Letters From the Trenches: A Soldier of the Great War

by Bill Lamin

  28th The Battalion moved by march route from BERGANA camp to billets in vicinity of VICENZA, arriving at 11 pm.

  29th The Battalion rested during the day. Church services were held in the afternoon. Lt. Col. S.D. Rumbold D.S.O., M.C. took over the temporary command of the 70th Infantry Brigade. Major L. Crampton M.C. took over temporary command of the Battalion.

  30th Section & Platoon training was commenced. ‘D’ Company gave a demonstration – witnessed by the other companies of a ‘Company in the Attack’ – open warfare.

  During the month the health of the battalion was good. The prevailing desease [sic] was I.C.T.

  (Signed)

  L Crampton Major

  Commanding 9th Battalion York & Lancaster Regt

  Oct 1st/ 1918

  32507/ 9th York & Lancs., C Company,

  L.G.S., I.E.F.

  Dear Jack

  Just a line to let you know I have arrived safe back in Italy it is not very nice to be after being at home but I shall have to make the best of it. I was very pleased to find them all well at home and Willie looking so well. The weather is still very hot, and we do our marching at night. I hope you got home safe after your holiday. We are on rest at present in Italian barracks but I don’t know how long for. Write back soon as possible as it will be a long time before I get a letter.

  Remember me to Agnes [Jack’s wife].

  With best Love to you both.

  Harry

  The battalion spent two weeks ‘resting’ – which involved training, route marches, ceremonial drill and cleaning – before marching off for the move to its next location, this time by rail. It is possible that Harry had an inkling of the coming offensive, prompting him to tell Jack that it would be a long time before he would get a letter; however, he may just have been commenting on the length of time it took letters to reach him. At all events, in mid-October the 9th York and Lancasters were on the move again.

  14th [October] The Battalion marched from CORNEDO to THIENE [10 miles/16km].

  15th The Battalion entrained at THIENE and detrained at TREVISO occupying billets in the latter town for the night.

  The train journey from Thiene to Treviso covered about forty-five miles (70km) and brought the 9th to within a few miles of the front line on the Piave River.

  16th The Battalion marched from TREVISO to C HOGARIN near TREVIGNANO [about ten miles/16km].

  17th The Battalion rested during the day. Billets & environs were cleaned.

  Harry took advantage of a day without marching to write to Jack:

  Oct 17/1918

  32507/ 9th York & Lancs., C Company,

  L.G.S., 12 Platoon I.E.F.

  Dear Jack

  I have received your paper and a letter. I am pleased to hear that you are going on alright. We have had some big marches since I came back from leave, it as just about knocked me out, and I don’t think we have finished yet, we are still in Italy but on a different front, not far from V. [see below] we have never been here before. I have not been in the line yet since I got back, they were just coming out of the trenches when I returned. Last night we stayed a night in a city about as big as Nottingham first time we have been in such a big place. There was plenty of Americans – some had just come out of the line which was only about 7 kilos so you see it is very quite just now. I expect there will be something coming off before long. What do you think of the war do you think it will finish this next summer. Things are dearer up this end the Italians tells us the farer [farther] east we get the dearer things are. Write as often as you can and send a paper or two, I hope I see you all again before it is time for another leave.

  With best love to you both from

  Harry

  (I am sending a letter for Ethel)

  There has been some discussion about the reference to ‘V’. I feel that Harry is almost certainly referring to Venice, less than twenty miles (32km) south of Treviso, as that is, probably, the only place in that section of the front of which Jack would have heard. When he wrote the letter, Harry would have been in Trevignano, roughly twenty-five miles (40km) north of Venice; the large town full of American troops must be Treviso.

  The men only had one day of rest, the war diary recording the next move: ‘18th The Battalion route marched 15 Kilometres: Men carried full marching order.’ Note the distance, equivalent to about ten miles. Harry and his comrades would have been carrying well in excess of 65 pounds (30kg). This on the day after his letter to Jack had reported that the marching ‘as just about knocked me out’. Tough times, but essential fitness training for the task ahead. Luckily, they were to get another rest on the following day: ‘19th Owing to exceptionally wet weather, men were confined to billets for the day.’

  After a few days of toing and froing, marching and shifting billets, on 26 October they arrived at billets at Catena, within a couple of miles of the front line on the Piave. Meanwhile, a few miles away, units of the Italian Army were consolidating bridgeheads on the north bank of the river. The sounds of artillery action would have been clearly audible.

  ‘27th, 28th Battalion remained at C. BARCHESSE near CATENA under orders to move at half-an-hours notice,’ noted the war diary of the next two days. In practice, this meant that all equipment would be packed, all kit assembled, ready to move. All the officers would have been briefed by the CO and they would have briefed their NCOs and men in turn. The officers had also been sent to reconnoitre the front line at its nearest point, Palazzon.

  The ‘Field Service Post Card’ Harry sent to Jack; the other side was used for the address.

  Knowing that they would be in action soon, the men would be excited, if a little apprehensive. The last time the 9th Battalion had been involved in a significant advance was at Messines Ridge over sixteen months ago, on a very different battlefield. Harry had the opportunity to fill in a ‘Field Service Post Card’, a preprinted card on which the sender deleted lines – such as ‘I am quite well’ – that were not applicable and added his name and other details, and his signature, but no personal message. It was just enough to let Jack know that he was, at that time, ‘alright’. A couple of days later, Harry had a chance to write a letter, probably early that morning.

  29/10/1918

  32507/9th Y & Lancs., 12 Platoon, LGS/IEF

  Dear Jack

  Just a line to let you know that I am going on alright at present and hope to remain so. I have received your papers and was very pleased with them. They seem to be getting on with the war now and I hope it will soon be over [the Germany Army was being driven back all along the Western Front]. We have been in an Italian town for a day or two the biggest we have been in yet. It is a bit more like war out here at present, but I hope it turns out a success, and the Austrians retire. I think they want peace bad. I hope you are both keeping in good health and I hope the war is finished before it is time for me to have another leave [in other words, in not much under a year]. Write as often as you can and let me know how you are getting on.

  With best Love to you both

  Harry

  Whether Harry has definite knowledge of the Austrians’ morale, whether he is drawing his own conclusions or whether the troops have been briefed in order to prepare them for the attack, we can’t tell. That morning the battalion would have marched the few miles to the river in order to cross at its allotted time, nine o’clock. There is now a motorway over the river close to their crossing point, but then a series of pontoon bridges would have been in place on the Piave, which was swollen from the recent rain. Vazzola (Vassola in the war diary) lies about ten miles (16km) from the starting point. Another mile (1.6km) and they reached the Montecano River, where they encountered some enemy activity, catching up with the lead battalion, which had been slowed by enemy action.

  By the end of that first day their advance had reached Cimetta, about eleven miles (18km) from the start point. The front line had been pushed back seven and a half miles (12km) in a single day. Harry’s battalion, heading east, passed about
ten miles south of Vittorio Veneto, the town from which the battle was to get its name, and the objective that formed the key to General Diaz’s plan. The battalion war diary adds a little detail to the description of the day’s events:

  29th The Battalion crossed the PIAVE at 0900 hours and commenced the advance towards VASSOLA. On reaching the MONTICANO the Battalion moved forwards to support the 8th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment who were held up by hostile shelling & M G fire. Later in the day the Battalion captured the village of CIMETTA and established a line of posts forward of the CAMPO–CEVARO–BGO [Borgo] di SOPRA road [today designated the SP15]. About 150 prisoners, 10 machine guns and 2 small field guns were captured. Our casualties numbered only 31.

  All in all, a successful day – especially when compared with some of the advances on the Western Front in 1916 and 1917. The battalion had a good haul of prisoners and equipment, suffering few casualties and making a considerable amount of ground.

  Despite the threat of a counter-attack, the next day was quieter:

  British infantrymen with captured Austro-Hungarian troops, at least one of whom looks extremely pleased to be out of the fighting. The 9th York and Lancasters took more than 500 prisoners during the final actions of the Italian campaign.

  30th The objective for the Battalion was SACILE. On reaching the ORSAGO–SACILE road at point 47, information was received from the cavalry who were then in SACILE that the enemy had counter-attacked and were advancing towards ORSAGO. This Battalion held the Western bank of the river MESCHIO astride the main road, and the bridge-head at point K65. As the enemy counter- attack did not develop, the Battalion took up a defensive position for the night, manning the western side of the river on the southern side of the ORSAGO–SACILE road. Patrols were sent out towards SACILE during the night. 7 prisoners, 2 small field guns and 8 machine guns were captured. There were no casualties in the Battalion during the day.

  The Orsago-Sacile road is today designated the SS13. If the battalion had proceeded on the same course, it would have met this road about two miles (3km) to the west of their objective, Sacile. The River Meschio enables us, for once, to pinpoint accurately the battalion’s position for the night.

  31st At 10.00 hours the Battalion advanced towards SACILE. By 12.30 hours we had established a line along the western bank of the LIVENZA but were unable to cross to the eastern side as the bridge had been destroyed and enemy machine-guns in the church steeple, also snipers in houses, kept up incessant fire. After a bombardment of houses etc. by 6” Newton Mortars, Stokes Mortars [respectively, 6–inch medium and 3-inch trench mortars] and Machine Guns, the section of 18 pounders [field guns] obtained three hits on the church steeple, and no further trouble was caused by hostile machine guns. The pioneers then prepared a bridge over which Companies crossed the LIVENZA – almost in darkness, and by 19.00 hours our objective had been gained: an outpost line was immediately established on the whole front, touch being obtained on either front.

  It had been another successful day. The remaining resistance in Sacile had been overcome. The River Livenza is quite substantial there, and was in flood, flowing either side of the two islands on which the main part of the town stands. It would have proved a significant obstacle once the bridge had been blown. Maintaining ‘touch’ is an important military principle: in action, it is essential that each unit links up with the units on each of its flanks so that there is a continuous defensive line.

  The 9th Battalion ended the month well, having taken the objectives set for it. The summary by the CO (Lieutenant-Colonel Rumbold, who has clearly returned from having been temporarily in command of a brigade) is statistically impressive:

  Total Number of Prisoners captured during operations

  298

  Wounded & Sick Prisoners in Hospitals

  239

  Grand Total

  537

  Total of Field Guns captured

  42

  Total of Machine captured

  53

  Total of Trench Mortars captured

  44

  Total of Rifles captured

  3000

  Total number of casualties:–

  Killed

  8

  Wounded

  33

  During this month, the health of the Battalion was good, prevailing deseases being:– I.C.T.

  (Signed) S D Rumbold

  Lieutenant-Colonel

  Commanding 9th Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment

  A casualty list of eight killed and thirty-three wounded was a modest price to pay in the light of what the battalion had achieved, especially by the standards of that war. Except, of course, that casualties are not ciphers, but lives ended or, very often, ruined, leaving loved ones to mourn or grieve.

  On the following day the positions were consolidated beyond Sacile, and the enemy simply melted away.

  As November opened, the success of the offensive was all too apparent, although the war diary entries are brief and businesslike:

  1st [November] The Battalion occupied a line of posts in the N.E. outskirts of SACILE. The Austrians were reported to be retiring across the TAGLIAMENTO [a river some twenty miles (32km) to the east].

  2nd The battalion moved by march route to RORAI near PORCIA arriving in billets at 1730 hrs.

  The march on 2 November was around five miles (8km) to the west, following the enemy. And then, on the 3rd, the atmosphere changed completely. Clearly, the intelligence reports about the enemy retiring had been confirmed. On that Sunday, it appears that the war has been forgotten, as the deliberations among the high commands and governments of all the combatants filter down to battalion level:

  3rd Church Services were held in the morning. Football was played in the afternoon.

  4th The armistice with Austria came into force at 15.00 hrs. Billets and environs were improved. A Battalion Concert was held in the evening.

  And with that understated, typically undramatic entry, the war diary of the 9th (Service) Battalion, the York and Lancaster Regiment, recorded the end of all fighting on the Italian Front.

  That day, Harry wrote to Jack, evidently unaware of the armistice. He gives a good description of the recent successful action, reflecting accurately the accounts in the war diary.

  Nov 4th 1918

  32507/9th Y & Lancs., C Coy, 12 Platoon

  Dear Jack

  Just a few lines to hoping you are keeping fit. I am alright at present, but we have had some trying times as you must have seen by the papers what a big success we have had in Italy. Our div is 23rd there are three brigades in it two went and crossed the Piave and two days after we had to releive them and take up a two Brigades front they had advance about 10 kilos [6 miles] we had to take a place called Sacile which was about 30 kilos [19 miles] farther on. We were not long before we found the Austrians first day it was all open fighting a great deal of machine gun fire but not much shelling as he was retiring very quick it was a rum job going through maize fields and searching old houses. of course we could not do anything at night only put sentries out and wait till morning. next day we went to with [within] about four kilos of Sacile without seeing anything and day after we had to take the town of course he had blown the bridge up but we took it before night. We had four wounded in our platoon bullet wounds. The Austrians then retired to the Taglemento [river]. I hope the war is finished by the time you get this letter. My Pal is safe. Kitchens address. 5 Beta Villa, Mayfield Street. He is alright.

  Love to you Both

  Harry

  British infantry – and an Italian boy – on the Asiago Plateau after news of the victory at Vittorio Veneto.

  In all of Harry’s surviving letters from the Great War, this is the first in which he mentions any of his comrades by name. I have always found it quite astonishing that, in general, soldiers on active service seem to avoid mentioning their comrades in letters, even though friendships formed in battle were intense and enduring. I suspect that soldiers like Harry were aware
that reporting friends as casualties would cause anxieties back at home.

  The Austro-Hungarian Army, and indeed the entire Austro-Hungarian Empire, had disintegrated in the preceding few days, until an armistice became inevitable, as well as necessary if further suffering were to be avoided. Recording this, the war diary’s entry includes a simple, matter-of-fact statement about an event that was of immense and life-changing importance to the men of the battalion. No triumphant hyperbole, not even a metaphorical sigh of relief, just a bald record of the fact. I wonder how the men were told, and what their reaction was.

  It is hard to believe, too, that with the fighting over the first thing the men have to do is clean up their billets. (Actually, it is not hard to believe, having myself spent some time in the British Army.)

  There may have been serious worries at this point that, having completed the job in Italy, the British, French and American forces there would be transported back to France and Belgium to support the war effort against the German Army. With hindsight, it is obvious that, with only a week to go until the armistice on the Western Front, there would not have been enough time. But, of course, the soldiers wouldn’t have known that.

  In little over a month after returning from leave, Harry had taken part in the last significant battle on the Italian front. The Battle of Vittorio Veneto had finally completed the destruction of the Austro-Hungarian Army that had become inevitable after the failure of its June offensive. The fighting in Italy was over, and it was to be only days before the war on the Western Front would end and Harry could start to plan for his return home.