Great Uncle David

[Lachlan09]

Whilst I was at my father’s house to clear it out before handing back to the local council, I literally had to go through mounds of old correspondence, various documents, artifacts and photos etc. Among it all, there were such oddities as a commemorative medal for King Edward VIII’s coronation (which never took place), a commemorative medal for King George VI’s coronation (which did take place), a commemorative medal for the 1938 Empire Exhibition in Glasgow and a 1934 Daily Record commemorative medal for the launching of the 534 (Queen Mary). There are also WW2 Japanese items – money, Burma occupation money, postcards dog-tags plus allied propaganda leaflets etc brought back by my Dad.

However, I also came across old photos and documents from the First World War, of various relatives on both sides of my family. I have for some time taken an interest in my Mum’s uncle David, who was killed in 1917. Whilst I was previously able to piece together various pieces of information on him (some definite and some circumstantial) via the internet and my retention of family memory, I now have in my possession a number of letters and postcards he wrote during his army service between 1915 and the end of 1916.

What I knew already is that he was David Elder Robertson, of Bush Terrace, Musselburgh. He was either 25 or 27 when he died (according to whether you use CWGC data or the record of his volunteering). He was married (perhaps with a child). He was a Lance-Corporal in the 8th Btn, Black Watch, 9th (Scottish) Division (part of the New Army/Kitchener’s Army). His service number was S9365. He was killed during the 3rd Battle of the Scarpe, Arras, on 3rd May 1917.

What I would like to do here on this thread is transcribe his letters one by one, to give a feel for what was going on in the mind of an average soldier, in this case my relative. As you read his letters, bear in mind that he did not survive the war.

[Lachlan09]

Transcript of Letter No 1 – written in dark “school-coloured ink” with ink-nib or fountain pen on unlined thin paper (the writing is very clear and neat, each line is precise as if written on lined paper). This letter was written while David was at Bordon Camp, Aldershot. Having joined up on 2 June 1915 (according to available signing-up data), he was not yet part of his parent battalion, 8th Black Watch, which left the UK for the Western Front in March 1915, as part of 9th Scottish Division, one of Kitchener’s New Army formations of wartime volunteers. David trained with a recruit-training company for the battalion in England and later went to join the battalion on the Western Front as a replacement in late 1915.

Note the date of this letter – while David was by now trained (note joined June and considered trained by late September)and was made up to Lance-Corporal to help train recruits at Bordon, that very day he wrote from training camp in England - 26th September 1915, the 8th battalion was that day going into action with 9th Scottish Division in the first battle to be fought by Kitchener’s Army on the Western Front – the Battle of Loos, where many men lost their lives. David’s move to the Western Front became more urgent after the battle losses became apparent over the next days, though, as this letter was written before any casualties were suffered, it's clear he was keen to go to the Front anyway.

Please note, I have not changed or altered the text or punctuation of the letter in any way. “SM” means Sergeant-Major”.

26/9/15

Dear Father & Mother

Just a few lines to you. Well you would be disappointed at my non-arrival again. Well we were told plainly by the SM in front of the officers that we get our pass on Friday sure after the manouvres. Well after the manouvres were all past Captain Hamilton Johnston paraded us all in front of him and told us that the adjutant had given him orders that no man was to get a pass until he was under orders for the front, and that we were to thank the last training company for keeping us back because they didn’t come back to time. Well I am very downhearted for I could have done fine with a week at home. I am fairly done up with the cold and I am feeling very miserable. We had very bad weather for manouvres and we lay for 20 nights out in the open with 1 blanket for a covering. It was no joke I had charge of a section so I got very little sleep I had to see that they took their turn on guard and I had to be ready for messages at any time. Well it was a great display. There were 5 Batts – the Camerons, the Seaforths, the Scottish Rifles and the RFA you can bet there was some noise from the big guns and all the rest it was the same as real warfare only no casualties for a wonder. After it was all over you could see nothing but soldiers rising from everywhere. There were a good crowd watching and we were a hungry and tired lot after it was all over. We were expecting some real fighting with the Camerons for the Black Watch and them are great enemies they don’t like us but we were warned about it. Of course you will know that. You could see nothing but motor bikes tearing along the road keeping up a correspondence they had free scope. Well I was glad when it was over for I was a tired one without sleep. If I had not had a stripe I would have got a sleep all right but I had to look after a section. Well I told them I was handing in my stripe and I was paraded in front of the Captain, and I was fairly put through the mill and asked my reason for it I made the excuse I had no notion of it and he told me I was foolish. He said I was picked out as qualified for the job and that if I changed my mind I would not be long in getting another but I stuck to my decision so he said he would see about it. I am still wearing the stripe till I am told to hand it in but I have heard no more about it. You see they have picked me out to drill recruits on the square. I was to do a parade at night under the SM for advanced drill, and after I came back of my pass I was to be on the square drilling recruits for good. Well my intentions are to get my pass as quick as possible and get out to the front for my heart is set on it. I want to be able to say I have been at the front and done my bit.

(letter ends – final page / pages are missing).

As he was a lance-corporal when he was killed in 1917, it seems that he never got that chance to get rid of his stripe.

[Lachlan09]

This letter of late 1915 is to his sister Annie (Robertson) Montgomery, back in Musselburgh. David is now on the Western Front. The letter is written in pencil on plain, rough quality paper. It is hard to decipher some of the writing as the pencil text has become very faint in some areas of the letter and is actually unreadable in places. The handwriting is now something of a scrawl, not nearly so neat as it was back in Bordon training camp.

Peter is Annie’s husband, Peter Montgomery (my Granddad) who was in the UK as a piper with 2/7th Royal Scots. Wee Davie is Peter and Annie’s son and Jessie, their daughter (my Auntie Jessie).

The reference to an aerial torpedo most likely means a bomb dropped from an aeroplane, most likely hand-held at that time.

David's use of the word "Bro" predates the American "dude" cultural use by about 60-70 years !

25/10/15
8th B Watch
B Coy
No 5 Platoon
BEF France
B E F means British Expeditionary Force

Dear Annie

Just a few lines to you hoping you and Peter and Wee Davie and Jessie are all well. Well Annie the weather is very bad cold and wet. Well we are out of the trenches for a rest …(unreadable)... for you are not long in getting lousy. Well it was a great experience being into the ……….. for the first time ……………… I got my first sleep last night after being in the trench for about 8 days. We will be in again in about 2 days. The rest of the Battalion was in for about 2 weeks before we reinforced them. Some were lucky getting out with them. Everything is leveled to the ground here there is nothing but german …..to see. I have seen some so bad sights here but I am getting used to it. But I am sorry to tell you that I am suffering from the old pains I used to have but I will have to stick it. I could hardly walk for pains after coming out of the trenches rumatics is no joke. But never mind we will trust in God to see us through it. I seen one of my mates blown to bits with an aerial torpedo. I was one of the lucky ones but believe me it was nothing to what the Huns were getting they were getting shelled like hell. I have been in what you call a sap that is a sort of ….. trench to the German trench you can hear them talking quite plainly for you are quite close to them. That is what the sap is for listening first and you are not sorry when you get out of it. I am listening to the guns now it is a constant bang bang night and day. It is a fine sight at night when we send up the star shells it lights up the whole place and you can see if the enemy is coming over. The bayonet charges are the worst here but you just have to put your mind to it and go into it like hell. I will close now. Your loving Bro Davie. See and write often. God bless you all and I hope it will be my luck to meet you all again. Goodnight

[Lachlan09]

This next one is a YMCA “On Active Service” standardized postcard addressed to David’s father, Mr David Robertson, 40 Campie Road, Musselburgh, Scotland. It is stamped by Field Post Office 26 dated 4 No 15 (ie 4/11/15). A triangular censor stamp reads Passed By Censor No 1624.

The message side has the YMCA triangle logo. It is written in purple indelible pencil and reads:-

ON ACTIVE SERVICE

Address Reply to L David E Robertson No S9365
3/11/15 Section B Company 8th Battalion B Watch Regt France
THE BRITISH EXPEDITIONARY FORCE
c/o GENERAL POST OFFICE, LONDON

I will see you at Christmas I hope.
Well we will trust to luck

Dear F & Mother

Just a few lines to you I see by your letter dated the 19th that you have never got the letter in answer to your parcel. Well I have wrote about 50 letters to you. You must not be getting them. It is not for the want of writing. I see you are sending on another parcel. Well it wont half be welcome and thank you. I have written to your every day. Goodnight and God bless you. Your loving son Dave

[Lachlan09]

This time, a French plain “Carte Postale” addressed to his Dad, Mr David Robertson with Field Post Office stamp dated 8 No 15 (8/11/15) and triangular red censor stamp PASSED BY CENSOR No 2343.

6/11/15 S9365 David E Robertson
8th B Watch B Coy
BEF France

Dear Father & Mother

Jock was wounded through the chest last night. I received your parcel all right and I can assure you I was thankful for it. It was a nice frosty morning and I was doing listening post at the time. We are getting long boots and fur jackets so they will help to keep the cold out. I am listening to the shells tearing over the trenches. I am only 25 yards of the Huns. Hoping you get the pipe all right and thanking Mrs Little for her kindness. Hoping David is all right and keeping well. Well I will close now hoping you are all well. Goodnight and God bless you. Your loving son Dave Love to all. Tell Mrs Little I won’t forget her.

Long rubber trench boots (thigh boots) were progressively issued to front-line troops in static (usually waterlogged) positions during winter-time. They had additional rubber straps wound around the foot and ankles to prevent the boots being sucked off in deep mud conditions. They were worn over the usual leather ammo boots, cloth puttees and trousers. In action, being ungainly, they would not be worn. They were not personal issue items, being categorised as "trench stores" which had to remain behind in the trenches for the next incoming unit to wear. The fur jacket was personal issue however, first issued in winter 1914, intended to replace the woollen greatcoat which was considered unsuitable in trench conditions, as it got very heavy when wet and clogged with mud, not at all helpful during spells of fighting and raids. The sleeved, short fur jacket was goatskin, worn fur side out and fastened by tapes. Usually brown, any white ones available were eagerly sought after, though they risked a sniper’s bullet. A throwback to the fur-lined poshteen worn by British troops serving in the pre-war North West Frontier, this coat had the fur on the outside. Though warm, they harboured mud, dampness and lice and in winter 1916, were replaced by more practical collarless and sleeveless leather jerkins with warm khaki cloth lining. The leather jerkin was also popular with WW2 troops and saw much service as a working coat for farm-hands, drainage and construction workers into the 1970’s. The original poshteen, later called an Afghan Coat, became a loved clothing item for hippies in the late 1960’s.

[Lachlan09]

Another French plain “Carte Postale” addressed to his sister Annie, Mrs Peter Montgomery, 38 Campie Road, Musselburgh, Scotland with Field Post Office stamp dated 13 No 15 (13/11/15) and triangular red censor stamp PASSED BY CENSOR No 1624.

10/11/15 S9365 David E Robertson
8th B Watch B Coy
BEF France

Love to all
xxxxxx Wee Davie & Jessie and Wee Janet

Dear Sister

I received parcel all right and believe me it was welcome. The pants will keep me warm. Everything was complete in the parcel. Well I am just doing away and trying my best to do my bit. But I miss Jock very much. We used to have our little cracks about home. He got it a little above the heart. I don’t know if he got home to Blighty that’s Scotland. Well good night and God bless you all your loving bro Dave. I am always thinking about you all.

This is David letting away a trade secret here that, in winter-time, garments were worn under the kilt. In a December 1915 letter (now lost) I recall he asked for his old gardening trousers to be sent over, so he could cut them off at the knees and wear them under his kilt. It looks like Jock got the later-termed “million dollar wound”.

[Lachlan09]

This time a British plain “POST CARD” addressed to his sister Annie, Mrs Peter Montgomery, 38 Campie Road, Musselburgh, Scotland with Field Post Office stamp dated 12 De 15 (12/12/15) and triangular red censor stamp PASSED BY CENSOR No 1624.

Peter is Annie’s husband, Peter Montgomery. Jock is David’s wounded pal (with the chest wound).

11/12/15 S9365 David E Robertson
8th B Watch B Coy
BEF France

Hoping David Little is keeping well.

Dear Sister

Just a few lines to you hoping you are all well and Mrs Little too and hoping Mother is keeping well and not worrying herself too much. If it is God’s will I will come through it all right and see you all again. I wrote to Peter yesterday. It is not easy for me to write to you all hoping you will excuse me. I wish Father would write and tell Jock I got his PC as I have lost his address. He says he is getting on all right and suffering no pain and enjoying himself well. Well I got the two parcels all right and believe me they were welcome. I am always looking forward to a parcel and you have not forgot me. It was very good of George to think of me and I only wish I could get home for Christmas to see him after coming all the way from Canada. Well Annie, I will close now hoping you are all well. I am feeling my back very bad it is very discouraging as we are up to the waist in mud. Well Good night and God bless you all. Love and kisses to Wee Jessie and Davie. God bless them. Your loving brother Davie.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Wee Janet