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19 June 1915 – W H Drake Brockman to Ted

Trenches 19/6/15

Dear Berryman

Thanks for yours of 16: received today. I am sorry to hear your wound is still troublesome necessitating an extension, but a bit extra leave will do you no harm & the rest ought to benefit you – though it may feel a bit boresome at times.

It is very tiring work this & so monotonous- & now with the smell, flies & bluebottles in the trenches, they are not very charming dwelling places. We shall be in these trenches for another 10 days & so with our time in support in trenches, we shall have done 20 days – quite like old times.

As usual plenty of rumours, I don’t think we are likely to be withdrawn, but I don’t think we shall do another winter campaign. I trust NOT, with the riff raff of B.M.P. we get as reinforcements.

Col. Ewing has another extension- Mainwaring & Lane also. Lumb is a fixture at Marseilles as C off. Base Depot- he is not very strong just yet. Clarke rejoined a day or two ago – so I am full of B.Cs & no GOs hardly

Yrs sincerely

W H Drake Brockman

 
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Posted by on 19 June, '15 in Ted Berryman

 

31 May 1915 – Fellow Officer to Ted

France

31.5.15

My Dear Berryman

Your cards etc reached me, but I had no time to write as I went up to the Regiment on the 11th to try and help in the night show. Well between the 11th and 15th we were pushed about between the firing line and the death traps & in the orchard and Rue du Bois, and then back to do that night show on the 15th. There was a continuous bombardment by our guns for 60 hours without a stop, and you bet the Bosches let us have 0 back.

Bax and Monk both got killed with “Wizz bangs” and Gatherer got one into his dugout but only got slightly damaged. If we had been kept there a few more days we should all have been laid out. Smokes had 19 men laid out with one ‘Crump’ and we lost about 40 to 50 men a day during the bombardment, so you can imagine what we felt like when we were ordered to do this night show.

Smokes’ company was in front with mine just behind the parapit of the fire trench. Smokes got his company out before the attack and lay down in front of the ditch but as soon as he got up to move the Bosches were onto us, and Smokes got a bullet through the ankle and the attack only went about 30 yards, I came over the parapit with my two leading platoons but by the time we reached the ditch everyone was down. Eventually Percy came out and told us to get back.

The Bosches had a searchlight on all the time and brought up machine guns as well. I think it was rather a tall order asking us to do a night show after the 6 days’ hammering we had had by artillery.

Old Smokes was tophole by the way, he carried on all through those 6 bloody of bloody days, & the Perce did very stout working under a heavy fire in front of our fire trench on the night of the 15th.

We have been back here in so called billets since the 17th, but it’s been very wet and we have got the whole battalion into a space that ordinarily would be called tight for a company.

No news yet but I fancy we shall go up again very shortly. We have had several new 80’s join and have done away with one company so have only 3 now.

I went up yesterday morning to old fire trenches of the 2nd Division with etc, and we got shelled the whole time with  Jack J etc but fortunately had no one hit, one landed within 5 yards of me, but didn’t take a hit. Anywhere within a mile of the firing line is to be avoided these days.

(Final page missing)

 
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Posted by on 31 May, '15 in Ted Berryman

 

27 May 1915 – J M Shaw to Ted

27/5/15

By the way- the C.O. has
asked me to tell you that
your Mess Bill is Fr 11.50
(say 9/-) Could you send P.O.
Sorry to trouble you but C.O. &c.

My dear Berryman

I was pleased to get your letter of the 23rd & glad to hear you are making satisfactory progress. I thought I told you in my previous letter what happened after you left. The attack failed & we lost roughly 7 killed, 46 missing & 103 wounded. Rogers was wounded in the attack just 15 yards from our trenches, no other B.O. was hit. Rogers I believe has a painful wound in the ankle but I think is getting along nicely. He is now at No 1 London General Hospital, St Gabriel’s College, Camberwell, London.

The regiment went back again to the trenches last night. Etherton is sick away with measles & Fox is doing Adjutant. They apparently had a narrow escape yesterday as a “Jack Johnson” fell just by the side of their (C.O. & Fox) dugout & took away a part of the side. Burton has been temporarily transferred to assist the 154th Highland Brigade of the Highland Division. As you may guess we are short of B.Os & the battalion is divided up now into three double Cos. Your kit & rucksack are being sent off immediately to Messrs Cox & Coy with instructions to reforward to your home address. I am having the rucksack put in your valise for safety’s sake, as en route I believe there are some people who have light consciences &c., shall be glad to hear from you as soon as received.

I have no other news – am just going off to the trenches with the rations – everything seems so changed now, so few of the B.O’s left. Blair has come back to take charge of a double Coy.

Must really hurry now- excuse scrawl in haste. Look after yourself & stay away as long as you can & keep fit.

Best regards   cheer oh!

Yours ever

J.M. Shaw.


I am amused by how modern J.M.Shaw sounds when he says “Sorry to bother you, but C.O. etc”. Because time-shift. 

&c is etc
Fr are Francs.
P.O. is a Postal Order.
B.O. is a British Officer.

 
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Posted by on 27 May, '15 in Ted Berryman

 

24 May 1915 – Gwynedd Russell to Gertrude

BRYN,
DIGSWELL,
Welwyn,
Herts.

May 24/15.

Dear Mrs Berryman,

I am sure I saw you on Thursday at the meeting at the L.O.F. but when I tried to find you at the end you must have gone! I was so sorry and I wanted to ask after Ted.

We were so sorry to see his name in the Casualty list. I do hope his wound is slight and will cause you no anxiety, but give you the pleasure of having him home.

I suppose everyone at Guildford is nursing. I have not had any opportunity to do so yet but am to start a month’s training in June which I am much looking forward to. David seems very contained at the front and says trench life suits him down to the ground, bar the noise.

Tony is in the 3rd Army so won’t go out for a bit. He turned up today on a motor bike to our surprise and delight, as we have hardly seen him since he joined. Please give my love to Ben and the others. Mother sends her kindest regards

Yours very sincerely

Gwynedd.M.Russell.

 
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Posted by on 24 May, '15 in Ted Berryman

 

23 May 1915 – Frances Palmer to Gertrude

26, PARK STREET,
WINDSOR.

Whit Sunday

Dear Gertrude.

I fear very much it is your dear boy who is reported as wounded. I am grieved to think of your anxiety, but I trust his injury is slight & that he will soon recover from it- & perhaps you will have him at home soon.

We have seen a good deal of young Mr Fisher lately- he has been billeted with a friend of ours, he often spoke of you. I think you must know his people- he has left now for Cambridge.

I have many friends & relations out, & I hear 4 of your boys – are fighting for us – how much you have to think of. We have left this house to Capt Enscombe who is now in command of the anti-aircraft to defend the Castle, he has a very unrestful time during the visits of the King & is called up day & night with warning messages.

Our cottage at Wareham has been let out all winter to a soldier. With our love to you

Believe me

Yr affecte Aunt

Frances Palmer

 
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Posted by on 23 May, '15 in Ted Berryman

 

23 May 1915 – George Palmer to Gertrude

SUIRVALE,
CAHIR,
CO. TIPPERARY.

May 23rd 1915

My dear Gertrude

I saw amongst the list of wounded the other day the name of Capt E.R.P. Berryman of the Garhwal Rifles. I fear this must be your son Ted.

I hope you can find time to send me a few lines to tell me about it & how he is – is he able to come home? Also please tell me about the others. Paul & Christopher & the girls. Has Richard come home from India? I fear I have been a very bad correspondent but believe me I do not forget you all.

I hope this terrible war will not last much longer but I fear there is little sign of daylight as yet.

Hoping to hear good accounts from you

Yr affecte Cousin

George Palmer.

 
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Posted by on 23 May, '15 in Ted Berryman

 

23 May 1915 – M G S Stoppard to Gertrude

Elmer House, West Street
Farnham

23rd May

Dear Mrs Berryman,

I see your son has been wounded & if it would not give you too much trouble to send me a p.c. I should much like to know how he is. I do hope you are in no anxiety about him & that he is going on well. –

This war is terrible, still those at the Front seem always optimistic, my husband among them. He & Montagu are at Headquarters which is a great relief to me. I suppose your sons are scattered in all directions, I wonder where the naval one is?

It would be very nice if you could come over to luncheon one day, do if you can. My telephone no is 160 Farnham. My mother would like to see too.

Yours very sincerely

M.G.S. Stoppard

 
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Posted by on 23 May, '15 in Ted Berryman

 

21 May 1915 – L Wooldridge to Gertrude

May 21st 1915

22. Elphinstone Rd
Southsea

So sorry to see Ted’s name in the paper yesterday. Do hope the wounds are not serious.   Wasn’t it sad about poor Freddie Bond, he was such a dear boy. I am going back to Camberley on Sunday. Love to all.

L. Wooldridge.

 
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Posted by on 21 May, '15 in Ted Berryman

 

21 May 1915 – Ethel Ford to Gertrude

BUDDS
WITTERSHAM
KENT.

21 May 15

Dear Gertrude.   We saw yesterday that Ted had been wounded, but Bens tells me it is not serious. I am so thankful, how glad you must be to have him at home. Isn’t it a dreadful time? Unspeakable I think.

Morton has been out since the beginning of Oct. he is in the A.S.C. Motor transport, attached to the Indian Contingent – He was ill in Feb. & had a fortnight’s leave, but I don’t suppose he will be able to get any more for a long time. He got influenza & a very bad throat. Everyone in the world will be out there soon.

We have lots of wounded in all the Red X hospitals round us- & they may take our school later on. Esmée is quite ready to be a ward maid or do anything, but we have not had a hospital in the village. I would much rather have a government one. Red X is wonderfully muddled as a rule, & such squabbles!

I have spent my life knitting, & am still at it, for the French wounded now.

Much love dear Gertrude

Ever yr affect

Ethel Ford

 
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Posted by on 21 May, '15 in Ted Berryman

 

21 May 1915 – S M Campbell to Gertrude

EARDISLEY RECTORY,
HEREFORD.

My dear Mrs Berryman,

I was very sorry to see your Ted’s name in the Casualty list yesterday but very thankful it was not in the first part of the list. The only time lately when there has been freedom from acute anxiety has been when our nearest relations have come home wounded.

One alas returned wounded for a blissful month with his young wife & was killed in the landing of troops in the Dardanelles. I do hope Ted is not badly wounded. Is he in Hospital or have you got him with you.

I expect you are most desperately taken up with your works for sick & wounded as well as with your other manifold interests. Are Richard & Paul doing their bit somewhere.

My brother Archie has been a prisoner at CelleHanover since August & had a rotten time for months. Things are rather better now. The elder brother Col. has an ammunition column somewhere in France.

Yours very sincerely

S.M Campbell.

 
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Posted by on 21 May, '15 in Ted Berryman