15th - 19th August 1914 -Spies... -

August 15^th Saturday

About 10.00pm Sentry reports signaling.  2 shots are fired at us, but we replied with 3 rounds rapid.  Unfortunately did not capture the culprits.

August 16^th Sunday

We are paid another £2.00.  Stockers girl comes down in afternoon and so we had another party.

August 17^th Monday

As I am flush I sent £2.00 home, but have not had a single letter from anyone.  Awfully disappointed.  Made another visit to Randall’s and then had tea in a little teashop in town.

August 18^th Tuesday

Was paid the remaining £1.00 of the bounty and so I sent that home.  We are now quite pally with everyone here, especially the maids from the big houses.

August 19^th Wednesday

Went into Alton and bought a watch also a razor.  

Had a surprise on return, a spy is knocking about, and we are to be on the watch.  Strange to say at 11.00pm the patrol disturbed a man on the line, who ran for his life across a field to the road and then raced off on a motor bike.  We were unlucky.

August 11th - 14th 1914 - Thanks & Gratitude

August 11^th Tuesday

An American millionaire Mr Morgan, is very kind, the ladies maids bring us fruit, tea and soup each day.  They come to us in a motor at midday with soup and again at teatime with baskets of fruit also tea.

They are very kind to us.  We are in love with them all. 

August 12^th Wednesday

We are awfully lucky here.  Everybody is ready to help us.  Some friendly people who pass us every morning stop their car to give us newspapers and chat, also Sir John Knightley sends up his housemaid with fruit and lemonade.  Of course, we made her stay in our little shanty to team, and had a pleasant time on the whole.  Absolutely enjoying ourselves here.

August 13^th Thursday

Harry Clark and I went down to Alton to make purchases.  This is a splendid little town and is noted for its breweries.

August 14^th Friday

A housemaid comes in again, stayed to tea, whilst halfway through our meal, Capt. Hamilton arrived with pay of 6/- each, of course we were a bit flurried, but he said he did not mind and then joined the party, much to our amusement, but later Harry and I took her home.

August 8th, 9th and 10th 1914 - Food & Money -

August 8^th Saturday 

Dried our clothes over the fire in morning and then had a good breakfast of thick toast, tea and kippers.

Then my chum Harry Clark and S are told to report to next outpost for orders.  On arriving there, I had to wait, no dinner, so went out for a time to find some, got drenched with rain, but a farmers wife took us in and fed us.  About 2.00pm we were told to report ourselves at Cattle Creek (near outpost) for instruction.  

Whilst waiting there I received my first payment in the Army of 5/-.  About 4 o’clock we moved still further down to Mill Court and there made ourselves comfortable in a platelayers hut.  With other, our duty here is to guard 2 bridges and patrol ¼ mile of line.  We are quite close to the River Wey. 

August 9^th Sunday

During the morning Capt. Hamilton paid us £2.00 each, part of our £5.00 mobilization pay.  Have quite settled down to work.  My hours are 11.00 midday and the same midnight.

August 10^th Monday

We all set out to visit Holybourne, Randall’s stores made a good stop and there I bought my first pair of hobnailed boots.  Between us we bought enough delicacies to last us a week.  This is a pretty village.

August 5th, 6th and 7th 1914 - Early Days -

August 5^th Wednesday

Clark, Saunders and myself, do Platform guards and Patrol.  Remainder do all fatigues and carry rations, but Walker is very kind to us, sent us plenty of apples etc.  Train after train comes through to Borden Camp with Reservists from all parts, also Artillery and Cavalry are rushed through to Southampton.

 

August 6^th Thursday

A big batch of recruits and ex-service men arrive to reinforce us, also Capt Hamilton.  A Reserve Territorial Officer.  We have been living on Bully Beef biscuits, kippers and cheese up till now.  But tonight a supply of meat and bread arrives.

August 7^th Friday

6 others and myself are moved further down the line to S. Bule’s Nursery.  Came under Capt. Lloyd.  Took up our duties right away.  We spent our night on a bundle of hay in the hayloft.  Then it commenced to rain and of course I got wet through whilst on Sentry.

August 3rd and 4th, 1914

August 3^rd Monday

Major Burnett then spoke to us and said that serious things had occurred and in consequence, we should be confined to barracks.  Then we all laid down to sleep on some coconut mats, making ourselves as comfortable as possible under the circumstances feeling tired and hungry.

In the morning we were told that we were mobilized and were given 100 rounds of ammunition each, and also had what little food there was to be had, which was a leaf each, ¼ pot of jam and water.

 

August 4^th Tuesday

 Shortly after 12 midnight we marched through the city to Waterloo Station again with as much secrecy as possible, but still crowds of people lined the streets to see us depart.  We entrained at 1.30pm and were sent off in different directions, batches of men being dropped at each station en route to a distance of 60 miles. 

I was put off with some 50 others at Bentley Hants, about 45 miles S.W.  There 5 finished that nights rest on a platform seat.  We took over control of the railway at 8.00am.  Sentry groups and outposts were sent out on trolley cars as far as Alton (M line) and Borden (B line) I had to stay on the station and do guard over Property.

Life in England

On August 2^nd 1914, the 4^th London Regt, Royal Fusiliers (TF) went to Wareham Dorset, for their annual 15 days training.

We left Waterloo at 9.30am and had a pleasant journey on the LSWR and eventually arrived at the camp at 1.45pm.

No sooner than we had begun to get settled down, we had to stand to arms and then got orders to pack up immediately.  As soon as this was accomplished we all partook of a hurried meal of Bully Beef, bread and cheese and pickles.

Shortly afterwards we were once more on the road.  Naturally this action caused great excitement amongst us.

Then we entrained to return to our Headquarters at Shaftsbury Street City Road EC. where we arrived in batches long after midnight.