Two Brothers Serving in France, item 62

• March 4, 2018 22:46:28 Stella Watkin

   ... Left Side

  422964 Spr. W. S. Anthony

  1st Siege Company

  Royal Anglesey R.E.

  B.R.F. FRANCE

  Sunday

  29:12:18

  Dear Mother,

  After many ups and downs,

  and weary carrying of equipment, we

  reached our destionation today, which

  means that it has taken us six days

  since leaving the Base. I wrote you

  while at Etaples on the 26th. Well,

  we left that rest camp on the morning

  of the 28th, and got into a cattle truck

  train, in which we did a day and

  a night's travelling. The trains are

  usually very long, and only travel

  about ten miles an hour, so we

  at once prepared to settle down in

  the truck for the day. There were

  about 30 men, aboard each truck. On

  ours we erected a little stove

  which we found by the side of the

  
  

   ... Right Side

  line. The chimney stuck out at the

  side. This enabled us to boil tea,

  and we had bread, cheese, and bully beef

  to keep us going. So the day passed

  cheerily enough. we enjoyed the scenery

  (although the rain poured all day), and

  there was an occasional shop, when

  we could get off to stretch our legs.

  At night, the train continued

  rumbling on its journey, and i was

  lucky enough to get a few hours'

  sleep in a corner. At 5 o'clock

  in the morning, the train stopped, so

  we got our packs put together and

  jumped out in the dark, to find

  ourselves in Cambrai. We had

  breakfast at one of the depots,

  got annn hour's rest, and then in day-

  light we set about looking for

  our company. This was no easy

  matter, as the town is a large one

  and full of British troops.

  
  

• February 9, 2018 14:09:45 Zamfirache Diana

   ... Left Side

  422964 Spr. W. S. Anthony

  1st Siege Company

  Royal Anglesey R.E.

  B.R.F. FRANCE

  Sunday

  29:12:18

  Dear mother,

  After many ups and downs,

  and weary carrying of equipment, we

  reached our destionation today, which

  means that it has taken us six days

  since leaving the Base. I wrote you

  while at Etaples on the 26th. Well,

  we left that rest camp on the morning

  of the 28yh, and got into a cattle truck

  train, in which we did a day and

  a night's travelling. The trains are

  usually very long, and only travel

  about ten miles an hour, so we

  at once prepared to settle down in

  the truck for the day. There were

  about 30 men, aboard each truck. On

  ours we erected a little above

  which we found by the side of the

  
  

   ... Right Side

  line. The chimney stuck out at the

  side. This enabled us to boil tea,

  and we had bread, cheese, and bully beef

  to keep us going. So the day passed

  cheerily enough. we enjoyed the scenery

  (although the rain poured all day), and

  there was an occasional shop, when

  we could get off to stretch our legs.

  At night, the train continued

  rumbling on its journey, and i was

  lucky enough to get a few hours'

  sleep in a corner. At 5 o'clock

  in the morning, the train stopped, so

  we got our packs put together and

  jumped out in the dark, to find

  ourselves in Cambrai. We had

  breakfast at one of the depots,

  got annn hour's rest, and then in day-

  light we set about looking for

  our company. This was no easy

  matter, as the town is a large one

  and full of British troops.

  
  

  
  

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• February 9, 2018 14:08:32 Zamfirache Diana

   ... Left Side

  422964 Spr. W. S. Anthony

  1st Siege Company

  Royal Anglesey R.E.

  B.R.F. FRANCE

  Sunday

  29:12:18

  Dear mother,

  After many ups and downs,

  and weary carrying of equipment, we

  reached our destionation today, which

  means that it has taken us six days

  since leaving the Base. I wrote you

  while at Etaples on the 26th. Well,

  we left that rest camp on the morning

  of the 28yh, and got into a cattle truck

  train, in which we did a day and

  a night's travelling. The trains are

  usually very long, and only travel

  about ten miles an hour, so we

  at once prepared to settle down in

  the truck for the day. There were

  about 30 men, aboard each truck. On

  ours we erected a little above

  which we found bu the side of the

  
  

   ... Right Side

  line. The chimney stuck out at the

  side. This enabled us to boil tea,

  and we had bread, cheese, and bully beef

  to keep us going. So the day passed

  cheerily enough. we enjoyed the scenery

  (although the rain poured all day), and

  there was an occasional shop, when

  we could get off to stretch our legs.

  At night, the train continued

  rumbling on its journey, and i was

  lucky enough to get a few hours'

  sleep in a corner. At 5 o'clock

  in the morning, the train stopped, so

  we got our packs put together and

  jumped out in the dark, to find

  ourselves in Cambrai. We had

  breakfast at one of the depots,

  got annn hour's rest, and then in day-

  light we set about looking for

  our company. This was no easy

  matter, as the town is a large one

  and full of British troops.

  
  

  
  

  • Show revision
  • Compare to current version
  • Compare to previous version

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