Letters from the Front

The following article appeared in the Chelmsford Chronicle newspaper on the 25th December 1914.

GERMAN OFFICER’S CAMERA
ESSEX LANCER’S FIND
PICTURES DEVELOPED AND REPRODUCED HERE
INCIDENT AND HUMOUR AT THE FRONT.

We have been permitted to see a batch of letters written from the front by Tpr. Ernest Crisp, B Squadron, 12th Lancers, son of Mr and Mrs G. Crisp, of the Lodge Farm, Greensted, Ongar, and brother of Mrs Holden, wife of Pc. Olden of Woodham Ferris. Like many other brave fellows, Trooper Crisp makes no complaint of the hardships of the campaign, writes cheerfully all the time, and ignores has own brave acts. He was called up as a reservist on the general mobilisation, and has been in the thick of the fighting with the Expeditionary Force all the time. He has been lucky enough to escape with a severe cold. He is particularly grateful for the gifts sent out, and his letters prove how well everything is now working to meet the demands of the troops.

Trooper Crisp made one interesting find, coming across a camera, part of a German officer’s kit, and this he has sent home. Although he thought all the plates were smashed, two of them contained views, which have been developed at home, and are reproduced here.

Below will be found extracts from the trooper’s letters:-

TROUSER BUTTON SOUVENIRS.

Writing on Dec.10, he says the men are still in billets,
“but the horses have to put up with the rough weather we have been having, raining every day. We have to wade through mud, not quite up to our necks, to get at them. I suppose we shall have to stick it through the winter now. Things are very quiet here. We don’t hear or see much. The King was here last week, and General French saw us again the other day.”

One of the writer’s brothers, who has joined the Yeomanry, had asked him if he had a military cap badge to part with, and the Trooper replied,
“I don’t think there are half a dozen in the regiment. The girls ‘went nap’ on them at Havre. Some gave the buttons of their trousers for souvenirs. Did you read General French’s dispatch? Very good wasn’t it? General French did not mention when the war would finish. He said, ‘Don’t think because you have not yet advanced into Germany you have not done well.”

TOSSING FOR TOGS

Dealing with the retreat from Mons he says,
“I shall not forget that in a hurry. With our Brigade were the Scots Greys and 20th Hussars, and we did some good work.”

Writing early in October, Trooper Crisp spoke of nice weather, but very cool at night. Some warm underclothing was served out, but at that time was not enough for all, so they tossed for the articles. He adds,
“I have not been lucky enough to get any yet. I have turned my shirt and brushed it several times; not that I am ‘hitchy coo’ yet! Col. Wormald is back with us again. He got wounded in the first charge. The people out here are getting back home again – those that have homes to go to now the Germans have had what they wanted. Has the price of food, corn, etc., gone up much”
“Have you done much shooting? You might leave me a few, but I don’t suppose it will be this side of Christmas, although I hope it won’t be much longer than that.”

Shortly after this period, when frosts set in at night, he and his fellows were in billets. He also said, “We look like spending Christmas out here all right, so don’t forget the cigars and nuts!”

At this time he was getting plenty of clothes except underwear, and as he said, it would be a treat to have a change. He asked for nothing else, as he could not carry more. Referring to the difficulties of writing to all his relatives, he mentioned that the only chance he had to write was when they halted for a few minutes, perhaps for an hour or so, then
“off we go again, still looking for the Kaiser, but we have not come across him yet!”

LANCERS WITH BAYONETS

In another letter he acknowledged chocolate, soap, towels, tobacco, etc., and said they were getting plenty of shirts, socks, tobacco, etc., from private people and through the newspapers. He then had three shirts and plenty of socks, but not pants.
“All the cavalry are in the trenches now, and we have been issued bayonets, so now we are the 12th Foot! We are relieved now and again by the Indians. Five of them got wounded the first time up. They don’t like the trenches. They want to be ‘at em’ They don’t care for the shrapnel any more than we do. As I am writing this shrapnels are bursting only 200 yards away. The German col-boxes are terrible things. They burst in the earth, and the shock is enough to kill anyone. I had a narrow escape one day. The enemy were shelling our transport, and I took cover behind a stack of oats. I might as well have held a piece of paper.”

SHELLS AND WASPS

“The shells are falling all around me. I had not been there many minutes when I had some of Sid’s chums (wasps) buzzing around me, I was only standing in the front of the hole, but I decided to make a move, and lucky I did. I hadn’t got 30 yards away when a shell went straight through the stack and burst the other side, firing the stack. We can see the Germans in their trenches from ours, but they are fairly quiet. They send a few shells over now and again to let us know they are there.”

SHATTERED VILLAGES

“The Germans have made several night attacks, but they have been driven back. There is heavy fighting going on at the present time on our left. The country round here is ruined; villages and towns are shattered and burnt by the firing; and cattle are being killed every day. We fell asleep riding along, tired right out. Hundreds got lost through taking the wrong roads. We were in some very dangerous positions at times, but did not know until afterwards. We have heard that Italy and Holland have declared war, but do not know of it is official. The war cannot last much longer, I think. We are living well, and get plenty of smokes. The people at home are looking after us alright. So they ought, as the troops have something to go through before this is finished.”

In a further letter early in November the trooper expresses thanks for a parcel, says he is well fixed for clothing now, and that it was a treat to get a clean change on after so long.

GERMANS’ MUSICAL ATTACKS

He proceeds:
“The situation does not look much brighter yet. I see Turkey is causing trouble. We have been having a warm time of it here lately. The Germans have tried their utmost to break through our lines both night and day, only to be driven back with heavy slaughter. It is terrible. They advance with bands playing, just like a swarm of bees. We cannot help mowing them down. The battle is still raging, but they don’t think it can last much longer if this lot is beaten. They are putting all their strength against us. The prisoners now are boys about 16 and old men between 60 and 70. The London Scottish have had a rough time. They went into action last Sunday for the first time, but they gave the Germans all they wanted. The generals have congratulated them on their fine work, but the lost heavily.”

GERMANS IN KILTS

“Some of the Germans advanced dressed in kilts on the left of them, through the lines of the Carbineers – who thought they were the London Scottish – and set fire to the building in the rear of them. This was at night, so the Germans could see to fire in the trenches, and the shell fire was terrible, but still the Scottish kept them back. The Germans have been busy dropping bombs on the towns round here these last few days, killing more women and children. We fired at one aeroplane, but could not bring it down. They shell our aeroplanes every time they appear over their lines, but I have not seen one brought down yet, although they send as many as fifty shells at one. Bu some of them are close.”

BRUTALITY OF THE GERMANS

“We have seen some terrible sights. The Germans loot every town and village they come to, and sometimes burn them. I some the people have been murdered. It’s a shame to see the beautiful crops trodden down by the troops. There are very few people left in the villages, and they are pleased to see us. We put up at farms when we can, but most of them are deserted, and the binders are left in the fields with cutting half finished. The Germans kill all the chickens they come across, and we come on bullocks half cut up on the road. I could tell you a lot more worse things, but they are best left out. No one knows how the people suffer, especially the Belgians. They are nice people. They cannot do enough for us. Nearly all their men are at the front. I think the war will last longer than people expect unless something unusual happens. I suppose horses are very dear in England now?”

“We are having a draught of 60 men from home today to fill up the ranks. We do not draw any money. We could go if we wanted, but we can’t spend it. We have had two charges, and the Germans can’t stick them at all. It was very exciting, several hundred of Germans being taken prisoners. Most of them can speak English. Their big gun fire is very good, but I think they fire anywhere with the rifle. We had it hot the other day under a heavy shell fire from their siege guns, but we escaped all right.”

In expressing appreciation, under date November 19, of a parcel from his mother, he says a woollen cap from Mrs Hoare was very acceptable.
“Rotten weather” had been experienced, rain every day, and cold with snow, and sharp frosts at night.”

BOATING

“The roads are cut up by the traffic. Some of them you could boat through. We are having plenty of coats sent out, so you need not worry about me. We heard about the Emden before the papers arrived, also the death of Lord Roberts. I would like to hear the Russians are in Berlin by Christmas. But that is too much to hope for. I doubt. We shall be pleased to get on the move again from here, the same thing day after day. I cannot tell you anything of the situation. I know very little myself, but we are all happy, and hope for the best. I saw a sergeant in the 2nd Essex named Digby. He came out here with Charlie from Africa. You cannot tell the regiments by their cap badges, because they have given them away to the French people as souvenirs.”

WORDS OF CAUTION

Speaking of the crops at home the writer says,
“You will have to make spare of the good stuff, but you are not so badly off as the poor people out here – some of them burnt out, and where there is straw and hay the Government have it for the horses. The farms in the firing line mostly get burned down, and the cattle are killed by shells and bullets as they wander about to get their own living. We saw an aeroplane fight the other day, but could not see who came off best, for the clouds covered them, they were up so high. We could hear them shooting at each other.”

“We have heard you have conscription at home, but it may be only a ‘fizzer.’ We get plenty of them here. One fellow starts something and it goes round with something added to it. I should not think they will let it come to that. No doubt there are plenty walking about all day with kid gloves and stick, but I don’t suppose those who join now will be wanted out here. I hope not, but we expect them all to do their share in some way. They ought to see the state of things here in Belgium. It would make then buck up, I’ll bet. There was a sharp frost this morning. The roads are terrible, a foot deep in mud. I hope we shall soon make a move from here and the Germans in their own country or get them on the run, as they say. Got called out this morning, but was not needed. The Germans made an attack last night, so they must have lost again. They will soon get fed up with attacking. I should think. I had been hoping to be home by Christmas, but that is all over now. I saw in a paper where a French officer prophesied that the war will last three years. Not long when you say it quick!”