Off to the Front

Well folks today is Sunday the 29^th of November 1914.

I have been transferred to the 2nd Battalion of the Lancashire Fusiliers and I’m on my way to the Front to do my bit for King and Country. Me and my pals are going to give Kaiser Bill and his cronies a bloody nose.

I’m currently in camp awaiting directions to my Battalion in the trenches. I can tell you I‘m as nervous as a church mouse waiting to be shown through to a room full of cats.

I have been in the 3^rd Lancashire Fusiliers since enlisting in 1913 and have been at the Sutton-on-Hull camp. I got my transfer on the 23^rd of November and embarked with a group of 50 men commanded by Captain Vivian J Forbes-Smith. He is oversaw our transfer to France.

We have travelled by train and then ferry to France, then train again and finally route march to the battalions billets in Nieppe. We are now awaiting collection to go into the front line at Le Touqet to face our first night in the Trench.

I’m going to write up all my experiences and everything that happens to me and the Battalion on a weekly basis so you folks back home know what happens and hear all about it. I will write the truth, I will say it as I see it and experience it, nothing will be hidden.

This is my first post so I thought I would tell you more about myself.

I originally come from Rotherham in West Yorkshire. My Ma still lives there but I have been travelling with my Pa and brothers getting work where we can. We are coal miners by trade. We have been living and working in Wigan in Lancashire and have spent some time recently in Merthyr Tydfil. My Pa is still there.

I have two brothers, Bill and George, a sister called Doris, and I have two half brothers, Alex and Alfred.

Our family originally comes from Pinxton near South Normanton in the Midlands. Great Grandma Mary and Grandpa George moved to Rotherham to get work back in the 1880s. I was born in Rotherham in 1894 at 9 Kenneth Street. We lived at several addresses in Rotherham, moving as the family grew and as we could afford the rent.  Bill was the first born in 1890, then George in 1892, yours truly in 1894, and finally Doris in 1899.

Ma and Pa aren't together any more, shan't say more about that, a sorry do. Pa now has a new wife and two children in Merthyr. He got married again in Wigan in 1907 when we were living and working there. He now has a boy called Alex, who was born in Wigan, and another boy called Alfred who was born in 1911 in Merthyr.

Ma is still living in Rotherham, she is currently lodging at 22 Neville Street. My sister Doris is living with our Grandparents at 1 Pashleys Yard, Howard Street in Rotherham. 

Well that’s all for now, got the shout to go. Keep your fingers crossed for me. I hope I do well and don't show myself or my family up, don't want any shame brought on us.

Wish me luck, speak to you soon.

Albert