Pte BERTIE HIBBETT: A Little Book of Words & Doings (1).

‘ Went for a Rest to Base at Rouen, Medical Inspection.  After 4 days I was stated  unfit for Entrenching.  Sent to 12 General Hospital & 9 Gen. Hospital with boils (2). Fine sunny weather.  Lovely wards at No 12.  Two Irish sisters at No 9.  Fussy little elderly sister.  Fine time at YMCA Huts –  attended Bible Class in afternoon.  Good food at T.B. (3). Learnt chess at YMCA with Ruberry.’   

FIELD SERVICE POSTCARD to Arthur Hibbett  Esq. c/o Mrs Hardcastle, 7, Victoria Square, Whitby, Yorkshire, England . Same  FPC to Ida Hibbett, 95, Foden Rd Walsall.

I am quite well. I am sent down to the base.  Letter follows at first opportunity.

Bertie Hibbett   Aug. 12th/15.  

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Lance Corporal  SYDNEY HIBBETT remained at the Front.

SOUTH  STAFFORDS  WAR  DIARY.  S.W. SLOPE OF HILL 60.

11th Aug. Wed:   Very quiet day. Aeroplanes of both sides very active. CASUALTY: 8825  Pte S.J. Parkes slightly wounded.  Remained at duty. 

12th Aug Thurs.  Enemy grenades fell short of 37 trench.  Enemy working party observed and bombed opposite 36 trench.  Sounds of enemy mining reported by listeners in defensive mine in 37 trench but could not determine in what direction.  Hill 60 trench mortared from 37 trench.  CASUALTIES: WOUNDED:  7886  Pte S. Noble. 9415  Pte W. Pearson.

(1) Note Book most probably begun in Hospital at Rouen. Aug. – Oct. 1915.

(2) ROUEN:  B.E.F. General Headquarters in France. Many R.A.M.C. Stationary & General Hospitals. Main point of Red Cross casualty evacuation to England (getting a ‘Blighty‘ – See Bertie’s question on PC to Ida, 11th Oct. 1915 above).  No 12 Gen. Hospital Rouen held 1,350 beds in tents.  No 12 (and possibly No 9) were in vicinity of ‘champs de courses’ (race courses), cf ‘Great War Forum‘ ‘The Long Long Trail’ and ‘Old Sweats‘ online.

(2) T.B. (Territorial Base).

NEXT POST: 14th AUGUST 1915.