Monday 1st February 1915: Sapper F. J. Harper of 1st Field Company, East Anglian Royal Engineers tells us that today: "The Company made another move, Nos 2 and 3 Sections going to a village a few miles to the rear of the lines for a short rest and Nos 1 and 4 Sections proceeding to fresh work at a smack town around which there has been a big struggle, in which the Allies gained some important points"
"We made the journey by night, and it was not without excitement. It was a beautiful moonlight night, and when we started everything appeared to be so peaceful that it was hard to realise that a terrible war was in progress. We had not gone far, however, before we were awakened to grim reality by a short but sharp artillery duel away over to our left, followed by the rattle of musketry(1). the shells bursting up in the air made a fine spectacle, but we were glad to be at a safe distance from them. Part of the way lay alongside a river and the road in places was full of shell-holes which made travelling difficult and dangerous for the horses. At one part the bank shelved away under our heavy G S(2) wagon. The wheels continued to slip gradually deeper and we had to unload everything from the wagon to prevent it toppling over. This was soon done, the wagon hauled out, re-packed and once more we started on our journey. About a hundred yards further down the road, however, we were again in difficulties. This time the wagon went up to the hubs in a huge shell hole that had become filled up with mud. Six horses alone could not move it, but with about thirty of us on drag ropes assisting them it came out with a rush. No further mishaps occurred and we arrived at our destination somewhere near midnight, rather tired and quite ready to make our 'beds' on the brick floor of the estaminet that is to be our billet for a few days".
"We did not see much of the town last night but this morning we saw on a much larger scale than ever before the pitiable condition of a town in the path of the war. Everywhere one sees houses, shops and public buildings battered and smashed by shell-fire. the civil population is replaced by soldiers, the ordinary traffic by military transports, and the usual sounds heard in peace times are drowned by the roar of artillery, bursting shells and the crack of rifles".
Source: Bedfordshire Standard 26th February 1915
(1) Although all sides now used breech-loading rifles the British Army still used the archaic description of musketry.
(2) General Service
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