For Love and Courage

by E. W. Hermon

  He was in his car and spent the whole day with us, insisting on a conference and my making my remarks on the general conduct of the day before he said what he had got to say. The only criticism he made was that my ‘scheme’ didn’t give quite as much information as it ought to. On the actual work & handling of the troops he made no comment at all. He was awfully pleased with the men themselves & very pleased with the answers he got from some of the N.C.O.s. He was most pleasant the whole time & we parted most amicably about 3.15 p.m.

  I shall do nothing foolish old dear so you need not worry. I have heard of C.O.s being ‘dégomméd’. In one afternoon ‘Goffy’ sent home 1 Div., 2 Brigade and 5 Commanding Officers. Not a bad day’s work?!!

  I’ve simply loved your two letters tonight & I long for the time when we can meet once more, but when that will be, I don’t know. They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, but dearie it grows wondrous fond these times.

  I can’t help thinking that your riding party cum cycle! must have been fine. Tell old Mac if he would put Mary on her pony, Betty on her bicycle & you in the car he could get some excellent practice in handling the Corps Mounted Troops! I think a photo of you three with Mac on Betsy’s pony at the head, would make a fine picture of the Cowfold Corps M.T.!

  My love to you my darling.

  ROBERT NOW HEARD that Major James, his senior on the Army List, had been appointed to command the regiment and he was to become second-in-command.

  21st June 1916 – No. 183 answering 189 & 190 – Valhoun

  It is no good denying that I am disappointed at not getting the Regiment, because I am very, but at the same time it isn’t anything like the crushing blow it might have been.

  After all James is senior to me & it is perfectly normal in that way, but I have heard enough to know that if it was put to the vote in the Regiment there would be no doubt who got it then. The Regiment in itself is nothing to me, but the regard of the men is everything.

  However we shall see how he gets on, but now he has won it’s up to me to play up to him & for the sake of the men to do all I can to keep him in the right way & I have every intention of playing the game by him, as you know. I am not going to turn out of my nice house tho’, unless he actually turns me out & I don’t suppose he can be such a cad as that, tho’ he has got a lot of hair in his heels. Anyhow I ought to get my leave now as I expect he will be only too glad to get shut of me.

  Later

  I don’t believe I’m beat yet. If Jimmy does get the Regt, he is not out here yet & until he actually takes over I don’t resign my temporary rank. I have got a letter tonight the meaning of which is not quite clear but for the moment it has turned despair into hope!!

  26th June 1916 – No. 188 answering 194 – Valhoun

  ‘C’est tout, c’est fini!’ At lunchtime today I got a telephone message to say that our new C.O. was at St Pol station so I got a couple of my horses, your old horse and my pony & with an orderly I rode in to meet him & he arrived in camp, not riding upon an ass, but upon your old horse. There was no clamouring crowd to meet him and his entry was unmarked in any way.

  He’s here now & we have got to make the best of it. Lass dear, your letters have been a great help these days & I don’t know what I should have done without them. I must admit that the Corps Commander’s action has taken me completely by surprise & has been the exact opposite of what he led me to expect. The whole time that he was writing for Jimmy he was leading me to suppose that he was doing what he could for me. In all probability he was not conscious of it, but when I heard what were the facts of the case I must say I was absolutely dumb-founded. However it saved him the unpleasantness of telling me direct that he wanted to do old Jimmy a turn, but I rather like straight dealing, it seems fairer really.

  Poor dear little Chugs I am so sorry for their sakes & it does look so as tho’ one had been dégomméd for incompetency, but I don’t think I have as no one so far has found a single fault either with me or the squadron since I came out. Certainly they have never mentioned it & if there had been anything wrong I am sure that these times they wouldn’t hesitate. On the contrary the one cry has been ‘I’d rather have six of your men than 20 others’. I’ve only had the Cyclists and M.M.G. [Motor Machine Gun] a little over a week & I hear from Steve that while Bell was over there this afternoon they were wild about it. They say they had never been so happy before, & were congratulating themselves & now it’s all bust!

  I’m not going to do anything just yet old dear, I must see Jimmy well on the way before I feel I can go elsewhere and it’s much easier to say one will go than it is to get a job. I wish I was at home tonight as I should love to be able to talk to you, old dear. As you say, Jimmy steps into an absolutely going concern. We could march out tomorrow, the whole Corps Mounted Troops organized and ready where they are wanted.

  Well dearie, I must make a fresh start now. Hope I shall find an outlet for my energy in some decent direction. At present I command Buxton and Harry but I hope to get the Regimental Transport later on.

  27th June 1916 – No. 189 – Valhoun

  I’m in no mood for writing now dearie & so I shall stop for a bit and try later on. James got back from his lunch party whither he proceeded on your old horse!! I forgot to tell you yesterday that in climbing up on him at the station he burst his new breeches to glory!! I was having a talk with him when he got back & he said to me ‘Did the Corps Commander give you to understand that you would get the Regiment?’ & I said he did not in actual words, but from inference I certainly did expect to & he replied ‘I rather gathered that from what he said at lunch!!’ I must say I am absolutely beat over the whole thing. I can no more fathom it than fly. When Jimmy arrived at the base he was held up there on the 1st Army letter I wrote to you about. He wired the Corps Commander & he wired for him to come on. It’s all so contradictory and so obscure that one cannot see daylight through it at all.

  Darling mine, I am just daring to hope that I might get some leave after all & as they go now I shall try to leave here on July 13th & be home for your birthday. It’s a possibility that is worth considering. Don’t set too much store by it old dear & then you won’t be disappointed, but I should love to come if I only can. We have had a lot more wet these last few days, there has been great artillery activity somehow lately and I expect that has made the weather bad.

  My love to you dearie mine.

  The enclosed was rescued from the Canteen for me where it was put up with the men’s notices. These sort of things help one a lot now & Brake came to me today as representing the Rank & File of the whole Regt to express their great regret at recent changes. It was really awfully nice of them & I was most touched.

  28th June 1916 – No. 190 answering 195 & 196 – Valhoun

  I rode round with the C.O. today & he had the impertinence to talk to me about his wife & baby. I suppose he referred to his damned mistress & his blasted illegitimate brat.

  My love to you my darling.

  Since writing the above, all leave has been cancelled old dear so when we shall meet again goodness knows, but let us hope in the none too distant future.

  ON 1 JULY the Battle of the Somme began with a massive infantry assault after an intense barrage, which nevertheless failed to break the defences. Ten mines were exploded under German defences and the assault began along a 25-mile front, but yet again, attacking British soldiers were mown down by concentrated machine-gun fire. Hidden in armoured emplacements, these guns had been protected from the barrage and reaped a deadly harvest. On the first day of battle alone, more than 45,000 British troops were lost, killed and wounded: the highest total for one day in the entire war. The intensity of the assault forced the Germans to move troops from Verdun to the Somme, which had been one of the aims of the Allies, and although fighting continued around Verdun until October, it ended any real hope of a German victory there. Fighting on the Somme would continue for another five months, until 18 November.

  1st July 1916 – No. 193 –
Valhoun

  This morning I went in a car to see the French Mission with an interpreter & went in to see the Corps on the way. There I met old Rogey who was terribly grieved over the turn of the tide & the old man is still going to make an effort tho’ what fruit it will bear it is hard to see. Personally I have no hope myself of anything being done yet. We are all very pleased to hear that they have made a good start down south & I hope it will be maintained.

  I am hoping for some more news tonight as we have only heard that an attack has taken place.

  2nd July 1916 – No. 194 answering 199 & 200 – Valhoun

  I’ve had a somewhat slack day today, have done absolutely nothing nor is there a job of any sort to be found for one. I simply can’t stand this life of idleness much longer. I would rather enlist in a Pioneer Battalion than go on doing nothing. I can use a shovel & could do quite good work either mending roads or filling sandbags but I shall go off my head soon if this goes on much longer & I see no prospect of it not lasting till the end of the war.

  I am going to write to old C.B.6 tonight & get him to put my name on his staff list if I can. He said he would & it only wasn’t sent in before because I wanted to get the Regiment if I could. I shall take anything I can get now, so long as it gives me a job of work to do where I can maintain myself with self-respect.

  My love my old dear.

  3rd July 1916 – No. 195 answering 201 – Valhoun

  Things really haven’t been at all bad considering & there hasn’t been, so far, the slightest unpleasantness between the C.O. & E.W.H. It’s no good trying to pick quarrels & I have done my best to see that there should be no grounds for complaint whatsoever & things have gone alright.

  It’s only the awful dull days with nothing at all to do that worries me. The absolute lack of any work that you can call your own. I have just taken over the canteen but that’s hardly a job, certainly not what I came out to do.

  Thank old Bet & Mairky for their nice letters received yesterday. At a farm in the village here they have got some topping little terriers, I’d simply love to bring one home.

  My love to you all my darlings.

  4th July 1916 – No. 196 – Valhoun

  I am at present wrestling with an awful problem & don’t in the least know what to do.

  C.B. has offered me the command of a Battalion in his Division. I am to go & do a fortnight in the trenches first just to get in touch with the work a bit and then, if I am a success, I am to get a Battalion. It’s not exactly what I wanted but it’s a start and has decided possibilities, as if one does well one ought to be able to get a brigade within reasonable time & one isn’t at a dead end. It’s an interesting job as most of the Battalions can be greatly improved & there is unlimited scope for work and possibilities of getting on. I think, my dear old girl, I must accept it, the only worry that I have is that I must say our field day7 today did break down in my opinion terribly and I feel so that if an advance came I should be useful here, but this second-in-command game is no good to me I should cut my throat before long, it’s too awfully dull for words.

  Somehow I can see you turning up your nose at this but these infantry are splendid fellows and it’s an honour to command them if I can live up to it. I know that there’s none of the élan & the dash of the mounted soldier, but for real hard slogging on & conscientious work the infantryman has us beat stiff & I would just like to show them that if the Cavalryman hasn’t done the work in the past he’s none the less willing and able.

  Anyhow I have till Saturday to think it over but I have almost made up my mind now, so you will have to look on your husband as a poor footslogger very shortly!! Damned funny war this, one seems to turn one’s hands to all sorts of jobs & for me, this one almost makes me laugh!!! Old Mac will be amused I’ll bet.

  My love to you my darling.

  5th July – No. 197 answering 202 – Valhoun

  I got your ‘outburst’ today and it was very welcome indeed & has caused me the very greatest amusement & pleasure. I can see your indignation old girl & I must say that I have felt something of it myself.

  I know quite well that the officers that I take over won’t be, in all probability, quite the same socially but on the other hand I know they are real good fighting fellows and have done as well as any Division in the country.

  My only fear is that the folk here will think I have left them in the cart, & just put my own personal inclination above that of the Regiment but as you say I’m not a good 2nd-in-command as I cannot stick the awful lack of all responsibility & having no job of my own.

  6th July 1916 – No. 198 – Valhoun

  Well dearie mine, I wrote to C.B. today and told him I would come on appro when he liked. Whether for better or for worse remains to be seen.

  If you tell old Mac that I shall be in the Div. front on the left of where he was hit looking towards the Hun he will show you where I shall be on the map – between where he was once concerned with some cylinders and where he was hit.

  I must say that the idea of going is not appealing to me very much at present but I do want a job of work and after all one will be doing something to keep the show going, which is more than I am doing at present. My day’s work today consisted of going for a ride on your old horse this morning and sitting on a log from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. twiddling my thumbs, then lunch then reading a book on my bed from 2 p.m. till I feel asleep, woke up at 5 & had tea & am now writing to you. I’m paid £1 a day for that! Well, it really isn’t good enough. I shall probably be horribly frightened in the trenches but I expect it will wear off alright after a day or two.

  I think the flies are the worst part of the trenches in the summer & they are generally very bad, but it’s not at all a bad part of line that the Div. is in at present and there haven’t been a great lot of attacks there in the past so the ground isn’t as foul as some about here.

  I haven’t broken the news to Buckin yet & am wondering very much if he will prefer to remain in the ranks here. I shall be very interested to see. Oh! you never told me if you paid his wife’s debts for her. Let me know this will you.

  7th July 1916 – No. 199 answering 203 & 203? [sic] – Valhoun

  Last night the young gents set about me & begged me for everyone’s sake not to go & I simply couldn’t refuse. I have promised that I will stay on until Oct. 1st & then if nothing has happened I am at liberty to fend for myself. They have no faith in things as they are and they say that I can keep things going much more smoothly than they otherwise would. As it is, Jimmy has done nothing off his own bat, he drags me into everything & gets me to vet it before it goes out of the office.

  Those watch protectors have gone like wild fire and I want other £1 worth please. This time I want one size larger & leave out the small size sent before. That will be 5 of each size please. Also I want another 3 doz. assorted toothbrushes and some more handkerchiefs.

  You say you would give worlds to have a look at me now, well it’s 9.50 p.m. & I am in my very comfortable sitting room, with my bedroom & Steve’s opening off it, the windows all open & a nice warm night outside! You needn’t worry about me in the least for I am nearly as comfortable as I should be at home & no one tidies my writing table.

  I’m awfully glad for Mac’s sake that he has been passed for light duty but I expect you will be awfully lonely as he is such a companionable old thing. I’ve always heard that Mac’s brother was huge, I’m glad you thought he was a nice lad. When do old Bobbo’s holidays begin dearie? I suppose about Aug 1st or 2nd. Well old dear, I must to bed now.

  8th July 1916 – No. 200 answering 205 – Valhoun

  I have had a very nice day today with the C.O. We started in a car & ran down to Carency and then we got on our feet & walked through the village, which was a bit of an eye-opener for even his ‘war worn’ eyes I think. We went on through Ablain St Nazaire and up on to Lorette where we had our lunch & looked down into the suburbs of Lens. For the first time since I have been out here I saw some real live & untra
mmelled Huns. I saw seven of the blighters running about in the streets. It sounds very odd having been out all this time that one has never seen the bloke one’s fighting, but I haven’t, except as a dejected prisoner.

  I see the poor old Sussex Regt fairly took it in the neck. The casualty list shows 26 of them tonight – 2 killed 13 wounded & 11 missing. That makes a big hole in a Battalion. However on the whole things seem to go well tho’ slowly & I am told that the Hun casualties have been appalling. Still he is a wonderful nation and if he would play the game, should be the admiration of the world.

  I return you old Bobbo’s letter, what a nice one it is, so awfully neat and tidy. I am so awfully glad he is still doing so well at school and is still top of his form.

  I am glad to hear you have got the hay but my poor lawn!! Don’t worry about me old girl, I am hoping leave will be reopened shortly & then perhaps we can have another pleasant week together once more. We really had a glorious morning this morning as it was a lovely day, very hot but still a nice breeze when one sat still.

  In addition there was absolutely nothing doing in the way of shelling at all, and absolute peace & quiet reigned. I think I only saw two shells drop about 500 yards away all the time. We had lunch right on the end of the spur near where the chapel once stood, but now it is no more & the ground is so churned up that you can’t find the place now, hardly. The whole spur was one mass of the most lovely poppies & cornflowers & looked simply lovely. There’s plenty to fertilize them up there, bones & remnants of French & Germans absolutely cover the ground.