Hold the Line

Well chums time flies, its been a week since I last posted. We had just fought off another dastardly Hun gas attack last time. Well since then we have been holding the line.

We fell back to create a new line along the trench called French Switch which was some 1,000 yards behind Shell Trap Farm, our original line. Our new reserve line was now 1,000 yards behind this at Irish Farm.

The result of the gas attack on the 2nd of May was 20 Officers gassed, 23 other ranks died, 31 missing, 76 wounded, and 579 suffering from gas poisoning. That's 709 ordinary ranks out of action! The gas attack of the 24th resulted in only 1 Officer and 12 other ranks killed, and 2 Officers and 70 other ranks wounded. We didn't have any gas casualties. We had learnt the lesson of using a gas mask.

Well chums although the battalion had been decimated by the original gas attack we received quite a few replacements and reinforcements in very rapid time. Between the 9th and 13th of May we've had 158 men join us. On the the 16th/17th of May we received 201 men. On the 22nd of May we had 4 Officers from the 3rd North Staffordshires and 255 men join us. Then on the 27th we had another 139 men join us. So chums that makes 753 men of ordinary rank. Not a bad replacement rate, over 700 men in 4 weeks. That means yours truly is one of the few originals. The battalion has been replaced twice over now and I'm still here. Some may say I'm lucky but I'd rather be in blighty.

I have a couple of snaps for you. The first is the hero of the hour, Jacky Lynn, our machine gunner.

Private John Lynn

Here he is with his maxim gun. Boy did he swing that into action on the 2nd. He's a real hero.

This next snap is of our medical officer, Captain Tyrell.

Captain W. Tyrell RAM Corps

Captain Tyrell barked the order out for us to wet our handkerchiefs, with pee! He then ran down the line oiling our guns so we could keep rapid fire up. He's a great bloke.

So chums to bring you up to date, our movements since the second gas attack on the 24th have been to the Divisional reserve line on the canal bank on the 26th, then on the 28th we relieved the Essex Regiment just north of Irish Farm. Yesterday we were relieved by the Warwickshire's and we then retired to the Divisional Reserve near Vlamertinge. In the past week we've lost another two men killed and had 36 wounded. Most of these were new chaps. Can you imagine it, you sign up, do your training, get sent out to the front and then get put back on the next boat home because you've got wounded. I can't complain because some of the injuries are horrific. Poor blighters.

This map shows the location of Irish Farm in relation to Shell Trap Farm. The top brass have decided to rename Shell Trap to Mouse Trap Farm because of the bad image Shell Trap brings. I don't know why they bothered as the Hun now has it.

Irish Farm - Shell Trap Farm (Mouse Trap farm)

Shell Trap Farm is top right of square 22, now called Mouse Trap Farm. Our front lines are marked by a dotted blue line north east of Irish Farm, this is top left of square 27. The Hun lines are in red.

You can see all the ground the Hun has won through using his infernal mustard gas. Its absolutely despicable. Well chums we've now held him in check and we have some effective defence against the gas. I've heard we're getting even better gas protection, some proper masks to totally block out the gas. I'll believe it when I see it.

Today we moved to some new grand accommodation. The chateau at Vlamertinge. Sounds great doesn't it except were not staying in it, we are bivouacing in the grounds of it. I'm not bothered as we're out of the front lines again. Its also not too bad weatherwise at the moment. I might be able to stretch out in the sun.

This is a photo of the chateau. Looks grand doesn't it.

Vlamertinghe Chateau

Well chums I'm hoping we stay here a while, its very peaceful. I doubt if it will be for long though.

So goodbye for now chums. I'll write to you in a weeks time.

Albert x