Newspaper

A Weardale Soldier’s Diary
By J. Carr, 18th D.L.I.

25 May
I happen to be having a day’s rest to-day so I am getting through a bit of correspondence, although I have not much news to send. The censorship is so strict … I have just seen Frank Snaith. He was not in Egypt with us, but joined us on our arrival in France. He is a good man, having a good nerve and pleasant disposition.

5 June
I have heard some rumours to-day about the North Sea Battle, and am beginning to think that we have had the advantage. Perhaps I will manage to get a paper to-day and will learn a few facts. You know, you get far more war news than we do. We know what goes on on our own little bit of front, but what goes on elsewhere we only learn from newspapers, and they are very scarce here. We have moved from the place at which we were when I wrote to you last, and are now in a fairly big French village, which has been pretty nearly deserted by its inhabitants, though a few farmers still cling to their farms round about. There are a few shops from which one can buy various articles of food, and there is a small and welcome Y. M.C.A. I have not seen anyone from home except Frank Snaith and Fred Peart, of Burnhope. Fred is a big fellow now.

10 June
I met Tommy Butterill, of Wolsingham, to-day. It was quite nice to see him again, after a lapse of nearly three years. He did not know me when he saw me, but I could easily pick him out. We had a long talk about Wolsingham and the people I used to know there … We are having a decent time here now, not so much work as we used to have and more time to ourselves. In this village eggs are fairly plentiful at twopence each, and we frequently polish off half-a-dozen. A very nice change from the eternal stew and hash … The battle in the North Sea seems to have been all right after all. The Huns appear to have lost more than us … News is very scarce, that is news that I may send you.

13 June
I am having an awful busy time this week, and it is only with a struggle that I can find time for writing. I am doing my turn as orderly Sergeant, about the busiest job one can get in the army. However, with all this work, I do not worry; the only thing that troubles me here is my washing …

17 June
I am still orderly Sergeant, and in the thick of work. This week I have got to work late and rise early, and going the whole time. It was 12 o’clock when I got to bed last night, and I was called out at two for about half-an-hour, then to bed, and up again at 5.30 … We are having lovely weather again. I hope to come off my present duty and rejoin my platoon again very soon, and then there will be more time for writing …

20 June
What I am to write about is what puzzles me. I am now in a nice cool, comfortable Y.M.C.A. A few more men are in the room with me, all engaged in the occupation of writing. Everything is quiet inside the room, but outside there is the continuous roar of countless vehicles of every description, and should I go outside and look up I would probably see a few of our aeroplanes in the air keeping a ceaseless watch upon our enemies. Some time ago I told you that I had not seen much of German aeroplanes, and that they very seldom came near us. On Sunday afternoon however, a fleet of about half a dozen came over us. They were flying a tremendous height, but our anti-artillery guns kept up a rapid fire at them, and although they did not on this occasion bring one down, they at least forced them to retire. This little affair provided an interesting entertainment on an otherwise dull day … The war seems to be going on all right now. I am quite confident of an early termination, and am certain that I will have my Christmas dinner at home this year. It is probable that I will get my leave within the next two or three months, but the war by that time may be so near to complete victory as to render leave unnecessary.

Date: 13-Jul-1916

Author: Auckland Chronicle

Reference: D/WP 4/39 Microfilm Reference M61/38

Where to find this: Durham County Records Office

Contributed by Fiona Johnson - Durham