Author Archives: Ted Berryman

3.2.15

Dear Mother, can you please see about some cigarettes for me. Jim said he had fixed up a regular weekly or monthly supply, but since I came back from leave I have’nt had any at all!! except what other fellows did’nt want. Please don’t think I’m complaining, only I can’t help thinking there must be some mistake, as surely some ought to have rolled up by now. If Jim has’nt arranged anything, could you please arrange with De Reszke to send 200 a month as if you buy them by the 200 at a time you get them a bob a 100 cheaper or something. But you might find out first what’s happened to Jim’s show, as I certainly understood he had fixed up something.

We go back to the trenches tomorrow after 6 days in reserve here. At least we go up tomorrow to immediate reserve just behind the firing line, & then into the trenches – as it’s called! – after a day or so. As the trenches are all full of water, of course we can’t actually occupy them, but have a system of breastworks & piquets out in front. I fancy most of the stories about standing in water are yarns, though of course there has been a tremendous lot of fighting in knee- & waist-deep trenches, & no doubt a lot of troops have had to stand for hours, & sometimes days, in water. But as a rule men manage to keep fairly dry, though mud is always ankle deep.

The air is – here I was interrupted, and I’m sure I don’t know what the air is! or what I was going to say! I heard a rumour today from a chap who had heard it from someone else etc etc that the 20^th Divⁿis close behind us here, but whether there is any truth in it or not I don’t know.

I’ve just had my hair cut & feel very prickly. Two enormous guns are firing just close here & the whole place shakes whenever they go off.

Could you send along a Bystander or Graphic or Illustrated London News occasionally? A picture paper is always welcome, Tatlers & Sketches, as they go the round & we hand ‘em on to Tommies when we’ve done, so a lot of people get enjoyment out of them.

Tons of love from Ted

30^th

Very sorry but I was interrupted yesterday by a job of work so must carry on today. Well those aeroplanes were careering about all the morning, and of course the only anti aircraft gun had been moved away the day before. However he was fairly close by, & had simply heaps of shots at the planes, but never bagged one. It was pretty to watch, as the sky was a gorgeous winter blue, & the hundreds of little white puffs of smoke looked awfully nice against it, & the planes buzzing about, not taking any notice.

None of them were hit, & shortly afterwards some of ours turned up from nowhere apparently and all the Germans cleared off. They evidently found something as that evening they put a lot of shells right into a battery close to us, but I don’t know if they did any damage or not.

We were relieved last night,  & have come about 2 miles back only, in reserve, which is’nt much fun as one has to be constantly ready to go anywhere and do anything. Another gorgeous day, cold, frosty & clear & that lovely blue sky. Aeroplanes are again all over the place, but all ours today, no German ones.

I got chilblains this time in the trenches, but as we were only there 4 days they did’nt get very bad, & are much better today. We had a quietish time, though just south of us all that heavy fighting was going on, and I suppose they were too busy to worry us. There is a huge gun firing quite close to where we are billeted, & every time it fires the whole house shakes. Must finish up now, best love to all from your loving son

Ted

The “job of work” that interrupted Ted the day before was being relieved and leaving the trenches at Richebourg St Vaast to march to Vielle Chapelle, according to Drake-Brockman in his book “With the Royal Garhwal Rifles in the Great War 1914-1917”.

30th

Dear Jinny

Thanks most awfully for your letter which I got today. You do indeed seem busy at the hospital, however you are doing your little bit which is tophole. How you stand washing up dirty plates I can’t imagine, as if there’s one thing puts me slick off it – a plate all over butter & Jam; hence you have my sincerest admiration and sympathy.

Many thanks for Marjory’s love; I wrote to her yesterday – ha ha! – and sent her some, but you can give her some more when you see her.

We are out of the trenches for a day or 2, but go back again very soon. Same old story, they said they would keep us out 3 weeks, but they are going to keep us in barely one! Never mind, it’ll all come out in the wash- We had a comparatively easy time this time, very little shooting or excitement. All that heavy fighting you must have read about at La Bassée was next door so to speak & we could hear it all going on, but they contented themselves with opening a very heavy fire on us while that was going on, but did’nt actually attack- Mr Funk had to walk about a road behind the firing line, seeing everyone was ready, but very few bullets were coming our way fortunately, & those were only stray ones. Still it’s their dam stray bullets that do all the harm sometimes.

We had 4 German aeroplanes flying all over us yesterday, doing what they liked. Our anti-aircraft man blazed away at them but though he went pretty near, he never actually bagged one. At last some of ours flew up & they all cleared off & I dunno what happened. It was a lovely bright winter’s day & those air people must have been quite frozen, as it was freezing on earth. Yes send out the hair stuff, & I do hope it will make me ‘air grow. Lovely weather, but this afternoon it has clouded over & looks like snow. But we have been having gorgeous frosty clear weather most days, & I expect we’ll be skating before long.

Our aeroplanes have been buzzing about this morning too, 3 biplanes up together. I  must try & get into the Flying Corps someday. I started chillblains this time in the trenches, but they are better now. Yes, rather the rucksack thing is splendid & exactly the size shape weight colour and material that I should have chosen myself.

TelI Ben the 2 watches arrived safe & are the buzz & go like hell.

Well Jinny I must end up. Tea time, & Genl Joffre & French are coming to tea, I met them on the road this morning & they said they might look in- They asked after you, & said they were glad to hear you were washing your country’s plates.

Send a cake along, the last one was much appreciated.

Tons of love

from

Ted

Drake-Brockman tells us the Garhwarlis marched from Richebourg St Vaast to Vielle Chapelle on the 29th

Jan 29^th

Dear Mother

Very many thanks for your letter of 25^th written from the Parish Room. I got my rucksack yesterday, tell Dryden it is EXACTLY right, & just the buzz of the Field Force.  Must write and thank her.

Gorgeous weather here, clear bright days & a hard frost, but of course it’s bitterly cold, but we manage to keep warm. Yes Dick seems to have spent very little time of his leave at home, but I expect he’ll be up often enough later on.

Today has been quite interesting. Four German aeroplanes were flying about all over our lines-

Continued the next day

(Postmarked 24 Jan 15)

Dear Jinny, I’ve just got your letter
And parcel containing my purse;
Yes, thank you, my cold is much better,
At least it’s not got any worse.

You remark how delightful it was, Jane,
Your Brother from France to see;
Don’t say any more, please; because, Jane,
It was far more delightful for me.

It was ripping to meet you again, dear,
After nearly four years in the East,
Far away from the mud & the rain, dear,
(The water, I mean, – not the beast!)

Far away from alarms & excursions
From a bathless existence of grime,
Thanks to all of your noble exertions
I just had the hell of a time!

I’ve of course often had leave before, dear,
For a month, or a week, or a night;
And it’s sometimes been rather a bore, dear,
And others been fairly all right.

But THIS was a good’un and sweet ’un,
and for solid enjoyment I claim
Those five days can never be beaten,
The crême – so to speak – de la crême!

There’s Jim – now I hadn’t seen Jim for
Twelve years – or was it thirteen?
And I wouldn’t have missed seeing him for
A sum that would ransom a Queen:

Started this when I got back but never finished it! & have’nt got time now. Send along that hair stuff Jinny as I hate being old Baldie! Freezing tonight.

Write soon.

Lots of love from

Ted

Sunday.     Jan 17^th

Dear Mother

Very many thanks for your letter which I got this morning dated 14^th. I was wondering if you ever got that wire as I gave it to a promiscuous boy on deck who said he would send it off, & I’m glad he kept his promise. I posted some letters to you all on Friday night, which I expect you will get tomorrow Monday as your letters have taken 3 days to arrive I see.

Now I’m out here again it seems colder than it was at home! though I always said it was colder in England than here; but on 2nd thoughts it’s worse here, as the wind is so bitter. We have a holiday today as it is Sunday, & I am going for a country walk this afternoon with one of our French interpreters. Ask Ben if she remembers my walking over the St Bernard Pass with a Venetian, & Joe said he’d never seen a Hungarian! As a matter of fact this man is an Englishman who lives in France, & is doing interpreter for us.

Many thanks for Ruth’s wire, which I wish I had got before I left, it was very sweet of her to send it. Yes I wish I could have seen her, but I will make a point of it next time I come home. I must write to her but I don’t know her address, so please let me know what it is.

I don’t think there is much going on here, in our front. In fact I’ve only heard one heavy gun fire in the distance since I’ve been back. Mr New-coat is going to take the woolly lining out of his scutum today & use the scutum part only, as it’s too hot to wear & too much fag to carry as it is, & it’s sure to rain! We’ve all just had a present of a tin of toffee from the Grocers association inscribed “to our brave lads at the front!” Hooray! People really are absurdly good to us, & we are doing nothing.

I do hope old Topher is getting on all right, but I expect he’ll soon settle down after his experiences in S.A. This time last Sunday I was talking to dear old Mr & Mrs Drew, hauled out of Church, etc etc & generally living in a sort of dream! Yes rather I’ll store up some of the enjoyment, there was certainly enough & to spare, & use it when things are dull.

Are the girls washing up at the hospital now. I think it’s splendid of them to take on a job like that & I’m very proud of you all.  Must end up & get this censored.

Love to all yr loving son

Ted

Jan.15.

Dear Jinny

I am a fool. I’ve brought out those films I bought at Masseys & they are much too small! I quite forgot to try them before I left, & only tried them this morning and found out. And I can’t send them home as you are not allowed to. I must send you some money to pay for them.

Hope you all got back safely after your sporting effort in seeing me off. I suppose now you are busy in the hospital, washing dishes and making yourselves generally useful. No news here, except that it is a rotten place, & there is no place to compare with England.

By the way I did’nt think much of the passing show, did you? I wish we had gone to Drury Lane now instead as several fellers here told me it was very good, & of course I’ve also heard it was rotten.

My dear my fur-lined [Aqua]scutum [coat] is quite the buzz of the regiment, & all are very envious; so it’s been a success you see, though I have’nt worn it in really wet weather yet. It’s been raining here all the time I’ve been away & is fairly dull today; awful cold too. We had a lovely crossing, just nice and rough and blowy enough to be really nice. Is’nt it rot having to come out here again; still I’m glad in a way my leave was’nt longer as I should have found it harder still to come out. I don’t suppose we shall get any more leave for some time now, at least it’s all been stopped now & we are going back into the trenches next week I believe.

Sorry I have’nt got much news to tell you but as I only saw you yesterday morning, I have’nt had much time! Thanks awfully for all you did for me at home Jinny, I had a fizzing time & hope to be home again soon to rag you. Write me a nice long letter soon and tell us all about it. So long keep smiling, tons of love from

Ted

Friday.       15.1.15.

Dear Mother

Just a line to tell you I arrived safely yesterday after really a very comfortable journey & a good crossing, during which I was NOT ill!

We got here about 9 o’clock last night, by train, motor bus, & motor lorry. Everything seems much the same as it was when I left, & the weather certainly is the same. They have had wet days all the time, so I was fearfully lucky to get such a nice dry spell for the few days I was home. I must just say how fearfully I enjoyed my leave, & how ripping you all were to me, it was topping seeing everyone again, & I can never thank you all enough for giving me such a good time; I only wish I could have stayed at home longer, but of course I count myself fearfully lucky to be able to get home at all.

I hope the others got home safely after seeing me off. I’m afraid I dragged them out fearfully early & it was awfully sporting of them to get up so early after a late night, & I appreciated it muchly. Rather a rush on the platform as I expect they told you, crowds of people & introductions & a final dash for the train as it was just starting. By the way I found I never took my nail brush home, so it should not be on that list of things I left behind. But I did leave my purse behind somewhere so please send that out.

Very cloudy & cold here, & we are off to the trenches again next week, but won’t be in such a long time this time. I hear they are entirely under water! Jolly is’nt it. By the way I find I ordered a pair of govt: gum boots some time ago & they have now arrived, so I shan’t want a pair; I don’ think they are really much good, as if one must get wet it’s much better to slosh around & do it thoroughly & not try & meet it half way, I don’t think it’s any good. Tons of love & thanks to all again for such a highly gorgeous time

Yr loving son

Ted.

Jan 4^th

Dear Mother

I’ve got my leave all right, so barring accidents I’ll be home on the 8^th allright. I don’t know what the rules are about wearing uniform or mufti at home, but I expect I’ll be able to find some mufti in the house somewhere if I want it, though I’ve got nothing to go to town in-

Very wet & miserable here still and frightfully cold. We had a big parade this morning for Genl Willcocks cmdg: the Indian Army corps, & he dished out some buttery remarks; my word it was cold on parade, & it was raining most of the time. Really I’ve never seen such cold & persistent rain. I enclose a sketch by Dolly Lyell, rather good is’nt it. So long. See you all soon.

Love to all

Ted

According to Drake-Brockman, the Garhwalis were in billets at Hurionville near Lillers which was the Indian Army Corps Commander’s headquarters at the time as well as their realhead. They arrived there at 2:30pm on December 30th.

Jan 3

Dear Mother

Just got a ripping long letter from you of 31^st, written in the Parish Room, & I’ve just time to scrawl a reply. I have just been to church in the local theatre, as they said it was a special intercession day, but there were only 21 officers there.

Incessant rain all day & every day & very cold. Yes rather I have got my new uniform, & feel fearfully smart & clean. Hope Dick is home same time as I am.

Why is Topher going into the RNR, I thought he wanted a mounted job. This is Sunday & with any luck I’ll be home on Friday. I don’t know what the trains are, but I ought to be able to catch one down to Guildford somewhere around 4 to 6 o’clock. Anyone going to hang round Waterloo on the off chance? I hope Ben’s all right. See you soon & tell you everything.

Lots of love to all

from Ted

According to Drake-Brockman, the Garhwalis were in billets at Hurionville near Lillers which was the Indian Army Corps Commander’s headquarters at the time as well as their realhead. They arrived there at 2:30pm on December 30th.