All posts by Elizabeth Hibbett Webb

My aim is to publish, in date order, the letters my father, Private Bertie Hibbett, wrote home to Walsall, almost twice a week, from 1914 – 1918. His self-styled ‘humble scribblings’ give a vivid picture of what it was like to be a Private in Kitchener’s Army but, with their original drawings, sketches and photographs, they provide an important collection of primary source material for social historians in this centenary year of the outbreak of the Great War. As a child I was more aware of the 1st World War than of the 2nd, through which I grew up. My father was Vicar of St Vedast’s Church, Tathwell, Lincolnshire and I was never allowed to forget that my birthday was also St Vedast’s Day, for this was an ever present reminder to him of his dawn sentry duty on Easter Day 1915, at Neuville St. Vaast, Messines. * Like my grandfather, Arthur Hibbett, Chief Inspector of Schools for the Borough of Walsall, my career has been in education; mainly in higher and further education, where I taught courses in historical and literary interpretation & methodology. I have a BA Hons.degree in Theology and History from the University of Nottingham and a Master’s degree in Hermeneutics from the University of Bristol. My first teaching post was at Luton High School, then I became Lecturer & Senior Lecturer in Theology and Religious Studies at the College of St Matthias, Fishponds, teaching the University of Bristol, B.Ed. degree. After my marriage, in 1971, to David Kester Webb (painter, photographer and teacher), I became the first Open University Tutor Counsellor and Associate Lecturer in North Devon, from 1974 until 2000. During that time I also taught Religious Studies ‘A’ level at North Devon College. Kester and I published our book, The Hidden Edge of Exmoor,in 2011 (www.thematic-trails.org). This is the story of our life-time’s climbing exploration of the Exmoor Coast at Sea-level; literally hands on geology. We have two offspring: Rebekah (Consultant in International Development: Gender/HIV/Aids) and Martin Vedast, (Project Manager in Ceramics for Disabled Adults). * NB The name Vedast or Vaast means Foster in English. St Vedast was a 4th C. saint, patron of numerous churches in N. Europe, chiefly of Arras Cathedral. Apart from St Vedast Tathwell, the only other church in the Uk with this patronage is St Vedast, Foster Lane London.

5TH MAR. 1916: ‘BRAVE & PATIENT MOTHER’ ON ZEPPELIN ‘SENTRY GO’.

March 5, 2016 Elizabeth Hibbett Webb Leave a comment

1/5th SOUTH STAFFORDS WAR DIARY.

BATTALION TRAINING: OCCOCHES BILLETS

3rd – 5th Mar. In Billets. Battalion Training.

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Pte BERTIE HIBBETT: LETTER to Marie Neal HIBBETT, 95 Foden Rd Walsall.

I sent you a Green last Sunday.

The Next Sunday before Lent. Mar 5/ 16

‘I am very proud to think that the British blood is not weakening but growing stronger’. (1) ‘All our doings without CHARITY are nothing worth’. (2)

My Very Dear Mother,

You will be pleased to know I did get your handsome Parcel of the 11th Feb: addressed to the Notts & Derbys. If I ever told you that I suspected the men in the Batt. of keeping that parcel with ill intention I am ashamed of myself.

No, I could tell by their distinct manners & behaviour, of both officers & NCOs alike, that they would fain do such a thing.

All your letters & the parcel sent to the jolly, decent Sherwoods (3), (as they are called) have been forwarded to me & I did enjoy reading them too, & relished the Parcel immensely.

I got your letter of Feb. 28th enclosing Dodger’s scribbly one, but how excitable to read. Oh no, Basil, your detailed account was not monotonous by far, it really drew my breath. Again I emphasise that Basil, Harold & Sydney & Bertie have much to be grateful for to have such a brave & patient Mother. And I must not leave out dear, dear Dad. I put Mother’s calmness, during the raid (4), down to Dad’s encouragement & comfort shown towards Mummy, as they sat in the silent sternness by the fire, in the dark. Oh how my heart leaps to you dear Mum & how it touched me when I thought of the amusing incident of ‘Sentry Go’ by Ida & Dodger alternately. I pray that you will never have another alarm even, let alone a raid.

I received your parcel of Feb 28th. What a lovely, soft, warm shirt and thank you for the (Walsall) Observer which I read with interest, as you will tell by the cuttings I have sent you.

**John Kempthorne, Bishop of Lichfield and his daughter.**

Yes I am of the opinion of our dear Bishop: “Was it not something of an honour that we, in what was a comparatively small way should share the pain & the sacrifice of the men who were laying down their lives for us“– (that underlined please note).

The raid, I might say, was not so comparatively ‘small’, in one sense of the phrase, as Basil also had the same idea as the Bishop. I think that the raid, to you, was more of a catastrophe than a bombardment is to us in effect. For you must take into consideration that we out here have been used to the sound of guns – like Ben Battle, in ‘Faithless Nellie Grey’ (5) – ‘used to war’s alarms’ whereas you at Home have not only lived without the sound of a gun, but have had to bear anxiety & many sleepless nights (poor Mum) for thinking about us out here. Yet to Dodger & Ida I guess the raid ’twould be most ‘dramatically bookish’, like a vivid story in a book put into practice.

Dearest Mum, I read the beautiful account of the loss of your Mayoress* & also the sad account of Ken Marshall* (6). I noticed you marked those columns with a cross, but you did not notice the marriage. I think you can mingle sadness with gladness don’t you? Did you notice the account of Pte. Robert Ball (7) that Queen Mary’s Scholar who was chums with Sydney & me & came to see you when we fired at Tame Valley Range (8)? He had a rosy complexion, Bob, & I faintly remember him telling you he too had relatives in Ashton under Lyne. (9).

My word I did like that currant batch loaf & was able to get some butter, but this tinned stuff is not so nice as yours.

Vernon was naughty for not using a little more discretion. I shall have to pull him up aboot saying he last saw me scrubbing a floor. I was ordered dear Mum, I did not offer or volunteer to scrub and you must know that an order from a superior in the Army is what we call a DOOTY dear Mum. And then again, can I console you, & bring matters straight betwixt me & you & the gatepost, by just repeating what I read in the Parish Magazine you sent me. – ‘The only undignified thing is scamped work. All work of whatever kind is dignified’.

Of course, dear Mum, that doesn’t mean to say I shall put myself in the way to do charwoman’s work.

www.northeastmedals.co.uk queens_royal_west_surrey_regiment_badge2 — **Queens Royal West Surrey Regt. Badge. <http://www.northeastmedals.co.uk>**

I too have felt so, so happy after doing something for someone else, lending a hand to the Lambs (10) of the 3rd Line by carrying a rifle for my comrade marching on my right on a long, long, tiresome march. I knew what it was to have sore feet & so did Lieut. Robinson. (11). He amused me by struggling with 3 rifles when he should have carried one. (12).

The title of the Frontispieces of the Feb. Mag. struck me as the one you wrote in my prayer book in February 1911 – ‘Be thou faithful unto death & I will give you a crown of life’. (13)

My letter this Sunday is getting long. I could fill all the pages of note paper you have sent me but I must now be on the close.

Did you read that Ken Marshall* did not wish to apply for a Com: he humbly left that responsible position of an officer to another who was more capable. I agree with him three parts of the way; the fourth part was responsible for my handing in the form you sent – E 536 (14).

**Form E536. Application for Commission in Territorial Force. Held in National Archives.**

I wrote to Dad, at his office, saying I needed a Birth Cert. & the other form. Then, when we have gone a little ‘forrarder’, all we shall do is to WAIT & SEE.

I am waiting patiently in high hopes for a speedy conclusion of Sydney’s application & shall be proud to see him in his TOGS. I wrote to Harold the night before I got the shirt, and to Miss Foster* some few days ago. Did you send her a stamp of mine? – hers is a pretty one.

Hoping you are spending a typical Sunday.

Best love to all, Bertie.

PS Did you get the Petit Parisiene (sic)(15) with that photo – or did the Censor take it out ? I am replying to a parcel from Miss Brookes* now.

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ELIZABETH HIBBETT WEBB — **Elizabeth Hibbett Webb.**

Whilst Pte Bertie Hibbett was applying for a Commission in 3/5th Territorial Reserve Bn in UK, Serjeant Sydney Hibbett was applying for a Commission in 1/5th South Staffords, which would keep him out on the Western Front.

(1) Unknown Quotation. (2) Collect for Quinquagesima Sunday/next before Lent: Latin, literally ‘fiftieth’ day before Easter. Book of Common Prayer 1662.

(3) ‘Sherwoods‘/ The Sherwood Foresters i.e Notts & Derby Regt. Pte Bertie Hibbett possibly attached to ‘Transport’ in 1/5th Bn Sherwoods Territorial Force which became the 139th Brigade in 46th Midland Divison.

(4) Zeppelin Raid on Walsall. 31st Jan -1st Feb 1916. (5) A Pathetic Ballad. Faithless Nellie Grey byThomas Hood. 1799-1845. English Poet & humourist. Adapted by Bertie to fit his trench foot misery. cf Letter: 29th Nov. 1915/his Father’s Birthday and 19th Dec 1916.

(6) Mayoress Maria Julia Slater* killed in Zeppelin Raid & Ken Marshall* missing/wounded? cf Hibbett Letter 27th Feb 1916. (7) Pte Robert Ball. QMS friend. Ref. account of his marriage in Walsall Observer? cf Hibbett Letter: 17th Dec. 1914.

(8) Tame Valley Range. Army Firing Range near Walsall. (9) Ashton-under-Lyne: Marie Neal Hibbett’s (Yoxall) family home.

Lamb & Flag Badge of Queen's Royal Surrey regt. — **Lamb & Flag Badge of Queen’s Royal Surrey Regt**.

(10) Queen’s Royal Surrey Regt. had a Lamb & Flag badge (symbol of Christ’s Sacrifice & Resurrection. Many refs to the Lamb of God in John’s Gospel & in Revelation).

(11) Lieutenant P.W. Robinson recently wounded in Bomb Accident. See Hibbett Letters: 28th Feb.1916; 9th Dec. 1915; 28th Nov. 1915; 16th Nov. 1916 (A Little Book of Words & Doings); 13th Oct. 1915. (refs to Captain Robinson of 6th Bn Sherwood Foresters & to a Chester Robinson/family member?)

(12) Rifle Rules/story/ training in Bedfordshire. Hibbett Letters: Sept – Dec. 1914. (13) Faithful unto death. Rev. 2.10. Prayer Book given to Pte Bertie at his Confirmation.

(14) Form 536. Application for Commission in Territorial Force. The Long Long Trail. <http://www.1914-1918.net>.

(15) Le Petit Parisien. French broadsheet newspaper. 1876 -1944. Largest circulation in world in 1927/ published WW1 propaganda posters.

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NEXT POST: 13th MAR. 1916.

2ND MAR. 1916: ‘FORCIBLE LETTERS’ RE ‘A COMMISSION IN 3/5TH STAFFORDS’.

March 2, 2016 Elizabeth Hibbett Webb Leave a comment

1/5th SOUTH STAFFORDS WAR DIARY.

PROUVILLE.

29th Feb. Mon: 9.30 am. Battalion marched to new billets at OCCOCHES (1). 1st Mar. Wed. – 2nd Mar.Thur. OCCOCHES BILLETS: Battalion Training..

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Pte BERTIE HIBBETT: LETTER to ARTHUR HIBBETT, 95, Foden Rd Walsall. (2)

In the Field. 2/ 3/ 16.

My Dear Sir,

Yesterday I handed in my application form for the Com. in the 3/ 5 South Staffs Regiment (3). I told the Captain you would see to the other form signed by the C.O. of the 3/ 5. (4). I was also told I needed my Birth Certificate. Of course I guess you will be only too eager to attend to any other necessity.

This morning I carried away the Platoon’s Post; quite a shoal of letters, but they were all of an early date being those addressed to the Notts & Derby’s. I thank Ida for her very kind letter of Sunday 14/ 2 /16 and the one dated the Friday following (5). I also received Mother’s of Feb 14 and her’s of New Year’s Day.

en-wiki200px-Edward_George_Villiers_Stanley,_17th_Earl_of_Derby_by_Sir_William_Orpen — **Edward George Villlers Stanley. 17th Earl of Derby 1865-1948.**

I was especially pleased to have a letter from Harold, (Feb 16). I was uncertain about his address, I see that he is still at ‘Penarth’ (6). On reading that he was attested under Lord Derby’s scheme for the R.G.A. I was keenly interested; but hopes of seeing him, after he has joined the R.G.A, were vague. (7)

I will reply to Ida’s & Harold’s letters at my first opp. (We are on the move again).

Every success to Sydney’s Commission & Best love to all.

Bertie.

See Over –

PS You all want me to say more ‘aboot me sen’. Well all that I can say is that Je suis tres bien portent et tres heureuse beaucoup. Compris? My handing in the form was partly due to Mum’s forcible letters.

I will send those letters of Sydney’s, which Mother sent me in the parcels, in my next green (8).

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My Grandmother’s ‘forcible’ letters were the result of months of anxiety over the health and whereabouts of her two sons. By March 1916, Pte Bertie Hibbett had been at the Front without Home Leave for a year. Since enlistment he had been in Hospital several times with ‘trench foot’ and ‘blood disorders’. She must have argued that a Commission in one of the Reserve Battalions at Home would take him out of the firing line, improve his health and give him work more suitable to his abilities & background – and importantly, of course, give the family a chance to see him.

My father had already informed his family that he felt the life of an Officer was not for him. His reluctance to apply for a Commission appears also to have been influenced by a sense of loyalty to his pals at the Front and his wish to be near his brother Sydney until the end of the War.

(1) Occoches: a village commune in Picardie, Somme. An 8 mile march from Prouville.

(2) Pte Bertie addressed important news, such as this application for a Commission, to his father, as a matter of course,

(3) 3/5th Bn & 3/6th Bn South Staffordshire Regiments were formed at Home Bases in 1915 as ‘third line’ units. On 1st Sept 1916, they were united as ‘3/5th Bn.’. Interestingly (in view of my father’s later connection with Lincolnshire), in 1917 3/5th Bn moved to Lincoln & Mablethorpe; in 1918 to Lincoln again & Sutton on Sea, ending the war at Mablethorpe, November 1918.

(4) Name pending. (5) Date on envelope rather than on letter as Sunday was 13th Feb. (6) Penarth. A Victorian resort in Vale of Glamorgan, 5 miles south-west of Cardiff.

(7) Lord Derby: Secretary of State for War 1916-1918. Lord Derby’s Scheme. The National Registration Act for Military Service was initiated by Lord Derby, and passed on 15th July 1915. It required all men, between the age of 18 and 65 years, to register their residential location on 15th Aug.1915. See Hibbett Letter, 21st Oct. 1915. Ida Hibbett was an admin volunteer in Walsall. See also: <http://www. 1914-1918.net/derbyscheme> and < http://www.firstworldwar.com/atoz/derbyscheme.htm>. R.G.A. Royal Garrison Artillery.

(8) Green Envelope. Official envelope/Army’s attempt to speed up censorship of letters sent home in 1915. Soldier signed on back: I certify on my honour that the contents of this envelope refer to nothing but private and family matters. See esp. Hibbett Letter: 17th April 1915.

NEXT POST: 5th March 1916.

28th FEB.1916. BOMB ACCIDENT: 15 SOUTH STAFFORD CASUALTIES.

February 28, 2016 Elizabeth Hibbett Webb Leave a comment

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

Bomb Accident. I was practising sniping. Moore killed & Lieut. Robinson & Cooke wounded. (1).

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1/5th SOUTH STAFFORDS WAR DIARY

BELLANCOURT. Battalion Training.

28th Feb. BOMB ACCIDENT:

The following CASUALTIES caused by accident:- KILLED: 983 Pte Hough W.; Died Of Wounds, 7986 Sgt Rooker S.;

WOUNDED; Capt W. E. Moore*; Lt P.W. Robinson*; Lt J.P. Thorne; 2/ Lt J.E.M. Cooke*; C.S.M. 8360 Cartwright A.H.; 9603 Cpl. Betteridge J. 9865 Pte Hingley W.; 9489 Pte Burne J.G.; 9643 Pte Timms H.; 921 Pte White A. 9677 Pte Leach F.; 8007 Sgt Pritchard G. Slightly wounded remained at duty. Pte Whitehouse W.

APPENDIX III. ‘An accident occurred on the morning of the 28th February 1916, whereby the undermentioned Officers and Other Ranks met with their injuries.

British Mills Bomb No 5 Hand (fragmentation) grenade 1915. — Mills Bomb No 5 Hand Grenade..

Whilst the No 1 Platoon of the 1/5 South Staffordshire Regt were engaged in Grenade throwing (2) in which practice live grenades were used, Sergt G. Pritchard, No 8007, a qualified bomber withdrew the pin of a No 5 Mills Grenade preparatory to throwing same. Immediately on withdrawal of the pin the Grenade exploded in Sgt Pritchard’s hand. No blame attached to any person present at the time of the accident.‘

Hales_Grenade,_England,_c._1915_-_Glenbow_Museum_-_DSC00802 — Hales Grenade. 1915.

Hales No 2 Mk1 hand grenade. — Hales No 2 Mk1 Hand Grenade.

9.30am. Battalion marched to new billets at OCCOCHES (3).

FEBRUARY CASUALTIES. KILLED 1; D.O.W. 1; WOUNDED 12 ; Slightly wounded remained at duty 1. TOTAL 15.

Signed: H. LORD, Major Cmdg 1/5th South Staffordshire Regt. 1/3/16.

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Pte Bertie Hibbett’s ‘Little Book of Words & Doings’ is invaluable in providing details not found elsewhere, but here there is a discrepancy regarding the Bomb Accident. He records the death of Capt. W.E. Moore, whereas the Staffs War Diary records he was wounded. No record in CWGC of his having died later of wounds.

(1) Capt W.E. Moore. Captain of 1/5th South Staffords ‘C’ Company (Serjeant Sydney Hibbett’s Coy). Lieutenant P.W. Robinson is mentioned in Letter dated 9th/10th December 1915. Lieutenant J.E.M. Cooke is mentioned in Letter 21st Nov. 1915. Pte Bertie would have known these men since he enlisted in August 1914.

Mills wiki300px-N°5-MkII_N°23-MkII_N°36-MkI — **Mills Grenade No 5; No 23 & No 36.**

(2) British Mills No 5 Grenade (designed by William Mills, Munitions Factory, Birmingham, Feb.1915). No 23 Grenade could be attached by a rod to a rifle to increase the length of throw.

The Hales Hand or Mexican Grenade must be thrown high in the air for its canvas tail to point the grenade head-first into the ground. (Designed Feb.1915, by Martin Hale, Cotton Powder Co. Faversham Kent) <https://<www.museumoftechnology.org.uk> and <https://www.en-wikipedia.org>

(3) Occoches: a 23 mile march east-northeast of Abbeville, N. France.

NEXT POST: 2nd MAR 1916.

27TH FEB. 1916: ‘A WEE BIT SAD’ BUT NO ‘ARSKING’ OFFICERS FOR HOME LEAVE.

February 27, 2016 Elizabeth Hibbett Webb Leave a comment

1/5th SOUTH STAFFORDS WAR DIARY

BELLANCOURT.

21st Feb. Mon. Battalion marched to new billets at PROUVILLE (1). 22nd – 27th Feb. Sun. Battalion Training.

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

Treasured Sayings in Letters from Ida and Mother: ‘On my photo, taken at Marseilles with a Leica, Ida thought I looked ‘a wee bit sad’. Mum altered the opinion – ‘I think your photo simply lovely & very happy. You look alright & everybody likes it & thinks it fine to be taken with an Indian* (2). (I did not send Miss Foster* one), Mother’.

LETTER to Marie Neal HIBBETT, 95, Foden Rd, Walsall.

Sexagesima Sunday (3). Feb 28/ 16

In weariness & painfulness; in watchings often, In hunger & thirst, in fasting often (4). Be not anxious, but by prayer & supplication Let your requests be made known unto God (5). Bring forth fruit with patience (6).

My Very Dear Mother,

How can I express my feelings after reading such delightful letters & enjoying the parcels. The currant bread was fine & I toasted a slice, it was excellent with butter. I think you have set me up for some considerable time with this pad, the three pencils & other paper & envelopes. I will do my best to use the paper in writing comforting letters to you.

I feel a little better to day after the shock I got yesterday when you so much wanted me to get to England straightaway. I will put the matter to a chummy officer I know. I should have thought Sydney would have explained my circumstances to you. I believe a candidate for a Commission has to be an NCO for 2 months, that is why A.O. Jones* is a Lance Jack (7). As for keeping on arsking (sic)- worrying the officers it is counted as a breach of discipline. A private is supposed to be escorted by an NCO if he wishes to converse with an officer.

And then again, dear Mum, there are NCOs, even Sergeants, who have been out here as long as I have & NOT been home yet.

You ask me to say more about myself. Well all I can say is that I was keeping very happy & in good health, but reading your letter wanting me so to get to England worried me a little. Yet I am very anxious & do so hope that you, including the others & Harold (are) calling the photo a ripping one (8).

Indian soldiers arriving in France. 1914. ww1blog.osborneink.com — **Indian soldiers arriving in France, greeted by a French child. September, 1914.**

I was a little disappointed with the photo, yet I risked sending it you & hoped you would like it & – please take note that (I thought) you would not detect the slightest sign of sadness, but rather that I should cause you at least another brighter ray of happiness & comfort to you, Mother, & all of you. I only wish I could send you a really jolly one of myself with the sleeping helmet you sent me & Miss Foster’s handsome muffler round me, & taken in my bed of blankets. I guess there are several people at Home who live the life of Tommy just for fun.

Tell Basil I have had all his letters up to date & they were rippers.

PS M.P. HIBBETT: I meant to say a word of congratulations towards Dad after praising Mum for her calmness during that awful time at night, before the glow of the fire in the darkness, with Basil & Ida doing Sentry Go (9). I meant to say how self-sacrificing in everything is Dad. I thought of that trait in him when I read what Councillor Evans* said at the meeting with regard to Salaries (10).

Three cheers from France to my brave & loving parents & hearty handshakes to jolly jolly Dodger & excellent Ida.

The Assembly Rooms Derby. — **The Assembly Rooms Derby**.

I wrote to Sydney the other day too, but he has not sent me his address. I had to risk the one at the Assembly Rooms at Derby (11). I enclose you his jolly letters. My word I wish I could write like him. Aren’t mine absurd & hard to understand? I really am of no reputation that you should all so want to see this poor self.(12).

I am quite happy, yet I do hope what Basil said – to kiss your dear cheek in reality & not in mere dreams. Yet again I hope you will have ‘beaucoup’ happy dreams till I see you ‘face to face’.

God bless you all.

Bertie.

PS I went to Holy Communion in a barn this morning & of course thought of you & Ken Marshall* (13) & the Mayoress* (14) etc.

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This letter is a good example of how Pte Bertie Hibbett, in the increasing anxiety & uncertainty of the War, found comfort in the words of the Gospel and Epistle each Sunday; identifying with and applying the biblical message to himself & his family.

(1) Prouville, Picardie N. France; 15 miles northeast of Abbeville. (2) Buckshee Ichbye Singh Waltu, Indian Expeditionary Force (Hindustani Sikh). Photo above: Indian Soldiers arrived in France 1914. <ww1blog.osborneink.com>

(3) Sexagesima Sunday: Sunday within sixty days of Easter. (Book of Common Prayer, 1662). Term rarely used today.

(4) Epistle and Gospel for Sexagesima Sunday (Book of Common Prayer 1662): 2 Cor. 11.27. (Paul’s description of his sufferings for the Gospel) and (6) Luke 8. 15. (Parable of the Sower): (5) Philippians 4.6. (AD 60-62, Paul, under threat of death himself, writes to the first European Church which had suffered great persecution & poverty since AD49).

(7) Lance Jack: Lance Corporal in the Army. An informal promotion/appointment; became a rank in 1961). From Italian ‘lancia spezzata’ – broken lance (i.e. when unseated from horse in battle he joined the infantry on foot. WW1 Army song ‘If you want to find the Lance Jack . . .’

Ur-Leica Original Leica, from 1914. — **German Ur-Leica ‘Original Leica’, from 1914.**

(8) Leica photo of Pte Bertie Hibbett and Buckshee (i.e Private) Ichbye Singh Waltu at Marseilles.

(9) ref. Zeppelin Raid, Arthur Hibbett acting as ‘M.P. like his son in Bellancourt. (10) Walsall Education Department Salaries. 1915. It appears Councillor Evans, (Vernon’s father) praised my grandfather for declining a pay rise to help the War effort.

(11) The Assembly Rooms, Market Place, Derby. Gutted by fire,1963. (12) ‘Of no reputation‘. Pte Bertie accepts he’s a Private and must not expect preferential treatment re Home Leave. Unconscious ref. to Philippians 2.7 ? (humility of Christ the Servant).

(13) Ken Marshall, wounded/ missing son of QMS Headmaster, E. N. Marshall*? (14) Mrs: Maria Julia Slater*, Walsall Mayoress.

NEXT POST: 28th FEB. 1916.

20TH FEB. 1916: PLATOON FOOTBALL – ‘NO RULES – NO FOULS – NO INSIDE RIGHT – EVERYTHING INSIDE OUT!’

February 20, 2016 Elizabeth Hibbett Webb Leave a comment

1/5TH SOUTH STAFFORDS WAR DIARY.

Pont Remy France. — **Pont Remy, France. <map-france.com>**

PONT REMY. (1)

14th Feb. Mon. 5.0 pm Detrained and marched to BELLANCOURT (2). 15th-20th Feb. In Billets. Battalion Training.

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Pte BERTIE HIBBETT ‘No. 2 Platoon ‘A’ Company’: LETTER to Arthur & Marie Neal HIBBETT, 95 Foden Rd. Walsall.

Septuagesima Sunday (3). February 20/ 16

Mon Chere Mere et Pere,

170px-Sullivan-1870 — **Arthur Seymour Sullivan. English Composer.**

The weather today has been fine & sunny, but somewhat cold with a sharp wind. I enjoyed the Parade Service in the field, on the outskirts of a park of fir trees. The old familiar formation of the Battalions in a square came with a freshness as we lined up on the field & the officers took part. ‘Onward Christian soldiers’ (4) was the opening hymn. After the service I went to Holy Communion in a barn in the village. The Brig. Major & the other officers I knew attended.

In the afternoon every man had to play football or have physical exercise. Of course the majority voted for football.

So, Dodger! we had a game for those who did not know the rules of football.

We played platoon against platoon – no rules – no fouls except the hands – no inside right – no forwards – no centre half – no inside left, in fact everything was inside out & the game was a game indeed.

I have been able to read the Walsall Observer account of the air raid (5) but it did not give the list of the injured. I trust you are all safe. How sad for that RAMC to return home & find his wife, daughter & son had all lost their lives. I, like Mother, leave your safe keeping in those Higher Hands. I think you have more to put up with than we men out here.

I wrote to you on Friday when I received your letter of February 6th. To ensure the correspondence – I repeat that I am now back with the Batt. at No 2 Platoon A Coy . We were paid the other night & I met A.O. Jones* & Cyril Hinde* who told me lots of news from Home, & Clifford Hackett* had a chat with me & said he met Bob Charlton* in Egypt (6).

You said Sydney walked into dinner one weekend. How long did he spend at Home? The letter was very ‘newsy’. Many thanks my Dear Mummy for being so busy knitting socks. – Yes every stitch will be a blessing. I shall think of you as I tramp along in your socks & hope they will return to the very rooms you knitted them in soon, in God’s good time.

Leave , I heard from Hackett, has been postponed till the end of March. I hope it is only a rumour.

I am reading your letter & you are concluding as I am now.

God be with you all & bless you all.

Yours affectionately, Bertie.

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(1) Pont Remy, Picardie: ancient crossing of the Somme, 7 miles SE of Abbeville. (2) Bellancourt: 5 miles march approx from Pont Remy. Pte Bertie Hibbett was M.P over Bellancourt farm billets waiting for 1/5th Staffords’ return from Egypt.

(3) Septuagesima Sunday. Ninth Sunday before Easter. (Lit. within ‘seventieth’ day before Easter. Book of Common Prayer. 1662.

(4) Hymn: Sabine Baring Gould, 1834 -1924. (1865 processional hymn for children based on 2 Timothy 2.3 ‘endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ‘. Tune: ‘St Gertude’ 1871: Arthur Sullivan,1842 -1900.

(5) Zeppelin Raid on Walsall. Jan 31st – Feb.1st 1916.

(6) Old QMS pals, Walsall.

NEXT POST: 27th Feb. 1916.

See also NEW PAGE: ‘My Memories’. A.H.H.

13th FEB. 1916: PASSED AS A SNIPER BUT NO HOME LEAVE.

February 13, 2016 Elizabeth Hibbett Webb Leave a comment

Pte BERTIE HIBBETT, attached Notts & Derby Transport: PAGES 4-6 of LETTER to IDA HIBBETT, 95, Foden Rd Walsall.

(Sun. 13th Feb. 1916?) (1)

. . . . They have passed me as a qualified Sniper (2) & I satisfied our old Coy. Com. Capt List-r (3).

British Sniper. NB Steel helmet issued 1916. — **British Trench with Sniper and dead /sleeping soldier? NB Steel helmet issued 1916.**

He has a brother in the 3/ 5th (S.Staffs) who wrote to him concerning Sydney. Captain L — r, now Major, is acting as Colonel while R—r (4) is away. I am sorry for a reason; Sydney’s release will be delayed again.

I am what you might call ‘humbly’ glad you liked my small gift, & really did not think it would give you so much pleasure as you made out in your letter. The cross must be yours for all time. (I don’t know so much that I shall have a cross dangling from a watch Chain). I might go in for a couple of wrist watches. I say two – so that I can take the average, or otherwise the medium (sic) time (5).

Camouflaged Springfield Rifle with telescope. www.pinterest.comimgres — **Camouflaged Springfield Rifle with telescope. https://www.pinterest.comimgres >**

I shall have to finish on this fourth sheet.

I am especially glad that you received my letters on the dates which were most appropriate.

Now, dear Sister, don’t you think it would be a weee bit impertinent to bother the Colonel aboot Leave. It is like this, you cannot die of your own accord before your appointed time, you cannot die before God wishes you to die – & so with everything in life. I shall have my Leave in all good time; do not think for a moment that I have been easy going & let opportunities slip, far from that.

In the Corps (6) we are now attached to there is no Home Leave, so I have heard. We shall be leaving the Corps at the end of the month & then Leave will start again. There are lots of other men – & so accordingly there are lots of other men’s parents who are just as anxious to see their relatives.

Oh! Bukhshee* was very fond indeed of me, I might say without any self-assertion. Luckily he saw me again on entraining, & after we were dismissed, immediately came up & shook hands with me. He also gave me his address & your letter has just reminded me to write to him. He & the ‘frogeater’ will serve as jolly correspondence chums when ‘aprés le guerre’ (7).

Thank you very much for your advice. Yes Sydney & Bertie have a very brave & patient Mother. So Mum was very different from those ‘silly, three fat ladies’ who clung to Dodger for protection. (8).

Best love to all,

Bertie.

********************************

Whilst his family would have been pleased Bertie had passed as a Sniper they were obviously very anxious to see him on Home Leave. He had been in France & Flanders for almost a year.

(1) 13th Feb. is the most likely date for this Letter.

(2) Pte Bertie’s Lee-Enfield Rifle, took its name from the designer of the rifle’s bolt system, James Paris Lee , British Canadian & later American manufacturer – and the factory in which it was designed—the Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield.

(3) Captain Lister*. Old Company Commander. (4) Lt. Colonel Raymond Raymer* 1/5th S. Staffords.

(5) Pte Bertie wanted to know the Greenwich Mean Time & new Summer Time at Home to compare with the time in France. ‘Mean’ time rather than ‘medium’ is meant.

(6) Notts & Derby (Transport Coprs). (7) Bukhshee Ichbye Singh Waltu* an Hindustani soldier met at Marseilles & Joe Albene*, farmer landlord of Pte Bertie’s billet at Bellancourt.

(8)Ref. to Basil’s actions during Zeppelin Raid over Walsall. 31st Jan -1st Feb.1916. See New Page: ‘My Memories’ A.H.H. 1967. published 10th Feb 2016.

NEXT POST: 20th FEB.1916.

12th FEB 1916: SNIPING TEST & FOOD PARCEL ECSTACY!

February 12, 2016 Elizabeth Hibbett Webb Leave a comment

Pte BERTIE HIBBETT: PAGES 3 -5 of LETTER to All the Family, 95, Foden Rd Walsall.

Saturday 12th Feb. 1916. (1)

. . . I came back from a Sniping Test (Note the Chart at the head of my letter).

Lee-Enfield short magazine. Mk 1. — **Lee-Enfield Rifle short magazine. Mk 1.**

**Winchester British Enfield Pattern. Sniper Rifle. 1914.**

A day or two ago I happened to do well at potting at a target & I think they must have mistook me for my brother Sydney (Good old Sydney comes in useful even in his absence & leaves his footprints behind in the sand). (2)

So I was recommended for a Sniper(3) & this morning I had an idea I was going to do badly, but of course hoped & tried to do well, with the result that I made 3 bulls, & inners within a bull, the size of half a crown – of course with a special sighting arrangement.

So my happiness went up, & was gradually going up, when I was dismissed from the range first & marched to billets with great expectations of enjoying the contents of the first parcel. What was my astounding, delightful surprise, on going up to this attic, than to see the Corp. hand me two more, similar parcels as the 1st. I then sat down to work undoing the stitches, not one by one, but — the few onlookers (the others were on parade) commented on the excellent way in which the parcels were wrapped (4).

The first contained the serviettes, chocolate, cigs – & now blow me I don’t know which was in which – at any rate I placed them all in front of me. What a fine show! ‘Onze’ (sic). Now for ‘Douze’ (sic) as I strode back for the second parcel hidden in my pack. ‘Douze’ contained the very excellently knitted khaki socks. I did admire them & could see the thoughts inter-twined in them.

Oh! I shall be especially thinking of you when I mange moi gateaux & pork pie. I was in ecstasy as I withdrew the currant bread, but I looked for the butter & was about to be disappointed when the thought came to me, the butter might be in the third THURD parcel so in half a jiffy I strode one big stride & was into Treize or Troi (sic) as these frog-eating people call ‘three’; and my hopes of enjoying the currant bread with butter from Home soon were satisfied & gratified.

Thank you again for this writing pad, a guarantee that I did really get your three parcels. I have never read such interesting & full, stock- full of news, as those enclosed in the parcels, especially Sydney’s long account of his doings. As for Basil’s, I shall have to write him a letter to read all on his owny own. And well, as for Mum’s letters, I am at first very touched & then I flop down & down & DOWN I go, & I shall have to conclude now I have reached THE LIMIT.

To be continued tomorrow Sunday.

*************************

1/5th SOUTH STAFFORDS WAR DIARY.

SIDI BISHR CAMP, ALEXANDRIA. 1st – 4th Feb. Battalion Training.

H.M.S. TRANSPORT. 5th Feb. Sat. 9.15 am. Embarked en route for FRANCE.

H.M.S.TRANSYLVANIA (5). 6th -12th Feb. Voyage to MARSEILLES. MARSEILLES. arr. 12th Feb. Sat. 8.30 am. Disembarked and entrained en route to PONT REMY at 7.12 pm.

**********************

After so many weeks deprived of all contact with his family and not knowing whether they had received what little correspondence he had been able to send, Pte Bertie Hibbett was overcome with emotion opening his parcels and reading their letters. Counting in French obviously not his strong point!

(1)12th Feb. 1916 is the most likely date. (Continuation of letter is missing).

(2)‘A Psalm of Life’.1838. Henry Wadsworh Longfellow 1807 -1882. Collection: ‘Voices in the Night‘. ‘. . . In the world’s broad field of battle. In the bivouac of Life. Be not like dumb, driven cattle! Be a hero in the strife! . . . Lives of great men all remind us, We can make our lives sublime And, departing, leave behind us footprints in the sands of time . . . ‘

**French Sniper team. 1914.<https:// http://www.alarmy.com>**

(3) The British Sniper was a trained marksman, alone or in a pair or sniper team: ‘to maintain close visual contact with a target and engage targets from concealed positions or distances exceeding the detection capabilities of enemy personnel.‘ <https://www.en-wikipedia.org> <https://www.gunauction.com>

(4) A ‘parcel–wrapping’ compliment to his father.

(5) S.S.Transylvania: Cunard – Anchor Line. Torpedoed & sunk by German U-boat, 4th May 1917, whilst carrying troops to Egypt from Marseilles. 412 lives lost.

NEXT POST: 13th FEB. 1916. Pages 4-5 of Letter to Ida. NB Continuation of Letter of 12th Feb. is missing).

NB. NEW PAGE: ‘MY MEMORIES’ A.H.H. published 10th Feb. 2016 to mark centenary of the Battle of the Somme. 1st July, 1916.

7TH FEB.1916: HAPPY & AT HOME WITH ‘L’ANGUE FRANCAIS’ & ‘MON AMI JOE ‘.

February 7, 2016 Elizabeth Hibbett Webb Leave a comment

Pte BERTIE HIBBETT: A Little Book of Words & Doings. February 1916.

Bellancourt (1). ‘Had a good time with Transport at Bellancourt, where I acted as MP over billets. Got in with French chap & an old couple and baby who would greet me as ‘Daddy‘ and cry awfully when I went away. Albene by name. Invited me to supper. Menu: Pork et Pomme de terre. Cider. Macaroni pudding. Pommes de fritters. Cafe. Promised to keep in touch with Bukhshee Ichbye Singh Waltu (clerk). No 5. Base Supply Depot, Indian Expeditionary Force, France.’ .

POSTCARD ‘Notre Petit Gars’ to Mother, Marie Neal Hibbett (omitted from post by mistake, illustrated below): 27/ 1/ 1916.

My very dear Mother, still here.

Any amount of flies in this orderly room, but half dazed. I squashed one on my ear. Trust you got the PC I sent to Dad. Not much I can tell you now, but hope to do so in time. The French are great at painting mind pictures. PCs are ½ d each here but these two were a 1d each owing to them being hand finished. I bought several PCs and hope to paint a picture or two when I have leave at home (when that is).

I wonder if S(ydney) is at home or in England yet. Sorry you will not be able to write to me as I am still away from the Batt.

Best love, Bertie.

***********************

Pte BERTIE tries his hand at ‘L’Angue Francais’ in LETTER to Marie Neal HIBBETT, 95 Foden Rd Walsall, she had not heard from him for some time.

NB Neuve Address (1) Lundi, Fevrier 7/ 16

Mon bien Chêre Mère, (2)

Comment-allez vous mon Mama. Je vous espère – ne heureuse – about me not being able to write you on Janvier 31st Demanche. Que pensez vous le raide des zeppelins sur l’Angleterre? Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Liverpool, & Nottingham.

I spent Sunday January 31st in a cow truck, so of course I could not very well write to you as the train shook too much for reading even, let alone writing. Je suis bien triste mon Mère that I have missed my usual Lettre de Demanche.

I guess you will be ‘Bien Heureuse’ to receive a letter from me, & still happier I know that you can send parcels & letters from now on until further orders to Private AH Hibbett 8832 1/5 South Staffordshire, attached to A Company 1/5 Notts & Derby Regiment BEF. Please note the latter Regiment. Basil can make a copy for you to keep safe. I was told to write the address in the letter & not on Top.

Notre Petit Gar. — **Notre petit Gars! Mon Dieu! dans les dangers Daignez le proteger! PC to Mother: 27.1.1916.**

I hope now that I shall soon hear of Sydney. I wonder if he has left England yet. When I wrote you last I sent you two French Postcards with something of little interest written on them, for then I could not tell you much. But since then – Je suis avons une longue journé dans le chemin de fer & spent some happy days at a little village composed of nothing but farm houses & ‘chateaux’. (3).

I was in charge of a billet as ‘police hommes en garde’ & got to know the farm people who lived there. The old lady invited me to supper every evening free of charge. The supper was fine every time. I had no less than four courses, but curious enough all the courses, except the second, was the same every night:–

Menu: Prem: Pommes de terres frittres. 2. Macoroni au lait. 3. Pommes des frittres et du pain. 4. Cafe. – see torn leaf. (4)

[Torn Leaf: We all made ourselves quite happy & at home with L’Angue Francais. Je connaissez petit – causing one another to break into roars of laughter now & again. They had one little child who mistook me for her ‘Dada’ & she would break into crying everytime I promenaded down La Rue de Ville. The farmer gave me many souvenirs. ]

So do not Rêre but be en L’Alerte for a letter from my French Chum, Joé by name. They were very interested, as well as surprised, when I got them to understand that my home was in Staffordshire over which des Zeppelins travelled (5). We got to know of the damage done at Nottingham & Liverpool & I made them understand that I wanted to send the news in French to mon Père et mon chêre Mère as the news in French would be ‘Bien Interestanté’.

Je suis fatigue – êcriré l’angue Francais. Je suis bien ignorant. Monsieur Basil (the French compris ‘Basil’ as it is a French man’s name also) will think my scraps of French ‘Bien faible’, but I just put the phrases in as I like plenty of variety when writing letters. I hate reading letters which are written in the same ‘olde style’.

Aimez-vous les petit timbres et les petit photograph de moi-même et mon ami Bukhshee – il un Hindustani Sikh:– that is his name. He could speak, not only his own language but French fluently, & English too. (6).

I will conclude now. Je vous promets que vous serez heureuse when je vous vois at Home.

Please note Notts & Derby Reg. Let Basil make a copy for you to keep in a safe place. You can, if you wish, send me any thing you like in a parcel.

Je suis votre aimable fil, (7). Bertie.

PS Que pensez-vous de la raide des zeppelins sur L’Angleterre? Mon Basil [. . the rest is censored . .]

**************************

(1) BELLANCOURT, a tiny settlement in Picardie, 3 miles north-east of the Cathedral City of Abbeville. Pte Bertie, was now attached to Notts & Derby Regt (Transport) & acting as military policeman (until 1/5th South Staffords arrived back in France from the Eastern Front). He accounts for the lack of a Letter Home on 31st January (on a train journey in a cow truck) and his Mother may not have received anything from him in January except a couple of postcards with ‘little of interest’ (see above PC 27th Jan). The British Army was keen to keep its movements quiet.

(2) Pte Bertie’s French is exactly as he wrote it (including accents) but readers, even with little French themselves, can make out the gist of his meaning! Here he confuses ‘bien’ (good) with ‘très’ (very) and signs himself ‘Your kind (fil) thread‘! instead of ‘Your loving (fils) son. ‘Je suis bien ignorant’ I can hear him laughing, but he made himself understood & his Little Book of Words & Doings has pages of French vocabulary. NB. Walsall’s Blue Coat Elementary School curriculum would probably not have included French and at Queen Mary’s Grammar his studies would have been geared towards his mining surveyor apprenticeship.

(3) Pte Bertie’s position as an MP (military policeman) may account for his happier billet on Joé Albene’s farm.

(4) ‘Pommes des terres Frittres‘: Potato chips. ‘Pommes des frittres‘: Apple fritters. NB omission of Pork listed in his ‘Little Book’.

**Zeppelin Raid : Wednesbury Rd Congregational Church, Walsall, corner of Glebe St. Walsall.**

(5) Zeppelins L 21 & L19 intended to bomb Liverpool on 31st Jan -1st Feb. 1916 but got lost in the Midlands and bombed the Black Country instead – with high explosives & incendiary bombs.

**Zeppelin L 21 (LZ 61). Nordholz Airbase, 1916. 587 ft long 61 ft diameter. Largest combat aircraft ever flown. Shot down in flames 28th Nov. 1916, over Lowestoft.**

Walsall was hit on the afternoon of 1st Feb. The Lady Mayoress, Mary Julia Slater, died later (20th Feb.) having been badly injured whilst riding on the top of an open-air tram 16 in the centre of town near the Science & Art Institute in Bradford Place (at the spot where the War Memorial now stands). My grandfather had a narrow escape and my grandmother at 95, Foden Rd watched the sinister aircraft pass overhead. Total Casualties: 35 killed. <https://www.expressand star.com/tag/walsall> <https://www.en-wikipedia.org>

(6) Bukhshee Ichbye Singh Waltu: one of 130,000 members of Indian Expeditionary Force who served in France & Flanders, of whom 9,000 died. Memorials at Ypres & Neuve Chappelle. <https://www.greatwar.co.uk> < https://www.en-wikipedia.org>

NEXT NEW PAGE: 10th Feb. 2016. ‘My Memories of the First World War & the Battle of the Somme’ by the Revd A.H. Hibbett. Essay: 1967.

NEXT POST: 13th Feb. 1916.

JANUARY 1916:1/5TH SOUTH STAFFORDS’ ACCIDENT ON EMBARKATION TO EGYPT.

January 31, 2016 Elizabeth Hibbett Webb Leave a comment

1/5th SOUTH STAFFORDS WAR DIARY

MARSEILLES.

1st Jan. Battalion Training.

2nd Jan. Embarked on H.M.S. MAGNIFICENT. CASUALTIES: 7949 Pte W. Dandy accidentally injured. 9955 Pte J. Steen; 9122 L/ Cpl E. Pitcock; 8779 Pte S. Pitt; 6876 Sgt A. Stace; 8758 L/ Cpl G. Gibbs, accidentally injured, but able to embark. See Appendix II.

APPENDIX II: Details of ACCIDENT on EMBARKATION of 1/5th Bn South Staffordshire Regt. at Marseilles on 2nd January, 1916.

HMS Magnificent.300px-HMS_Magnificent_1899_IWM_Q_039473 — **HMS Magnificent. <www.en.wikipedia.org>**

The Battalion embarked on H.M.S. ‘Magnificent’ at Marseilles, on the 2nd January 1916, being taken to the ship by tug and lighter.

While the lighter was taking her first load at the quay side, at about 9.0 am, a slight accident occurred. Some 150 men and several machine guns and other stores were aboard, when the girder supporting the hatches gave way, with the result that about 50 men, the Machine Guns and the bulk of the baggage were precipitated to the bottom of the lighter, a fall of 10 feet.

The men were in full pack and carrying rifles, and were thus handicapped in saving themselves.

Many complained of Bruises, Slight Cuts and Shock, but the only serious Casualties were:– 1 man with broken leg. (Sent to Hospital). 5 men injured about the head. (Proceeded on the voyage and were medically treated on board and returned to duty at the port of disembarkation).

Signed: J. LAMOND. Capt. & Adjt. 1/5th South Staffordshire Regt.

2nd / 8th Jan: Voyage to Egypt. ALEXANDRIA.

Alexandria 191513216868024_50e4965f43_b — **Alexandria. 1915: RMS Troop Ship Alaunia B.7. (Pte Bertie Hibbett slept for one night on her sister ship RMS Andania at Marseilles, Jan 1916). <www.thekivellfamily.co.nz>**

9th Jan: Disembarked and entrained for SHALLUFA.

10th Jan: detrained and took over No.5. POST No. 1. SECTION CANAL DISTRICT. 11/ 16th Jan: In Garrison at No. 5. POST.

17th Jan: handed over No. 5. POST to 1st Batt. Monmouthshire Regiment and encamped at the POST. 18/ 29th Jan: Battalion Training.

30th Jan: Entrained for ALEXANDRIA. CASUALTY: Pte A. White accidentally knocked off the train while in motion, by a piece of timber projecting from a passing goods train. He proceeded with train and was sent to Hospital at ALEXANDRIA.

SIDI BISHR CAMP.

Sidi Bishr kolib0199-01-050 — **Sidi Bishr Camp, Alexandria, Egypt, 1916. <kingsownmuseum.plus.com>**

31st Jan: Encamped at SIDI BISHR CAMP. Battalion Training. TOTAL CASUALTIES JAN. 1916. 2 accidentally injured sent to Hospital; 5 accidentally injured remained at duty.

Signed: Major Cmdg 1/5th Battalion South Staffordshire Regt.

*****************************

Pte BERTIE HIBBETT: A Little Book of Words & Doings. 16th Jan – 31st Jan 1916. ‘At Isberque on coming out of Hospital. Joined Transport, from thence we entrained to Marseilles, Borelli Camp, where we had easy time. I went and had photo taken & passes to town. Embarked on ship Andania (one night only). Good grub in dining rooms & hammocks to sleep in. Did not budge an inch. Came off ship the next day. Up the Line again after a fortnight.’

*****************************

The British Army had decided to concentrate its efforts on the Western Front after the disastrous Campaign in Galipolli. That the 1/5th South Staffords were ordered to leave Egypt after only one month indicates that the Suez Canal was considered to be under less threat from the German Ottoman Army than it had been at the Battle of Suez Canal: 26th Jan – 4th Feb.1915.

Photo Link: Suez Canal District <www.nzetc.victoria.ac.nz>.

NEW PAGE: My Memories of First World War & Battle of the Somme. The Revd A.H. Hibbett. 1967.

NEXT POST: 7th FEB. 1916.

10TH JAN. 1916: DERBY’S WOUNDED FLYING COLUMN: HOBBLERS, STAGGERERS, DOT & CARRY-ONERS’

January 22, 2016 Elizabeth Hibbett Webb Leave a comment

Centre: Sgt S. HIBBETT when training as a Sergeant. — **SYDNEY HIBBETT. 21 yrs 1916.**

Serjeant SYDNEY HIBBETT, 8830 (A Coy) B.E.F. 5th S. Staffords London Rd Congreg. Sch. Derby (1): LETTER to Arthur & Marie Neal HIBBETT, 95, Foden Rd Walsall.

Sunday (most likely 10th Jan. 1916)

My Very Dear Mother & Father,

I received Dodger’s card and Mrs Penning’s* letter on Friday. I shall not write to her yet. There is not much news this time, except that I visited our native town of Nottingham yesterday (Sat). I made up my mind at the last minute so to speak. We were finished parade at 11.30 yesterday morning so I went down the town & had a look at the trains. Then I thought that as I should have nothing to do till bed time I would try Nottingham. I came back & polished up & by that time it was late so I jumped for the tram outside to the Station, just got into the 12.45 in time.

We went via Trent Junction & it was a fast train so I got out at Midland Sta. at 1.20 pm. I had a bit of lunch & a shave & then started out to find Miss Foster’s* house. Another tram ride & I found it (2). She was at home & delighted to see me. After I had told her about Bertie & you all at home, we got on another tram which runs from Radford & Lenton to Nott. Rd. We had a good view of the town & the Forest & went up Sherwood Rise & got out at Lantry Grove! (sic)

Langtry Pub Nottingham. — **Langtry Pub, Nottingham.**

gritstone setts paving expert.comgauging_durham — **Gritstone setts.**

Well I didn’t recognise any of it, but we saw 95 (3) and walked round the back, but saw no big apple tree either. Lantry Grove is paved with setts now. Do the Giffords live any-where about there?

Market Square Nottingham. 1914. — **Market Square, Nottingham. 1914.**

We walked back down the Rise and up Mapperley Rd & got on the car in Woodborough Rd. We came down that big hill & saw our other house & also Miss Foster’s*. Then we had a look round the Market & then went in the car to Trent Bridge.

We had tea at Miss Foster’s house or rather rooms. After a good tea she took me to the Empire where there was a very good pantomime ‘King Cole’. It was very pretty & also very funny. Then we walked round the foot of the Castle to the Station

Nottingham Castle in 16th Cent. T.C.Hine 1813-1891. — **Nottingham Castle in 16th Cent. T.C. Hine 1813-1891. <www.flickr.com>**

& I went back on the 9.25. Altogether it was a very enjoyable day and I was delighted with Nottingham. It was very crowded too.

Holy Trinity Church, Lenton Nottingham. 1842.

We also saw Holy Trinity Church (4) where Dad used to play the organ. The fare to Nott. is only 2/- return from here.

**Derby Midland Railway Station. 1915.**

Other evenings we are free after 5 pm, so I sometimes go to the Station & watch the locomotives on the Works near the station.

**Normanton Picture House. 1913 -1959.**

I have been to two diff. picture houses this week, one at Normanton about 2 miles away. There is one called ‘The Cosy Picture House’ in London Rd & its name suits it. I felt rather awful the first night I was here.

There are no Parks here but a very small Arboretum, and most of the people appear to work at the M.R. loco & carriage works (5). There are thousands of men there. There are a lot of very good shops indeed and a church or chapel at every corner. The tram service is also very good & frequent, but they do not run on Sundays. Usually we go on them to anywhere.

There are 180 wounded soldiers here from 1/5th & we are billeted & kept apart from the 3/5th – which is a very motley crowd – kids & old soldiers mostly. They are very jealous of us. We have no band but we can march much better than they.

The Fast Party are those who can walk at the ordinary rate & carry a pack but no rifle. They go & do drills in the ordinary way. The 2nd party, nicknamed the Irish Guards can walk all right but not fast or far. I am with those. We go a march about 6 or 7 miles round Alvaston, Allerton & Normanton. It is a very nice walk. We just wear the usual uniform & overcoats.

The 3rd party are the hobblers, the limpers, staggerers, dot & carry oners, as the people know them. They go hobbling along on sticks at 1/2 mile an hour & do about 2 miles. They are known as the Flying Column! In the afternoon the 3 parties go out again 2-4 pm.

St Mary's Church, Chaddesdon, Derby — **St Mary’s Church, Chaddesdon, Derby. 14th Cent.**

We went to St Mary’s Church this morning and tonight I shall go to Elvaston Church. I & another Sergeant walked round to Nott. Rd Sta., which I remember we used to pass going to Whitby.

St Bartholomew's Church Elvaston Derby. — **St Bartholomew’s Church, Elvaston, Derby. 13th Cent.**

Miss Foster* asked how you all are at Home: I expect she will write to you. Weather has been excellent so far. I got Mother’s letter this morning. I wish for some reasons I was with the 1/5th. I expect Bertie will write when he gets to Alexandria (6).

I will close now thanking you for you letter, dear Mother, & with best love to you at home

from Sydney.

PS Hope you have sent the Confession Books (7) back to Evans*.

*****************************

Serjeant Sydney Hibbett re-visits his birth place and makes his way by tram & on foot down roads familiar to me as a student at Nottingham in the 1960s. The old tram-lines (hazzardous when crossing Nottingham by bike) now support a fine modern tram service.

Midland general Omnibus. Upper Parliament Street. — **Midland General Omnibus. Upper Parliament Street.**

(1)London Rd Congregational School (closed before WW1) in 1916 a Soldiers’ Convalescent home/ billet?

(2) Lenton Sands: Miss Foster’s 1916 home. (3) Bertie Hibbett’s birthplace was 95, Nottingham Rd on corner of Langtry Grove (B682). Sydney Hibbett was born a year earlier at ‘our other house’ 168, Robin Hood Chase, a long road running between Woodborough Rd & St Ann’s Well Rd.

(4) Lenton Parish Church of the Holy Trinity, Nottingham. 1840: Arthur Hibbett also played the organ at St Mary’s High Pavement.

St Mary's Church, Nottingham. — **St Mary’s Church, Nottingham. 14th Cent.**

(5) Midland Railway Loco & Carriage Works. 19th Cent.

(6) 1/5th Staffords arrived in Alexandria 9th Jan. 1916. (7) Confessions? Could be religious but more likely WW1 soldiers’ diaries?

**************************

1/5th SOUTH STAFFORDS WAR DIARY

2nd Jan 2 Embarked on H.M.S. MAGNIFICENT. CASUALTIES: 7949 Pte W. Dandy accidentally injured. 9955 Pte J. Steen; 9122 L/ Cpl E. Pitcock; 8779 Pte S. Pitt; 6876 Sgt A. Stace; 8758 L/ Cpl G. Gibbs, accidentally injured, but able to embark.

2nd – 8th Jan. Voyage to ALEXANDRIA, Egypt. 9th Jan Disembarked and entrained for SHALLUFA.

NEXT POST: January 31st 1916. 1/5th South Staffords War Diary: Embarkation Accident, Voyage to Alexandria for Suez Canal.

Pte Bertie Hibbett’s January 1916 Letters are missing. NEXT POST: 7th Feb. 1916.

New Page: ‘My Memories of the First World War’ (with account of first day of Battle of Somme 1st July, 1916). The Revd A. H. Hibbett. 1967.

The WW1 Letters and Drawings of Private Bertie Hibbett, 1/5th South Staffordshire Regiment, to his family in Walsall, will be posted again, one hundred years on, from August 1914 to November 1918, by his daughter Elizabeth Hibbett Webb. The first posting will be the Recruitment Postcard sent by Queen Mary's Grammar School Headmaster to the Hibbett family on holiday in Abergele, Wales.