31st December 1915
31st December 1915 An explosive end to the old year for Arthur as the Germans blow up a mine and seize the head of a double sap; a muddled time under bombardment, with trenches being flattened and several dead require … Continued
31st December 1915 An explosive end to the old year for Arthur as the Germans blow up a mine and seize the head of a double sap; a muddled time under bombardment, with trenches being flattened and several dead require … Continued
30th December 1915 Arthur to Dollie 9am Only just woken up, dear; so I’m afraid I’ll only just have time to give you an enormous hug & wish you Good-morning, dear, to catch the post. So au revoir. Remember me … Continued
29th December 1915 Arthur and his Company left their billets at 4am and are now in their new position in the front line – he is writing in a small and uncomfortable cellar; one of Arthur’s trusty Subs (Ochs) has … Continued
28th December 1915 Arthur is overwhelmed by the amount of Christmas post finally catching up with him and despairs of finding the opportunity to write back; a recce of the front line trenches [the Breslau & the Goeben] that … Continued
27th December 1915 Christmas is over, for Arthur and his men have moved and are now in “reserve” – in wooden huts, a mile and a half nearer the front than their previous billets in Sailly; the weather is miserable … Continued
25th December 1915 A busy day for Arthur – serving at Christmas morning Mass then doing the rounds of all his platoons – to cheer the men up; finally – Christmas dinner in the officers mess; Arthur has been overwhelmed … Continued
24th December 1915 Arthur thanks Dollie for all her letters and parcels; he is still upset he and his men are with the 23rd Londons in Sailly – and on half an hour’s notice to move back to the front … Continued
23rd December 1915 Arthur to Dollie In billets, Thurs. 10.15pm Just a short note to give you a big hug and a kiss. We were relieved in the trenches this morning. This afternoon I have been over to see the … Continued
22nd December 1915 Arthur writes his Christmas letter to Dollie, full of wishes that they could be together; the Hun gunners are very active, despite the season; there has been shelling all day, but thankfully no casualties; hopes of leaving … Continued
21st December 1915 Arthur is now back in reserve trenches after days with little sleep; the weather has been very wet; last night there was an alarm, as a British mining officer said the Hun were undermining part of their … Continued