Tea with Wardale.
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| Original diary entry |
6th March 1917
To range and back without firing - musketry - jerks - now 13th Platoon.
Tea with Wardale.
Tea with Wardale.
5th March 1917
Miniature range - 3 inch group.
2nd target - 17/20
Afternoon - miniature range in pouring rain.
2nd target - 17/20
Afternoon - miniature range in pouring rain.
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| Original diary entry |
4th March 1917 (Sunday)
St Matthews was not large enough to accommodate the greatly augmented 3rd Battalion and the overflow, consisting of one or two platoons, were denied entry. There was much jockeying for the last position in the parade and the 'lucky' ones were dismissed for the day at the Church door. So far as the ‘Other Ranks’ were concerned their ambition to forego devotions was not an indication of a heathen attitude but mainly a problem of swagger sticks. These were not carried on Church parade but were compulsory with normal walking out dress and the billet was at the other end of the town. This was an irritation that could not be overcome. We thought we had found the solution by stuffing the thin cane sticks inside the trouser leg, supported by the closely bound puttees. The idea was good for standing on parade, even for marching, albeit with some difficulty – but the ear-splitting noise produced by the congregation on seating was disastrous.
Initiative in the ranks was not encouraged and the experiment proved expensive to both pride and pocket because it was necessary to seek replacements from the quartermaster and disclose our enormity and we had to pay for the replacements. The end of the day marked our half way period of training.
Initiative in the ranks was not encouraged and the experiment proved expensive to both pride and pocket because it was necessary to seek replacements from the quartermaster and disclose our enormity and we had to pay for the replacements. The end of the day marked our half way period of training.
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| Original diary entry |
2nd March 1917
Route march through Merstham, etc about 8 miles.
Pay at club.
Google Maps entry for Merstham here
Pay at club.
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| Original diary entry |
27th February 1917
House orderly, No. 2 House - also mess orderly breakfast, dinner and tea.
Physical.
Physical.
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| Original diary entry |
26th February 1917
Bayonet fighting, physical, etc.
Letter from John (brother) - to Egypt in SLI (1).
Washing.
(1) Somerset Light Infantry
Letter from John (brother) - to Egypt in SLI (1).
Washing.
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| Original diary entry |
24th February 1917
Bayonet drill, Physical - Bath at Reigate & Redhill
Bought knife - Corporal Hinge.
Bought knife - Corporal Hinge.
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| Original diary entry |
23rd February 1917
General inspection of the Battalion on the parade ground by Sir Francis Lloyd (1).
(1) Wikipedia entry for Sir Francis Lloyd here. Photograph in public domain.
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| Sir Francis Lloyd |
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| Original diary entry |
(1) Wikipedia entry for Sir Francis Lloyd here. Photograph in public domain.
22nd February 1917
Half day in bed.
One died from the inoculation, two died from spotted fever.
B Company isolated for three weeks.
One died from the inoculation, two died from spotted fever.
B Company isolated for three weeks.
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| Original diary entry |
20th February 1917
Eight mile route march through Reigate, again in pouring rain.
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| Original diary entry |
19th February 1917
Rifle issued (number 763).
Physical jerks and squad drill in pouring rain.
Physical jerks and squad drill in pouring rain.
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| Original diary entry |
18th February 1917 (Sunday)
For the first week the new recruits were left almost entirely to the tender mercies of the NCOs - we were simply 'squads', but for Church Parade, as units of the entire 3rd Reserve Battalion we were allotted to the various companies. On parade the officers foregathered to inspect and sum up the new intake bequeathed to them for good or ill. That was fair enough since the responsibility of producing an effective part of the war machine rested largely on their shoulders. Every officer appeared to have his own pet dog on parade. Dogs of all sizes and every known breed, from poodles to dalmatians sat and stared disdainfully at the rookies and one could almost read their thoughts! Each dog wore a silver collar engraved with the rank of 'rifleman' and his name. Whatever their breed, and in spite of their lowly rank, that canine motley were utter snobs. Any member of the battalion not wearing a Sam Browne(1) was eyed with contempt and fraternisation with the rank and file was obviously against orders. Stupidly perhaps, some of the men regarded their presence as an insult to the dignity of 'Rifleman'. Nevertheless, those canine soldiers deserved full marks for their obedience and bearing on parade. However, in the matter of status the RSM's Sam Browne had them foxed.
St Matthews, Redhill held a special morning service for the QWR, and at its conclusion by 9:50am the battalion was dismissed for the day. So ended the first week of army life. If training for the battlefield was to be compressed into the short period forecast by Sergeant Kaye one could only conclude that the Staff were unduly complaisant about the potentialities of the new intake or that the demand for cannon fodder in the raw was of paramount importance. With only five weeks to go we were not optimistic!
(1) A Sam Browne is a military leather belt - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Browne_belt
St Matthews, Redhill held a special morning service for the QWR, and at its conclusion by 9:50am the battalion was dismissed for the day. So ended the first week of army life. If training for the battlefield was to be compressed into the short period forecast by Sergeant Kaye one could only conclude that the Staff were unduly complaisant about the potentialities of the new intake or that the demand for cannon fodder in the raw was of paramount importance. With only five weeks to go we were not optimistic!
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| Original diary entry |
(1) A Sam Browne is a military leather belt - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Browne_belt
17th February 1917
Physical training and squad drill until 4 pm - we no longer wished to die.
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| Original diary entry |
16th February 1917
Pay parade was an essential, but the sickly looking draft were excused all other duties.
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| Original diary entry |
15th February1917
Confined to billets we lay in bed all day - food and drink held no attraction.
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| Original diary entry |
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