Lives of the First World War

9th June 1916 - 1st July 1916

9 June 1916 “Dear family, …Everything is very quiet in fact to use a slang word it’s “a gift”. In fact we are really, without kidding, having a jolly decent time… Lord Kitchener’s death seems a terrible calamity to everyone. The country now looks very different to a few months ago. In place of mud and bare trees, the whole front (in this sector) is a riot of tall grass, weeds, barley, etc. Sometimes pretty well waist high. Just around here there are a great many orchards but it’s too early to partake of the fruits… I was watching some shells this morning (from a very respectful distance). It was rather an entertaining sight – some going clear through house walls (making a nice round hole) and several going into water making huge columns of spray. It is really awful the way things are battered about. We were doing some work yesterday, making a dug out in some cellars and came across some excellent claret – 30 odd bottles – wow. Wow. You can get excellent drinking water here. Among some ruins a notice board was found stating that there were natural Perrier springs at that point. The RE’s (Royal Engineers) discovered the spring, made a cistern and here you are. We are getting a bathe every day”. 15 June 1916 Dear Family, …This portion of the line is really most interesting. In parts it’s an absolute maize of saps and trenches among the craters. In places our saps heads are within 40 yards of theirs. A periscope solemnly sticks out from both of them… A sap is a little trench pushed out from your trench towards the enemy, and the object, at least one of them, is that the enemy can’t very well approach your line if a good lookout is kept. Also it is a very suitable place for you to get out for wiring, patrolling, etc… The bombers have a great time buzzing off grenades. Apart from the wet it’s a most interesting spot. OP’s (observation posts) are extremely interesting, as from ones occupying a commanding position you can see a good deal of the ‘uns. I have been made Battalion bombing officer.” Douglas had seemed to have acquired something of a routine as a junior officer managing the billets and food for his men, inspecting sentries and conducting the odd night-time patrol. And then whack!… the sudden injuries from a mine explosion at Fricourt in mid-June 1916! 22nd June 1916 OHMS telegram “DMR was admitted Red Cross Hospital Le Touquet 19th June gunshot wound c/v fracture right numerous wounds back and face severe.” He was to lead a bombing expedition to the enemy’s trenches after a preliminary mine explosion. He put his men into a dug-out, in which there was no room for him. The mine exploded but, so to speak, back-fired doing harm to us and to no one else. Douglas stooped down while stuff was thrown upon his back until it seemed to be broken. He had put up his hands to protect the back of his head and so had the arm and collar-bone broken. He was dug out… then carried through the tortuous trenches to the casualty clearing station, receiving shrapnel wounds in the face en route.” 19 June 1916 – 33 Casualty Clearing Station Bethune, BEF “Dear Mother and Father, I have got what is known out here as a “soft one for Blighty”, the Classical expression!! My right arm and left collar bone are broken and fortunately I hardly feel the effects. I gather I shall probably remain here a few days and then be sent to England”. 27 June 1916 – No.1.Red Cross Hospital A.P.O.S11, BEF “Dear Family, …I hope you got my letter saying I am absolutely all right, have a slightly stiff right arm is my only trouble… As I can smoke and eat as much as I want you will gather there is nothing the matter with me. I am certain to come to England and it is only a case of waiting till my arm is properly set… Please don’t expect me to write every day as I can’t write myself and the nurses don’t always have time to write for me…” 1 July 1916 – No.4 General Hospital Lincoln “Dear Family, Arrived here last night. Very comfortable journey… I am now feeling very fit. Really. Can eat well and sleep well. My right arm is causing no pain and is getting on well. Left collar bone is a very clean fracture and is rapidly knitting up. Chin wound is only a scratch and has healed up. My back is no longer at all sore”.

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