Letterbook for Harold Edwin Salisbury Armitage, 1916-1918 - Part 8

66 France
Omitted Letter 25.8.16 read back to 60

My last letter gave you a short account of our
first stunt - and the two biggest ‘goes’ I’ve yet
had - but my description was very incomplete
as I was done up at the time.
Now my mind is numbed to the horrors of that
awful time - I can recall pretty well every minute
and every act - I could tell all about it, but
my thoughts flow too quickly for writing
I have not ceased wondering how I came out
alive - I believe a bullet grazed my right ear
it was scratched a wee bit - I believe shells burst
so close that the concussion bowled me over - &
I remember a shell bursting right above me as
I was lying in the open, & the heat was so great
that I rubbed my trouser legs to see if they were
burning. - I had some marvellous escapes.
I recommended two of my officers - Rule and
Beresford - and some of my men Nuttall, Kerr,
Walsh & Hanley for honours,  & expected to be among
those recommended too.  I’m a bit disappointed
for somehow I have been passed over, - but I’m
not going to H.Q. to blare out what I did -
like some folks did: I expected a M.C at least
if my dues were paid in comparison with some
people.  However we’ll have another stunt in a
few days, & I’ll go for converting my honor to V.C.
← to back

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Omitted letter 25.8.16 (Go back to 60) begun on 66
(Continuation)   France

One thing I did was to stop a panic in another officer's
company - nuf sed - but I will tell you about it when
I get back - or if my luck is out Lieut. Rule can give you
details of Aug 12 to 15.  Sgt. Nuttall could tell you
all about it - & especially a particular part near
Moquet Farm - but please don’t mention the name
of  Ch…l Sm-h-th to me - Honors are demerited
by bad awards - but ‘nuf sed' at present.  I am
well content to have a whole skin, & hope I can get
through other stunts as well.  God grant it.
I have re-trained my Co. and when we go in we’ll
make things hum I can tell you.
Lehman, Johns, & McEwin are O.K - &  I’ll write later.
27.8.16
Once again on our way to the Front -, & in a day
or two we will be in again.  I am looking forward to
our next ‘go’ confidently - but for all that my Co. & the
whole Battn recd. a hard knock. - We have only got ½
our rfts. required, & these still have much to learn.
However we’ll do our ‘job’ O.K - at any rate C Co. will -
for we have a lot of comrades to avenge.
The old Bde (3^rd) have been in again - they had
a shot at our uncompleted stunt of the 14^th - but were
rather badly hit, & were unsuccessful.  The Heads are
beginning to realise Moquet Farm is a tough proposition

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Omitted Letters Begins 0n 66 & works back
27.8.16

Just fancy we advanced 350^x first night - and in the
second stunt went on another 250^x when we tried to
dig in - and all that time our rear folks made no
effort to dig forward to us with communicating trenches
I had to get all supplies (such as could be got) - per
“overland express” at dusk or dawn.  All my
messages had to be sent by runner over “No Mansland”
(which was absolute Hell) - so that it is not very
remarkable that out of 15 messages sent by me to
Bgde H.Q - only 8 arrived.
Stretcher bearers were kept so busy in rear, that
they couldn’t get anywhere near to us until the 4^th
day, & then Donald Kerr reached us - but in
the meantime many had died from wounds.
I have recommended Kerr for the V.C. & he deserves it.
Scott - my first batman - was made a L. Cpl. a
few weeks ago - and was doing well - while in
the stunts of the 12, 13, 14 he did marvellous work.
He would have gained 3 stripes easily - but on our
way back on the 14^th from our abandoned position
he was badly struck in the back by bits of shell.
I got him into the lee side of a shell-hole, & fixed
him up as best I could - but I am afraid there
was internal bleeding.  The outward bleeding had
stopped - but I could not dress the wounds - and I knew
an impromptu stretcher of rifles & coats would start
the bleeding again, so we had to wait for proper stretchers.

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Omitted Begins on 66 27.8.16

No stretchers came till we were relieved - but the Bⁿ
who took our place promised to look after Scott & 4 or 5
others whom I’d left.  The Bn^. was badly shelled, and
so far Scott has not passed through the Field Ambulance.
Things like this take away all the feeling of glory in a
stunt - but it was absolutely impossible to get away
with any wounded except the walking cases.  At the
last I risked things and allowed 4 stretcher parties
of 4 men each to take in 4 cases on improvised stretchers
but 5 men of B & C Cos. were left for the relievg Bde.
It hurts me to look at C now.  Most of my N.C.O - (many
have written to tell me their whereabouts) - & most of
my men are new.  Those of the old C are patched up -
bandages on hands &c., but thank God we are still the
Fighting Fiftieth - and my Co. is tip-top, eager to
get in for duty’s sake - & keen to avenge comrades.
So what more can a C.O. want than men like these.
Of the old 10^th - Lynch, Chisholm & Hill have got
their stars - (all my old platoon) so old N^o.9  is doing
well.  I saw Weir & Hamilton just after we were
relieved.  They were going in again - & Col. sent
his respects.  The Pommies on our ‘left’ let us
down more than anyone else.  So far they seem
rather useless in a stiff go.
I’ll close now - Best of love &c. & hoping you’re as
well as Your loving son
Rollo

France 114
23.11.16

The Brigadier complimented me about the condition
of my trenches - & that suits me better than getting
a couple of M.C.
A small mail just came in, bringing two splendid
parcels, for me, one from you - the other from Boltons.
Thanks for them - & also for the cabled birthday
greetings.  We have just my birthday dinner in
the celebrated Delville Wood - soup - currant jelly,
curried bully beef stew, plum pudding, & crystallised
fruit to top-off.  Supper tonight will have cocoa
and shortbread, while the chocolate supply will
keep us going for a day or two yet - so you can
see I’ve had a most famous feast.  Boltons sent
on some chocs & shortbread - a fine body-belt knitted
by Cis, & a warm pair of gloves.  I’ll write to them as
soon as I finish this.
You must pardon this short note - but take
‘no news’ as ‘good news’ & things as O.K. I will
write again in about a week’s time - & hope to be
“back in France” as I am now, at that time.
I will close with all good wishes for good
fortune, health, &c - & much love to you all from
Rollo
I am in tip-top health.
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115
“Mudland”
30.11.16
Dear Father, Mother & All, -
I’ve just got 20 min.
to reply to yours of Oct. 15 - just recd - so I will have
to write like greased lightning to get done in time.
Thank you very much
for your splendid birthday parcel & the cable which
I recd. - the parcel was tip-top - & could not have been
more welcome than it was - for we are having rather
a "rough spin" physically at any rate.
Your letter was more
pleasing than getting a D.S.O &c - thank God I have
not to get a decoration to show what I’m made of -
Major Herbert- or Beresford & Rule can give you
full information re our first stunt.-  I must confess
when we found how the decorations went for that
first stunt - & I was in the cold - I candidly spoke
my mind to the originator of that Aug 14^th stunt -
for the M.C. given to C.S was earned by my men. -
However its over & done with now & I am satisfied to
be without it - & hope none come my way later on.
We are still under fire & above (or in) mud - & we
expect to be well out of the front line before Xmas -
The Brigadier has been well pleased with my men, & held
up their work (under snow & slush conditions) as an
example for the other cos. to follow.
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116
30.11.16

I suppose George is getting excited as he will be leaving
soon.  It will be hard on you to have two of us here
but I am sure you are proud of the fact that your
boys have the mental & moral as well as physical guts -
to take up their positions in the country’s ranks - instead
of shirking behind “cold-footed’ excuses
Anyhow no young fellow can surely stay behind with
peace of mind at a time like this
I will apply for leave so as to meet G. in England
soon after he comes - & you might let me know roughly
the date you anticipate he will land.
G. can look after himself I know - he will think too
much of you at home - to make his actions other
than what you’d like - so he’ll be O.K.
Harry is having a rough spin for his boyhood - but
thank God he hopes to follow in our steps.  I
expect he is looking forward to his school life in town
& if he goes to a boy's school - he will be O.K. as long
as it is not the S.M. & J. prepar. which is not educational.
I hope you’ll be nearer town soon so as to miss that
long & expensive railway journey.  The mailman is waiting
for me - so I’ll close with best of all good wishes for
the New Year - happiness, success, good health, & prosperity
with much love from
Your Loving Rollo
I hope Wumps is satisfied & kept in her old positions
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117
Mudland
17.12.16
Dear Father &  Mother, –
Just a few lines to let
you know I am O.K. but extremely busy - just
heard of a mail going in 2 days - & will try to get
a real letter off then.
We’re getting ready to have
a good Xmas - will be out of the line then - so
we are busy already arranging about Xmas dinner
& a Sports Programme for Boxing Day.
Must close now - with
love & best wishes for good health, prosperity,
& happiness from your loving son
Rollo
52

118
France
Dec 27/16

For the 3^rd time in succession Xmas has come & gone &
found me in khaki & away from home, and it is impossible to
say if we shall be home next Xmas or not - there is still so
much to be done.  Germs. are still far from being defeated,
and the spirit of the prisoners we get is by no means as
“broken” as H.Q. would have the nation believe.
Great things will happen not only in the Spring - but
before this winter is over - God help the poor unfortunate troops
sent over the top in this wet & muddy place.
The cold plays hell with us - it is only our stickability
in the lines, that keeps us going - we do not relish it at all.
The whole period in the front line areas is one of great
discomfort, much hardship, & illhealth.  Our boys are only
just getting ‘fit’ again to go up in front again after
nearly a month's spell.
Xmas was spent comparatively quietly - a jolly good feast
was provided for the troops - mainly thro' funds of League of
Loyal Women, - & football &c. in the afternoon. We will
hold sports on New Year's Day - the companies are hard
at work training their different teams
I miss my old officers very much - during our
‘rest’ we have recd reinforcements  & much re organisation
has been done. Beresford has gone to Training Brigade,
Loudon to H.Q. Staff - Rule transfd. to B.Co. - & I’ve been
given a drunken subaltern (-McLean) “his last chance”. 
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119
& three rftmts. officers - Sheard - Lucas & Packard.
They all seem so different to the old lot - always something
wrong with them - & by no means as keen or initiative as one
would wish.  Its not a nice feeling to be uncertain of them -
but I haven’t much confidence in them.
I’ve had to do a lot of work that with the old lot never fell
on my shoulders - & I’ll be glad when Baynes (away at a school)
comes back as Lieut - as he will be a great help.
If everything is not as nice as it might be - thank God I’ve
got good N.C.Os - most of them were in the old 10^th (& C too) at
Gallipoli with me. C. Co. is a splendid one - but not up to the
one I led on Aug 12^th - when we went into action.
If we go over the top - they’ll all go - & go hard too - for
we have a lot to make up for our fallen mates -
Your I.W.W crowd want a few Hun methods applied to
them to let them know what Kultur is
My second leave falls due on the 29^th - but I will put
it off till George arrives - & as soon as I know that date
will make preparations accordingly.  I would rather have it
in the Spring - as I don’t think winter in England would
be very pleasant.
We are close to Amiens now - but I haven’t gone into the
town - where a decent meal, clothing &c costs 100% more to
an Australian than others.  I sent my watch in per a bro.
officer - for a seconds hand  & new glass.  Charge 10fr. when
the whole watch was only worth 45fr - so you see French
can beat Scotch or Jews hollow.
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