All Quiet

Hi Folks,

I'm currently sat in the front trenches. Its pretty quiet at the moment. The Hun must be having a rest and we are doing likewise.

This week I was in billets from the 18th to the 21st. A 2nd Lieutenant ranger joined the regiment during this period but then promptly went to the hospital after 2 days. I think he must have come down with food poisoning or something. Either that or he didn't like the look of the place and decided he was better off out of here. I don't blame him!

The 19th was a very interesting day, it snowed! It blew up quite a blizzard and everywhere was covered. It was most unusual. The snow didn't stay long, the next day it was gone. I was glad I was in billets because the men in the trenches must have been cursing their luck. They must have been knee deep in snow that was freezing their feet and ankles and gnawing at their legs. It doesn't bear thinking about.

We have been doing our usual tunnel digging and constructing communication trenches whilst in Billets. The Brigadier also visited us and inspected D Company. The Lancashire Territorials have left us now. I hope they have learnt the craft of trench warfare and that it will put them in good stead for wherever they go. Good Luck to them.

We came into the front line on the evening of the 21st. It was different from when we left on the 17th. On that day and evening the Hun attacked us with rifle grenades and injured six of our men. This time there was no trouble during the changeover and none of us got hurt.

As its a quiet time I thought I would share some photos with you, The first is some of us at rest at the back of HQ Farm

At Rest Behind HQ Farm

This photo shows Captain Pakenham, Co S.M. Ashworth, Pte Brindle and Pte Webster.

This next photo is a recent one of the HQ Farm. You can see that the buildings are slowly losing their roofs and the walls are getting quite a battering.

HQ Farm

The main farm house building is still quite intact though, its the Barn and outbuildings that are suffering the most.

The next photo is of Lieutenant Gannon. He's making off with some trophies and some bags of tuck. Lucky fellow!

Lt Gannon

My next photo is of two of my chums, Private Hughes and Private Rushan.

Privates on Guard

This is photo is taken in the trenches near to the houses.

To show that the higher echelons do visit the trenches the next photo I have is of Major Blencowe. He made a visit to the forward command post one day and one of my chums got a snap of him to show he had been.

Major Blencowe in the Trenches

The final snap I have is of the lookout post from the Snipers House. This si where the poor chap fell asleep twice and was then court martial. This snap was taken in the early days before things got much hotter and you could idle by the window as this chap is doing.

Lookout Position in the Snipers House

I believe its Sergeant Major Ashworth in this photo. The bed is on the left hand side of the room out of view. In recent times it has been pulled up next to the window to provide a seat. This is how the unfortunate chap got caught out by having 40 winks.


Well Folks, I hope you like these snaps. No doubt the Hun will start up again soon so I'll sign off now. I hope to speak to you next week. By all accounts there's been a flurry of activity up in the tunnel so I'm not sure if we are getting near to the Hun Lines. I'll let you know next week.

So its bye for now and hopefully I'll be with you again next week,

Albert x