KEEP,[1] by the railway embankment, from the Kings Royal Rifles, who [then] recaptured it again late in the afternoon.
About 10pm the Germans again attacked and gained the KEEP and REDOUBT.[2] We were firing heavily all night, it was very cold. After two attacks we succeeded in again retaking the lost ground about 3 am, but could not hold it, the KRR’s being ‘ bombed’ out soon after gaining possession.
Throughout the night until about 8 am we kept up hot fire – the New Year had came in, in real war like style.
Jan. 1st
I was hard out, and handed over the instruments to Collins. [I] went in a stable and slept throughout the day - a little shelling took place, but I slept through it all.
Jan. 2nd to 23rd
During this period it was the usual give and take. We fired every day at any targets that presented themselves, and were occasionally shelled, very often at night.
The REDOUBT was retaken and lost many times, each attack meaning a fierce couple of hours work, till at length it was [undecipherable] ‘no man’s land’ for neither side could hold it.
Rifle bullets at night made it rather uncomfortable.
The weather was very cold and wet, a few heavy snowstorms. I sometimes had a fever in a bucket[3].
Night attacks were very frequent – we were lucky in having only a very few casualties, [or] wounded, although quite a few went away sick.
One day during this period, I went to Bethune and had a much needed bath and change of underclothing. It was a relief for I, as most, was overstocked with ‘livestock’.
[2] Redoubt: A temporary fortification built to defend a position.
[3] Fever in a bucket refers to throwing up.
Friday, December 20, 2013
The Old Contemptibles
World War 1 - An Unkept Promise By it for Christmas or Purchase "The Great Promise" on Amazon
I just finished a book written by Robin Neillands titled "The Old Comtemptibles - British Expeditionary Force, 1914"
The book is well written and although covers common knowledge on the early battles up to First Ypres, the author explodes with detailed information of the many battles leading up to the actual First Battle of Ypres.
I found his commentary compelling, leaving me with a deeper knowledge and understanding of how the accumulation of battles contributed to the attrition of the British professional soldier. The book offers story after story of the tenacity and heroism of this magnificent group of men.
After three years of researching the early battles of the war, I still found interesting facts I had not found in other sources. Of course Neillands focus was on the infantry since most of them paid the ultimate sacrifice, but for myself, I wish he would have provided a little more information on the RFA and RHA.
By the end of the book I was greatly moved by his portrayal of Britten's professional army. I was also impressed by his inclusion of both the Belgian and French armies contribution and sacrifices during the series of battles that make up First Ypres.
Sunday, December 15, 2013
After First Ypres
World War 1 - An Unkept Promise By it for Christmas or Purchase "The Great Promise" on Amazon
THE YPRES CAMPAIGN
In medieval times
Ypres was once a center for the cloth trade, which is evident in the impressive
Cloth Hall. By 1914, the town was better known for the manufacture of ribbons
and lace. Both Cloth Hall and Saint Martin’s
Cathedral are excellent examples of Gothic architecture.
The population of Ypres
in 1914 was about 17,000, which made it the nearest large city to the North
Sea. It was of military importance because it was the road, rail, and canal
center of the area and it was only 30 miles from the Port of Dunkirk. Many of
the roads headed westward, towards the Channel ports of Boulogne-sur-Mer and
Calais, making Ypres the enemy’s last major obstacle. To accomplish their goal
of reaching the channel ports, they had to break through the Allies’ defenses,
which surrounded Ypres.
Perhaps the Battle
of First Ypres should be renamed “The Battle for Ypres” since it was a
combination of four battles, which ultimately converged on Ypres. The battles lasted
from October 10th to November 22, 1914. The Battle of La Bassee took
place between (October 12 – November 2nd); Armentieres (October 13th
– November 2nd); Messines (October 12th – November 2nd);
and Ypres (October 19th – November 22nd). The battles were
intermingled with one-another, making the timeline of individual battles
complex and difficult to sort out.
In order to
comprehend the importance of each battle, it is critical to understand the
landscape around Ypres. The area has been described as a shallow saucer with
the town of Ypres at the center. The rim of the saucer represents a ridge,
which begins seven miles south of Ypres, in the town of Messines, then
continues two miles north to Wytschaete, before curving north-east to
Hollebeke, Zillebeke, Sanctuary Wood, Hill 60, Gheluvelt, Winhoek, Nonne Bosschen,
Polygon Wood, Broodseinde, Passchendaele, Langemarck, and Bixschoote.
It could be surmised that the First Battle of
Ypres was a series of battles fought to control the ridge, which became known
as the Ypres Salient.
The army in
control of the ridge had the advantage of overlooking all of Flanders plain,
permitting their artillery a choice of targets.
Sir John French
had removed two sections of Second Corps from the Battle of The Aisne, and
concentrated them at the town of Bethune, which is located 25-30 miles south of
Ypres. Winston Churchill, Lord of the Admiralty, pulled First Corps from Aisne
and transported them by rail to Hazebrouck. From there they would march through
towns north of Ypres.
Prior to the arrival of the German Army, the
Allies created trench defensive positions around Ypres in the shape of a small
salient.
The BEF held a thirty-five-mile-long line in the center of the bulge, while the
French Army protected the British flank south of the city, while the Belgian
Army guarded the northern flank.
On October 20 the German Army Chief of Staff,
Falkenhayn, ordered his army to break through the Allied lines to capture the
ports of Dunkirk, Calais, and Boulogne. Initially they struck the Belgian
defenses on the Yser River near Nieuport. The Belgian forces were unable to
hold their position, therefore to prevent the enemy from continuing their path
along the coast, they opened the sluice gates and flooded the surrounding land with sea water. With the water table around the Yser River only a couple of feet below ground, opening the sluice gates turned the land into a sea of mud, thus
forcing the Germans to reconsider their plans. An added benefit of this action was
that it protected the BEF's northern flank for the duration of the war.
Now that the German
Army was unable to break through the coastal area, they decided to launch a
series of attacks against cities around Ypres. As was the case in previous
battles, the German forces outnumbered the British; until some of the Empire’s
Indian divisions arrived to replace the reserves.
Nov. 22nd
– Dec. 12th
This, our period
of rest, was greatly appreciated for a time, but soon became monotonous.
Our Officers had short leaves, and I was
fortunate, through the good graces of Major Madocks, to obtain 48 hours to
BOULOGNE. He kindly gave my dear wife instructions on his arrival in England,
how to get to BOULOGNE, time etc.
I left camp on the
evening of the 1st Dec and rode into HAZEBROUCK. [I] arrived by
train at BOULOGNE 7 o’clock next morning, [and] I expected to meet my wife at 5
o’clock. [I] was delighted to see her at 11 o’clock – our stay together was
short, the shortest 28 hours of my life, and to leave her next day was the
hardest thing for me through the campaign.
I arrived back in camp next day – and we were
all getting impatient to get to business again. [We] were pleased to hear on
the 11th that we were [leaving] for the firing line next day.
Dec. 13th
Marched to PONT DE
NEIPPE and billeted in a farm just outside the village. [We] could hear the old
familiar sounds in the distance, the rockets from the trenches.
Dec 14th
Marched through
PLOEGSTRESTTE, [sic] and took up position beside the 35th Btty,
behind a ruined chateau, on the grounds of which had once been a beautiful
garden.
We ran our line
beyond the chateau to some ruined houses, from where we had a good view of the
German trenches and MESSINES beyond.
On my way back, I
went into a partly wrecked house and was surprised to find a young woman and
her brother, and her five little children. The baby I took from its bed, for it
reminded me of my own, she gave me some hot milk. As well as I could I tried to
induce her to go away to a safe place, but she would not. She told me her
husband a soldier, had been killed. I was rather upset I think over the poor
little kiddies – I gave them my peppermints and odd money and came away. I
never had time to go that way again, but I thought of the kiddies very often.
Dec. 18th to 20th
Remained in position for a bombardment
of MESSINES. Did little firing until 20th, when the bombardment took
place – it was horrific, but we had nothing much at the guns in return. The
wagon line was shelled out in the morning, but fortunately only one man was
wounded. We left position at 5 o’clock and marched back to our rest billet.
Dec. 21st
to 23rd
Remained in rest
billet until morning of 23rd, then marched to BETHUNE and billeted
in a school house.
George and I
having no blankets, resolved to find a bed somewhere, and while asking a
Frenchman in our best French, his daughter came along and invited us to their
house, which was only a little way down the street. They were very poor, but
treated us handsomely.
The
mother, an elderly woman, doted on us, [and] gave us as much as we could
possibly eat and drink. [She] made us up a bed on the floor, she called us at
3:15 am and had coffee ready for us. On leaving [she] was indignant when we
went to make payment.
We marched at 4:30 am towards LA BASSEE
to take up position. It was Christmas Eve – a very grim Christmas Eve, and my
thoughts were far away.
Dec. 24th
We took up position at CAMBRIN, CUINCHY and GIVENCHY were just on our left; all were in a state of ruin, for heavy scrapping had been recently taking place.
George and I took over the wires of the 47th Btty, and were very busy firing up our communications. We had a grand observing station – a ruined brewery – It was beautifully furnished – but everything was ruined, lovely carved furniture and ornaments – in pieces – a piano, and large gramophone, everything had been left as it stood. I secured plates, cups and an assortment of cooking utensils and took [them] back to the guns.
Late that night I had orders, to get into communication with 2nd Infantry Brigade. It was uncomfortable laying the line on account of rifle bullets, but did the job without mishap and got back to my dugout.
The thoughts of the previous Christmas Eve were with me, and I felt anything but happy.
Dec. 25th
I forgot it was Christmas Day for I was busy firing up communications all day. All was very quiet – it was a mutual truce.
I had a piece of bacon for dinner – one of the chaps secured a chicken and some vegetables, and at night we had a feast. George came down from the observing station, and with couple more, we went to a large house nearby and collared a piano, and brought it to the guns.
We had a concert, it was not a great success – but we made the best of it. There were many poor devils much more worse off than us.
Dec 26th
Rather quiet, occasional shelling.
[I] had a sorely needed wash, the first for four days.
[We] did little firing. [The] dugout [was] swamped, [so we] moved into a small shed at rear of farm. [It was] very cold and drizzling rain.
Dec 27th – 28th
Nothing unusual, [we] fire at intervals, at working parties of Germans, and [into] trenches. They search for us but all over, and save for a shell now and again, nothing near us.
Kept up very slow fire at long intervals throughout nights.Am on duty day and night with phone, but am so used to it, that it takes little or no effect, although I never have a complete night’s rest when in action.
Dec. 24th
We took up position at CAMBRIN, CUINCHY and GIVENCHY were just on our left; all were in a state of ruin, for heavy scrapping had been recently taking place.
George and I took over the wires of the 47th Btty, and were very busy firing up our communications. We had a grand observing station – a ruined brewery – It was beautifully furnished – but everything was ruined, lovely carved furniture and ornaments – in pieces – a piano, and large gramophone, everything had been left as it stood. I secured plates, cups and an assortment of cooking utensils and took [them] back to the guns.
Late that night I had orders, to get into communication with 2nd Infantry Brigade. It was uncomfortable laying the line on account of rifle bullets, but did the job without mishap and got back to my dugout.
The thoughts of the previous Christmas Eve were with me, and I felt anything but happy.
Dec. 25th
I forgot it was Christmas Day for I was busy firing up communications all day. All was very quiet – it was a mutual truce.
I had a piece of bacon for dinner – one of the chaps secured a chicken and some vegetables, and at night we had a feast. George came down from the observing station, and with couple more, we went to a large house nearby and collared a piano, and brought it to the guns.
We had a concert, it was not a great success – but we made the best of it. There were many poor devils much more worse off than us.
Dec 26th
Rather quiet, occasional shelling.
[I] had a sorely needed wash, the first for four days.
[We] did little firing. [The] dugout [was] swamped, [so we] moved into a small shed at rear of farm. [It was] very cold and drizzling rain.
Dec 27th – 28th
Nothing unusual, [we] fire at intervals, at working parties of Germans, and [into] trenches. They search for us but all over, and save for a shell now and again, nothing near us.
Kept up very slow fire at long intervals throughout nights.Am on duty day and night with phone, but am so used to it, that it takes little or no effect, although I never have a complete night’s rest when in action.
Dec. 29th and 30th
Did much firing – and were credited
with smacking up a German Field Battery near LA BASSEE.
Dec. 31st
The morning was
rather quiet.
At 2:30 pm we were
subjected to a fierce bombardment and a heavy attack. The enemy capturing the
KEEP, by the railway embankment, from the Kings Royal Rifles, who [then] recaptured
it again late in the afternoon.
About 10pm the
Germans again attacked and gained the KEEP and REDOUBT. We were firing heavily all night, it was very cold. After two attacks we
succeeded in again retaking the lost ground about 3 am, but could not hold it,
the KRR’s being ‘ bombed’ out soon after
gaining possession.
Throughout the
night until about 8 am we kept up hot fire – the New Year had came in, in real
war like style.
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
New Blog - WWI Looking for Relatives
I started a new Blog for those who are trying to find information about a relative who served during the Great War. After five years of research trying to find information on British soldiers who served on the 40th Battery of the Royal Field Artillery, I know how frustrating it can be.
So I decided to create a Blog to try and help those looking for information by trying to connect those looking for information with those who have information. I'll also have links to sites that have served me well in my research.
WWI - Search For Relatives
So I decided to create a Blog to try and help those looking for information by trying to connect those looking for information with those who have information. I'll also have links to sites that have served me well in my research.
WWI - Search For Relatives
Christmas 99 years ago
World War 1 - An Unkept Promise By it for Christmas or Purchase "The Great Promise" on Amazon
Dec. 13th
Marched to PONT DE
NEIPPE and billeted in a farm just outside the village. [We] could hear the old
familiar sounds in the distance, the rockets from the trenches.
Dec 14th
Marched through
PLOEGSTRESTTE, [sic] and took up position beside the 35th Btty,
behind a ruined chateau, on the grounds of which had once been a beautiful
garden.
We ran our line
beyond the chateau to some ruined houses, from where we had a good view of the
German trenches and MESSINES beyond.
On my way back, I
went into a partly wrecked house and was surprised to find a young woman and
her brother, and her five little children. The baby I took from its bed, for it
reminded me of my own, she gave me some hot milk. As well as I could I tried to
induce her to go away to a safe place, but she would not. She told me her
husband a soldier, had been killed. I was rather upset I think over the poor
little kiddies – I gave them my peppermints and odd money and came away. I
never had time to go that way again, but I thought of the kiddies very often.
Dec. 18th to 20th
Remained in position for a bombardment
of MESSINES. Did little firing until 20th, when the bombardment took
place – it was horrific, but we had nothing much at the guns in return. The
wagon line was shelled out in the morning, but fortunately only one man was
wounded. We left position at 5 o’clock and marched back to our rest billet.
Dec. 21st
to 23rd
Remained in rest
billet until morning of 23rd, then marched to BETHUNE and billeted
in a school house.
George and I
having no blankets, resolved to find a bed somewhere, and while asking a
Frenchman in our best French, his daughter came along and invited us to their
house, which was only a little way down the street. They were very poor, but
treated us handsomely.
The
mother, an elderly woman, doted on us, [and] gave us as much as we could
possibly eat and drink. [She] made us up a bed on the floor, she called us at
3:15 am and had coffee ready for us. On leaving [she] was indignant when we
went to make payment.
We marched at 4:30 am towards LA BASSEE
to take up position. It was Christmas Eve – a very grim Christmas Eve, and my
thoughts were far away.
Dec. 24th
We took up
position at CAMBRIN, CUINCHY and GIVENCHY were just on our left; all were in a
state of ruin, for heavy scrapping had been recently taking place.
George and I took over the wires of the 47th
Btty, and were very busy firing up our communications. We had a grand observing
station – a ruined brewery – It was beautifully furnished – but everything was
ruined, lovely carved furniture and ornaments –
in pieces – a piano, and large gramophone, everything had been left as
it stood. I secured plates, cups and an assortment of cooking utensils and took
[them] back to the guns.
Late that night I
had orders, to get into communication with 2nd Infantry Brigade. It
was uncomfortable laying the line on account of rifle bullets, but did the job
without mishap and got back to my dugout.
The thoughts of
the previous Christmas Eve were with me, and I felt anything but happy.
Dec. 25th
I forgot it was
Christmas Day for I was busy firing up communications all day. All was very
quiet – it was a mutual truce.
I had a piece of bacon for dinner – one of the
chaps secured a chicken and some vegetables, and at night we had a feast.
George came down from the observing station, and with couple more, we went to a
large house nearby and collared a piano, and brought it to the guns.
We had a concert,
it was not a great success – but we made the best of it. There were many poor
devils much more worse off than us.
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