Z1360/1/27

Letter (2 sheets, one YMCA notepaper) from Wilfred Hammond, marked: France October 10th/16 Dear People, Once more I start off by explaining away my laxness in the matter of writing but once again we have been in the line and this time even if we had had the opportunity of writing (which we didn’t) there was no collection at all. The last letters I had were Mother’s and Eva’s and I received them 10 minutes before marching away to the line. I am afraid my last letter was rather dismal, or did I never send it? While over the top, on Saturday last, by the byre, my left ear (remember how Fred used to kid me about them, won’t he tee- hee, the devil) must have been idly flapping and wagging about in the breeze, for a German Sniper did his duty and pipped me through the funnel affair and just grazed my head. It was not sufficient to take me any distance to the rear but only to a Casualty Resting Station at which I am at present. These C.R.S.’s are a sort of base whereat half-fit men rest for some days until fit. There are always a lot of shell shock cases that merely require a rest from the nerve-strain of the trenches for a few days to be fit. Unfortunately the fodder here is very ordinary and there is nothing different in the rations as is frequently the case in hospitals. I am now fit for discharge but have a temporary job here for a number of days but can give you no new address. My hat! but it is a game getting to the Dressing Station. One starts away from the firing line and casually drops in at a few dozen advance Dressing Stations, at which one is told to “Keep on straight down the trench” until one eventually gives up all hope of ever seeing one’s own Station. After walking for what seems miles and miles, weary and “fed-up” and unwashed for five days, one strolls into yet another Dressing Station and is immediately received into the arms of a few Army Chaplains, who press hot tea and bread and butter upon one. Hot tea, mind you, after days in the line with nothing but a very little rotten water to drink. They don’t realise what they are giving the chaps. I, myself, next went in a motor Charabanc to a Clearing Station where I had hot cocoa and bread and butter and an inoculation and then came here to receive hot milk and a blanket. We’re winning.

10 October 1916

From: 1916 To: 1916

item

Hammond, Wilfred,
Hammond, Eva,
Hammond, Frederick

France, letters, service personnel, overseas (WW1), 18th Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps, postal service, shell shock, food, chaplains, tea, bread, cocoa, butter, vaccination, YMCA