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Fragments of letters from Raymond to his
brother, Edgar, his nephew,
Gareth and nieces, Gwyneth and Eirian.
January 30th 1916
Dear Edgar,
Sorry to hear that you were not well. It must be what you suggested,
anyhow, you had better see a ‘med.’, so as to feel easier in your mind. It
is not an uncommon thing. I should certainly see Jack Reeve. I suppose
would be your army ‘med.’ I have been running Divisional Baths for now for
11 days. We had to get different points that far behind the trenches. I am
really under Llewellyn Williams who is supposed to be responsible. I go
round every day on horseback and make a round of 10-12 miles. All the
course is under shell fire so you see it is quite exciting. Have been very
lucky so far and had no shells near me, but see them in adjacent fields etc
so one bath had been shelled out before my arrival and two since. Two are
abandoned and I am restarting two new ones in new places.
I do all the work. Ll. is supposed to keep
me supplied with fuel and also give all bathed a complete clean change.
Each bath can do 200-250 each day. Altogether 1000 a day. Most washing,
change and arranging for carting the dirty cloths off takes some doing. The
supply wagon can only go round after dark (because of shelling) with ration
and cloths etc. I am billeted at a place with another chap Parry – fine
chap with a section, but I am out of the Amb. for the present and simply
under sanitary section. W, surprises me greatly. Does absolutely nothing.
Can’t get enough clean changes from him or transport and he left me
isolated for the first 6 days. I had to manage as well as I could. Anyhow
have bathed and changed all who came and find my own transport.
Have done one brigade and most of another
with clothes left by outgoing Division. The staff colonel A.D.M.S. came
round today and was very pleased. I told him about the clothes grievances.
Wm was rather done down. He is hopeless (The general impression I find).
Anyhow, I had to put myself right as the staff colonel asked particularly
about it. They are very keen on bathing and change in the Div. and I like
the work as going about is interesting and expecting more so than sticking
is. I am afraid our amb. is doomed to “Itch” etc for sometime as our old
man is not much relied on. If I don’t see much prospect later I will take
on other regimental work, but hear the places are swarming with rats which
nearly intimidate me far more than the danger.
Letter incomplete
March 29th 1916
My Dear Edgar,
...The A.D.S.I have described, I think, an
isolated farm short way behind and pretty exposed - shelled occasionally,
because of the batteries near. Fine cellar and ??(in which I sleep) and
good accommodation for casualties. The other man has had Military cross. I
was complimented on the baths and praised by the A.D.M.S. on Baths. Have had
pretty interesting time here. Been in trenches every day when off duty.
Trenches are dangerous as the Bosche trenches are very near and
rifles are used a good deal. Their range is within 150-180 yards. They are
shot up into air and drop into opposing trenches and explode and make a
jolly nasty wound and many deaths. Sat on edge of a crater last week
20 yards from Bosche who were on the other edge and had to speak in
a whisper. This afternoon got into a sap and saw two periscopes of them
moving at about 30-35 yards away at end of sap, also fired off a rifle
grenade and then watched the effect of our rifle grenades, aimed at their
trenches about 60 yards, but before they went one better and dropped
three beauties on to us at 10 yards. One went off, then a dud and then
another about 8 yards, then another 4 yards off but over the
parapet. I saw the last coming down and it seemed to come right on to me so
I rushed for dug out but it was crammed full. ‘Pob pareh
The man I have here with is M.O. to one of
the battalions and is the ‘limit in daring’ etc. Quite a byword! After we
left the sap – ½ hour afterwards, while we had tea in a dug out with the
company, 3 men were killed at the place we had been with rifle grenades.
Shan’t go again. Too risky. Had some views of the German trenches and
well on to their lines the other days with a good eye glass. Thought I
could see some figures moving about. I find the trenches fascinating and
had great difficulty in refusing and invitation to go round. Last Monday
there was I was told of a strafe on our part of the trenches so I and a
corporal went out. We left the trenches and got on the open ground behind
the front line on sloping ground towards our trenches. We got to a ruined
house and stayed there a bit and our guns started. Then we got nearer but
found ourselves in full view and only 100 yards from the German trenches.
Then something happened. The Germans started to fire from an angle over our
heads on to our front lines. We were by then fairly near. Then the shells
started to fall near our walls and ‘Jones’ felt a bit like going home. We
were told afterwards by our chaps that the Germans had spotted us and were
shelling us. One fell 34 yards away but a dud. Then we started off in the
open to another wall and another shell fell just behind this and covered our
side with dust and fragments, just missing us. I tried into jump in a ditch
and slithered in and finally walked to a spot behind a sandbag wall and had
a well-earned cigarette. Then we ran back about 80 yards and simply got in
to the trench. Diolch byth. (Thank heavens). We had to scamper in the
open 4 times and each time seemed miles but really it was extremely
exhilarating though I was in an awful funk. It was our fault as we could
well have been back. We didn’t count on the Bosche carrying on as they
did. Some of our officers had seen us and given us up for lost as they
could see bricks and timbers go up all around our devoted heads. They
thought a great joke, especially as we had ‘asked for it’. I was glad
afterwards of the experience especially as I found myself much cooler than I
expected. Anyhow don’t be worried. I am satisfied now and I shall be more
careful here. The place I was in was at the parapets only but not where the
intricate system of real trenches. 6 machine gun bullets passed over my
head in one sap, first time I was in – a most terrifying noise. Of course
they skimmed over the parapets.
Your Affectionate brother
Raymond.
P.S. Don’t worry I certainly wont run any
more risks. Again.
10th South Wales Borderers,
38th Division
June 7th 1916
Dear Edgar,
I must apologise for not
answering your letter but I have written quite a lot to Gwyneth etc. I am
not sure whether I thanked Gwen for the cake, if not thank her again
warmly. We came back to the trenches Monday night after 10 days rest in
same place as before, the company being in a farmhouse. I had quite a
decent rest. Football matches between battalions etc and our band playing a
lot – quite a good band. Last Sunday morning I went to hear Grand Mass for
the fallen soldier of both nations. Quite impressive!
Our C.O. is a very decent chap and keen I have a very easy time when we are
in a casualties with us are very low. We are in the place I saw your lot
last Christmas. I believe my leave is coming in three weeks time, but I
hear it is now 7 days - what a shame. Then the ADMS is a pig. I don’t
think we would have it for long time only one of our medical men was up
before the general about it. He, himself is now on his second leave and
staff are also following. These political classes are not altogether
satisfactory. These chaps want kudos at the expense of somebody else. I am
afraid now it will not be possible to come to Barry, as the time will be
short. Takes such a time to get to Llanrhaeadr-yn-Mochnant and I feel I
must go home as long as possible. You will understand. I should awfully
like to see you and the family but as it is it will be unfair.
With warm love to all
Ray
Continued on
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