Fit as Fiddles and as Hard as Nails

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[Eastern Front, nd]

Copy of letter from Mr Murrary.
Henry Crookshank went forth, as he had done many times before, to the back of the trench to get some sticks for a fire, for our breakfast. He had just gone out, when we saw him coming hobbling back, with a huge grin on his face, and saying, “one of those damned snipers have grazed my leg”. However when we got his trousers off, we found the bullet had gone into his leg, about six inches above the knee, and out the other side. It was a clean wound, and we soon had him bandaged up, and the bleeding stopped, and he was off on a stretcher in a few minutes –
We will miss him greatly, as he took the thing so coolly; one would have thought he had only been pricked with a pin. It will probably lay him up for about six weeks or so.
Poor Crichton was killed – at least he was seen trying to rally a number of men out of the R.I. Fusiliers, to come to the assistance of his own men, and when he got up he was struck with a bomb, and fell into the Turkish trench, and has not been seen since.
Crookshank, one of the fellows from Dundrum was with him, and he also has been reported missing.
Copy of Carnaghs’s letter (who was in the charge).
Dated Aug 16th
That morning there was a great bayonet charge, since when, George, Moss, Davidson, and Pollock are missing. I started next George, but a bomb burst, and knocked me over, and when I could get up the Charge was over. I got back safely – It was found impossible to search the ground we charged over. No one saw George hit,so he may be a prisoner, or else in Hospital, or mixed up with another regiment.
C

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[13th November 1918] fell in and turned upside down in the water at the bottom.
Johnston & I arrived about 10 minutes after the accident – and found an officer & the driver discussing the situation while two fellows inside & under many sacks of corn & bales of hay were faintly squealing.
We got down to the lorry & pulled out the sacks of corn & the hay & disentangled two very frightened & unhurt old gentleman both of whom would have been drowned if the water had been six inches higher.
I am getting worse at speaking French though I have been very virtuous about reading
Best love to all
Henry

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[13th November 1918] escaped from Brussels.
The Germans there appear to have split into two parties who shoot one another at sight which must be pleasant for the civilians.
The Germans may not have seen much of war yet but they’ll have a good dose of famine murder and lawlessness when their soldiers return.
I wonder will the allied armies be called upon to keep order I sincerely hope not.
Our celebration of the Armistice was a dismal failure as we had to turn out & make a crater on the road passable for lorries. Just after we left a lorry that tried to cross without any headlights

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[13th November 1918] We have been marching forward a good bit & have got to a country with a few horses & cows in it at last.
The country is rich land very highly cultivated with lots of woods and trees and not too flat. Very pleasant country to be passing through in bright frosty weather like we are having now.
Everywhere along the road we meet crowds of civilians evacuated by the Germans trekking back with their belongings either on their back or in wheelbarrows. They live mostly on carrots or beetroots which they pick as they go along. Today we have met a few English prisoners of war who have

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13th November [1918]
I enclose £2 for books if necessary Keep change till next leave
H.C.
Dear Mary.

Is the Flue all right again because if it is I’ve got another job for you. I want these books Geometry Books I II III & VI a Simple Trig. Loney’s mechanics & a simple Algebra most of these were once in the house but perhaps they are lost. I have been told to teach mathematics for which I have been provided with a mouldy arithmetic book
I dont mind trying to explain how two is multiplied by three but I’m afraid some of the sappers wont consider that mathematics any more than I do

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[11th November 1918] rich before the war all the farms & buildings being something after the style of Barrington Jellett.
We have bartered our iron rations for three bottles of wine to-night to celebrate the first night of peace.
Best love to all
Thank God its over and weve won
Henry

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[11th Novemebr 1918]

Dear Mother

The Armistice is now signed and all fighting has stopped so I am writing a short note to let you know I’m going strong.
We had a last couple of exciting days and were unlucky enough to lose our new O.C. poor chap. He went on ahead of the infantry for some reason and got himself riddled with machine gun bullets.
Everywhere we go we receive great welcomes from the Belgians but I dont think I like them as well as the French though they must have been very

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[November 1918]  past that in quite a nice wood now.
I’ll write again soon when I find out whats happening here
Best love
Henry

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[?November 1918] On Active Service
WITH THE BRITISH
EXPEDITIONARY FORCE
Dear Mother
I got your letter today and can only say I think Bino is mad. I have just come back to the Company and lost my Kit through the train breaking down. We have got a new O.C. a very young chap but nice I think.
There seems to be the makings of trouble between him & our second command who is his senior however I dont think there is any chance of me getting mixed up in it. I came up over a howling wilderness of weeds & chalk but am

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18th October [1918]
Dear Mary

I’m going strong & well but a bit jaded so wont write long. I have had a good deal of excitement this last few days & quite a lot of work. I was attached to an advanced guard for a while and so got well on. [H]uge enthusiasm when we met civilians first[.] I was lucky enough to see the General clamber across the remains of a blown up bridge the other side of which were collected a crowd of civilians. They recognized that he was a big pot by all the gold braid & red tabs. Cheered & demonstrated for all they were worth till he got over the canal when they all grabbed his hands & had a shake all round. Next a fair damsel

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rushed up & delivered a bouquet after which he made a speech which I couldn’t hear but was greeted with laughter & more cheers and then proceeded on his triumphal progress. I believe the poor man had so many bouquets by the time he got back that he couldn’t carry them. I haven’t crossed the canal myself yet as we have been working bridging ever since.
Best love to all & will write again soon
Henry

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