Monday 9 May 2016

Keep Smiling

Entry #52 May 9th 1916

Out on our ordinary parades, visual, etc. the scenery around her bivouac was fine. We were on top of the hill, and had a fine view of the surrounding country, which would be hard to beat. Nature was in all its glory, and the birds served as an ideal alarm clock, as they had us weakened every morning at 5 AM. The rustling of the trees in the fresh country smile was like medicine to us after the sickening roar of the guns. We have improved our bivouac by making steps up to it, and laying in some foodstuffs. The weather still continues drizzly.

Just received news that the Battalion that relieved us got a desperate cutting up, having over 200 casualties. Truly Gordon Castle is a hotshot, and still one sees in the press "all calm on the Western front". Yes all calm to the general public, but to those behind-the-scenes, how calm? But `twas ever so, and this is why Tommy is such a happy-go-lucky character. Taking things as he finds them, and making the best of them. The sarcasm of the average British Tommy is amusing, and it is a mistake to ask them any questions. At least that's my idea, as I was "had" to often. On one occasion I saw two chaps carrying a Dixie, the soldiers kettle. Of course I asked them "was that the tea up?" One of them replied "no it's a new latrine bucket". On another occasion, during short rations, I saw chap with a very small piece of bacon. I asked him "was that for his breakfast?" And he replied "not at all it's to clean my boots with". Such is the spirit of the British Army.

In the afternoon we paraded to Acheux, a fairly decent sized town, for our usual lightning bath on coming out of the trenches still raining very hard, but "The Caravan" is still sticking it A1.

1 comment:

  1. Thanks for sharing these entries, Kevin. I'm finding them quite interesting, especially after my WWI Ed day experiences.

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