On and On

Well chums Albert is here once more.

When I last wrote I was just going back into the trenches. We were there for another four days. It was a usual stint. We had four men wounded. These were from a variety of things. The Hun is still shelling us and the snipers and machine gunners let rip if they get a sight of you.

were coming under bombing attacks and mounting bombing raids of our own. I said I would inform you of the bombing parties we have. Well chums first we have to construct the bombs. These are made from either jam pot or bully beef tin. We pack it full of shredded gun cotton and ten penny nails, a little present for Fritz. We put a number 8 detonator into the bomb and them a short length of Bickford's fuse. We then pack it closed with a clay lid, we have plenty of that to hand!

Once we have made a few of these we then all prepare to throw them in one go. We have to light them with a match or cigarette so you don't do this whilst out of the trench. We usually go to the closest points to the Huns front line and then light them and throw them for all we are worth. Obviously some may land short, or too far, but some do land in Fritz's trench and do their dastardly deed.

Don't think this is all one way. Fritz has his own bombs and he lobs them into our trenches when he can. His seem to be a bit more sophisticated than ours as they look to be manufactured rather than hand made. They usually wound you rather than kill. They are packed with small metal objects that gave you 20 or 30 small wounds. I certainly don't want to see what it is like to get hit by one of these.

Jam Tin Bombs

So chums, not only shells, snipers and machine guns but bombs are our daily ordeal. You can keep your head down and avoid the snipers and machine guns but with the shells and bombs you never know when these are coming.

Whilst we were in the trenches we had more men join us. 2nd Lieutenants Bower, Powell and Loseby joined us with 20 men. Fresh lads straight from Blighty, although Lieutenant Bower had previously been with us and was returning. The new lads were in for a shock, I bet they wished they had stayed back home.

We came out of the trenches on the evening of the 6th. We are now in billets until tomorrow evening, the 10th. We've had the usual working parties on the communication trenches but have spent most of our time in the estaminets. Theres nowt like a few beers to make you forget the trenches. We usually have a good party and sing song.

There's a few mademoiselles in town now, not the type you walk out with if you know what I mean. They frequent the larger estaminets and have parlours of their own for entertaining the troops. I've stayed clear of them although their affection and gentler touch is a great comfort for some. I must say they brighten the place up and I do engage in conversation with them now and then.

we've had new orders from the high command for when we go back to the trenches. We are going to occupy the houses close to the front line. There's a fear by the top brass that Fritz is going to occupy these and try and mount an attack on us. The houses are cottages along the road that crosses from our lines to the Huns lines. This row of cottages is almost continuous right into the Huns lines. This map shows them, they are just beyond the Snipers House just to the north of the east - west running road.

Centre of Le Touquet

The Hun line is where the dashed and continuous parallel lines are. You can see the houses reach right up to the Hun line and he has houses within his line.

Well it should be different from sitting in the wet, muddy and cold trenches, they also offer much protection from the Huns snipers and machine guns. Its quite remarkable that these cottages still stand. The Old Snipers House is used by our snipers and lookouts, they constantly watch what the Hun is up to and if they get a good sight of them they usual pop them off with a well aimed bullet. To give you an idea of distance it is 500 yards from the Snipers House to the School House.

Well chums were off to the estaminet for another night of frivolity before we go back into the front line, or should I say the front houses! I'm sure it will be an adventure and if I'm still here I'll let you know all about it. I'll also have to let you know the song about Madamoiselle from Armentieres. I did say a while ago that I'd teach it you. Now the real madamoiselles are here we sing it more than ever.

And so on it goes, on and on.

Albert x