John - Monday 31st May 1915

No 3 General Hospital
British Expeditionary Force. 

Dear Jess,

I suppose you will be expecting more news from me.  You will know by now why I am here.  I am having a lovely rest and I'm pleased to say that my wound is healing very rapidly - too rapidly for my liking.  Still I shall be in bed for a day or two yet, so you send your letters, papers &c to the above address and I shall let you know directly I am moved.  After I go from here I shall be sent to a Rest Camp so I shall not be back with the boys for a week or two. 

I had to leave a lot of the cakes, fruit &c behind; we made a fair inroad into them on my birthday, before we went on this digging excursion that landed me here.  There is no cause to worry, so Mother can rest assured that I'm all right.  All the other chaps are quite envious because they had not been so lucky as I was. 

I must close now as it is post time.  Love to all at home. 

Your affectionate brother, John. 

Monday 31st May 1915 - First Zeppelin Raid on London

A single airship, the LZ38 commanded by Captain Linnarz, reached London and dropped 120 bombs - too far north to hit the docks that were its target, but killing 7 people.  A second airship failed to reach its target. 

Ref: Wikipedia

John - Sunday 30th May 1915

Dear Alfred,

Sorry to hear that you've been unable to join the noble army.  You have the consolation of knowing that you were willing to do your share.  I only wish a few thousand others would show themselves willing.  People at home have no idea how badly men are needed out here.  They are inclined to think the war is practically over, but from what we have seen of it you can take my word that we have not won by a long way yet.  Just last week thousands of our chaps were put out of action by the gas. 

You will no doubt be surprised to learn that I'm in hospital.  I went out digging with a party during our "Rest" period on the night of my birthday.  We were working in front of our lines when they turned a machine gun on us and I'm pleased to say I was the only one to be hit - and in the leg.  I'm pleased to say it missed the bone but the bullet went right through the leg and buried itself in a sandbag.  I'm thankful it did not break its journey and stay in; the chap in the next bed has just had one extracted and it must have been jolly painful but he bore it like a Briton. 

I am at present in one of the most beautiful parts of Northern France (Le Treport).  I came here last night after a 12 hours ride in a luxurious hospital train.  Of course it is very inconvenient to have one good leg instead of two but I expect I shall be back again in a week or two.  The worst of being wounded is that people at home don't look at it in the same light as we do, to us it is a most welcome rest and a decent time and the other chaps were awfully envious.  I am in a real bed with real sheets &c and when I opened my eyes this morning I had to start making guesses as to where I was.  I'm taking my fill of real civilised sleep - the first I have had for three months. 

Thank all for their birthday parcel, the worst of it was I had to leave all the good things I had had sent behind, and had nothing but my rifle.  The grub so far is plain but good.  Of course we cannot expect much chance of getting to England (or Blighty as the chaps call it).  I'd like to be sent to Penrith to be nursed by Josie. 

Must close now. 

Kindest regards to all,

Yours &c John. 

Billie - Sunday 30th May 1915

Dear Jess,

Many thanks for parcel and letters from Sarah and yourself.  You will no doubt know that John got wounded in the leg between the ankle and the calf.  It is nothing serious as it never touched any bones or arteries, and the doctor said it would mean about 3 weeks' rest or a month.  I wrote to Thompson yesterday so he will no doubt have told you.  John said I'd not to write, but thought I'd write to Thompson in case John's letter was delayed. 

It was jolly rough luck on him considering his birthday had just an hour elapsed and that all the grub he had not eaten fell to my lot, and I don't know what I should have done, if some of our pals had not helped to carry it for me to the trenches.  I was working alongside him when the machine gun was turned on us and heard him say "Oh", then he hopped over the parapet, so I went after him to see what was the matter.  He had it bandaged up and then our section carried him out and it was no light job with shell holes all over the place, although he wanted to get off and walk, but we would not let him.  When he had it dressed, he was put in an ambulance cart and taken to the clearing station to wait for the motor.  While he was there, he got one of the chaps who was coming over to our place to call for some of his kit, tobacco, chocolate and odds and ends.  So we fastened him a handkerchief full up and sent it to him.  I hope he got it all right.  He sent me a card with what he wanted on and told me he was feeling all right.  We left him laughing and joking in the wagon.  If he is lucky he will no doubt be sent to England by now, as it just depends on which clearing station you are sent to whether you are put in a French hospital or sent to England. 

We are in the trenches again and the sun is scorching hot.  How are things looking in England now?  Is recruiting going strong?  If not they ought to make it conscription.  Pleased to hear Jack Whiteman is out here; I may come across him.  Sorry to hear about Jack Huggins, I sincerely hope he is all right, but I am afraid, if he is, he is a prisoner, although he may be in hospital with those who are gassed. 
Well how are all at home?  I hope you are all well as I am in the pink.  Kindly remember me to all aunts and cousins, also to Mr Ray and Gertie.  I had a P.C. from Billie Nixon; tell her we've not seen anything like this since we left England.  Also thank Dolly and Elsie Nixon for the pistol and caps which I am taking with me as a mascot. 

Must close or I'll be late for the post. 

Your loving brother Billie. 

Tell all they need not worry about John as he is all right, so there is nothing to worry about.  Don't think I'm keeping anything back from you as I've told you all. 

Cheer up.  Billie

John - Saturday 29th May 2015

Dear Janey,

Thank you very much for your wishes and share in the birthday parcels they arrived safely and we all enjoyed them very much indeed. 

We had to go digging at night and the Germans must have known it was my birthday for they sent me a present that will give me a rest for some time.  I am pleased to say it is nothing more serious than a flesh wound in the leg.  I was in charge of a working party in front of the lines - it was the last day of our rest and we were working until 1 a.m.  I had just finished putting the last sandbag on and was jumping up the parapet when they turned a machine gun on us.  I felt a sharp sting in my leg but thought it was a knock from a pick seeing the other chaps were following me (as I thought).  I vaulted right over and it was due to that I escaped serious injury for the bullets splashed up against the sandbags where I had been working, in rapid succession.  I had the wound dressed and was carried to the first dressing station.  Billie and all my pals came with me and I did feel sorry for them, because as you can guess, I am no lightweight.  We were fired on again before we got out, and in order to let the stretcher bearers get on quickly, I got off the stretcher and was helped along by two of my pals.  They were all envious I can tell you - it is considered a stroke of luck to get a "soft one". 

Well I am in hospital now waiting to be sent to the base.  I had an exciting ride from the first dressing station.  It was breaking day and we had to risk being shaken up to escape being fired on.  We met Billie and the rest on the road and gave them a lift so far.  I was transferred to a motor and taken to the first clearing line station where I was innoculated against Tetanus and at 10 a.m. was dispatched to the second clearing station and now we are waiting to catch the train to the base hospital. 

The chaplain here is a fine chap and he asked first "Any Borders here?".  That made me prick up my ears and I asked him if he came from Cumberland; you can imagine my surprise when I found he belonged to Cockermouth.  His name is Hodges?  He started off by saying "Is te garn yam?" so I said "I think seah" and he was quite satisfied with my credentials.  It is quite possible that I shall be sent to England but not very probable.  If I can manage it, I shall try to get near home.  There are some ghastly cases here.  I am in a ward with a few hundred more, mostly Territorials, and they are a cheerful lot!  The chaplain brought a gramophone up last night and we all enjoyed it. 

I must close now as I have to catch the train and we can't keep the car waiting. 

Love to all John. 

Billie - Wednesday 26th May 1915

Dear Mother,

Many thanks for letter received some days ago.  I wrote to you by return but evidently you did not receive it.  All the chaps are complaining about their letters not getting through. 

We are having our rest again, digging and in reserve at nights but we do manage to get a bit of sleep in now so it is not so bad.  We've received Sarah and Jess's parcel.  We go in the trenches on Friday and will be out again on Tuesday.  It is scorching hot every day now but turns cold at nights. 

You have already heard that we had a soft time in the trenches last time, just like a picnic, only we had to work all the time we were under the cover of darkness, but we did not mind that.  Sorry to hear about Jack Huggins.  I hope they have heard from him by now.  We heard from a Canadian how the Durhams had caught it in the neck and he praised the way they went into it.  He said that two regular Battalions would not face it, but the Durhams went in to it in close formation.  They are using a lot of those gases now but we are quite well provided. 

I was pleased to hear you are quite well again also that father's cold was better and all are well at home.  Must close hoping you are still well as it leaves us in the pink and as brown as niggers. 

Your loving son Billie. 

Cheer up, we will be home soon now Italy has joined in, and they let us have some more high explosive shells.  You can send us some more sherbet. 

John - Tuesday 25th May 1915

Dear Jess,

We came out of the trenches again this morning and stayed in reserve until 6 a.m.  We had a lovely time in the trenches this time as we were in reserve and had nothing to do except a little fatigue and carry rations up to the trenches at night.  We finished at 2 every morning and then had the rest of the day off with the exception of two days when we had a few hours' fatigue.  You talk about heat - England isn't in it!  We found a lovely little pool and had a swim every day.  We are having another "Rest" which means we go out at 7.30 and come in at 6 next morning. 

How rotten of Mrs Huggins not to have heard from Jack, I do hope he is all right.  They are farther north than us, they were handy so were rushed up.  Had we not been settled to our part of the line we should have had to go.  The 1st Warwicks were called up from "Rest" and have lost over 700.  We relieved them in our trenches; also the Dublin Fusiliers were here before us.  We have got quite a number of Kitchener's Army out here - mostly Scotch and Irish Regiments.  Their artillery is just behind us and from what I have heard and seen it is very fine. 

I see Italy has started this time; the war will not last long now.  I have hopes of being home for August. 

What a terrible affair they had at Carlisle, some poor chaps made a bad start on their journey to the front.  I heard about it this morning - 3 days later - so we are fairly kept up to date with news. 

We received the parcels all right; we don't get them delivered in the trenches (not parcels), so try and arrange for them to come when we are out.  We shall go in again on Friday and come out on Monday.  I hope you have had a decent holiday.  I enjoyed Whit Monday although it was the cheapest Whit Monday I've ever spent as there was no opportunity to spend. 

We have not been in that heavy fighting you read about, but are in an advanced part of the line and we are making it jolly well impossible for the Germans to break through our line.  We are prepared for their gasses.  40 men died yesterday on their way to hospital so I hear, from their effects, so they must be using them again.  I only hope we are in the trenches when they try an attack, if they ever do we can get them over our parapet into a stream and we would fairly give them something to remember us by as they come down the hill.  We have been making wire entanglements for the last few days and putting them out. 

By the way I want you to send in my next parcel a new razor, Thompson will be able to get me a decent one.  I want one badly and have been reduced to borrowing Billie's.  Also I want a new towel.  Will you send them by return?  I must close now.  You might send some more stuff to make drinks with we simply cannot drink this water without it.  The doctor put chloride of lime in it and it makes it taste awful.  We've had all the paper &c this morning. 

Love to all John