Fit as Fiddles and as Hard as Nails

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[2 May 1917] our line – he said he almost felt sorry for the poor brutes having to march a couple of thousand yards through this.

Certainly it seems to me out of the question that any Army could stand such a state of war. To listen and watch our barrage opening up just as it begins to get light is like a tremendous blaze and thunder through the whole air – and we really seem to have more ammunition than we can put through – I can tell you we’ve been doing some work – our day usually either begins or ends about 4.0 a.m and statistics of the weight of metal our battery alone puts through would really astound you.

Of course we’re finished now

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[2 May 1917] I don’t see how anyone who hadn’t seen it could even imagine such a sight – Anyway we all know of course how completely we have it over the Hun. One of our officers was describing a Hun counter attack he saw from the O.P – They collected some way off and came forward – over absolutely open country in a dense mass – When our barrage all calibres opened on them he said it was undescribable – literally a dense mass of metal falling over the whole area. Our officer said he couldn’t see any one knocked out – the whole mass simply rapidly faded away – till as he thought there wasn’t a man left – long before it got anywhere near

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[2 May 1917] I don’t know whether you realise from the papers the extraordinary effect of the guns – The whole country round without out a single natural feature left – simply a great brown mass of earth without a single foot uncut – all torn with every sort of crater – from the little “pipsqueeks” which are almost lost in the larger ones – to high mine craters, you could nearly lose the Bank of Ireland in – its wonderful – I walked along – a perfectly heavenly day, as it has been since I left the course – climbing over this mass of wreckage where you cant even find villages let alone houses roads or trenches – two tanks were lying disabled – one on either side of me – and a wrecked aeroplane in front – and I must say my thoughts were mixed –

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2 May 1917

Dear Mother

I’m afraid I’ll get rather a strafing by the time this turns up for not writing; as I havent written for some time – the fact is that since leaving the school we haven’t had very much time for letter writing – I sent a Field post card which I hope you got all right – Well my journey to the battery was the usual sort of thing – started for bus 6.0 a.m. for railway station jogged along on the old French train for most of the afternoon and arrived at a spot some 20 miles from where I started the destination on my movement order being only about 3 & 4 miles away, and a line existing straight to it – I had a comfortable evening in a very nice Officers Rest House and started off again 7.30 next morning – I had a small party of N.C.Os from the Course all like myself

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[2 May 1917] wanting to rejoin their units and not having the faintest idea where they were. We got to the end of the train journey pretty quick and then started the pleasant job of wandering all over France on friendly disposed lorries etc <through appalling dust> trying to find our units. I eventually got to battery latish in the evening some 20 miles away, after having some very friendly conversation & refreshment from Col Hanna at Group hqrs – he is certainly a very nice man (pen run out). I duly reached the battery and found all very gay I was much relieved to find that though the battery had had a pretty hard time they had been very lucky and had not had a single casualty. – Since then work has been very different and much for interesting.

It was awfully fascinating the next day, having a look round <to> get a grasp of the general situation. In the afternoon, I walked up to our O.P. across old German country – my word it was a sight!

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[21 April 1917] a good group with a suitable foreground of various bits of signalling gear – which I hope will look imposing – I stopped to tea with some of the Canadians and about 7.30 after an hours attempt to ‘phone to the battery unsuccessfully needless to say – started out for the walk back.

Some time ago I wrote to the battery asking for the car to take me back – unfortunately it seems to be undergoing repairs – so that it’s arrival here is problematic – I had expected to be starting about 11 o’cl[ock] and had asked for the car about 10. so that in case it didn’t arrive I’d still be able to go along with the rest – now that the buses are starting 5.45 a.m. I’m afraid I shall have to get up at that unholy hour and leave a message for the car if it comes to pick me up on the way – a train journey even of a few miles being a matter of days in this country! I certainly hope the car comes as the other method is somewhat tedious & exhausting!

Now its after 11 so will say goodnight as I shall be up early – I have just finished my coffee – I have delicious coffee every evening before going to bed – Last night I was in late – and the family had all gone to bed – but I found everything

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[21 April 1917] Em was asking about the squads – they are simply for the actual signalling & signalling tests – for the lectures and written Exam’s all are together. There was no preparation work except copying up & learning notes of lectures etc.

We really I think have at last got to spring the last two or three days have been quite nice & warm & the buds are really beginning to swell & flowers coming out – anemones violets oxslips celandine etc. – It is a truly delightful variety from the perpetual snow & storms.

This morning there was a certain amount of uncertainty as all the work of the course was done – but some old colonels was coming around to have a look at the school. so parade was ordered 10 a.m. – we all duly turned up but nothing happened – fortunately the piano which we had over from the night before and the timely arrival of the newspapers passed the time all right.

Finally the old chap turned up and apparently simply walked round the school building and in the end about 12. o’cl[ock] we all went into the lecture room where about half an hour was rather unprofitably spent in going through the exam papers.

In the afternoon we all went into the town to have our photo taken

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[21 April 1917] your two and Em’s two and V’s. I was so sorry to hear V down with measles, but anyway hope she’s having a bit of a slack time for a change, anyway’s delighted to hear Em at last free from the beastly cold she had. Would you thank May very much from me for her last letter which I was delighted to get, when you next write. It was awfully nice you’re sending the little bit of lace for Madame & you must let me add my thanks to hers. She was very much pleased at the thought and has written a letter herself, which I sent off this morning,  she has a very lively young daughter on whom the collar goes well I think. Certainly if ever I’m passing through here again I’ll know where to go for a good meal, she’s the same to all us chaps – officers & men – they say she’s more like a Mother – and although she’s a lot of work to do about the place, she’s still always looking out what she can do – and always jovial and ready for a joke as well as Mlle –

So glad Em’s chicken’s are doing well – here Madame has a hen that has just hatched out a brood of nice fluffy wee chicks! which for a few nights in the very cold weather were kept in the room near the fire.

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21 April 1917

Signal School 1st Army.

Dear Mother

The last night here as we’re starting early tomorrow – have to be packed and off by 5.45 a.m. Certainly we’ve had a thoroughly good time here and the course has been distinctly interesting and instructive. We had various tests at the end – I did pretty badly again in the written work – being about half way with 79% – but as far as signalling went I wasn’t so bad. I read 10 words a minute & sent 11 on Morse buzzer <correctly> – I think in good form I could send 15 or 16 pretty correctly – then in visual I read flag lamp & shutter at 6 and sent 7 on flag, so I think after a month its not so bad.

We were awfully lucky in our Mess, a real good set. I’m extremely glad I was in the Canadian Mess and not the imperial, who were – to put it favourably – uninteresting. Last night we had a smoking concert, which was a great success -the only thing being that perhaps it was a bit too long, as it started 7.0 nominally, really about 7.30 and continued with two intervals till getting on for 12.0. Still it was a great success, and everyone enjoyed themselves greatly.

I have a grand budget of letters to answer

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[20 April 1917] that got splayed passing through steel side of his machine, they expected him back in England any day – ever darling Wan with love to all three. Y[ou]r loving

A.K. Wynne