Correspondence between Herbert Vincent Reynolds and his family, 1917 - Part 7

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Awaiting approval
Accession number:
AWM2018.19.12
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

Fueed 18th Your Eequads besides mene were sent up to Ypres, we marched were called at sam for ration fatigue up & reached there about 10 pm & we went up to the A.D.S + put were instructed tto get into the billeting tannels in the ramparts the rations on the ears then went & get some sleep as some of us were on to the waggon colecting poet further along the Mennin road. wanted early to take rations up to the line, the ration party were our there we unloaded the striff, the at about 3 am but I was not called artillery put a barrage over on till about C am then we went through frty just as we arrived there the city of Yhres to the Advance & we were kept waiting for some Dreseing etation on the Mennin Rd time as fitz replied to it with there we were set to work on sand- a fair amount of heavy stuff We had to carry the water ration. bag profection work, also on new gass- pro of dugouts, futy put some big shil I medical supplies on sheatchers + pretty close at times during the day was jally glad when we reached The Hooge Aannel, which was our About 2pm two of our chaps who wer up with the ration party came bact, destination, my three nates + I picked wounded. As about 5pm we all up a patient a RackE chap at the aid past & carried him down to returned to the ramparts at Ypres to have a eleep, next morning The waggon colecting post we then
setout for the CD.S+ what a state we found our chaps in there, je as the party were arriving to stary work there a shell got them & out of the 23r twenty of them were casualties, my mate Prnie Brown wa one of them, also one or two other good mates of mine. We were ssent back to the ramparts & sold to rest till we were wanted. That same nigh Cisection came up & went up to the une, next morning we heard that one their chaps had been killed + another wounded, making the total of 24 casuatties He were not disturbed tell upm on the 19 th when we left the ramparts to go up to the line, we reached the A.D.S. & were sent of in squads at entervals of 80 yas from there each sad had a pehoblin
AUSTRALLAN (5 RED CROSS. full of tea to take up, I think it was about 9 30 pm when we left the ASs with instructions to pick up blanketts & medical stores at the waggon port & sake on to Hooge Hannel, my three mates & I gat along allright several shells exploded pretty close at times untill we had almost reached the past, then I gos bowled over I don't know what with, I neither heard or seenany. thing, my head was going like a hundred horse power mator, when I came to realize what had happene I was walking in fron of my mates the shell burstin front of me &
6 I being the only one hif; my mater got a streatcher & took me on to the aid post & I was fixed up Hemporaly when the car arrived I was sent down to the A.DS; the ride in that car will never be forgatten by me, the sar + all seemed to be flying round like mad. I dont know the times I arrived at any place that night I think I was out to it the beggeet part of the night; When I arrived at the 3rd Canadian C.C.C. near Popperinghe they were not long before I was under an anthes. tetis + free from all trouble. Yoing under that night was the greates releif I have ever had, I came to next morning with the sun shining quite brightly. I was put on a hospital train early that morning & was comfortable that night in the 18th General Hospital 19 at Comiers, the place was being run by the American unit & they looked after us & treated us real well. I was in that place a week + they reckoned I was fit to havel so I was sent over here we came vea Calais Dover I do not like this place much though the treatment is allright they are falking of Transferring me to another place. I hope they do I have not heard from any of the mates, or from anyone else in fact My ear us healing up pretty well I don't think there is aany chance of the hearing returning any how I was jolly lucky to have got out of it with that Freckon Fve been wishing you were a to hop in here occasiona
this place Things are very dead in occasionally a parson or some old dame floats in, I only wish I were near London I would have plenty of friends to see me then. Well cham I think this is about all the news so will say An revoer for the present trusting you are all well at home yours ever very haty Ber
and ma 371 AB aw E. 6 OOT 17 Albert S. Cli f20 l C + G1
BSTRALLAN LEDCROSS.
B.R. Form No. 9. EN. AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE. BASE RECORDS OFFICE VICTORIA BARRACKS. MELBOURNE, 1Oth Oct., 1917. Dear Madam, Private H. V. Reynolds, I nOY DES to advise you that removed from the sericusly 111 list. has been reported His postal address will bo: Nc. 622 Private H.V. Reynolds Stafft, 2nd ist Field Ambulance, Australian Imperial Force, Abroad. In the absence of further reports it is to be assumed that satisfactory progress is being maintained, but anything later received will be promptly transmitted; it being clearly understood that if no further advice is forwarded this department has no more information to supply. Yours faithfully, J. M. LEAN, Major, Officer in Charge, Base Records. D194/3.17.—O-3416.
M S. 104 047 10 110.11 VICTORIA- 10 NWII N13 1800 Mrs. Reynolds Albert St., SKERSTOPOL. VIC. Mnot Delivered within 7 Days please return to Officer in Charge, Base Records, Victoria Barracks, Melbourne. VICI 13
B.R. Form No. 9. AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE. BASE RECORDS OFFICE, TMI VICTORIA BARRACKS MELBOURNE, 12th October, 1917. Dear Madam, I nowrbeg to advise you that Private H. v. Reynolds has been reported admitted to Ist Southern General Rospital, Birmingham, England, 91917, suffering from gunshot wound left His postal address will be: ear. No. 622, Private H. V. Reynolds, Stafft ist Field Ambulance, Australian Imperial Force, Abroad. In the absence of further reports it is to be assumed that satisfactory progress is being maintained, but anything later received will be promptly transmitted, it being -clearly understood that if no further advice is forwarded this department has no more information to supply. Yours faithfully, J. M. LEAN, Major, D194/317.—C.3416. Officer in Charge, Base Records.

(2)

were sent up to Ypres, we marched

up & reached there about 10 pm &

were instructed to get into the 

billeting tunnels in the ramparts

& get some sleep as some of us were

wanted early to take rations up to

the line, the ration party were out

at about 3 am but I was not called 

till about 6 am then we went through

the city of Ypres to the Advance

Dressing station on the Mennin Rd 

there we were set to work on sandbag 

protection work, also on new gass-proof 

dugouts, fritz put some big shells

pretty close at times during the day.

About 2 pm two of our chaps who went 

up with the ration party came back

wounded. At about 5 pm we all

returned to the ramparts at Ypres

to have a sleep, next morning

(3)

Tuesd 18th four squads besides mine 

were called at 4am for ration fatigue

we went up to the ADS & put

the rations on the cars then went 

on to the waggon colecting post

further along the Mennin road,

there we unloaded the stuff, the

artillery put a barrage over on 

fritz just as we arrived there

& we were kept waiting for some 

time as fritz replied to it with 

a fair amount of heavy stuff.

We had to carry the water, rations

& medical supplies on streatchers &

was jolly glad when we reached 

the Hooge tunnel, which was our 

destination, my three mates & I picked

up a patient a RAMC chap at

the aid post & carried him down to

the waggon colecting post we then

 

(4)

set out for the ADS & what a state

we found our chaps in there, just

as the party were arriving to start

work there a shell got them & out 

of the 23 twenty of them were

casualties, my mate Ernie Brown was 

one of them, also one or two other

good mates of mine. We were sent

back to the ramparts & told to rest

till we were wanted. That same night

C section came up & went up to the 

line, next morning we heard that one 

of their chaps had been killed & another

wounded, making the total of 24 

casualties. We were not disturbed till

7 pm on the 19th when we left the

ramparts to go up to the line, we 

reached the ADS & were sent off

in squads at intervals of 50 yds

from there each sqd had a petrol tin

 

(5)

full of tea to take up, I think 

it was about 9 30 pm when we left

the ADS with instructions to pick

up blanketts & medical stores at the 

waggon post & take on to Hooge

tunnel, my three mates & I got 

along allright. Several shells exploded

pretty close at times untill we had 

almost reached the post, then I 

got bowled over I don't know what 

with, I neither heard or seen anything,

my head was going like

a hundred horse power motor, when

I came to realize what had happened

I was walking in front of my mates

& the shell burst in front of me

 

(6)

I being the only one hit, my mates

got a streatcher & took me on to

the aid post & I was fixed up

temporaly when the car arrived I 

was sent down to the ADS, the

ride in that car will never be 

forgotten by me, the car & all seemed

to be flying round like mad.

I don't know the times I arrived

at any place that night I think I 

was out to it the biggest part of 

the night, When I arrived at the 3rd

Canadian CCS near Popperinghe they were

not long before I was under an anthestetic 

& free from all trouble. Going 

under that night was the greatest

relief I have ever had, I came to

next morning with the sun shinning

quite brightly. I was put on a hospital

train early that morning & was comfortable

that night in the 18th General Hospital

(7)

at Comiers, the place was being run 

by the American unit & they looked 

after us & treated us real well.

I was in that place a week & they 

reckoned I was fit to travel so I 

was sent over here we came via 

Calais & Dover.

I do not like this place much
though the treatment is allright they

are talking of transferring me to
another place. I hope they do.

I have not heard from any of the

mates, or from anyone else in fact

My ar ear is healing up pretty

well I don't think there is any

chance of the hearing returning

any how I was jolly lucky to 
have got out of it with that
I reckon.
I've been wishing you were able

to pop in here occasionally

 

Things are very dead in this place

occasionally a parson or some old

dame floats in, I only wish I were

near London I would have 

plenty of friends to see me then.
Well Mum I think this is about

all the news so will say

Au revoir for the present,

trusting you are all well at home

yours ever very truly

Bert

 

 

Mrs Reynolds

Albert St  [* Oct 3rd 1917*]
Sebastopol

Ballarat

Victoria

Australia
 

 

 

Rear of Red Cross envelope ~ see original

 

 

   

EW.
MELBOURNE, 10th Oct., 1917.

Dear Madam,
I now beg to advise you that Private H. V. Reynolds,
has been reported removed from the seriously ill list.

His postal address will be:-.

No. 622 Private H.V. Reynolds,

"Staff", xxx 1st Field Ambulance,
CPP

 

 

Mrs. Reynolds,

Albert St.,

SEBASTOPOL. VIC.

 

 

FMP

MELBOURNE, 12th October, 1917.

Dear Madam,
I now beg to advise you that Private H. V. Reynolds,
has been reported admitted to 1st Southern General
Hospital, Birmingham, England, 9/9/17, suffering from gunshot wound left

ear

His postal address will be:-.

No. 622, Private H. V. Reynolds,

"Staff" 1st Field Ambulance,

CPP

 

 

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