Pilkem - Relieved - 8th of July

Well chums its time for my final instalment of the Pilkem Saga.

The last time I wrote to you I left the story at 9:00pm on the 7th of July. My Regiment and fellow pals had been on the receiving end of a continual horrendous shelling and frontal assaults over the top by the Hun. We had survived everything he had thrown at us and repulsed all his attacks. It had taken a tremendous toll on my fellow soldiers and we had dead, dying and wounded all around us. There was a constant stream of stretcher bearers and medical officers dashing around. Up on top there was plenty of dead and dying Hun. Nobody was coming for them except a 5.9 inch shell from their own artillery!

But the darkness hours were coming now, would we survive the night?

Well chums the Hun kept up his horrendous shelling that night and never left off once to make an attack. So you could say we were safe, if you could call it that bearing in mind we were in the midst of the biggest bombardment ever seen by the British military!

There was still the shored up Trench that ran straight on into Fritz's where the Hun kept up his bombing and sometimes attacks over the top. We bombed him likewise and any head that appeared over the top of the barracade or Trench was well and truly blown off.

We had ran out of food and water by this time but owing to the shelling and Fritz's antics by the barricade we didn't notice. We hadn't time to think about filling our stomachs or making a brew, we were too busy fighting or sheltering.

The only food we wanted was Mills bombs. We had got the hang of these beauties by now. They were mighty effective and mighty is the key word. They blew huge holes in the Huns lines and were effective over a 30 yard area. Hundreds were brought up to us and as fast as we got them we let Fritz have them.

This is a picture of a Mills Bomb next to one of our hand made jam tin bombs.

Mills Bomb next to a Jam Tin Bomb

Things had got so hot in the centre of our lines that Lieutenant G C Martin, leading a Platoon of D Company, had decided to Sap forward from our lines to get away from the Hun shelling. They dug their way some 10 yards forward and hastily created a new Trench. They then sat quite untroubled in the new Trench as the Hun blasted to smithereens the old Trench were they had been. Fritz hadn't noticed their switch and honed in on the coordinates he had for what was his old front line.

During the night the horrendous shelling went on and several times the Hun rushed the barricade at the end of our Trench. Each time we repulsed him with plenty of Mills Bombs and some good old Rifle fire.

Morning eventually came and at about 9:00am we thought the Hun was amassing to do a frontal attack again. Our artillery gave him a bashing and changed his mind. Then at 10:00am they started moving to right and amassing on our right flank. The artillery gave him another bashing and he decided the better of attacking us.

The day wore on with shelling, fighting down the saps, bomb fights, sniping, shooting and machine gunning. There's was no let up. I can tell you folks I was completely worn out. I hadn't eaten any proper food since the evening of the 6th. I'd had some bully beef and some biscuits but that was it.

In the early afternoon the Hun let off a massive salvo of shelling upon us. This time he wass really going for it. The shelling was so bad that the battalion HQ had to be moved to the far side of the canal. We knew what was coming, another attack.

We were well stocked up with bombs and ammo so when the lull in the shelling came we were up and out on Trench sides. The Hun duly came on and we let him have it with all we had. There was withering machine gun fire laid down by our gunners and the artillery blasted their front line trenchs. We laid down a blanket of bombs and bullets. The poor bloody Hun fell in swaithes. He didn't get near our positions and after the first few had been despatched none followed up, the artillery was cutting them to pieces.

So another attack had been repulsed but after two days of almost continuous fighting we were absolutely knackered.

Then at about 9:00pm we heard we were going to be relieved. The 1st Hampshire's were going to take over. It couldn't have come at a better time, I couldn't have kept the fight up much longer.

At 9:30pm the changeover was done. As we clambered and scrambled out of what was now a complete shambles I couldn't help but feel sorry for those blokes coming in. There wasn't any real Trench systems along the front any more, just some shattered few hundred metres of earth. In fact in some places the trench system no longer existed and there was just some pockets of trenches. This made it impossible to communicate down the line!

There was also dead bodies and other bits all over the place. It was like a butchers shop in some sections.

When we got out of the trenches we found out that it was only my Company and D Company that had been releived from the front line. We had been in the hottest and most contested part of the trench system. We had endured the most savage and prolonged fighting and it had taken its toll on our numbers. The top brass had seen this and decided it was time to change us before our numbers had got too few or before what was left of us collapsed from fatigue.

We marched down to a farm near Elverdinghe where we were able to get some good hot scoff and some long awaited sleep. When we awoke the next day we washed and then took up guard duties on the surrounding roads.

Our chums in C Company were moved back to the support trenches and A Company was left in position on the right hand side of the front line. Both these were then relieved by the York's and Lancs on the evening of the 9th. Instead of joining us at the farm it had been decided to retire us all further behind the front. The brass had decided to transport us lot  in B and D Company by motor buses, a rare treat! A and C Company had to route march.

We all rendezvoused in a field near Poperinghe. We had bivouced the night there but A and C Companies arrived at 6:00 am. They were given some good hot scoff and time to rest and recoup. Then at 5:00pm we all packed up and marched off for Proven. We had a rare old surprise when we arrived there. The incumbent Regiment had turned out and presented arms as we marched in. This was in tribute of our fine defence of the trenches at Pilkem. I can tell you chum I was as proud as Punch as we marched in there, head held high and chest pumped out. To get a tribute from your fellow soldiers is a rare honour and we warmly welcomed it with all due pride and swagger.

So chums thus ended the Pilkem Saga. It had taken a huge toll on the battalion. So much so that we have now been out of the front line since then and I don't think we'll be going back any time soon. I'll bring you up to date the next time I write to you, giving details of the status of the battalion and what has happened to us since the 10th of July.

Bye for now,

Proud as Punch, Albert x

Pilkem - Bloody Carnage - Afternoon of the 7th July

Hi chums, sorry about not writing sooner but I've been out of sorts following the Pilkem battle. I'm getting myself sorted out now and putting myself back on the horse again as you could say.

Well the rest of the Pilkem story is as harrowing as the first part. I last wrote to you about the 7th and how we were in the Trenches getting bombarded by the Hun and repulsing an attack. Well chums it got worse!

After the attack of 3:20 pm, that we repulsed, the Hun continued shelling us. We kept our heads down in the dugout. Then some time later we started to hear shouting, the shouting of our pals further up the trench. It seemed pretty frantic and desperate shouting, a pleading for help. Not the sort from injured men but the sort that was shouting for assistance to do a job. Bloody hell its a shout to arms to help repulse the Hun again.

We shot out of the dugout to see what was happening. The shelling was still going on but we could make out the some of our pals were in a scrap with the Hun. They were in a sap further down the line. The Hun had broken in and they were fighting hand to hand. We rushed to help them.

As we arrived it was a scene of complete mayhem. There was our blokes grappling with the Hun. There were bodies all over, injured men and dead men. Bullets and bombs were whistling all over the place. Explosions, smoke and showers of steel and muck were flying all over.

I got my new Mills bombs out and started throwing them for all I was worth. I was aiming beyond the fray into the Hun area, any that were following up would get smashed by my bombs. Some of my fellow mates had brought bombs up with them but they hadn't familiarized themselves with the weapon. Some threw them without arming them and others armed them but waited too long before throwing so that they went off over head or too near for comfort.

We'd previously had Rifle grenades but these Mills Bombs were hand thrown grenades. They had a pin on them that you pulled out to arm them. There was a lever that you held down to stop the fuse from working. Once you let go of the lever the fuse was set off. Several seconds later the bomb went off.

 I'd familiarized myself with them and knew what was what, but a lot of my fellow soldiers hadn't and it had a devastating effect. Some poor chaps further back got blown up by one going off because the bomber had pulled the pin but hadn't hold the handle down, he kept it too long before deciding to throw it. Some bombs went off overhead and showered both the Hun and our men with hot steel. Some exploded nearby and sent everyone flying. It was a tragic farce. Had it not been for our men and the Hun being on top of each other it would have been disastrous just for us. As it was both got injured equally.

I shouted to my chums to hold the lever down, pull the plug and then throw. The chaps soon got the idea, they had to otherwise they were dead. Unfortunately many men that day died because of not knowing how to handle this new bomb.

Once we got the bomb sorted and lobbed quite a few over into the advancing Hun it had a devastating affect upon them. My fellow mates got stuck into those that were left in our part of the sap. Some men of C Company turned up to assist us. HQ had sent them when they saw what was happening. Our artillery also opened up on the Huns at the end of the sap. We retreated into our own trenches, the shelling by our artillery was becoming too dangerous.

We had to leave some of our blokes there. They were dead and we couldn't do anything for them. The poor buggers were now going to have their bodies smashed to bits by our own artillery. What a bloody war.

We retired to our dugout. The Hun was incessantly shelling us. He was mightily sore about us having taken his trenches and repulsing his attacks.

The day wore on, the Hun was trying to blast us out and grind us down but we weren't having it. Many more times that day he tried to rush our lines. He went mainly for the centre where D Company was. He attempted full frontal assaults. It seemed like madness to me.

The Hun gave us warning that an attack was coming by switching to shelling us with shrapnel and firing shells into our rear lines. As soon as the shrapnel stopped we were up and out shooting and bombing for all we were worth. Our machine gunners joined in and the artillery blasted the Hun front lines. It was withering fire and the Hun was repulsed each time.

We used so many bombs that we had to have many supplies brought up to us during the day. The chaps that did so we're brave soles. The Hun hadn't let up with his shelling so they were likely to be blown to kingdom come if they got hit by a shell or a well aimed bullet.

We had further attacks by the Hun. He came over the barricade at the end of our Trench. This is where it continued straight into their Trench. It was grisly hand to hand fighting each time and we used plenty of bombs to repulse him. He returned our favour and hurled many a bomb into our Trench. It was complete carnage at times with the bodies of the dead that littered the trench being blown apart. There were bits of men flying high in the air, chunks of flesh here and there and arms, legs and heads scattered across the terrain. I truly though I was in hell.

It was only 9:00pm on the 7th. I felt like it had been an eternity. Maybe I was in hell, maybe I was dead and this was purgatory. I wasnt that lucky, I was still alive and I had the night to look forward to!

Well chums I'll continue this saga over the next few days. If you are wondering where I am now, I'm in a place called Forceville. The battalion moved here on the 22nd. We haven't been in the front line since Pilkem. Were not that much of a fighting force at the moment. Pilkem has devastated our numbers.

So chums I bid you farewell again and speak to you soon,

Albert x

Pilkem - Slaughter in the Trenches - 7th July

Its been somewhat a hard time for me recollecting the story of Pilkem. To remember it is to go through it again. I've not been able to put pen to paper to write to you but I must do this. I need to tell this story for those who won't be coming back so they aren't forgotten.

Well chums we were stood to all night on the 6/7th of July awaiting the Hun to attack us. We were in their Trench and lots of their pals had been killed, we knew it wouldn't be long before they tried to take it back. I was in the closest part of the Trench to their front line. This map shows the Trench systems and closeness.

Pilkem Trenches held by 2LF 7th July 1915

As you can see my Battalion was holding the captured Hun Trench that is coloured in yellow. My platoon was at the northern end of this trench. You can see that the Trench system is one continuous line going north from our trench to the Huns. As sure as eggs are eggs he was going to attack down this line.

Sure enough during the small hours of the morning, just as it was getting light, the Hun attacked. He came down the three saps leading into our trenches. These are the one connected to our Trench in the North and the other two that cross the road from the east. If you zoom in on the map you can see these.

Well chums we were waiting for them with baited breath, just as the light was starting to break a volley of bombs came over the barricade that was constructed across the end of the trench.  I dived for cover around a bend and then grabbed some of the bombs we had. The Huns bombs went off with blinding flashes and a deafening noise. Tons of earth shot up and showered all around me and my chums. We then heard the Huns battle cries and he started to mount the parapet of the trench. We let go with a volley of fire and then threw our bombs over into his Trench to kill anyone following up the assault. There must have been a dozen or so Hun charging down the trench towards us, some were charging across the tops. Half our men were letting rip with their rifles whilst the other half were throwing bombs for all we were worth. I'm a bombardier so I let them have it with several bombs. Some into the front of our Trench and others over the barricade at the end into theirs.

It went in for what seemed to be an age. Our boys were getting into them with bayonets I was following up and hurling bombs for all I was worth. Machine gunners opened up on the Hun coming over the tops. There was bullets, blades and bombs all over the place. Grunts, screams and cries filled the air and were interjected with flashes and deafening bangs. It was raining showers of earth, bullet cases and shrapnel.

Finally the Hun stopped coming and it all went quiet. My heart was pounding so hard I thought it would burst out of my chest. I was breathing heavy as though I had just done a mile long dash. All my chums were crouched in the trench listening for the Hun coming again.

As we paused there in anticipation of the next assault I became aware of the groans of my fallen pals and injured Hun in and around our Trench. We retrieved our men but left the Hun. If another assault came we didn't want to get caught off guard whilst helping the enemy!

The minutes passed by but no further attack came. We made good the damage to the trench and removed the dead and injured Hun within it. Those out on top were left. We weren't going to risk getting killed to going out there.

We had used a tremendous amount of bombs so a runner was despatched to get more brought up.

We had quite a few dead and injured in the Hun attack. It was mainly all the new boys the ones that had joined us since the gassing in May. I didn't know them that much, I hadn't got to know them, but my heart went out to their loved ones. I didn't think much about the Hun. I'd seen him do many evil deeds and didn't much care for him.

By now it was early morning and the sun was well up. It was unusually quiet, we didn't think it would be like this.

Some bombs arrived following our earlier request but to our surprise it was a new sort called a Mills Bomb. We hadn't used this before and so I decided to familiarise myself with it.

I managed to get some scoff and a brew in the morning, we had half the men on stand to and the other half feeding themselves. We then swapped around.

At about 11:30am the Hun opened a barrage of shells on us. My god the whole place shook and rumbled. He was firing across the whole area. Me and my mates clambered into a hastily repaired dugout. The shells were landing all around us. With each whoosh and crump the ground shuddered and exploded. Showers of earth fell down into the trench. I was scared stiff that either we would get a direct hit or be buried alive.

During this barrage the HQ on the canal bank was hit. It had been unscathed for many a week before and had served well for other battalions but the Hun had managed to find it today. The top brass were all present in the HQ and were completely bowled over by the last. Colonel Griffin, Captain Spooner and Lieutenant Appleby all got injured. Lieutenant Charleston got severely injured and died two days later. The injuries to Lieutenant Appleby caused him to be blinded.

The injuries to this party would have been much greater had not been for Captain Spooner. The blast had set fire to a box of hand grenades. With great courage and despite his injuries he picked the box up and then hurled it into the canal. He therby saved them all from further harm or death.

The heavy shelling of our lines continued all day. My god it was terrifying but after an hour or so one got somewhat used to it. I thought if they haven't got me by now they aren't going to. I continued to huddle in the dugout with my mates whilst Fritz pulverized all around us. None of us moved from our little shelter, for all we knew everyone around us was dead. I thought no one could survive this bombardment.

Then at 3:00pm the shelling stopped. We sat in the dugout for a while listening. I couldn't hear a bloody thing. I thought I must have gone deaf from all the blasts. Then as me and pals were about to climb out shrapnel shells started bursting overhead. We dived back and huddled together once again in our shelter.

The shells were mainly bursting over the support and reserve Trench lines. We knew what was coming next, Fritz was going to charge us. He was blasting the rearguard to pieces so that he could deal with us alone. Knowing what was coming me and my mates steeled ourselves. We knew where I supply of bombs and bullets were so once the shrapnel shells stopped we were going to dash there and arm ourselves to the teeth. That's if the ammo was still there and not blown away or buried!

After about 20 minutes the shrapnel shells stopped, that was our signal to make a mad dash for the ammo. We jumped out of the dugout and ran for all we were worth. As we did so another thought crossed my mind, what if we were all that was left of our battalion, just half as dozen of us to take on the might of the Hun. Bloody hell I thought.

As we ran down the trench, well down the shambles that was the trench, I became aware of other scampering figures. Cripes, the Hun was already upon us. We all started to bring our rifles to bare but then when we focused we realised it was our fellow soldiers. Others had survived the battering.

As quick as a flash we reached the area where the bombs were but couldnt see anything, the area had been knocked about a bit. We scrambled in the loose piles of earth, scrabbling about and digging with our hands. We hit lucky, boxes, it was boxes of bombs. More boxes of ammunition were found and we crammed as much into our pockets and packs and ran back down the trench. We were now ready for the Hun.

Our artillery now opened up. There was whooshes as our shells went overhead and slammed into the Huns trenches blowing him apart. The shout went up that the Hun was attacking across no man's land. We let him have it with everything we had, bombs, mortars and bullets. It was mayhem again but this time we were causing it.

We couldn't see the Hun but we knew he was there. Our artillery was blasting away making sure he was pinned down. They could see the Hun lines better than us and we're firing all along the front whilst the Hun was attempting to assault us. Then after what could have only been 10 minutes our artillery stopped. The Hun had withdrawn and what was left of him returned to his own lines. I was surprised that he could be repulsed so easily but on reflection there was still plenty of my chums alive and we let him have it.

Then it started up again, the bombardment of our lines. It was back to the dugout with all haste.

So it continued for the rest of that day.

I'll continue this recount of this Pilkem saga in my next post. The battalion is in Proven at present but tomorrow we're on the move. Hopefully it's out of the front for a long rest. We need it, I need it.

I'll post again in a couple of days from the new billets.

Albert (nine lives) Kyte x

Pilkem - The Build Up - 6th June

Well Chums the Story of the 2 Lancs Fusiliers Pilkem Battle starts on the 6th of July with the attack of the Rifle Brigade and the Somersetshire Light Infantry on the Hun lines to the east of the Yser Canal just to the North of Ypres. This map of 1914 Shows the area.

Yser Canal 1914

The actual area of the attack was just to the North of the number 13 in the middle of the above map.  This area is shown in the aerial photo I posted yesterday. I also have this captured Hun hand drawn map of the trenches of this area.

Hun Yser Trench Map July 6th 1915

Our front line on the morning of the 6th was the line next to the canal at the bottom of the map where the word Kanal is printed on it. You can also see this on yesterday's aerial photo.

Well chums the action started very early in the morning of the 6th with the shelling of the Hun front and reserve lines. This continued until about 6:30am when the Rifle Brigade and Somersets attacked the Hun front line. They were helped by a field gun that had been taken up right into the line. This had been rafted over the Yser and then manhandled to a position that was just 60 Yards from the Hun.

The attack was a resounding success. The field gun played its part by blowing in a sap head that would have seriously held up the attack. In fact the gunners charged forward with the Infantry and ended up being some of the first into the Hun front line!

The Hun front line was totally captured and held. However it was overlooked by the Hun further up at Pilkem and was heavily shelled by them. The Hun also mounted 3 counter attacks during the day to try and recapture the Trench. They were held off but the RBs and Somersets had heavy casualties. This is where we came in.

Knowing that the first troops would suffer heavily we were drafted to the 11th Brigade to support them. It was decided that we should relieve them on the evening of the 6th. We would also be complemented by two Companies and machine guns of the 1st Royal Warwickshire Regiment.

Our Commanding Officer, Colonel Griffin, the adjutant and four commanding officers moved up first to take over the trenches. They surveyed them from a cottage in Boesinghe and then moved down to the Battalion HQ in a dugout by the canal. We then moved up.

The scene was one of complete mayhem. As we crossed the Yser we we passed men of the RB and Somersets coming out. They were all shook up, bloodied and injured. There were men dragging themselves along and others carried on stretchers. The number of injured was too many to count. I felt sorry for the poor chaps but they were out of it, it was our turn to take the Hun on now.

As I crossed a pontoon bridge there were fatigue parties carrying stores across and to my astonishment a field gun was being manhandled across. I didn't know it at the time but this was the one used in the initial attack.

There were many parties carrying full barbed wire tressles for the front line, men in gas masks for fear of a gas attack, others carrying munitions. All were concentrated in a 200 yard stretch of the canal. If the Hun landed some shells in the area many a man would be killed. He was however quite reserved only firing the occasional shell that didnt land anywhere near, we were lucky!

When I reached the front trenches it as a scene of complete carnage. There were dead bodies lying all around. The parapets had been blown away and good many of the men also. There were bits of men all over, bodies with arms, legs and heads missing. There was also the odd arm or leg here or there. It was an abominable scene. One couldn't help but look, but if you did it made you more nervous of what could be. I put up my defences, get busy I told myself, don't give yourself time to think, dont look, just crack on.

We moved into the captured Hun trenches, my company, B Company, occupied the far left. This is the most northern part if you look at the map. Our commander was Captain Blencowe.

A Company occupied The far right under Captain Appleby, D company under Captain Smyth was in the centre and C Company under Captain Salt was in reserve in what was originally the British front line Trench. This was 50 yards behind the new front line.

The Warwickshire with some Hampshire's were in reserve on either side of the Yser Canal bank.

The change over and move into the new front line went quite smoothly and with little harrasment from the Hun. I surveyed our new Trench. It had some hastily prepared firing steps and the parapet had been crudely fashioned. Everything had previously faced the other way. There were sandbags quickly thrown up to secure areas. Most of the dugouts were smashed in and the Trench was very narrow.

My Battalion now occupied the whole of the new front line, it was some 450 yards long and I was in the northern part, the part closest to the Hun!

These sketched maps made by the Rifle Brigade show the layout of the trenches before and after. It gives you an idea of the ground we were holding and how close the Hun was.

RB Sketch of Pilkem Trenches July 6th 1915

This next Sketch shows the trenches in more detail and shows my Battalions positions. As I said early I was in the northern part nearest the Hun lines!

Pilkem Trenches held by 2LF 7th July 1915

It was 3:00am when we finally got settled in and stood to in the trench awaiting a Hun counter attack. I was in absolute trepidation but as I said early, keep busy so as not to think on. I cleaned my Rifle, checked my grenades, familiarized myself with the layout of the new Trench. I wanted to know every nook and cranny so that if the Hun infiltrated I could protect myself as best I could and fight him off.

So chums that was the prelude to one of my longest nights and days.

I'll post the next installment in two days time. The whole shooting match. See you then,

Albert x

Days of Reckoning - Pilkem

Albert is still here chums, I'm in one piece and safe and sound at last. My God I thought I'd been through hell and seen the worst that man can do to fellow man but the attack on Pilkem Ridge was utter carnage. It was hand to hand fighting, bombs, bullets, bayonets and anything else that came to hand.

I last wrote to you on the 6th, the day we were moving up to provide support for an attack on the Hun line by the Rifle Brigade and the Somersetshire Light Infantry. Well chums I ended up, my Battalion ended up, right in the middle of it, taking on the Hun face to face in the same trenches. What a bloody caper it was.

I've not been of good sorts following the attack, the battalion ended up being decimated again. We went in with almost a full strength battalion and came out with 17 Officers and 380 other ranks dead, wounded or missing. We had only just got back up to strength after the gas attacks of May. We went in with 22 Officers and 780 other ranks. This jaunt to Pilkem has cut the battalion in half! That's a second time in the space of two months! Some good blokes and pals of mine have met their end.

Well chums I've licked my wounds and I'm ready to tell the story of Pilkem. I'm at rest  with whats left of the battalion at a place called Proven. How apt is that? We've certainly proven ourselves at Pilkem! Over the next few days I'll post the prelude, the battle and then the aftermath.

I feel incredibly lucky, I've now survived two major devastations of the battalion. God knows how I've managed it.

Well chums to start the ball rolling our top brass were told of the transfer of the battalion to the 11th Brigade for the attack on Pilkem well before the rest of us. Whilst we were at  rest in early June at Vlamertinghe our senior officers were informed. Our numbers were built up from that date to enable us to be an effective fighting force.

On the 4th and 5th of July all the officers and platoon sergeants were moved up to the 11th Brigade Headquarters. They travelled in G. S. Waggons and had a pretty bumpy ride on the cobbled Belgium roads. Guides were allocated to them and they were then taken up to see the trenches. At this time they were in a pretty good condition. There was said to be smell of gas in the air due to some gas shells having been fired into this are by the Hun on the previous day.

Having surveyed the lay of the land and the nature of the trenches the senior officers attended a top brass meeting where plans for the attack were discussed. They then returned with the platoon sergeants to meet us at Elverdinghe on the 6th. This is when we were informed of our destiny.

So chums I'll write tomorrow of our move into the front trenches and the lead up to the  bloody battle. I have an aerial photo of the trenches, this is it.

Pilkem Trenches 1915

The canal can be seen on the left and the British front line is bottom left to the right of the canal. It's the white line with 4 branches to the left leading to the canal and 2 to the right into no man's land. I'll try and get a map excerpt showing the same area and put in my next post.

I'll say goodbye until tomorrow,

Albert x

On The Move - Again

Well chums were on the move again. I haven't wrote recently because for the last 4 days we have been on moving around. We've now reached our final destination and know what were up to. It's a hot one again!

The last time I wrote we were in the 2nd line trenches at La Belle Alliance. This is one mile to the north of Ypres and is alongside a farm of that name. I have a map showing its location in relation to the Ypres canal.

La Belle Alliance

I'm not sure why its called that. The name is actually that of an inn just south of Brussels near to where the battle of Waterloo took place. It's where Wellington and the allied commanders met after the battle in which Napoleon was defeated. Someone in these parts must have known their history and decided to name this farm the same.

Well we rested here until the 28th until we relieved the Essex Regiment in the front line. We had two chaps wounded during this changeover. In the front lines we were shelled, sniped on and mortared. We had four men killed and nine wounded during this stint. We also went on patrol over the top making repairs and trying to catch any Hun that was also out there.

Our stint ended on the 1st of July but not before some heavy shelling. The reserve and support trenches took the brunt of it but we had some land in the front trenches. The parapets were blown away and we had three men injured. We had to make good the damage to the trench.

We were relieved by the Essex Regiment and then marched to a rest camp that is 2 miles N.E. of Poperinghe. We stayed there on the 2nd to the 4th in bivouacs. We had 50 men join us whilst there and we underwent a reorganisation. During the last two months we have more or less had the whole battalion lost to death and injury and then replaced with new men. The brass decided to reorganise to make us fighting fit. We then went on parade and had an inspection.

Then on the 5th we marched off again. This time we marched to Elverdinghe. It's only a couple of miles from Poperinghe but we were nevertheless moved there. We bivouaced in the woods. Like most places around here it has a Chateau, so chums I'm posting the postcards of it for you.

Elverdinghe Château

It has quite a beautiful lake at the front of the propert too.

Elverdinghe Château

It's quite an idyllic place. In all this devastation that is going on its a little piece of heaven. I can't help thinking this is going to be the calm before the storm.

Today I've learnt what our next move is going to be. We are going to be giving assistance to an attack on the Hun lines by the 11th Brigade. We've been told that today the Rifle Brigade and the Somersetshire Light Infantry have attacked the Hun trench line to the south of Pilkem along the canal bank. We are going to give all assistance necessary and are to move up tonight. It almost certainly means we will be going over the top, the full battalion.

So chums my bags are packed and I'm ready for the off. I'm not sure what this jaunt will bring me but this will be the second time I've now been ordered to advance on the Hun lines. The other time was in May when we tried to give assistance when the Hun launched a gas attack on the 24th. We didn't get ten yards under the withering fire!

So chums I wish you goodbye and I hope to write to you after this frightful event, that's if I'm still here! I've been in the middle of this mayhem so long now it's almost normal to be in a battle. I've got my fears and worries but its not like when I first arrived. So chums hopefully goodbye for now.

Albert x