Letterbook for Harold Edwin Salisbury Armitage, 1916-1918 - Part 6
London Visit (contd.) 97
The Roman catapults in the Armory & we used the same things at
Gallipoli & in France for tossing bombs long distances - the French
mortar is an old weapon we use with stronger explosives - as
for arrows the Germans drop them from their aeroplanes -
Chinese used stink pots hundreds of years of ago - we use
tear & mustard gas shells - we pelt bombs at each other
while old Goliath got in the way of a pebble - so we are
not very much more civilised today.
The Tower has been subjected to various alterations -
but you know I love History - so you can guess I had
a real feast that morning, I visited the Tower Bridge,
a fine piece of engineering, & saw it in action.
During the afternoon I strolled down the Strand - saw our
new Australia House - a fine building. Aldwych is near
the Strand - there I saw the most uptodate business bldgs.
not sky scrapers - but plain solid Foy & Gibson sort of places.
I also went down Fleet St., The Mall, under the Marble
Arch, & round to the famous Courts.
The 22nd I put in by getting into touch with my wounded
boys - & general sightseeing - & in the evening went to St Pauls.
I stood by the Iron Duke's tomb - recalled Tennyson's Ode -
Next day I set out for Liverpool & had a most charming
trip this time through the Midlands We passed Rugby, Harrow,
Crewe &c - & saw the first named College from the train - & felt glad
to see the scene of Tom Brown's school days. The country is
splendid - but different to France & Belgium where every inch is used
99
Liverpool &c
It almost hurt me to see the tenement houses crammed
in the towns of England, all alike - & bespeaking the landlord
system & rent yoke. It seemed an awful shame not to own
one's home. I arrived at Lpool just at dusk & set out to
dig out the Boltons right away. I'm afraid they looked
out for a 6' 6" Anzac wearing kangaroo feathers &c - for I
passed by Cis - ( she was wearing specs. so I didn't know her,
but when I saw Fred I knew him at once. Cis insulted
me by saying I looked "like a Tommy officer" H! - altho'
I deliberately speak Australian & walk like an Australian -
so no more flash uniforms for me.
Kirkdale is a miserable place - almost a slum- but
Bolton's house is part of the mill - about 8 or 9 rooms -
electric light & gas (no rent &c) - so they are very comfortable.
I think Fred would make a big mistake to leave his billet
for an uncertain one in Aussy. The Boltons are a fine
family & treated me right royally. Cousin Hannah is a
real little brick - Cis & Flo very expert musicians, & Cis
is a very good artist as well. The first evening was gone
in short time talking about Australia & you folks - It was
fine - ( as Fred would say "Champion"!)- but of course we
could not leave Gallipoli or the Somme alone - Cis & Flo
had just returned from a trip to Dysaerth (-Wales) - from
their description it would be a most beautiful place.
Fred took me on Sunday morning (24th) to the city - & we saw
some fine buildings - many of them (Cunard's &c) really immense.
100
Liverpool trip (23rd Sept 1916)
Then we went to the Landing Stage - & crossed over to
Brighton on one of the ferry boats, so getting a fine view
of the docks as we did so. I saw many famous boats
all in the Mersey at the one time. The Mauretania as
a hospital ship reminded me of the time I saw
her at Mudros - so did the Olympic - whilst the
"Carmania " looked fit for several more "Cap Trafalgars"
Most trade is down to Americans ships like St Louis,
Philadelphia & so on- because the U boats are supposed to
shy at Mr Wilson's notes.
We had a pleasant walk - on the Cheshire side on a fine
esplanade about 9 mls. long - but Hoylake was at other end.
In the afternoon went to Aintree - visited Jessie Palmer -
(husband Jack steward on "Carpathia ") I also looked over
the famous race course - & the largest munition works in Blighty.
Monday had a look over the "Carpathia" & in the afternoon with
Cis went to Waterloo & saw, Cousin Will - Susie, & afterwards on
to see Letty - Simpkin - & the nipper - & had tea at Lizzies place
Kitty & Cousin Will had arrived home then - They didn't ask
me much about Eddy - for which I was thankful as I knew
very little. Poor Fred - I reckon those two would be in khaki
now if they'd had a chance. On 26th again did Liverpool -
& all too soon came the 27th when I got back to London. On the
27th I saw some of mine at Wandsworth, & then on 28th took
train back for France. I had a good time, & am now fresh &
invigorated ready for the Ypres Salient. Boltons were tip top
{*TURN BOOK &
GO BACK.*}
Much love from your loving son Rollo
2.4.17 NOREUIL
ROUGH SKETCH
(NO SCALE)
N
W E
S
To ARRAS
LONGATTE
(E’COUSTE)
PLATEAU
X GRAVE
X 51st NOREUIL VALLEY
TO QUEANT
S. RIDGE
5 a m
BEFORE ATTACK 50' 52
2.4.17 To VAULX LAGNICOURT
SCOTS + 51. 51.
To ARRAS
SCOTTISH PLATEAU
50.
LONGATTE
(E’COUSTE)
NOREUIL VALLEY
QUANT
50
RIDGE
EVENING LAGNICOURT 5250
AP 2nd 1917.
101
near Ypres
Belgium
18.10.16
Dear Father & Mother,
I rather exhausted my writing powers
over my experiences in England & I've done nothing else
except scrawl of a letter to Wimps. I will write to the
Boltons tonight - as well as to you.
I must thank you for the two
very acceptable parcels I recd. the last two mails - that
Horlick's Milk, cheese, paste, nuts, & chocs was grand-
while the one from Wimps contained Eucalyptus, 3 lots of
socks &c, - the socks being especially useful now.
We are now in a new country -
lowlying - & very wet in winter. We are now in the
"cockpit" of Europe - and since Oct 1914 many great
fights have occurred here. Ypres is probably the most
famous of all our 'fronts' - ding-dong fights have taken
place to gain this little ridge, & to stop the rush on
to Ypres. Just now Fritz holds the ridge - but he
got that before we had our present Artillery . Until the
Somme push things weren't too good here - but things
have improved here - and we have the preponderance
in artillery now. We are not exactly in the front line
but we supply them, & work near the line. & I have been
up 'getting to know the front' - the last few days. It is
fairly peaceful here - & sheer bad luck if a chap gets knocked
98
(18. 10. 16) Near Ypres. Belgium contd 102.
We are fairly busy here - I'm Returning Officer in
connection with Mil. Service Referendum, & I am sorry
to see it as broad as it is. All, except married men or
those who are sole dependents, should be forced to serve,
and at a reduced rate of pay. We are all ready for a
good long spell - but we know we cannot have one yet -
and no one seems to be coming forward to take the
strain - so we have to hang on, & help those who live
on the blood of those who have gone out. God help
Australia if she votes NO, - I think any man who
votes NO is a pro German, - the lowest of the low, & in
fact not a man. I tell my lads this is pure Aussy -
what I think of anti conscriptionists, & was very emphatic.
I've just recd. a letter from Boltons - with a couple of
snaps Fred made of me. My boys (Loudon & Co ) say
that one is typical of me - my attitude when I "strafe"-
but I'm smiling at something Hannah has just said.
I've heard from several of my boys - some had heard
I'd " gone out" - & glad to hear that 'so & so' had seen me
in England. It is fine to hear from the old boys - for
I loved those men even when I had to "stir" them up
- & it was hard to lose so many - about 1 in 6 fell
in those two Somme stunts - & others are maimed for
life - others knocked out for six or eight weeks, - and
this is the sort of thing one feels most - and will
affect me for many, many days
96
103 Near Ypres. 103
18.10.16
To have a Sergeant & later two other men come up
to me during that Dante’s Inferno we were in - and
ask permission to go to the rear to get 'bad' wounds
dressed - is discipline - yet some say the Australians
are undisciplined! Thank God, my talks to the
boys about 'Duty' have borne fruit - in spite of having
- at times to seem harsh - & I am proud of my men.
Some of the wounded are back again - but the number
of old Broken Hill boys is getting much smaller - but
those left are going strong. Sgt. Wilson in this go has
been in Hosp. three times - but he is here again, & so is
Lister, whilst Sgt Peebles who was made like a sieve
about the arms & legs is back too - anxious to have
another go, & to give back a little of what he got.
Bise, Whittle, Nuttall, Spinkston & Cheney are all in touch
with me - & I expect the last two here any time.
I get no word from Scott - so fancy he must have
been more badly wounded than I thought. Many of the
others write to me, & I must stop now to write to
some of them
News is extremely scarce - but "no news &c. &c".
Best of good wishes., best love, good luck &c from
Your loving Rollo
Hope you're all as well as I am
94
104
Belgium 23.10.16
Moving, moving - moving
Always bally moving
From one week's end until the next
We're moving all the time
2nd Scrapping, scrapping, scrapping &c
3rd Shelling
4th Charging
5 Digging
6 Marching
7 Moving & then ad lib to nth power
Dear Father & Mother,-
The above ‘hymn’ describes our general
movements - but the another verse or two is needed to describe the
weather & climate. Drizzling - drizzling, &c.- so you can
guess Belgium is not unlike the S.E. in winter. Mud &
slush everywhere - cold all day & night- whilst the rain is
practically ceaseless. However we manage to live, & will continue
to carry on O.K. The men are all supplied with waders whilst
in the front areas, - plenty of dubbing for boots , whale oil in
quantities to grease the feet & keep out the wet, & thick clothes
along with thick gloves & leather over-gloves - so we get on O.K.
An extra blanket is also issued to each man, so we're being
well looked after. Rations most excellent & plentiful, so we
get on fine. We put in a fortnight in the front line - only
4 light casualties in the whole Bn (none in C. Co) - now
we are on our way to a very wet & hot corner in a [[?nigh]]
county, & the Circus is on the move again
92
105
23.10.16.
I am writing this in a weatherboard hut built by the Kanuk
and it is not water-tight by any means. I have to sit on my
valise in the driest corner - & dodge the drippings from the ceiling
We are only here for a few days, & probably will have far better
quarters in a short time
This Contonment is the filthiest I've yet seen, and strange
to say we relieved the 50th - or Dirty Half Hundredth. They
do not belie their name, in fact our C O. told their C.O. a
few straight facts about what they could learn from us
Strange to say when we first started - our chief anxiety
was - how do we - or how will our boys compare with the
English regular. Now we wonder what their strong points
are - Anyhow I sincerely hope we never take over any
other positions vacated by them, & that we only have Aussies
on our flanks in a stunt. Of course some regts are A.1.
Our Referendum Vote has just finished & strange to say
I believe a fair number voted NO. - but I don't think we'd
many in our Battn I was R.O. for our Company.
If Australia Votes NO I don't intend to be an Australian
- for it won't be worth calling a Nation then. I trust
the vote will be YES - for God knows, & so do all the officers
that we need Refts. very badly - the whole A.I.F is
being starved for want of new blood. If Billy Hughes
had any guts he should have said 'Conscription' straight
out. - He's a funk for he knows our position & he's far
worse then Yes No Reid - may be a splendid theorists
he's a d - d bad practical statesman.
90
106
23.10.16.
Billy tells us "to go in turn"- but he acts differently in Australia
- his ideas may be splendid - but he won't put them into practice.
This war is going to last some time yet - and it is great pity
we could not settle this business before winter came - for now
the Hunnish Hydra will grow more heads by next Spring.
That stunt of Falkenstein's in Romania means that the
Huns hold the trump card now on all fronts - and it was
a pity Romania came in - for she is isolated from Britain,
has mostly Hun guns - (except a few French heavies ) & no
Krupp ammunition - so they'll be mere cannon fodder.
I hope the Russians will be able to stop the rot that has
set in in S.E & Central Romania.
I dare say the Huns will have some Anti-tanks & other
antidotes to our Push tactics before the Spring returns.
Ken Mc was telling me about George's death. Poor
old George - I was sorry to read about him. Ken wishes to
be remembered to you all. - Next time we're out for a Rest
I must try & get him out of the Orderly Room - to deal with
the men on parade &c - I think he'd make a fine officer.
- but at present he's out of touch with outside mil. work
his branch is adminis. & promotion is very slow there.
Merv. M came an inglorious end in Egypt - his
uncle was present when something was said to me once
about "frills &c of an officer" - well the nephew has
put a full stop to any chance of his military career.
Les Johns is still O.K. & Sid Lehman is away sick. (Tonsilitis)
but will be back soon.
88
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