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Primary Source First World War Letters Home February 1915
"My section consists of 5 Crossley cars, quite new, 20-25 h.p. & built expressly as ambulances"
Arthur doesn't like being saluted "by every Tommy", on parade in front of the King and Queen at Buckingham Palace ...
Arthur doesn't like being saluted "by every Tommy", on parade in front of the King and Queen at Buckingham Palace ...
Junior Constitutional Club
Piccadilly, W, London
Sunday February 7 1915
My Dear Mother,
Thanks for two letters & a big one sent on, also one or two Australian ones …
Christine is going to do some nursing & then hopes to help at a coffee stall in France if she can arrange it, but just an idea at moment ...
Busy yesterday loading up our cars at the garage with stretchers, pillows etc. & seeing to kit etc. for car; at 12-30 we took all the cars out into Belgrave Square & lined up, 30 of them, & were given an hour off, so I strolled down 200 yds. to 22 Chester St & found Mrs Blake & Margery in, they kept me for lunch, luckily they lunch at 1.- 1-30
I went back to Belgrave Square & we all started about 10 to 2 in line for Buckingham Palace, quite a crowd & as we waited outside ???? turned up to see the show; we then drove in by front gate & went through side arch to the back & the King & Queen Mary & others were standing on lawn & we drove past & saluted & drove on through the grounds & out at Grosvenor Gardens entrance, I had no idea what a big area of ground they have at the back there. We went on down Sloane St. & in to park by French Embassy & drove past (at 3) the French Ambassador & Lord C Beresford, after that we were dismissed by Knightsbridge Barracks & I got off car & man took it back to garage.
I walked round to Bertha’s and found myself being saluted by every Tommy, being Saturday there were crowds about, detestable & coming back I could not stand it any longer so jumped into a taxi at Sloane St. tho’ I’d far sooner have walked, ran upstairs & got into mufti again, as I was going on to Hans Crescent hotel at 5 to tea with Mrs Pope & Leila Pope.
Piccadilly, W, London
Sunday February 7 1915
My Dear Mother,
Thanks for two letters & a big one sent on, also one or two Australian ones …
Christine is going to do some nursing & then hopes to help at a coffee stall in France if she can arrange it, but just an idea at moment ...
Busy yesterday loading up our cars at the garage with stretchers, pillows etc. & seeing to kit etc. for car; at 12-30 we took all the cars out into Belgrave Square & lined up, 30 of them, & were given an hour off, so I strolled down 200 yds. to 22 Chester St & found Mrs Blake & Margery in, they kept me for lunch, luckily they lunch at 1.- 1-30
I went back to Belgrave Square & we all started about 10 to 2 in line for Buckingham Palace, quite a crowd & as we waited outside ???? turned up to see the show; we then drove in by front gate & went through side arch to the back & the King & Queen Mary & others were standing on lawn & we drove past & saluted & drove on through the grounds & out at Grosvenor Gardens entrance, I had no idea what a big area of ground they have at the back there. We went on down Sloane St. & in to park by French Embassy & drove past (at 3) the French Ambassador & Lord C Beresford, after that we were dismissed by Knightsbridge Barracks & I got off car & man took it back to garage.
I walked round to Bertha’s and found myself being saluted by every Tommy, being Saturday there were crowds about, detestable & coming back I could not stand it any longer so jumped into a taxi at Sloane St. tho’ I’d far sooner have walked, ran upstairs & got into mufti again, as I was going on to Hans Crescent hotel at 5 to tea with Mrs Pope & Leila Pope.
Tomorrow we have to be at garage at 10 & get all ingredients for car, petrol etc.etc. & then drive up to Wimborne House & load up all we have to take, frying pan, lamps, stove etc.etc. & have all ready to start Tuesday morning for Southampton & X over Wednesday. We are to go to Nancy I believe, somewhere east of there.
My section consists of 5 Crossley cars, quite new, 20-25 h.p. & built expressly as ambulances & curiously enough Hodgson, Gerald Carew's cousin Catherine told me about, is our section leader, rather curious, he seems a very nice fellow & I hope we shall be able to get on. We are divided into 5 sections of 5 cars each & a section leader with each who goes in a staff car, ordinary open touring car, then there is one repair car into which the King got I believe to have a look. My chauffeur man seems a decent fellow & driven a lot & seems to understand everything about cars, been through the repair shops & works, so with fair luck, we should get along all right.
They have provided cars with a pick & shovel each & a board & rope, so we can dig ourselves out of snow or mud & have a broken down car or be hauled. I understand we shall be about 4 days running across to Nancy from Havre. I don’t quite understand about feeding out there; we may be given army rations & cook for ourselves or else so much a day & arrange our own meals, if latter I suppose we shall form a sort of mess, anyway between our section, however all that seems rather vague. Cars mostly take four wounded.
It is an awful long address to send letters to, I really think you had best get a few envelopes typed with the address, Healy would do them for a 1/- or so.
Would you send a Times, say once a week or an Irish Times. Of course I fancy we shall see French papers. I hear they treated the last convoy very well & everybody kind to them.
Best love
Yr affect. Son
Arthur
(Click here for a scan of original letter)
My section consists of 5 Crossley cars, quite new, 20-25 h.p. & built expressly as ambulances & curiously enough Hodgson, Gerald Carew's cousin Catherine told me about, is our section leader, rather curious, he seems a very nice fellow & I hope we shall be able to get on. We are divided into 5 sections of 5 cars each & a section leader with each who goes in a staff car, ordinary open touring car, then there is one repair car into which the King got I believe to have a look. My chauffeur man seems a decent fellow & driven a lot & seems to understand everything about cars, been through the repair shops & works, so with fair luck, we should get along all right.
They have provided cars with a pick & shovel each & a board & rope, so we can dig ourselves out of snow or mud & have a broken down car or be hauled. I understand we shall be about 4 days running across to Nancy from Havre. I don’t quite understand about feeding out there; we may be given army rations & cook for ourselves or else so much a day & arrange our own meals, if latter I suppose we shall form a sort of mess, anyway between our section, however all that seems rather vague. Cars mostly take four wounded.
It is an awful long address to send letters to, I really think you had best get a few envelopes typed with the address, Healy would do them for a 1/- or so.
Would you send a Times, say once a week or an Irish Times. Of course I fancy we shall see French papers. I hear they treated the last convoy very well & everybody kind to them.
Best love
Yr affect. Son
Arthur
(Click here for a scan of original letter)
World War One News:
The Western Times, Monday February 8th 1915: "The King and Queen, with other members of the Royal Family, inspected at Buckingham Palace, on Saturday, twenty five ambulance cars, four staff cars, and one repair lorry, which have been given by the British Ambulance Committee for the use of the French Red Cross. These cars form the third contingent. After the inspection by their Majesties, the cars were taken to the French Embassy, where they were seen by the French Ambassador." |
World War One News:
Court Circular - February 8th 1915: “The King, accompanied by the Queen, with Prince Albert and Princess Mary, this afternoon, in the garden of the Palace, inspected the third convoy of the British Ambulance Committee of Croix Rouge Francais. Admiral Lord Charles Beresford, M.P., Chairman, was present with several members of the Committee, who had the honour of being presented to their Majesties.” |
"We drew our pay this morng. or rather allowance, 10/- a day for expenses..."
Waiting to embark, receives his allowance of 10/- a day but also having to spend lots of his own money ...
Waiting to embark, receives his allowance of 10/- a day but also having to spend lots of his own money ...
Royal Southampton Yacht Club
Wednesday 10th Feb 1915 11:30 a.m.
My Dear Mother
Here we are still. Took cars down to the docks last night after dinner. They are being shipped this morning. We are to sail this afternoon or evg. Everything is so mysterious even Capt. of ship does not know till he gets cable from Havre that all is clear so far as they know. Don’t know if they have destroyer escort. 400 troops are going over as well. Fancy yest. Aft. noon I had to go & be photographed, they wanted a 3rd photo & of course I had not got one, so had to be done, 1/6 for 6, they are to be ready in an hours time. Never ending surprises spring on one. I was down about there this morning and while waiting thought I’d be done in uniform, so got man to do 2 different ones, I hope they are good. I paid for them 5/6 Thu 1/2 day & he will send them to you sat or Monday, they ARE paid for , so make no mistake, I ordered 6 of each. They say it is useful to have some spare ones on one, so he is doing me 6 of passport ones.
We drew our pay this morng. or rather allowance, 10/- a day for expenses, chauffeurs allowed 6/- I got 30/- quite pleased to get anything these times. Over there I hear we are to get 10/- a day exs. But everyone says something different & nobody seems to know anything all sorts of things get said about. No certainty of Nancy now, Dijon they say this morng. so goodness knows. I enclose address of photographer, please keep in case I ever wanted more photos.
As regards address, I send printed thing they gave me. I think it would be best to have few envelopes type written, a doz. Or two by Combridge, far the easiest & save so much bother. I wrote Will yesterday. ? & Mrs O’Brien sent me down a flask, so kind of them & it will be useful.
Mild here. I fancy little accommodation on transport, a table I believe, but I fancy we will have to sleep in our Ambulances on board. I fancy a slow ship. Last night we all had to assemble at 10 p.m. & have our passports handed to us. It is a new sensation being ordered about & commanded to do things at certain hours, good for one no doubt, but when past 40 one does not care much about it.
I had to buy my self a sou'wester & oilskin yesterday, after my experience of getting Greatcoat soaked coming down, a big oilskin to go over it, as once wet they take days to dry those coats. I sincerely hope the buying of things is over, I never imagined all the things one had to get, it is no joke, however its done now, but for anyone who wants to do this sort of work & is not well off beware!
I hope one can’t spend money in France. I wish I was getting £1 a day like Will. However I suppose its all in a lifetime.
Best love
Yr affect. Son
Arthur
Tell me what you think of photos, of course I shan’t see them.
Wednesday 10th Feb 1915 11:30 a.m.
My Dear Mother
Here we are still. Took cars down to the docks last night after dinner. They are being shipped this morning. We are to sail this afternoon or evg. Everything is so mysterious even Capt. of ship does not know till he gets cable from Havre that all is clear so far as they know. Don’t know if they have destroyer escort. 400 troops are going over as well. Fancy yest. Aft. noon I had to go & be photographed, they wanted a 3rd photo & of course I had not got one, so had to be done, 1/6 for 6, they are to be ready in an hours time. Never ending surprises spring on one. I was down about there this morning and while waiting thought I’d be done in uniform, so got man to do 2 different ones, I hope they are good. I paid for them 5/6 Thu 1/2 day & he will send them to you sat or Monday, they ARE paid for , so make no mistake, I ordered 6 of each. They say it is useful to have some spare ones on one, so he is doing me 6 of passport ones.
We drew our pay this morng. or rather allowance, 10/- a day for expenses, chauffeurs allowed 6/- I got 30/- quite pleased to get anything these times. Over there I hear we are to get 10/- a day exs. But everyone says something different & nobody seems to know anything all sorts of things get said about. No certainty of Nancy now, Dijon they say this morng. so goodness knows. I enclose address of photographer, please keep in case I ever wanted more photos.
As regards address, I send printed thing they gave me. I think it would be best to have few envelopes type written, a doz. Or two by Combridge, far the easiest & save so much bother. I wrote Will yesterday. ? & Mrs O’Brien sent me down a flask, so kind of them & it will be useful.
Mild here. I fancy little accommodation on transport, a table I believe, but I fancy we will have to sleep in our Ambulances on board. I fancy a slow ship. Last night we all had to assemble at 10 p.m. & have our passports handed to us. It is a new sensation being ordered about & commanded to do things at certain hours, good for one no doubt, but when past 40 one does not care much about it.
I had to buy my self a sou'wester & oilskin yesterday, after my experience of getting Greatcoat soaked coming down, a big oilskin to go over it, as once wet they take days to dry those coats. I sincerely hope the buying of things is over, I never imagined all the things one had to get, it is no joke, however its done now, but for anyone who wants to do this sort of work & is not well off beware!
I hope one can’t spend money in France. I wish I was getting £1 a day like Will. However I suppose its all in a lifetime.
Best love
Yr affect. Son
Arthur
Tell me what you think of photos, of course I shan’t see them.
A map showing many of the places Arthur spoke about in his letters. Clicking on the blue markers will give the place name and letter it is mentioned in.
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"We heard yesterday that our ship we came over in was attacked on her way back by submarines!"
Arthur arrives in France, has to hunt for his chauffeur "a very decent & smart little man", U Boats cause a problem in the Channel ...
Arthur arrives in France, has to hunt for his chauffeur "a very decent & smart little man", U Boats cause a problem in the Channel ...
Feb 14th 1915
My Dear Mother
Most of them got here last evening, but had a little trouble with my car 10 miles far side of Gournay, a small town 20 miles from here, so as we did not get there till 7 last evg. We decided to stop the night & take car to garage this morning which we did & left there 11-30 arriving here 12-30 in nice time for dejeuner at which meal I found all the other fellows. First I had to hunt up a room for my chauffeur, a very decent & smart little man, so I look after him, he knows no friends. Turned in early last night, it was a coldish and part of the way wet drive from Havre which we left yesterday morning 10 am.
Pretty good roads & follows valley of Seine as far as Rouen where we stopped for lunch. Left there about 3, no time to look around much. Lot of English officers & soldiers about. Stayed at quite a French little hotel last night. Went to 8 o’c Mass this morning. Good many in nice clean large church & many at the altar. Some wounded French soldiers at mass too. We had quite a good little discourse on Lent & observing of fasting etc. The Germans came within 6k of Gournay & nearly all people left thinking they were coming in. Very interesting talk with wife of garage proprietor, such a nice woman, her husband has been at the front since 4th Aug. So many everywhere in mourning. A charming little 17 yr old girl came & tried her English on me at breakfast this morning, she had been at Mill Hill for 9 months at Franciscan convent.
We are to parade at 7 a.m tomorrow and fill up with petrol etc. a leave for Troyes which is in military zone. We were challenged by Sentry coming in here this morning. Sentries on roads, bridges & rly. crossings every where. Quite a nice hotel here on Grande Place where all our cars are collected. A fine cathedral which I’m just going off to look at. Yesterday morning at Havre we were collected on the front for 1 ½ hours before starting raining, but we saw French torpedo boats bring in a large German steamer they had captured in Channel off France earlier in the morning, & were bringing her in, they had cut her steam pipes & she was being towed. All most interesting.
We heard yesterday that our ship we came over in was attacked on her way back by submarines! From all one hears one is lucky enough to get over all right in a transport; they say submarines are continually on look out off France! Don’t yet know where we are going after Troyes it is all most interesting. One car, a Crossley like mine, has not got here yet, lost somewhere on route. How absolutely invaluable one finds ones French. It must be very hard on those who can’t talk it, & so many of the lot can’t. We are only about 50 miles from Paris here. It has been wet & roads heavy. It must be a very pretty view in summer. With oilskin over overcoat, keep beautifully warm. Had a nice long walk at Havre Friday aft.noon with another man, quite nice along the front. Everybody very nice and kind & children keep asking for souvenirs.
Best love etc
My Dear Mother
Most of them got here last evening, but had a little trouble with my car 10 miles far side of Gournay, a small town 20 miles from here, so as we did not get there till 7 last evg. We decided to stop the night & take car to garage this morning which we did & left there 11-30 arriving here 12-30 in nice time for dejeuner at which meal I found all the other fellows. First I had to hunt up a room for my chauffeur, a very decent & smart little man, so I look after him, he knows no friends. Turned in early last night, it was a coldish and part of the way wet drive from Havre which we left yesterday morning 10 am.
Pretty good roads & follows valley of Seine as far as Rouen where we stopped for lunch. Left there about 3, no time to look around much. Lot of English officers & soldiers about. Stayed at quite a French little hotel last night. Went to 8 o’c Mass this morning. Good many in nice clean large church & many at the altar. Some wounded French soldiers at mass too. We had quite a good little discourse on Lent & observing of fasting etc. The Germans came within 6k of Gournay & nearly all people left thinking they were coming in. Very interesting talk with wife of garage proprietor, such a nice woman, her husband has been at the front since 4th Aug. So many everywhere in mourning. A charming little 17 yr old girl came & tried her English on me at breakfast this morning, she had been at Mill Hill for 9 months at Franciscan convent.
We are to parade at 7 a.m tomorrow and fill up with petrol etc. a leave for Troyes which is in military zone. We were challenged by Sentry coming in here this morning. Sentries on roads, bridges & rly. crossings every where. Quite a nice hotel here on Grande Place where all our cars are collected. A fine cathedral which I’m just going off to look at. Yesterday morning at Havre we were collected on the front for 1 ½ hours before starting raining, but we saw French torpedo boats bring in a large German steamer they had captured in Channel off France earlier in the morning, & were bringing her in, they had cut her steam pipes & she was being towed. All most interesting.
We heard yesterday that our ship we came over in was attacked on her way back by submarines! From all one hears one is lucky enough to get over all right in a transport; they say submarines are continually on look out off France! Don’t yet know where we are going after Troyes it is all most interesting. One car, a Crossley like mine, has not got here yet, lost somewhere on route. How absolutely invaluable one finds ones French. It must be very hard on those who can’t talk it, & so many of the lot can’t. We are only about 50 miles from Paris here. It has been wet & roads heavy. It must be a very pretty view in summer. With oilskin over overcoat, keep beautifully warm. Had a nice long walk at Havre Friday aft.noon with another man, quite nice along the front. Everybody very nice and kind & children keep asking for souvenirs.
Best love etc
"At Senlis we could hear the guns quite well at Soissons which was being bombarded."
Arthur sees General Joffre, talks about damage at Senlis and Creil, hears the guns at Soissons, doesn't enjoy drinking Champagne ...
Arthur sees General Joffre, talks about damage at Senlis and Creil, hears the guns at Soissons, doesn't enjoy drinking Champagne ...
La Ferte sous Jouarre
Thursday February 18 1915
My Dear Mother,
We got here last evg. 6.30 p.m. from Beauvais via Senlis & various other places. It was very interesting & one saw a lot of damage at Senlis done by Germans & some by English in getting the Germans out of the town last Sep. We came through Creil where bridges were all blown up & temporarily repaired & several houses there destroyed. At Senlis we could hear the guns quite well at Soissons which was being bombarded. All there went to lunch bar me, as I had bread & chocolate with me, so waited by car & talked to various people who always want to know where we are going. While standing on road General Joffre drove by, rather luck seeing him, a soldier who knew his car & him told me who it was. Others very sick at not having seen him.
This place is on the Marne & of course bridge blown up. Everyone most amiable as they say the English saved them & the town. French were hard pressed & outnumbered & suddenly 30,000 English arrived & drove out Germans along the Vitry road which we walked along this morng. A nice quiet little town.
We go on tomorrow about 70 or 80 miles to Vitry-le-François, 119 kilometres, then 118k to Neufchâteau a night there, then 88 to Cheniménil near Épinal where we are to be for a bit. Wet yesterday, fine today & mild. We came through Meaux yesterday, an interesting old town with fine church. Roads very fair to very good. Car ran well. 7 of us billeted here, nice little hotel & kindly people. Cars all over the place! Some of us have to turn out for night duty with cars, 3 hrs. on a watch all night.
One can hear the guns here. Should have gone on today, but 2 cars being repaired & in this zone one must all travel together, they pull up every 20 or 25k & see that we are all together.
Goodness knows when we shall ever get letters, suppose when we get to our base. Just off for a walk. We had parade at 8-30 a.m. & see to cars. A Frenchman here insisted on our drinking champagne with him last night, rather a bore, to Armie Anglaise etc. & we had to get a bottle & drink to Armie Francais & so on & so forth, result I did not get to bed till 11 instead of 9.
Best love
A.
Our chauffeurs are quartered in a large house on the place where Bismarck stayed in 1870. Town is in a hollow & river Marne divides it. Very quiet & little light in town at night.
Thursday February 18 1915
My Dear Mother,
We got here last evg. 6.30 p.m. from Beauvais via Senlis & various other places. It was very interesting & one saw a lot of damage at Senlis done by Germans & some by English in getting the Germans out of the town last Sep. We came through Creil where bridges were all blown up & temporarily repaired & several houses there destroyed. At Senlis we could hear the guns quite well at Soissons which was being bombarded. All there went to lunch bar me, as I had bread & chocolate with me, so waited by car & talked to various people who always want to know where we are going. While standing on road General Joffre drove by, rather luck seeing him, a soldier who knew his car & him told me who it was. Others very sick at not having seen him.
This place is on the Marne & of course bridge blown up. Everyone most amiable as they say the English saved them & the town. French were hard pressed & outnumbered & suddenly 30,000 English arrived & drove out Germans along the Vitry road which we walked along this morng. A nice quiet little town.
We go on tomorrow about 70 or 80 miles to Vitry-le-François, 119 kilometres, then 118k to Neufchâteau a night there, then 88 to Cheniménil near Épinal where we are to be for a bit. Wet yesterday, fine today & mild. We came through Meaux yesterday, an interesting old town with fine church. Roads very fair to very good. Car ran well. 7 of us billeted here, nice little hotel & kindly people. Cars all over the place! Some of us have to turn out for night duty with cars, 3 hrs. on a watch all night.
One can hear the guns here. Should have gone on today, but 2 cars being repaired & in this zone one must all travel together, they pull up every 20 or 25k & see that we are all together.
Goodness knows when we shall ever get letters, suppose when we get to our base. Just off for a walk. We had parade at 8-30 a.m. & see to cars. A Frenchman here insisted on our drinking champagne with him last night, rather a bore, to Armie Anglaise etc. & we had to get a bottle & drink to Armie Francais & so on & so forth, result I did not get to bed till 11 instead of 9.
Best love
A.
Our chauffeurs are quartered in a large house on the place where Bismarck stayed in 1870. Town is in a hollow & river Marne divides it. Very quiet & little light in town at night.
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World War One News:
The Manchester Courier, February 19th 1915: “The third convoy of British ambulance cars dispatched by the British Ambulance Committee for service within the French lines has left Beauvais to begin operations under the military authorities. The journey from London was accomplished without mishap, not one of the 30 cars falling out en route.” |