A War in Words by Svetlana Palmer & Sarah Wallis

Author:Svetlana Palmer & Sarah Wallis [Palmer, Svetlana and Wallis, Sarah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781471136801
Publisher: Simon & Schuster

One of Paul Hub’s letters to his fiancée, Maria Thumm

2nd June, Audenarde

Dear Parents,

I am well. The journey took us through Bietigheim, Bruchsal, Mannheim, Mainz, Bingen, Koblenz, Bonn, Cologne, Aachen, Loewen, to Brussels. I took the most beautiful images of our homeland with me. Our German countryside is so lovely. We crossed the Rhine at Mainz. The singing! It rang out like thunder. Half of Mainz must have heard it. God, the Rhine looked beautiful. After Aachen there was silence. All the men’s cheering and shouting stopped. I crossed for the second time into enemy territory. The Belgians are as dull as ever. We can hear shooting in the distance.

*

British Private Robert Cude has just spent his first eight days’ leave back in London after ten months in France. Young and single, he indicates that he had a very fine time but gives no details of how or with whom he spent his leave. Now a private in the East Kent Regiment, known as the ‘Buffs’, he is part of Kitchener’s newly trained army. Based in the Somme area, Robert is already very familiar with the soldier’s routine but has yet to participate in a major battle. He sets off to the front line for the second time in his war to resume his duties as a battalion runner delivering messages by bicycle between battalion headquarters and the front line.

27th May 1916

I present myself at Waterloo 4 p.m. for my return journey. It is rotten this return in the middle of the day. It is rotten going back at all. Life is so uncertain out in France. Still, must hope for a repetition of my good luck. This is the dreaded part of leave, for they are terrible, these rail journeys in France. Would sooner be in line at anytime. Next five or six days pass quickly. I soon settle down again as we have plenty of work. It is not safe to go to bed before midnight as messages are coming out fairly often. Very showery today, made cycling anything but a pleasure. Next few days pass quickly. Am beginning to long for trenches again, for I get fed up with civilisation.

A severe toothache puts Robert Cude in hospital, delaying further his arrival at the front line.

11th June

Have difficulty in finding unit, as place is full of troops, both English and French. Cannot but help notice the change in this place. Almost every civilian has left. Something will happen soon.

12th June

Plenty of work today. All roads in and out of town are full of traffic both day and night. The quantity and calibre of guns and shells is appalling and troops pouring in in 1,000’s. Never did I think that we could make such an imposing spectacle. I lose my watch under suspicious circumstances, so for a few days war takes second place. Time goes on smoothly and we know that our days are numbered.

23th June

Tonight we push up to the trenches. Not lucky enough to get a dugout, so rig up waterproof shelter instead.

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