On The Move

Hi Folks, well it looks like our holiday is over. Yesterday we got our marching orders and left the Blue Factory at Armentieres and marched to where we are today, Bailleul.

We had a grand time at Armientieres even though we could only go out one day in four. The accommodationwas first class and the tuck was great. With no bullets, bombs, grenades or shells flying about I was able to relax for the first time in ages.

We had plenty of route marches with parades and gymnastics to get us in good shape again. The transport section was able to repair all their kit and give the horses a well earned rest. In fact they were inspected by Lt-Gen J L Keir. He gave them a glowing report. He was impressed by the condition of the horses and the organisation of the camp where they were kept. True to top brass though he had to 'suggest' an improvement that could be made. This was that there might be some improvement of the greasing the wheels of the carts!

There was also a most comical episode that took place. One morning we were all told to fall in with our towels. We were then marched off to a nearby village. When we arrived there we were told to strip off and tie up our clothes in a nice parcel and to attach a label with our regimental number on it. The place looked like an old brewery. We were told to go inside the building. Inside there were some old wine vats cut in half and filled with warm water. Well chums this was going to be our spring clean. We climbed into the vats, 15 men in each. We were given big bars of mottled blue soap to wash with. This we duly did helping each other to scrub our backs. There was plenty of high jinx and jokes flying about. I can tell you 15 men in a tub is a sure fire way to raise the spirits and bring about loads of laughter.

When our wash was over we got dried and then went into another room to get our clothes. They were all laid out still tied but were steaming. They had been fumigated!

All this work was done to rid us of lice. It worked wonders until the eggs in the seams of the clothes started hatching out. We were then once more itching like mad and being bitten to death. We found that if we stuck our rifle with bayonet fitted into the ground and then hung our clothes on to the butt the warm sun would bring out the lice and they would congregate at the top. We then use a match to despatch the little devils. Next we run the flame down the seams of the clothes and we hear the eggs all crackling and popping. This despatches these as well. By doing this we have now managed to remain relatively lice free.

No sooner had we undergone de-licing than we had our second fun and games event. On another morning we were told to fall in and then marched into a field were a circular compound had been erected. We were ordered to strip and then shave our private parts. If we were unable to complete this task then we either had to ask our chum to help or an orderly would do it. Well my wedding tackle wasn't going to be handled by one of my pals or the orderly so I duly did the shaving myself in double quick time. Like the 'blue' bath there was plenty of jokes and ribalding going on. Some of the men claiming they needed more time due to the size of their tackle and claiming others appear to have shaved theirs completely off!

Once everyone was clean shaven we were given blue ointment to rub all over our nether region. This we did covering all our private parts. The men nicknnamed it 'blue unction'. We were told to keep it on for four days. We were told this was for crabs. Not the sort you get from Cromer but some small pesky variety similar to lice that lives in the nether regions. These are passed on during intimate contact with others. So it seems like the mademoiselle from Armentieres was giving more than her affection to the men.

Well chums those were the highlights of our time at Armentieres. We had 12 glorious days of rest and now we are on the march again. I'm not sure where we are off to. We have to fall in at 7:30 tomorrow morning with full pack and belongings. The transport wagons are currently being packed up and we'll be setting off for who knows where. It shouldn't be too far from here as we normally only march about 12 to 13 miles a day. That's far enough when we are carrying full pack and then have to bivouac if there's no billets.

I think I'll drop you a line when we arrive at our destination, either tomorrow or the day after. Everyone's hoping its going to be another 'holiday' like Armentieres. Well have to see.

 So chums its goodbye from me once again. I'm in good shape after the rest and so I'm sure I'll be up to whatever comes my way.

Albert x