The Work of the Royal Engineers

Sapper Overhill

Friday 19th February 1915: Rumour has it that the 1st East Anglian Field Company, Royal Engineers may go into action for the first time over the next few days. Meanwhile we have heard from Sapper A Overhill of Bedford recognising the trials and troubles of a soldier on active service, but he bears his burden with a light heart: "Since we left England on Christmas Eve we have travelled some miles of France and seen some strange sights. Within eight days of landing in France we were near the firing line. The first few days we started work at 9 am and the Germans used start shelling us at dinner time so after that we had to start at 6 am and finish at dinner time. Following this we went on night work, repairing trenches and making them something like habitable for the infantry. In some trenches the men have to stand 48 hours up to their waists in water; it is a marvel how they have stood it all winter. It is bad enough having to wade about in trenches for four or five hours. Three weeks ago we moved almost to the extreme end of the British line, where heavy fighting is continual(1). Here we have had various jobs such as putting up wire entanglements in front of the trenches, trying to drain the trenches into the canal, fortifying houses, or rather, the remains of some of them. It is terrible to see the way the places have been demolished by shells. Nothing is spared. A church in front of our billets is almost shelled to the ground; all that remains is part of the tower. Sharp, out of the Fitting Shop, also Marshall, are billeted with me. We are all well and hope to make a safe return to the Fitting Shop"(2).

Source: Bedfordshire Standard 5th March 1915

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(1) Annequin and Vendin-lès-Béthune, north-east of Béthune.

(2) 1308 Sapper Albert Overhill died of wounds on 22nd April 1915 and is buried in Bedford Cemetery