A sergeant we took down to Havre yesterday told me of his battalion’s very heavy losses. He said out of the 1400 of all ranks he came out with, there are now only 5 sergeants, 1 officer, and 72 men left. He said the young officers won’t take cover—”they get too excited and won’t listen [...]
Category Archives: VI. On No.— Ambulance Train (4).
Saturday, January 2nd
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
12 noon.—Just loading up for Havre with many of the same men we brought down from Béthune on Sunday; it seems as if we might just as well have taken them straight down to Havre. They look clean now, and have lost the trench look. Have been asked to say how extra-excellent the Xmas cake [...]
New Year’s Day, 1915
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Rouen.—A Happy New Year to us all! We are not off yet, and several other trains are doing nothing here. We came into Rouen this afternoon, and heard that we are to clear the hospitals here to-morrow, and take them down to Havre. Thank goodness we are to move at last. Went for a walk [...]
Thursday, December 31st
Monday, December 31, 2007
New Year’s Eve.—Still at Sotteville, and clemmed with cold. There was no paraffin on the train this morning, so we couldn’t even have the passage lamps lit. This afternoon I went with Major —— and the French Major and the little fat French Caporal (who is the same class as the French Major—or better) into [...]
Wednesday, December 30th.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Still at Sotteville. One of our coaches is off being repaired here, and goodness knows how long we shall be stuck. Had a walk this morning along the line. The train puffed past me on its way to Rouen for water. I tried to make the engine-driver stop by spreading myself out in front of [...]
Tuesday, December 29th.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
We’ve had a quite useful day off to-day. Still at Sotteville; had a walk this morning, also got through arrears of mending and letter-writing. They played another football match this afternoon, and did much better than last time, but still got beaten.
Monday, December 28th.
Friday, December 28, 2007
This trip to Rouen will give us a longer journey up, and therefore some more time. And we shall get another bath. The following story is a typical example of what the infantry often have to endure. It was told to me by the Sergeant. Three men of the S.W. Borderers and five of the [...]
Sunday, December 27th.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Had a grand night last night. Woke up at Béthune. Went out after breakfast and saw over No.— Cl. H., which has only been there 48 hours, in a huge Girls’ College, partly smashed by big shell holes, an awful mess, but the whole parts are being turned into a splendid hospital. Several houses shelled, [...]
Saturday, December 26th.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Saw my lambs off the train before breakfast. One man in the Warwicks had twelve years’ service, a wife and two children, but “when Kitchener wanted more men” he re-joined. This week he got an explosive bullet through his arm, smashing it up to rags above the elbow. He told me he got a man [...]
Xmas Day
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
11 a.m.—On way up again to Béthune, where we have not been before (about ten miles beyond where we were yesterday), a place I’ve always hoped to see. Sharp white frost, fog becoming denser as we get nearer Belgium. A howling mob of reinforcements stormed the train for smokes. We threw out every cigarette, pipe, [...]