A Letter From the East Anglian Royal Engineers

Saturday 10th April 1915: Sapper F. Parker, East Anglian Royal Engineers, writing to Mr. Stock, foreman at the Queen's Works, Bedford, said: "I am doing guard tonight and have two hours to spare before my turn on. I hope you are enjoying good health, both myself and Arthur are quite well. I am following my trade in the Headquarters Section and haven't been down to the trenches only on one or two occasions, and then the Germans were shelling the road we passed along. It was quite hot in some places, as they were trying to find one of our batteries. It makes one nervous for a time when the bullets start whistling by, but you soon get used to it. There have been some lively times recently away on our left as no doubt you have seen in the papers(1), but it has been rather quiet in our part for a week or more. Can hear a few shots while I am writing, but no big guns on the go. One cannot describe an engagement when at its height only that it's one continual roar and crackle of guns and rifles and the rush of shells through the air. The artillery always lets loose on the German trenches for half an hour or so before our infantry make a charge and I give you my word there isn’t much of a trench left, or Germans, by then. It's awful, especially our lyddite shells. It's also a fine sight on a dark night to witness the flash of guns and the illuminating rockets, which are thrown up at intervals all through the night and then is the time for a working party of engineers to bob down flat. If not, the snipers have got you. It's very risky work is barbed wire entanglements, and sometimes only fifty or sixty yards separate one from the enemy's trench. All hammers or mallets are muffled to deaden noise".

"Our reinforcements have arrived here from England and we needed them, as with sickness and casualties we were short of full strength. Our company have made a good name for themselves with the work they have, and have been praised by the officers commanding the Division(2). One of our fellows has been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal and an officer the Military Cross for exceptional bravery".

"We have just had a splendid gift from Messrs Vickers, consisting of a writing pad with French dictionary and writing materials, quite a useful thing. I have been engaged lately on a new job. Am making hand grenades, or bombs, just behind the firing line. One has to be careful in the handling of explosives, as we shouldn't have a second chance if anything went wrong. I hope Kaiser Bill won't drop one of his pills among us. I will close by wishing you good health and luck and I hope soon to be back in the old shop again".

Sources: Bedfordshire Times 16th April 1915

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(1) A reference to the Battle of Neuve Chapelle

(2) 2nd Division