SOUTH  STAFFORDS  WAR  DIARY

YVES CANAL TRENCHES – RAILWAY DUGOUTS.

 9th  Aug. Mon:  Furnished Working Parties to RE. CASUALTY: 6443  L/ Cpl J. Williams wounded. 10th Aug.Tue: Ditto.

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Pte BERTIE HIBBETT: A Little Book of Words & Doings.

“Aug. 10th 1915:  Last  conversation with Capt. Cozens* (Tim) on leaving Railway Dugouts. Not been five minutes with him before a whole crowd was round him. Talked of a Charge in which Earl Cardigan (1) , dressed in civvies with frock coat, fancy socks, swagger cane & cigar astonished the enemy.  Offered Tim a State Express cig.  Harper* and Serg Major Gee* whom I saw also.  All three killed while I was at Rouen.  Aug – Oct 14th.“

Lance Corporal SYDNEY HIBBETT:  FIELD SERVICE POSTCARD to Miss I. Hibbett, 95, Foden Rd, Walsall.

I am quite well.  I am going on well.  Letter follows at first opportunity. 

Sydney.           Aug 10th/ 15 .

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On Tues, 10th August, 1915,  Pte Bertie Hibbett was sent down to B.E.F. Base at Rouen for a Rest.  He had been ‘recommended for a rest’  by R.A.M.C. since 25th July.  His feet were considered unfit for the march from Wulverghem to Ouderdom Divisonal Base, Ypres Salient, so he went by ‘ambulance’.  

(1) Earl Cardigan, 1872 – 1961: George William James Chandos Brudenell-Bruce, 6th Marquis of Ailesbury, styled ‘Earl of Cardigan’ from 1894.  Boer War awarded D.S.O. (Distinguished Service Order).  WW1 mentioned in Despatches/ awarded T.D. (Territorial Decoration). Knight of the Garter/ St John; J.P;  Deputy Lieutenant of Wiltshire. 

(2) ‘Swagger cane’. A short stick (not cane) made of rattan.  Symbol of one in authority usually military. e.g. Roman Army centurions in Punic Wars. 264-146 BC.

NEXT POST:  12th AUGUST 1915.