Tidworth
8/7/16
Dear Everybody,
You will perceive that we are still at Tidworth and with the 11th Reserve Cavalry Regiment. Have heard no rumour as to when we might have to leave. Quite a number, in fact all the men that are available have been sent to France from Sling Camp, that is of course the infantry. There are still quite a number of artillery there yet, & also a good number of engineers, but they are at Christchurch. Up to time of writing the only word we have of the 12th reinforcements is that they are still in Egypt. Am beginning to think that they will be sent direct from there to France. Of course there is no knowing.
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By the time this reaches you the offensive that is at the present time developing on the Western front, & which has done so marvellously in Russia, will have assumed some definite form which will decide whether we are to march steadily on, or whether we are to be let in for another winter campaign. Should all go as well this coming month as they have gone this last month we should certainly be nearing a decision of some sort. At least, it ought to be plain to everyone which way the tide of battle will go. The news of this last advance did not come as a surprise for we had known for several days before that something was doing. Had hardly look for it to take place where it did though, & certainly did not expect the French could have put up the fight
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they are putting up. Holding Verdun they way they are, & have made a splendid advance, & going on with it too. As a matter of fact they have done much better than the British, captured more ground, more prisoners, & more guns. They however admit that the Germans have more men per mile against us than they have against them. Before the offensive began I remember reading an official report, in one of the papers, from the French H.Q. stating that the Germans had 7000 men per mile against the British and 3000 men per mile against them, so that makes a great difference. It certainly looks as if the Germans were taken where they least expected it.
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The best & most of their troops are in & around Ypres, La Bassee & Armietiers. Enough time will tell what the result is to be, but one can not help but to look to what the Russians are doing, & coming to the conclusion that, that is where the first decision will be, & a decision there will lead to others on the other fronts. It is now Sunday mid day & I have not got this off yet. Am just back from a run round the hospital where some of our men are, no serious cases just 4 medical cases, that have turned up their toes since we came here. Had a note from Kate this morn, she has had a proper run round & good deal of hard work this time. Back & forwards to France with wounded cases, men that have been wounded in the push.
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I had a note from her from Southampton just before they left for Boulogne, a P.C. after they arrived there saying that they were taking their cases on board that afternoon. And this morn I have the letter she wrote the Hoopers from Southampton on her return, & asking them to send it on to me, as she had not much time for writing. By this time they will be at Havre & in all probability on their way back again. They evidently had a good load coming back from France, some 850 in all, & nearly all surgical cases. They can truly say that they have had something to do now, & a little beyond the usual. So long as this push continues I guess they will have something to do too. Rather hard that just when they are wanted most that any of them would be sick, Kate said they were a nurse short
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her ward, & in some of the others. For myself there is no word as to when any of us are likely to go. These cavalry regiments are sending drafts forward, but that is no reason for saying that any of us may be sent. The cavalry regiments regularly do their turn in the trenches, but I do not think our Squdn ever does, so it may be any length of time before any of us are called on. At anyrate if after we are finished this course here, & there does not seem to be a better chance of me getting off I am going to have another try to get a transfer to the infantry. Since I saw the Gen, General Russell I mean, in Egypt, he has transferred one of the O.M.R. squadron to the infantry in France. Such being the case I do not think can again refuse
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Anyhow we will see. At last I have got my second star, better still, it is dated back to the 5th of February. Came through N.Z.E.F. orders about 4 days ago. A funny thing it makes me one day senior to Hargest, his is dated from the 6th. He was my senior before, can not understand why they should have done it. However it does not make any difference he is in a different unit to me now, noo that it would have made any difference anyhow. Had quite a pleasant surprise last week, received my N.Z. mail at last, some 50 letters & several parcels in all, dated from 14th Feb. up to the 7th May, that is the latest that any here have had from N.Z.
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I can assure you I was jolly pleased to get them, beginning to think they were gone for good. Amongst the parcels was a tin of very nice chocolate from Jean McI., also Jack’s letter Jean, warning me re your cake, & to have the chemist handy. I don’t mind letting him know that I will risk the necessity of the chemist when the time arrives. Am looking forward to getting mail regularly now. Also had a letter from Charl. from Featherstone, but he did not give me his address, so you had better post this on to him. He has joined the Mtd. all-right. It is just possible that he will have to stay in Egypt. There should be no difficulty for him to get a transfer, at least there does
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not seem to be much difficulty out here. At least there is not much difficulty in getting from the mounteds to any branch, but you can not get out of the infantry once you are in. I am to go into riding school in the morning what do you think of that now. However it is part of the course & has to be gone on with. Every officer who comes here has to go through it, & has to be passed out by the Col. To most of those here it is a perfect nightmare, & it takes then about six weeks to get out. However, I am to be put up in 10 days I think. Next week-end I intend going to Swanage, right on the South coast near Bournemouth. Some friends of the Hoopers are staying there, & have asked me along for the week-end. They are Gripper’s by name & I met them at Hoopers before, am looking forward to two pleasant days away from barracks, that is from Sat. morn to Sunday night. Weather conditions here are fair, could be better, but are really many times more pleasant than Egypt. Must be off now.
Your,
Affecs, Brother
E.S. McI.
