JANUARY 1916 - IN THE LINE, WHIZ BANGS & SHELL SHOCK

Saturday 1st 

Saw the New Year in under different circumstances this time. Working in the trenches when the change took place. We wished one another the old wish. We gave the Huns a few New Year gifts. Heard that the Huns had captured that connecting trench we had been digging at the hairpin when they blew up that mine. Started digging another new trench up Chapel Alley. Nice & quiet for a wonder. 

Sunday 2nd 

Had a walk up to Noyelles after dinner shopping. Brought Wally Vine back with us. He was back from leave. He brought some Port wine back with him. Quiet a treat to taste it once again. Same old job tonight but it was not so quiet. Turned out a wet night. 

Monday 3rd 

At dinner time news came that we were being relieve & going back to Noyelles at 3 o’clock. So we had to rush about & get packed up. Ted and his pals had a narrow escape this morning. A coal box knocked down their house. They could not find one of them, Chambers, I am afraid he has gone. Ted was properly shaken up. Found Bridge at Noyelles & went & slept in his hut. 

Follow the link to view the Commonwealth War Graves Commission commemorative certificate for Private George Henry Chambers Private George Henry Chambers | War Casualty Details 729507 | CWGC 

Tuesday 4th 

Should have journeyed by motor busses this morning, but our sgt. messed up and so we missed them. For a while we were like the song. We marched here & we marched there. At last we set off on our destination on Shanks pony. Billeted the night at Houchin. We Cpls & the sgt got a fine billet. Had a rare old time in the evening. There is a large camp there. 

Wednesday 5th 

On the move again about 3.30 About a 5 mile march to Les Brebis where we were billeted for the night. Not a bad town. Arrived here about 6.30 Visited a few café’s after tea but we had not got much money. I have run across a chap I know at last. Same name as myself. I worked with him at Eydon Hall & had visited him occasionally. I was pleased to meet an old acquaintance. The sgt. has been wondering where his Cpls Co have got to. 

Thursday 6th 

Living in hopes of being paid, but we are doomed to disappointment. Another kit inspection. Had a look round the mine which is close to our billet. Was initiated into the mysteries of Solo Whist & Bridge today. Quite interested in it. In the evening tried crib. 

Friday 7th Played cards nearly all day today. Of course Bridge. What a fishy evening. We went out shopping, but had not got much money. So we knocked off 8 red herrings. It is a scream schemeing how to raise the wind to get a drink. But we are quite enjoying the experience. It provides us with much fun. 

Saturday 8th

Had our red herrings for breakfast. Not bad. Moved up to the trenches at 4 o’clock. What a sight lay before us on the march. Impossible to describe it. It must have been a pretty part around here before the war. Went through the ruined villages of Bully, Grenay & Maroc. In reserve trenches. Got a fine dugout. Went out raiding other dugouts. Found some furniture & a good mirror. We found it a bit draughty.

   

Sunday 9th 

Not much stirring. Bit of a strafeing going on. Had a game of crib. Had to go to Les Brebis after dinner to be questioned about munition work. Nothing doing though. All a wash out. The choir got going tonight. Hymns etc. In the midst of it in walked Bill Coe back from leave. He got a cheer. He brought back a bottle of whiskey. Livened the school up. Turned 10 before we quietened down. 

Monday 10th 

As soon as we get settled down in a comfortable place we have to shift. Off to the front line to night on top of a slag heap. Going up we fancied we were mountaineers. A draughty show. We could very well do without being perched up so high in the world. 

Tuesday 11th 

What strange places we get put on. Here we are perched up on top of a slag heap. We hold half and the “Huns” hold the rest. We have no dugouts. Simply a covered in trench. When we try & pack down at night first comes an R.E’s working party through, then bombers etc etc. And of course we get kicked & trampled on. Went without dinner today. Saving it until tomorrow & then we’ll have a blow out. A draughty show up here. On duty from 9 to 12 A.M. & 12 to 3 midnight. 

Wednesday 12th Could not obtain much rest during the night. Working parties backwards & forwards & kicking & treading on us. Discuss amongst ourselves the possibility of getting relieved. Got well strafed at mid-day. Extra specials bombs & shells. When it was all over we looked more like miners. Haynes & Peck got buried just as they had finished making dinner. They managed to get out unaided & rescued the dinner as well. We said good bye to the slack heap at 10 o’clock. We didn’t want it. Went back into supports. Then had to be a carrying party. Turned in at 4 A.M. 

Thursday 13th 

Cooked our own breakfast this morning & much we appreciated it. We stood to this morning in bed. Bridgy cooked the dinner. He smacked the meat about a bit & fried it. It wasn’t as bad. Just commencing tea and two of the Hun’s extra special rum jar came over. They sounded near hear but they were a decent way off. Our dugout is called the Shoo Inn & we have got the sign up. A very large shoe nailed up. 

Friday 14th 

Had a good breakfast. Beaucoup Bacon. I & Bridge made a fine stew. A trench mix up. But the boys quite enjoyed it. I was the stoker. Relieved tonight at 7.30 Had a good game of cards while waiting for the relief. Back in reserve now at the Garden City. It has been a fine place. We got a bit of a reception by shells when coming in. Shrapnel. Went out exploring & found several useful articles. Got a stock of wood in & made ourselves comfortable. Sat round the fire until 12 0’clock. 

Saturday 15th 

Our school had five parcels last night so we can have a right royal feast. Had a good wash shave & brush up. Hot water. First wash for 4 days. Had a good spread for dinner so didn’t want much tea. After tea played solo whist & crib. Went out & replenished our stock of wood. The rest of the boys are trying to get Bill Coe drunk on rum. Burning the midnight oil again. 

Sunday 16th 

I acted the Mary Ann this morning. Bacon & sausage & fried bread for breakfast. Jim had to leave at dinner time to go billeting. Packed up this afternoon & then cut a few idiotic capers. Left the Garden city at Maroc about 5 o’clock. When we got to Les Brebis we put our packs on a motor lorry. Then we had a tidy march to Fond Sain. It appears to be a quiet place. Bridge went out and raised the wind. 5 fr to the good now. Pommes der terres supper. 

Monday 17th 

How nice the people here are. As soon as I got up this morning the dame opposite wanted to know if we wanted any coal. At course we jumped at the offer. Played the 23rd at football this afternoon. We won by 4-1. Quite a laughable match. Conducted the band after tea. A short rehearsal. C-White has raised the wind tonight. Went into the maison opposite and finished up with having a French lesson. Trés bien. Invited to go tomorrow. Hot Vin Rouge & beaucoup sugar before retiring. 

Tuesday 18th 

Bridge & White & A Young had to go on a working party mending roads. But they were back by dinner time. We passed the time away kicking the ball about until we busted it. Paid this afternoon. A niggardly 10 fr. Had a luxury for tea. Jam tarts. Spent the evening in a café. Played Beach at solo patience. Then returned & had supper in the Old Lady’s opposite. A good wind up. Nearly broke. Paid 10 francs – In the Field Sauce, bread & cakes 3fr, Drinks 2fr 

Wednesday 19th 

Wally Vine is leaving us today. Sorry he is going in away. He is the sort of chap anyone would be proud to know. We all drank his health in hot Vin Rouge & sent him off with the best of wishes, & a verse of Auld Lang Syne. We shall miss him. Spent the evening in the house opposite. Playing cards & improving my knowledge of French. Our last night here. Vin Rouge 2fr 5c, Bread, cakes & onions, 3fr 5c 

Thursday 20th Another bath down the goal mine. A decent one too. A new change. Had some French Soup for tea at the old Ladys opposite. On the move up at 3.30. Had our packs carried to Les Brebis. We picked them up there. Marched right up the Loos Rd to the trenches. We are in support. Got a fair dugout. Wet night. 

Friday 21st 

Commence our standing to & standing down again. About 11 o’clock before we had breakfast. It has been fairly quiet here today. Had a stroll down to H Qtrs with Shrapnel Helmets. 

Saturday 22nd 

Able to enjoy a little charcoal fire today. It looks more easy. Everybody has got wind up about mines. Passed the afternoon away playing solo. 

Sunday 23rd Had to stand to this morning at 1 o’clock. We exploded a mine at 2 o’clock. I think we occupied the crater alright. It was a fairly quiet night considering. A quieter day than I expected it to be. Had a visit from Ted. No working party. 

Monday 24th 

I am the Cpls cook. So I get their tea ready while they are standing too. We go up to the front line to night for 4 days. The change was made alright.

Tuesday 25th 

Not many dug outs in our section of the line. A rotten front line. We are enfilated by Whiz Bangs. We got pretty well strafed today. I am not feeling up to the mark. 

Wednesday 26th 

Still being strafed pretty well. Had one or two Whiz Bangs on top of our dug out. But it stood it alright. Went and saw the Doctor to night, but he sent me back with some pills. Nuralgia I’ve got. My nerves seem very jumpy. 

Thursday 27th 

The Kaiser’s birthday. And haven’t they strafed us. Plenty of wind up flying about. I go to see the Doctor again to night. Evidently he thinks I am trying to kid him, but far from it. My nerves seem completely gone. He sent me round to the Bomb cellar to stop for the night. 

Friday 28th

Did not get much rest. Not a very enviable place to be in a bomb cellar. Plenty of shells dropping near here. So it was not much quieter than the trenches. The huns dropped weeping shells at Maroc. We could feel the effects of them when we went through. We were relieved to night. I got out a bit earlier than the company. Waited at Les Brebis for them. Our packs were carried. 

Saturday 29th 

Did not reach our billets until 1 o’clock. They put us in a fresh billet. We didn’t like that. So as soon as we could we got our old billet back again. That pleased the old lady. As soon as we had cleaned ourselves up we had to go out on a working party. Making a road. But we didn’t do much work. Bombing one another with our patent bomb gun. 

Sunday 30th 

Church Parade this morning. First Sunday out for quite a long time. Paid again this afternoon. Returned & played cards. Solo whist. Had a jolly good tea. My nuralgia is no better, so I stay in. The others go out and & return slightly elevated. Paid 20 francs – In the Field Pickles 1fr 9c 

Monday 31st 

Working party but I am not on it. Baths this morning. Went & listened to the sweet strains of a band after dinner. The 21st band. Stayed in after tea. On guard to night. “Thy sentinel am I” (in bed).