SERGEANT HUMPHRIES, D.C.M.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16384, 15 May 1915, Page 3

SERGEANT HUMPHRIES, D.C.M.

NEW ZEALANDER'S EXPERIENCES IN FRANCE. LIFE IN THE TRENCHES. A VALUABLE RECORD. FALLING SNOW. Farmhouse near Levantie. Sunday, November 15th.—Stood to at 5 a.m. Weather very, very cold, and fiist time we have seen ice on the water. At 6 a.m. we were told we did not i>:iwe off until 10 ajn., so everybody vrwit out on scout. The rations consisted of a pot of cheese (between four men), jam and bread. The scouting party arrived back about 8 a.m.—and what a 'party ! One carrying a goose, others fowls, carrots, and all kinds of vegetables—so everybody is now hard at work plucking, etc., ready for a good feed. We were ready to move off at 10, but the order came to stay here, so we were standing by in the same farmhouse as last night. The -weather is very "Southlandy'' —plenty of ice, and while I am writing this the snow is falling fast and it looks like a general fall. I only hope the weather clears, as this game is bad enough in fine, but in wet and cold weather it is a devil. No letters again to-day—it dops seem too bad, as 1 know right well that tiPlev are about somewhere; but the reason they do not reach me I do • not understand. I had a walk round the village this morning, and what a sight! Houses smashed to ruins, what were not smashed by shell were upheaved in such a state—crockery, clothes, foodstuffs and all household furniture in endless confusion. In one house I visited, a cat cried alone with such a pitiful cry, and I thought that if a dumb animal felt it, what must be the feelings of the owners, when all this terrible time is over. In. another place a poor little fox terrier was tied up in a kennel. The few bones that lay around, licked white, tolU its own tale, and when I let it go, it ran around ready to eat anything and everything. These are just two little instances of cruelties that I saw to dumb animals,> but the terrible things the enemy do to the poor unfortunate 'people around here, especially women ! I will not try and tell in this little book, but would rather tell personally when it is all over. I .visited another house occupied by three women and a little girl. 1 knocked, and the door was opened by an old granny, and she and the rest looked scared and frightened to death. In each of their hands they held Rosary beads. They took me in and gave me a delightful cup of coffee, and tried to tell me in excited French what the dreaded "Allemando" have done. 4 p.m.—We wejre ordered to pack up ready lor moving./ The rain came on, but not very hard, so our march to Estaus was not a difficult task. Monday, November ' 16th.—Estaus. We arrived here at 6 p.m., and were quartered in a room at the Convent. 1 am orderly .corporal and "platoon" orderly to-night (ot rather this was last night), and you would laugh to see me at my new duty. It is to issue all rations to the four sections of my "platoon''—"bread, bacon, cheese, jam, etc.— all had to be divided into three separate numbers, and I can tell you it looks easier than it really is. At 6 a.m. we rose, the morning breaking dull and drizzling. NEAR BETHUNE. 3 p.m.—Just arrived. On the march from 9 a.m., to a place called La Continas —anyway it is some 8 miles from Bethune. We . were billeted again in a cowshed, awaiting .the next move. I would not be surprised to see us go into the trenches to-night, although I may say I hope not - , as it iS oold, wet and cheerless. On our march we passed numerous motor wagons, carrying big guns and all the other tilings that go to keep an army in the field. I i am getting quite used to seeing these sights now and burning villages and people in flight are a common every-day sight. Just heard of the death of poor old LBrd Roberts. At times like these death counts for little, and it Is only a matter of an hour or so and one is entirely forgotten. On our. way here we passed numerous graves with, their little - wooden crosses and a few flowers, which told the silent tale of the battle—by the newness of the ground it was not many hours ago since tliey were put to their last resting place. Perhaps you have all reafi of the French town called Lavcatie. We passed through this one day on our march, and saw it again the other day. What havoc! If I were to try and picture the awfulness of the place, but it is impossible for me to draw any picture that would do it justice. How this country has suffered—my earnest hope is that not long ere this we will be able to pay the enemy back in their own coin. At present I am writing this diary in the sun (which I may say does not oome out too often jiow), at the back of our billet—in othenj words, our cowshed. !j 5 p.m.—Went and drew the rations for my "platooh." They had a very nice hot stew (thanks to Jock), and after a read of a 14-day old paper, spread out my little pack of straw. and then got down, and amid the booming of the guns and sharp rifle. fire, went sound asleep until near daylight, but the cold awoke me, and I lay cold and thought. My thoughts were all with my New Zealand people and my mother in. London, all snugly tucked away in their nice warm beds. Tuesday, November 17th.—Same farmhouse, La Contrue. Rose 6 a.m. Drizzling rain—l blame all these big guns for the amount of rain we are having. Just before daylight the sound of battle was very great on our left, and sounded as if we had made a charge. I drew some extra rations for to-day's meals, and cut up some Australian frozen beef-, which when cooked I may mention was as fine as ever I tasted. 9.30 a.m.—We have rifle inspection for the G. 0., after which we have orders to stand by for immediate move. We are in general reserve to-day, while the brigade is being relieved, and then we will ftave another move on somewhere. Late in, the afternoon I drew the letters, and was welcomed by getting two. It is fine to get letters only five'days old. I am corporal pf the guard to-night, which necessitates my sleeping in the open, and, as we have no light, will have to turn in as soon as it gets dark'. Wednesday, November 18th.—The same little dirty farmhouse. I have been up and down all night. The cold has been very severe, and the white frost puts me in mind of the old' "Southland'.' days. During the night there was plenty of rifle and big gun filing, and this morning the big guns had moved up, and by the sounds we hear they seem to have gained some ground. At about midnight the old dame here (something after the old granny tj'P e )> gave me a nice bowl of coffee, and in the night it was most acceptable. The sights now are getting familiar, such as mail transport, the gabbling of European tongues, road ''doss'' wagons, and all the hundreds and thousands of different gear necessary for this huge army. . Noon.—A beautifully fine day. We had rifle inspection this morning, and then dismissed. I fil'cd in the time doing several odd jobs, such as sewing buttons on, clearing out my kit, reading over old letters, and tearing them up. The aeroplanes still hover around and the big guns thud, thud away. If it were not for these noises, we would not know we were actually on the battlefield. 5 p.m.—-Went u» for rations, and also for the mail, and was rewarded by <rettinoa parcel of cigarettes and a letter from Jim Harding, last but not least—a New Zealand weekly. The sight of the paper gave me quite a sensation, and I eagerly scanned the news with a candle that kept, blowing out every few minutes. Thursday, November 19th.—Same farmhouse. In reserve. The morning is bleak and cold. The ground is frozen, and the ice seems, to get thicker every day. Still no orders. Rifle inspection ordered for 10 a.m. The weather is very cold, and inclined to be snowing. Things very quiet all day. Had a good basin of hot "bully" stewJock again was the hero.. 3 p.m.—The weather is cold and cheerless. and the snow is starting to fall very heavily. Wo are all confined to the cowshed, trying to keen warm. Quite a lot of boots aild clothing have arrived, and

eveiybody is now busy drawing the necessary they are put down for. The battle sounds very quiet and the big guns seem more silent than I have ever heard them.' I think the Germans must be preparing for a great retreat. Turned into bunk at 7 p.m. Snowing very heavily. HEAVY SNOW. Friday, November 20th.—Still in reserve —the snow is lying very thick—about 2ft I should say. The frost during the night has made it hard, and the f-cene is entirely changed. It looks pretty although black, but it is not nearly so cold as the frosty mornings we have been having. At 10 this morning we had a inilo walk, and then loaded up some heavy timber for the trenches—it evidently looks as if we were preparing for winter quarters here. The name of this village is La Contica, and our 161b guns are giving a small village about 4 miles away a shelling, which should do a great deal of harm to the enemy. Noon.—lt is a glorious day—snn shining on the snow, and the work we have done has just got us into a fine glow. I havebeen issued -with a fine pair of new boots, so although the surroundings look cold I personally am as warm as beast. 5 p.m.—Through the frozen state of the roads, our rations will not be up until midnight, so to-night's supper will be a scanty one. Just before dark I got some fresh straw, and prepared my bed as best I could. The temperature is very keen and am expecting a very heavy frost. 6.30 p.m. —The sound of the rapid fire of the rifles and the booming of the big guns is tremendous at present, and it looks as if the enemy are making a charge on our line, but we are well dug in here, with some good barbed-wire entanglements, and have plenty of reserves, so I think we can take all the hammering the Germans can give us. After some "bully" broth went to bed. (To be continued).