OSE WWI Transcriptions from the Archives

1 8: A. N. Carew Hunt – 2 nd Oxf. & Bucks Light Infantry – 26 Jun 1915 Dear Warden,

I’m afraid that after the letters from the front you have had already this will seem very humdrum as I have been out here a month without having any exciting adventures or narrow escapes. And here this shaky writing is not due to the shrieking of shells as much as to the vileness of the pen I am using. At the moment, shells are not shrieking because the enemy are not firing them, and our own are so close that we only hear the report when they are fired, and that, I admit, is nearly deafening. We are [redacted by censors] behind the line and [redacted by censors] to the trenches tomorrow (Sunday). At present we are merely furnishing digging parties, and I am glad to say that I have been missed out as my platoon went in 2 sergeants parties. Apparently, it is not amenable for an officer to walk about with less than 50 men. To which convention I owe three extremely slack days in succession. It ought to be very dangerous here, but it isn’t as the Germans aren’t shelling. There was a thunderstorm yesterday and we stood a chance of dying in our beds, as it were, by being struck by lightning. However, we were spared. But as we are all billeted in roofless houses it was very unpleasant and we spent the afternoon and evening in sweeping water out of the door and in lighting an enormous wood fire to dry the place up. My room was like a shower basin while the rain lasted. I have been only 6 days in the trenches so far and all I object to here is lack of sleep. It has been cold at night which keeps one awake and it is seldom possible to get more than 2 hours at a time. In fact, in trenches, you never appear to sleep or to wash. You do both as a matter of fact, but it comes as a surprise. Otherwise, when not in trenches we have been billeted usually very comfortably. This place is the worst we have been in. At another place we had an empty house which had been occupied by the French R.A.M.C and left in a state of undescribable [indescribable] filth. The people are generally very good, and you would suppose they would have more sterling qualities as they continue to live within a mile or so of the line constantly exposed to shell fire. Shells, I must say, I dislike very much, and I can’t quite say which I dislike more the kind that arrive unannounced or the kind that you have whistling as they come. The former give more of a shock but the latter give you all the pleasure of anticipation. I’m glad to say I’ve not had many of either – only about 20 in all having fallen near enough to be alarming. But a regular bombardment must be dreadful, and I find that I prepare to have a pipe in my mouth when even 4 or 5 are arriving. One knows all the time that the Germans have the exact range and can turn their guns on when they like. That doesn’t matter if the guns are silent but if they begin at one and this time makes one feel nervous. Still, I have had nothing to speak of yet and a trench is very good protection unless from shell fire when the shell drops right into it. Even then its effect is more felt between two trenches. However, I suppose the 2 nd division will begin an attack sooner or later and then I can write you one of those blood and thunder letters expected from people who are at the front. We have only had one officer casualty at present and that has been Withington [OSE]. You need not be alarmed as it is very slight. He was in a trench watching the bomb throwers practice and as he didn’t keep his head down, he saw too much. He got a bit of bomb in the forehead which gave him a nasty cut but tho’ he goes about with a kind of phylactery it has made no difference to him. I see a lot of him as he commands no. 3 and I no. 4 platoon. We generally share a dug out or a billet. This is a dull letter I’m afraid but the next shall be more exciting. Please remember me to Miss Sing. Yours very sincerely, A. N. Carew Hunt

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