additional resources - argylls · somebody’s eyes are filled with tears; ... will wipers be...

1914-18

Additional Resources

EDUCATION: The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum, Registered Charity No. SCO42084 1

A collection of documents and images fromWorld War I, which provide a uniqueopportunity to practice enquiry skills andquestions with interesting sources.

Contact DetailsFor further information, please contact theMuseum on:

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Private Paterson with his wife and children.

ContentsAbout this ResourceP1Letters HomeP2PoemsP5Official DocumentsP11Life in the TrenchesP14Typical Daily Routine and LivingConditionsP15Food and DrinkP16BattleP22Weapons of WarP26Gas AttackP33EquipmentP36Aeroplanes: Royal Flying Corps(RFC)P39TanksP42UniformP44Sounds of the PipesP47Injuries and IllnessP49Stretcher-BearersP54Christmas Day TruceP55RecruitingP58Animals at WarP59Friends and MascotsP62The War EndsP63

About this Resource


Letter by Private Vincent Collins

13 Platoon, D Company 8th Battalion. 18 years old

“Dear Mum and Dad

We are going into the trenches tonight for one day, only I think there will be a bayonetattack so that is the reason I am writing this note. That is the game at which we maylose so may men so we cannot all expect to come out of it. But it is a glorious death todie fighting for your King and Country. The sting of death (I think) hardly noticeable asone is mad during the attack. Forgive me all the wrongs I have committed toward you.

It is my sincere wish that I survive for your sake. I hope this will eventually reach youshould the worse occur. I will close.

Your loving son

I could not have better parents of that I am sure.”

(Vincent Collins survived this particular action; however, he was later killed on the 4th

October 1915.)

Letters Home


Letter by Lance Corporal FH Coleman

10th Battalion, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

“My Dear Mother + Father

“Just a few lines to let you know how I am getting on. I wouldhave written before, but I have been waiting until I got settled down. A matter of fact Iam not settled down yet but I couldn’t wait any longer as no doubt you will be anxiousto hear from me. Well as you know, I am not allowed to say much but I will give you asmuch news as I possibly can. I am feeling in the best of health which is the main thing.I had a splendid journey coming from England, the sail across from ___?______ waslovely and arriving in Boulogne about 3.30 we stayed the night , on Sunday morningwe started for the camp about twenty miles march. I was pretty well done in when I gothere you may be sure. The boys are splendid lads, to see them going up to the trenchany would think they were off for a show, jolly singing and shouting. I have had noword about my job yet but the Colonel says he is waiting for a word from the WarOffice. I won’t be staying here for long but if you write me soon I might get it before Ileave here at any rate.

With love from your affectionate son,

Frank”

(Frank died of his wounds on the 20th September 1917.)


Letter by 9428 Private Charles Stirling to his father, 1914

“Just a few lines to let you know I am in the best of health. Hopes this finds you well.We have had the first battle over and I got through it all right but we lost a lot of ourRegiment.

I can’t tell you the exact amount but my company lost the most, we were in the thick ofit and I had a narrow escape, I was left in a ditch for half an hour. I could not move forthe enemy’s fire and our own. We put up a good show but we were forced to retire, theGermans had an army three times our strength.

We are having a rest for a fortnight but I don’t think they will attack us again. TheFrench army is fighting them now.”

(After writing this letter, Charles went back into action and was later reported missingon the 29/10/1914; shortly afterwards he was confirmed as having been captured.)


The Listening Post by a Private , 7th Battalion

How eerie at night is a listening post

You scarce dare draw your breath

You keep as silent as a ghost

Or else it’s instant death

When up there goes a flare light

It’s time to get down flat

Then brakes the stillness of the night

The familiar rat-a-tat-tat

Tis the Boche; behind a screen,

Sweeping his front in fear

Manipulating his death spiting machine

In case we’re crawling to near

It’s nervy business doing a spell

Out in a listening post

How I’m alive I can not tell

Or how brave I’ll never boast

For if the Boche should spot you there

Your post he’ll not trouble to take

He’ll simply blow you in the air

Or send you a red hot rake.

Poems


Private Francis McGowan, 1915

Somebody’s boy is out at the front;

Somebody’s boy is bearing the brunt;

Somebody’s heart is aching;

Aching, almost breaking;

Somebody’s eyes are filled with tears;

Over across the foam;

Somebody’s boy will be somebody’s joy;

When somebody’s boy comes home.


First and Last Thoughts: Lines suggested on the moment ofEmbarkation by Sergeant Sydney Oldham

We march out of the Harbour Station,

Into the cold March wind,

To where the Trooper is lying

Just alongside the Quay.

At our furloughs termination,

Back thy thoughts go flying

To those we have left behind

- perhaps never more to see.

We step across the gangway

Showing no trace of fear;

Outwardly cool, and self-reliant.

Yet feeling very much alone.

As the ship gets on her way

Each feeling strangely silent;

Each has thoughts his own

Of Home; - and all that is dear.


To a Trench Rat by Sergeant Sydney Oldham

Ye great big, ugly hulking beast,

There is nae panic in thy breast,

When ye come oot tae hae feast

O’oor guid bread. Nor dae ye seem to

care the least, hae ill we feed.

A hauf loaf nae oure big a bit

Tae keep a Tommy weel an’ fit,

An’ sairly can we spare it tae fill your

frame. Atho’ your point of view I wil’s nae

see just the same.

When in the wee dug-oot I lie,

An’ tae the martial lullaby O’ cannon an’

machine guns try tae lay gang tay sleep,

Tha’ nay mair than closed an eye

When oot ye peep.

Then oot ye come, unwelcome guest

Ye Spoil a weel earned rest,

A glower about awhile oor least ye

should be seen,

Then tak a scamper oure me chest wi

muckle spleen.

As oure the top I keek at nicht

Tae star shells a burning bricht

But when ye stand amisdst the nicht

As crouse can be! The “jam jars”gie as

mony a fricht.The deil cairs ye!

Now I must bid ye glad fareweel,

An’ next time ye come here tae steal,

I hope ye’ll choose a nither cheil

Ye sleekit bandit: Flic ye micht get twa

inch a steal ,

Whaur ye least want it.


Ypres by Pte William Stean

The Colonel called it ‘Aypray’;

The Captain called it ‘Eeps’;

While ‘Tommy’ called it all things –

And ‘Wipers’ came for keeps.

Old Wipers was a grand place

Before the war began,

Her stately buildings, graceful

As ever planned by man.

Around that ancient city

Which ‘Jerry’ wanted bad,

We dug a line of trenches –

A horse-shoe shape it had.

That salient was wicked,

As causalities proved;

Tho’ it was real inferno,

We never were removed.

That we could quite survive it,

Was more than we dare think;

Defeat stood there before us

But not a man would shrink.

With shells from all directions;

from front and either hand;

And snipers all around us;

You ought to understand.

In daylight we were crouching

With mud up to the eyes,

Observing from the loopholes

For ‘Jerry’s’ next surprise.

In places he was near us-

A road might just divide –

To move was seeking trouble;

To stretch was suicide!

‘Whiz – bang’! The shrapnel

rattled; ‘Ker – up’ – the fifteen – inch;

grenades, and bombs and ‘minnies’;

We hadn’t time to flinch.

But night time was like a nightmare. With

flames and thuds, and frights, Trench-

mortars, liquid –fire, yes, and countless

Veri-lights.

Sharp cries of pain co-mingled

With orders shouted; crass!

Explosions and eruptions;

Machine gunfire and gas.

The punishment was awful

Yet sternly we held on;

To poor old shattered Wipers

Till most of it was gone.


When ‘Jerry’ threw the sponge up

We held that bit of line;

The’ few who helped to build it

Went forward to the Rhine.

Yet those who fell in action

Are famous, ever more

Will Wipers be remembered

For Glory and for gore.


Letter to Lance Corporal FH Coleman’s Family

Official Documents


Letter to Robert Wilson’s Mother


Part II Order, 1915

This Part II Order lists individual soldiers, their details, movements, appointments,periods of leave, and also punishments and fines. The last man is reported as havingcommitted the very serious crime of being asleep whilst on sentry duty in the trenches.

“ 1135 Private N McPherson, in arrest awaiting trial 30/10/15.

Tried by court martial in the field on 5/11/1915 for when on active service acting as asentinel he in the field on 30/10/15 between 3 and 4 am when as sentry on the postallotted to him was asleep.

Finding: GuiltySentence to suffer death by being shot9/11/1915 Sentence commuted to two years hard labour18/11/1915 To be suspended under authority of Lt Gen Allenby19/11/1915 Released to Duty”

(In the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, any man sentenced to death for sleeping athis post was returned to his unit or was punished through confinement, hard labour ora more lenient punishment. Given the number of men the battalions were losing fromill health or as battle casualties, it appears the ultimate crime was never carried outwithin the Regiment. His sentence was to be reconsidered in February 1916. PrivateMcPherson was later wounded in April 1917 serving with his battalion and was finallydischarged from the army in May 1919)


Officers sketch of how a front line trench was constructed c 1915.

The drawing shows from right to left:

wire entanglements to slow down or stop attacking troops;

a bullet proof parapet made-up of earth and sandbags on the top;

a small dug-out wide enough for two soldiers to crouch in;

a fire step to allow soldiers to fire over the parapet;

wooden duck boards in the base of the trench for soldiers to walk on; and,

a Parados (a bank that gives protection from being fired on from the rear).

Extracts

“The trenches were dug deep into the chalky French soil, the sides lined with woodenplanks, the fire step cut into the front wall of the trench allowing men to step up to abarricade of sandbags and face the enemy. They could climb down into shelter dug inthe side of the trench, their roof supported by timbers and light was provided by acandle. “Officer 12th Battalion, 1916.

“Low barbed wire entanglements with higher wiring at the back protected the groundin front of the trench. A communication trench led away from the back of the firetrench. This type of trench was the main way of reaching the Fire, Support andReserve trenches and it provided some protection from enemy fire. If the trench wasover-run the support trench became the new front line and the reserve trench thenbecame the Support trench. As the war continued and the front evolved thebattlefields of WW1 became a huge network of interconnecting trench systems.”Officer

Life in the Trenches


“The dugouts are big and deep and dark, very safe. The trenches vary from 15 yardsto 600.” 2nd Lieutenant CB Robertson, Somme Front

“The German trenches are only 400 yards away. So one cannot show one’s headmuch. We have very deep, narrow trenches, only 18 inches wide, with wider placeshere and there…. I have a little area to sleep in, about 4ft long, 3 wide and 3 high,burrowed out in the side of the trench, with a waterproof sheet over the opening. I canhave a candle burning, which makes it feel quite cheerful.” Captain John Aiden LiddellVC

Typical Daily Routine and Living Conditions

“After 24hours in the front line, back just a few hundred yards to the support line forthe next 24 hours. This entailed sitting or lying in low dugouts not high enough tostand up in and doing absolutely nothing. Sanitary arrangements were you had to usean empty bully beef tin which was emptied into the mud outside” Officer 1915

“After a spell in support, back to reserve and comfortable billets, a change from hell toheaven.” Officer 1915

“I have been chiefly occupied this time in putting up barbed wire. I take a Corporal andthree men for an hour or so at dusk, and at dawn… the ground is strewn with loosebits of wire, both plain and barbed cut by shrapnel and thrown down as an additionalobstacle – and among it all is a litter of tin cans which make it practically impossible tomove quietly – then the wire gets caught and fangled and altogether one’s nerves getpretty well rattled.” John Young Barr

“Every night there is vast amount of work to do, and the sentry’s reliefs go on fatiguefor one or two hours after their turn as sentries – filling sandbags, repairing theparapet, making new dug-outs and so on.” John Young Barr

“Rained all night and very dark. Most of the trench fell in and there is minimum of 5” ofwater in the trench and trench still collapsing, earth being poached into a sticky mud.By midday, the trench was waist deep in places. A Coy had one man up to his neckand only dug-outs for two men. Officers’ mess fell in.” Captain John Aiden Liddell VC

“The trenches are very muddy; the men have to sit night and day on the fire step withmud up to their knees.” Soldier c1914

“We are in for a rather stiff six days, two days of this, two in a barn, still in the shellingarea, then two more days here and then back for six days of peace and quietness.”2nd/ Lieutenant CB Robertson


“There is absolute stillness in the trench, every second man is a sentry glancingquickly over the parapet, the remainder squat down and getting some rest. The menwear blankets draped round them like ponchos.” Captain John Aidan Liddell VC 1914.

“Endeavoured to sleep but got absolutely soaked. Pools of water where I was lying.Shelling continues.” Captain John Aidan Liddell VC, 1914.

“I’ve just wrapped up in my blanket, 3 waterproof sheets and a German bivouac coverI found, and I am feeling tolerably warm and quite ready for sleep. Three Germanmachine guns are firing on our left, at what I can’t make out as there is no rifle fireeither from their side or from ours. … Also my feet feel almost warm, as they havebeen wet now for some ten days or so, I don’t know whether they are there or notsometimes, they get so cold and numb.” Captain John Aidan Liddell VC, 1914.

“Through the day our fields are dotted with men basking in the sun, washing, shaving,digging etc. Suddenly there’s a crash and a minute later not a man to be seen.Several more shells will fall and then it ceases. Gradually a head comes out of eachdugout and looks cautiously round and if no more shells land the men all come outand resume their occupation. “Officer 1915

“One’s boots – we wear gun-boots practically the whole time in the trenches – getcaked right to the tops, and often over that with wet, shiny mud.” John Young Barr

“ If you have any spare mufflers or helmets or woolly gloves at home remember that Ihave a gallant little band of at present survivors, but full strength, sixteen men, whoreally nobody’s children, and don’t really get their fair share of the things sent tovarious companies.” Captain John Aidan Liddell VC, 1914

“We were infested with rats and one day a shell landed just behind A Company theresults being that a large number of rats were uprooted and killed. In a light heartedway the officers wrote in the Casualty Record Book for the day: Casualties, Rats 36killed, 28 wounded coming in.” Herbert Sotheby

Food and Drink

“We mess 12 or 13 down here – quite regardless of omens – and our Army rations aredelivered in bulk – beef, either fresh or “bully”, i.e. tinned, bacon cheese, bread, tea,jam, sugar and the like.” John Young Barr, 1915.

“Between 5.30 and 6.30 am we got a hot breakfast – tea and coffee, bacon and eggsor sausages, bread and jam – also your marmalade – galore. At dusk tea is served,and then from 7.30 till early midnight there is a running dinner with quite an elaboratemenu – oxo soup and green peas – rice pudding and tinned fruits and all kinds, cake,wine and Army rum.” John Young Barr, 1915.


“Everyone has a dugout shelter, and a coke fire and some utensil or other. One canbe very snug in one’s rabbit hole. Also as meals are practically the only distraction,housekeeping becomes quite interesting. The little fires make excellent toast and aswe quite often get an issue of ration butter, piles of hot buttered toast can beconsumed. Of course, just when one has an opportunity of cooking most luxuriousstews, they cease to issue fresh meat. However, a large field of leeks is cut in half byour trench, and Ivelcon-cum-leek soup, and bully-beef-cum leek stew are very good.”Captain John Aidan Liddell VC, 1914.

“Cleanliness is impossible as water is so scarce. Another thing is the lack of hot food.The only thing in that way you can manage is a little hot cocoa, perhaps twice a day.Otherwise, we live on bully beef, sardines biscuits, butter and jam. Of course, if a manis wet, cold and dirty and doesn’t get decent meals he is likely to get seedy.” 2nd

Lieutenant CB Robertson

“Since writing last we have been shifted nearer the firing line and are ensconced intrenches taken from the enemy some time ago. The heat is very great and althoughwe get water for drinking purposes the supply is very limited, consequently we are adisreputable crowd…We have had some rather trying experiences but the company has come out well andnone of the party has been wounded to any extent worth speaking about… PersonallyI am well and fit and we all keep cheery…We are getting used to the climate and aregetting quite adept at finding shady corners. All our cooking is done in an emptycartridge box on a fire in the bottom of the trench…We expect to get out of this trench today. But do not know where we may be sentafterwards. How weary to hear all the news of my little grey home in the west. After allthis frying up here, I shall never grumble about the rain at home. “Captain Donald Main 5th Battalion July 8th 1915


Images

Trench

Soldiers in a dugout. Soldiers in a trench.


A sentry. Preparing a meal.

Soldier in a trench.


Soldiers eating a meal.

9th Battalion digging positions in woods, 1915.


Two soldiers from the 2nd Battalion enjoy a wash. Getting a haircut.

Some musical entertainment.


Soldiers with water bottles.


“Zero hour was fixed for 3.24am, it was pitch black and everyone got mixed up, withinhalf an hour the remnants were back in our lines. However two companies C and Dheld straight on and advanced some 6oo yards. They were surrounded and bothcompanies suffered heavily. The fought to the last and Lieut. Law was last seensurrounded and fighting. It was afterwards ascertained that he died of wounds in thehands of the enemy who returned his uniform and revolver to his relatives, showingthe admiration they had for him.” Lieutenant –Colonel H Sotheby 10th Battalion c1915.

“The scene was never to be forgotten. Men were lying dead in awkward andgrotesque attitudes. Wounded being attended to and the trench was littered with riflecartridges, gas masks and bombs, the smell of gas, of blood and of explosives wasoverpowering. Across each small wooded bridge erected to enable the troops to crossthe front trench were dead highlanders. Out in front the men who had succeeded ingetting so far were lying in rows just as death had found them. In many cases, theirlimbs were bare owing to their kilts having become disarranged as the fell. Thewounded were lying out in shell holes or had ceased to move. It was hard to believethe action had lasted less than quarter of an hour”. Soldier

“Moved a little closer to enemy’s line. Started at 1am. Battle commenced again at5.30. At intervals, shells bursting all round us. In the morning two men struck bysplinters. Reports that 12 guns and 300 prisoners were taken last night. Enormousgun fire going on, and Bucy le Long, just ¾ mile over north, heavily shelled…Enemymust be retiring, as firing got more distant about 4pm but just as heavy. Turned out at7.30 to dig trenches, about 10.30 recalled to be moved up immediately. Pouring intorrents the whole time when ready to move off order cancelled.” Captain John AidenLiddell VC

“Mess cart arrived about 8 o’clock having been ordered for 5 o’clock, and pulled upoutside the cottage headquarters we were in; started unloading, when a shell burst,startling the horse. Gurgan went to its head and was immediately struck in the head bya shrapnel bullet.” Captain John Aiden Liddell VC

“All the night through and right up to a few minutes before the attack commenced ourartillery had kept up a steady bombardment of the enemy’s position. It was hoped thatmany causalities had been inflicted and that the any trenches and strong points hadbeen severely damaged. The attacking troops had been issued with extra day’srations and an additional 50 rounds of ammunition.” HB Todd, Battle of loos,September 1915

“Immediately they topped the scaling ladders an amazing sight met their eyes. Theenemy had lit fires along his parapet with the object of dispersing the gas cloud.…These fires together with the smoke and bursts of the shells which were throwing

Battle


clouds of dirt in the air and empty black, yellow and white smoke as they burst, madeup a picture that rivalled the infernal regions. The din was terrific, the whine and crashof the machine guns, the whistle of the bullets following on the crack of the rifles madean appalling din.” HB Todd, Battle of loos, September 1915

No 9 platoon made a dash forward but they had only gone about 20 paces when theofficers shouted down and each man threw himself down. There were no signs ofmovement from the two platoons that had proceeded them and the only evidence thatthey had passed onwards was dead and wounded that littered the ground.” HB Todd,Battle of loos, September 1915

“Sudden call to arms, Germans advancing. Big battle in progress. I am writing this atthe side of the road. I thank the Lord I am alive to write this… When we advancetowards the Germans, we were falling like sheep. What a sight, shells burstingeverywhere. I cannot write anymore about it, the sight will remain with me till I die.”Private J Stevens, Battle of Le Cateau, 26th August 1914

“The men were like howling dervishes. They know it was life or death andconsequently charged with the mad desire to kill. War was terrible and men, when thelust of blood was upon them, were turned into human fiends.” Officer 1915

“A distressing experience one’s first shelling. The long drawn out whistle leaves onehorribly uncertain for some time where the shell is going to land.” Lieutenant HughAdam Munro

“Once we are in the trenches the sniper has to be reckoned with” Soldier

“At 3.10am after stand to, a man in No.4 Platoon was killed by a sniper looking overthe parapet. Men forget at dawn that it becomes increasingly unsafe to expose oneselflong over the parapet.” Soldier

“The Germans snipers are very dangerous. You are not sure what minute you aregoing to get shot through the head.” Soldier


Images

2nd Battalion in action.

2nd Battalion with the first Vickers-Maxim gun on the Western Front.


“Resting 1 mile off the Somme. Ready to go in action.”


Lieutenant Hugh Munro 1915

My Dear Winifred

I am writing this letter in a little square house made of earth and bags. The rest of thetrench is black with buzzing flies. And just as bad as the flies are the shells….

Coal Boxes and Black Marias. They make a loud whistle in the air, strike the earth,burst with a terrific explosion blowing earth and stones high in the air and leave a bighole in the ground. A big cloud of nasty black smoke rises, that’s why they getnicknamed coal-boxes. Jack Johnstons make huge holes where they fall. Fizz-bangsor Pip-squeaks make a fizz and a bang and you haven’t time to dodge either.Shrapnel makes a noise like a fizz-bang after it has burst and showered round bulletsdown. Minnie Ha Has, a trench mortar bomb. The bomb goes up in the air, tumblinghead over heels as it comes down. Lyddite makes a short whistle and a sharp bangand pours out clouds of yellow smoke. Flares used for lighting up the ground at nightand give a light bright as day. At night, it is like a display of fireworks. In the trench, wehave a bomb watcher, he sees bombs and shouts ‘bomb fire’, right and then wescuttle to the left of the trench. When a bomb falls there is silence then suddenly, yourears are split by a wicked explosion and earth and stones shower on top of you. Soyou see there are all sorts of interesting things to see here – when they don’t hit you.

(Sadly, for Hugh this last comment was to prove more profound than he realised as hewas killed by an explosion a few months after he wrote this letter.)

Weapons of War


Extracts

“We started musketry training and practised all the various positions of musketrybefore we were put on the range. I managed to qualify as a first class shot and gotsixpence extra a day in my pay.” James F Fowler c1914

“Our trenches are only 15 yards from the Germans, so practically all the fighting isdone by grenades. They do make a devil of a mess of anybody they hit. One manwounded yesterday in 47 places.” Officer 6th Battalion, c 1915.

“I was nearly shot by one of our own Lewis gun men while in No Man’s Land. We hadgone out without warning all our front line men. By chance the gunner got a glimpse ofmy bare knees and kilt and recognised we were not Germans.” Officer 1916,

“The whole front was lit up, machine gun bullets were stotting at one’s feet.”George Bartholomew

“I moved the guns up to the corner of the field … Managed to get a certain amount ofammunition up by hand. Kept the gun in action until 3.45. Guns steaming likechimneys, ammunition short and impossible to get enough” Captain John AidenLiddell VC

“We took rifles off our own dead, my rifle broke down owing to the mud in the breech.”Private Frank Collier 2nd Battalion 1914

“We were relieved and went back to the middle of the wood with our bayonets stillfixed. We were unable to detach them from our rifles owing to their being covered withmud and blood.” Private Frank Collier 2nd Battalion 1914

“He remained there for five days with his Lewis gun, picking out enemy targets andcollecting ammunition and food from casualties on the battlefield. It was not until thefifth night that he crawled into our lines having gained useful information as to theenemy’s positions.” Private Taylor 1915

Images

303 Lee Enfield rifle, bullets and bayonet in The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum.


Officer shooting a 303 Lee Enfield Rifle, c1915.

Bayonet attack on hanging sacks.


Smith and Wesson Revolver and bullet used by Temporary Lieutenant D MacIntyre, The Argyll and Sutherland HighlandersMuseum.

Throwing a grenade.


Lewis Machine Gun and Lewis Machine Gunner Uniform

Gas OperatedAir Cooled47 Round Drum MagazineWeight 28 Ibs (13kg).303Effective Range 800 metres

The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum


A British Mill Grenade had a cast iron body, which was designed tofragment into pieces of shrapnel when it exploded. The Argyll andSutherland Highlanders Museum.

A British Egg Grenade was lighter to carry and throw. The Argylland Sutherland highlanders Museum

A German Flechette (Ariel Dart). Designed to be dropped from anaeroplane onto the infantry below. The Argyll and SutherlandHighlanders Museum.


Right: An Impact Detonated Hand Grenade. When thrown into theair the cloth streamers (strips) helped the grenade to land on its tip,which pushed in the detonation device that set off the explosiveinside. The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum.

Left: No.22 Rifle Grenade 1916. The metal body is divided intosmall sections so that when it explodes the pieces fly outwards asshrapnel. It is fitted with a metal rod and was fired from a riflebarrel by using a blank cartridge. The Argyll and SutherlandHighlanders.

Trench Club. In the confined spaces of the trenches, where it wasawkward to fight with a rifle and bayonet, soldiers often preferred touse clubs, knives, knuckle-dusters and spades to maim or kill theenemy. The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum.


Gas Attack

“The gas mask had not been thought of. Our protection against that foul method ofwarfare was a piece of gauze padding placed over the mouth and held in position withan elastic band.” Lieutenant CL Warr, c1915.

“The memory of stalwart men, lying, gasping and fighting for breath, some red withbloodshot eyes, others their faces disfigured by chemical, struggling for air, their lungscould not absorb, is burned deeply into my mind.” Dr F Chandler attached to the 2nd

Battalion, c1915.

“I was gassed by a German gas shell. What a horrible sensation of burning, chokingand pain. It turned the buttons on my tunic green” Soldier, c1915.

“As daylight was breaking, I was boiling some tea when we saw a GermanObservation balloon go up behind their line. We thought there must be something ontoday. We saw huge volumes of green gas leave their trenches. I ran for our sprayerat the same time trying to put on our respirators, but we already had fumes in ourlungs. We went along our trench spraying it. I was taken to hospital. Gas is likeasthma for the lungs, one can hardly breathe.“ Private David Binnie

“5.50 the gas was turned on for 40 minutes, the last 5 minutes combined with smoke.At 6.30 am the assault started, the morning being still, the gas hung about and wasinclined to come back which hampered the leading platoons.” 2nd Battalion War Diary,24.9.1915

“We had to put our gas helmets on as the fumes are very poisonous, but difficulty ofmoving in the dark over the broken ground made many men lift their helmets to see.And consequently, a good number were gassed.” Lieutenant Colonel Hyslop DSO 2nd

Battalion, Somme 1916

“A curious feature of the gas was that a good many men who had not felt it much atfirst went sick a couple of days afterwards from the effects.” Lieutenant Colonel HyslopDSO 2nd Battalion, Somme 1916

“Got one of the latest respirators today – black gauze with a pad soaked in themixture. Supposed to be quite efficient.” Lieutenant Hugh Adam Munro


Images

Goggles and Cotton Wool Mask, c 1915. The maskwas soaked with water or a chemical and held overthe nose and mouth but it was difficult to breathethrough and only had limited success in minimisingthe effects of a gas attack.

PH (Phenote-Hexamine) Gas Hood, c1916 wasworn over the head and tucked into the collar of theuniform; however, it limited a soldier’s ability to seeand hear. The cotton cloth was impregnated withchemicals designed to neutralise various forms ofgas.


Small Box Respirator, c 1917, drew air through a filter, whichstopped the gas from reaching the wearer.

8th Battalion soldiers wearing gas hoods.


“In daylight I used a periscope for continuous observation. One could lookmomentarily over the parapet and get a glimpse of the front but men were inclined tobe reckless never having been so near to the enemy. Hannay got a bullet through hisbonnet which seemed to create more amusement than alarm.” Soldier

“The most all round serviceable article we have found is just a little mirror about 2 ½inches long by ½ inch wide, with a clip which fixes on to a point of a bayonet or asharp stick – the man sits with his back to the enemy and holds this above him, andcan see a good stretch of country – and can carry the “Vigilant Sight” as it is called, inhis pocket, while it doesn’t cost more than 6d.” John Young Barr, 1915.

“Telephones connect us up with our Headquarters, and with the battalions on our rightand left and are worked by the Regimental Signallers. There has been practically noflag-signalling at all since the war began I believe.” Soldier

Images

Soldier using a periscope, 1915.

Equipment


Soldier using a trench mirror. Wire Cutters. The Argyll and Sutherland HighlandersMuseum

Gas Attack Rattle. The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Entrenching Tool 1915. The Argyll and SutherlandMuseum. Highlanders Museum.


Officer’s Torch. The bulb inside was switched on and off by pressingdown the large button on the top. Not only used as a torch but anofficer could also use it as a signalling lamp.


Aeroplanes: Royal Flying Corps (RFC)

Aerial Photograph

Aerial photograph showing a section of the front line at Arras in March 1917.

The ground was covered in snow, which made the trenches clearly visible as darklines stretching in different directions from both the German and British front lines. Youcan also see small craters throughout the whole battlefield, which were made byartillery and mortar shells fired by both sides. No Man’s Land was the open section ofground between the many connected trenches. The image was taken from a WorldWar I aeroplane. Air recognisance photographs provided the armies on the groundwith an up-to-date visual record of a specific area and the information needed toproduce detailed trench maps.


Captain John Aiden Liddell VC, Royal Flying Corps (RFC)


Extracts

“January 1915. Saturday 30th Left for Sheffield with three weeks leave. Applied to joinRFC, and was sent to Shoreham May 4th.” Captain John Aiden Liddell VC

“February 1915. Saturday 24th. Arrived St Omer 3.30am eventually got to RFCheadquarters and was attached to No 7 Squadron here”. Captain John Aiden Liddell.VC

“There were three aeroplanes close together, and it really was as good as a play – wecalled a halt and sat down on the roadside to watch the show! Later in the day I heardthat a German aeroplane had been dropped by our guns” John Young Barr, 1915

“A large number of aeroplanes have profited by the fine weather to do a bit ofreconnaissance. The companies that are in the trenches just swear that the Britishairman waved his hand by looping the loop and went home to tea, but I declineresponsibility for the accuracy of that report.” John Young Barr, 1915.


Tanks

Extracts

“We have an encampment of tanks near us and as I had not seen them before I wasmuch interested. They are weird objects and move very slowly and deliberately. Icannot help thinking they will make excellent targets for the German light guns andthey look as if they could get bogged down in the mud very easily. “Lieutenant ColonelHG Hyslop

“The tanks are curios creatures. On each side are two armoured turrets containing a6pdr. gun or Vickers machine guns, an endless caterpillar tread winds round each sideof the Tank each of these treads are worked by separate engines. The heavy wheelswhich are dragged behind help in steering. They can move across almost any countrybut are very slow (from one to two miles an hour) and are very liable in rough countryto go out of order.” Lieutenant Colonel HG Hyslop

Image

A tank with horses in the distance.


Images

Corporal Colin McNab’s Balmoral Bonnet.

Service Dress Uniform worn by Corporal Colin McNab. He was amember of a Lewis Gun team and his role was to carryammunition in the form of magazines for the machine gun. Thecircular pouches held the magazines and were worn over thesoldier’s own webbing set. The large square pouch held his gasrespirator. The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum.

The tunic shows the ‘cutaway’ at the front to allow for thewearing of a sporran.

A kilt apron which gave some protection against mud clinging tothe material..

An Officers uniform worn by Lieutenant Herbert Bird. The tworank pips on the lower part of his sleeves show that he was aLieutenant. Officers wore a different style of jacket to soldiers ofa lower rank. The panel on the front of kilt apron also indicatesthat he is an Officer. On the sleeves are ‘Overseas ServiceChevrons” showing that he served out with Britain. Sewn ontohis other sleeve is a vertical “Wound Stripe” which reflects thathe was wounded. The Argyll and Sutherland HighlandersMuseum.

Uniform


Officers of the 9th Battalion 1915, wearing goatskin coats, kilt aprons, puttees, riding breeches (centre), balaclavas, and woolcaps.

Sentries in 1908 webbing equipment set, greatcoats, a balaclava and Glengarries.


Soldier from the 8th Battalion with his Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 1915.daughter. Killed in Action in 1917.

Soldiers of the 7th Battalion.


Piper William Lawrie

Piper William Lawrie, 8th Battalion, learned to play the pipes at an early age andbecame an accomplished musician and composer, winning many piping gold medalsin Scotland. He was invalided home in 1916 due to illness and subsequently died in amilitary hospital in Oxford in December that year.

The music is ‘The Battle of the Somme’ which was composed by William Lawrie andbecame a popular marching tune during the war.

Sounds of the Pipes


Extracts

“We came under a blistering hot fire, yet the men never wavered, on they pushedregardless of bursting shells, uprooted earth, showers of bullets, falling comrades andhell fire. In the middle of it the pipes struck up ‘The Campbells Are Coming’. As theglorious strains went up every man remembered his country and we felt whatever theobstacles that barred our path, they had to be overcome.Our attack was delivered at a difficult part of the enemy position. Some barbed wirestill remained and to the strains of the pipes we charged into it flinging ourselves at theentanglements. We did negotiate that ground and got among the Germans shooting.The path of our march was strewn with dead.They bolted and took shelter in the village. They had dug right down into thefoundations which were strongly fortified. As we approached we were met with amurderous hail. For a moment our men wavered then a piper sprang forward. Thestrains of ‘The Campbells Are Coming’ broke out once more. The line steadied andpressed on. In spite of the furious resistance the enemy line snapped and thesurvivors were forced to surrender.” Private 7th Battalion, c1916

“My heart is racing as I peer over the top. I see a piper climb out of his trench andstart to pipe his war music. His music is a thing of beauty in such a place of tragedyand death that signals an impending charge, death, blood, carnage. It seems ratherodd for a man in a kilt to play his bagpipes so casually as if he was in his homeland.We do not know much about these wild men from another land, but we do know thatthey are the most fierce, courageous group that we will ever encounter. They are gooddown to earth men, who we respect. I feel bad at what I must do next.I pick up a rifle and as I pull the trigger I whisper to the piper who cannot hear me,sorry brother. I hear the pipes fall silent as the piper falls backwards, tears fill my eyes,I feel as if I destroyed the only thing of beauty at the Front and I feel that his family willno longer hear his music. I want to cover myself up and hide myself from judgement. Isee the others advancing and I forget about my moment of weakness and continue myjob.” Lieutenant Karl Schäfer, German Army


Notebook Sergeant James Livingstone

“I endeavoured to snatch a few hours sleep. The dug outs were crammed so I decidedto lie down in a reserve machine gun emplacement. I had lain for about three minuteswhen there was a deafening roar and I felt myself being lifted up, up seemingly intothe clouds. Then I felt the earth and sandbags raining down on me. It was a 9 inchshell. I heard a voice saying he’s still alive. I saw the face of Thompson and SergtRodgers who proceeded to free me. I put my hand to my head and there I felt a largelump of flesh hanging loose. My two comrades proceeded to carry me along thetrench. I was laid down and my head was bandaged and then I saw the stretcherbearer do something to my leg. Looking down I was surprised to see my leg lookinglike a butcher’s shop and blood pouring out of it.” Sergeant James Livingstone 6th

Battalion 19th June 1915.

(Medically discharged July 1916.)

Injuries and Illness


Diary 1914/ 1915

7803 Pte Drennan A. Gunshot wound to right shoulder, severe 15/3/15. ToEngland 20/3/15

7811 Pte Scott J. Missing, POW Sennelager 26/8/1914

7828 Pte Roseman J. Sprain, Back to England 14/1/15

7874 Pte Christie G. Wounded & Missing 10/11/14 later confirmed Killed inAction

7915 Pte Dool J. Tried by court Martial 4/9/14. Convicted of Drunkennesswhen on active service, 3 months. Filed Punishment No.1

7939 Pte Miller R. Enteric Fever, Died 15/1/15

7940 L/C Knox T. Defective Teeth, to England 11/11/14

7956 L/C Stewart J. Flat Feet, to England 23/10/14


Extracts

“October 10th . We get orders to cross the Marne at all costs. We have six tries whichall fail. The Huns are opposite us on top of a hill. There we meet Huns and have aterrible battle. There is nothing but killed lying on the filed and the groans of thewounded was something terrible. We are starving. We are dropping from the want offood and water… Our feet are red flesh from marching…October 29th Huns retiring for the Sienne. I got a bayonet wound in the leg and am leftlying…November 1st . I am nearly dying of want of water and food. Have been lying in thisfield for 4 days with a bleeding wound. Get picked up by French woman and girl, theycarry me to house 4 miles away, dress me, a Red Cross motor passing picks me upand am sent to a hospital in Rouen.” Private Stewart McCraig

“I felt a sort of double impact and took some staggering paces then fell to the groundheavily. When I got up again something warm trickled down my cold thighs and I knewI was wounded.” Captain Mackie c 1917

“Saturday 23rd Froze last night and most of day. Felt ill; lay down on arrival at billets…Sunday 24th Remained lying down…Monday 25th Went to Field Ambulance, in a wagon about 11am. Stayed on a mattresson the floor all day”Thursday 28th Left for a hospital ship about 11am “Captain John Aiden Liddell VC

“I had been having another very bad bout of toothache ever since the night we spenton the boat, and a man I saw one evening at Havre could only give me some sort ofsuction pellets of some drug which did occasionally give me relief, but wasn’t verysatisfactory. So I asked this fellow here – A Captain in the RAMC if he could doanything, and he said an extraction was the only thing, so I sat down and had it outthere and then “au natural” – not very pleasant job, but quickly over.” John Young Barr

“Enemy bombardment had caused considerable damage. Several dugouts completelyblown in and 10 yards of the parapet. 4 men buried, were recovered at daybreakdead. 1 man arm broken. 5 others buried but were dug out during the night. 15 othersto hospital suffering from shock. 2nd Battalion War Diary

“I came very near to death that day, I was saved by the Regimental badge on myGlengarry which deflected a bullet as it hit my head …My left elbow was blown away and my right arm shattered by a lump of shrapnel, abullet entered my left leg, my scalp was slashed open and shrapnel smashed a fingerof my right hand. I lay among the dead and wounded at night until saved by SergeantDavid MacInnes.” Charles Warr


Images

Charles Warr’s Glengarry and shrapnel. The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum.

Injured soldiers.


In convalescence uniforms, recovering from wounds. Nurses

Francis McGowan pictured in his convalesence uniform beside a ward nurse during his recovery in a British hospital,1917.


Stretcher-Bearers

“There is no finer body of men than the Regimental stretcher bearers, they actuallycharge unarmed with the other men and their work is always done under fire. They arethe first to tend to a man when he is hit.” The Medical Officer 2nd Battalion 1915.

“Poor Nicole was shot through the lung, I gave him morphia and we got him onto astretcher. It was a terrible business struggling in knee-deep mud, walking over slipperyplanks, with the machine gun bullets all around us. Finally, we got down to the first aidpost. I never realised until that night what it was like to carry a stretcher.” Soldier 1915

Image

9the Battalion stretcher-bearers c1915. They are wearing cotton pad gas masks and on the arm of one of the soldiers can be seena white stretcher-bearer armband. It would have had the initials ‘SB’ sewn onto the cloth band.


Extracts

“In the afternoon the sniping ceased and the Saxons opposite came out of theirtrenches. Our men met them half way and chatted away. Some of the Germans talkedEnglish quite well, one had lived for years in Glasgow. Our men gave them tobaccoand knitted caps whilst they got the Germans little round caps and some excellentcigars. The Regiments in front of us were 133rd and 134th of the 219th Saxon Corps.Altogether the men were out of their trenches for nearly two hours but before weparted the last words of a German Officer were well it will be war again tomorrow,”Major Henry Hyslop

“In the afternoon the Germans brought a barrel of beer over. Two German officerscame out with an orderly carrying glasses and two bottles of Lager and met two of ourOfficers, shook hands, drank together. They were Saxons opposite us and I believethey are good sorts.” Lieutenant F Chandler RAMC attached to the 2nd Battalion1914.

“Thursday 24th. Headquarters in the morning. In the evening the Germans had aconcert. Sgt Minnery went out in response to an invitation from the German lines, andhad a chat with a soldier who new Glasgow well. Beautiful night.Friday 25th. Christmas day. Rather foggy, still freezing. In the afternoon Germansbrought two barrels of beer over to the Welsh Fusiliers. Our men and theirs walkedover to the halfway fence and had a chat. Astonishing sight. Walked over, Kennedy,Thompson and all of us, and had a long chat. Met the man from Glasgow, and gavehim tobacco for cigars. Also newspapers. Talked to a lot of them in English andpromised to send more papers over each night as far as the halfway fence. They areall confident that the Russians are beaten, and that the Austrians are in Belgrade.Victory for them in 6 months. They all seemed very friendly, lots of handshaking andAut wiedersehen on parting, which took place at dusk due to their officers recallingthem.” Captain John Aiden Liddell VC

“Just after mid-day there were shouts along the lines. The Jerries are out of theirtrench. I can tell you we were on the firestep like lighting our rifles in our hands,bayonets fixed and our fingers pretty near the trigger. Then we saw they were reallyunarmed and shouting and waving their arms; we could hardly believe our eyes….The order came along. ‘Stand To, but hold fire.’ As they came forward, it would behard to describe our feelings. They would be about half-way towards our trencheswhen someone shouted. ‘Look! Some of our men are out in the open too’. Our fellowswere unarmed out there, and quite a number of us joined them…The Jerries and our men met approximately half-way between our respective forwarddefences. We were all shaking hands and clapping each other’s shoulders…“By this time we could hear accordion music and singing from their trench. We were

Christmas Day Truce 1914


the same as them; after all we were all tradesmen in our own particular sphere –soldiering.” Extracts, Christmas Day 1914, The Thin Red Line Magazine

“23rd Dec. Germans heard morning transportation West to East. 10pm 2nd LieutBankier arrived with 34 men.

24th Dec. Work carried out in communication trench.

25th Dec. Very quiet day. Germans came out of their trenches unarmed in theafternoon and were seen to belong to 133rd and 134th Regiments. Theposition was …?... by Lieut Anderson. The Germans asked for leave to bury10 dead. This was granted.

26th Dec A few shells were fired at and in rear of our trenches, one going through thehouse used as an orderly room.”

Battalion War Diary, 1914

“23rd Dec. Settling down into billets. Quiet day.

24th Dec. Brigade route march. Lt and Adjt. Boyle rejoined sick list.

25th Dec. Xmas Day. Company training. All ranks delighted with their Majesties,Princess Mary’s present, and ‘Daily News’ plum puddings.

26th Dec. Company Training

27th Dec. ‘A ‘ and ‘B’ Companies commenced line of entrenchment E of Boeseguemon left of 2nd Camerons. Very cold day.”

1st Battalion War Diary 1914

Christmas 1915

“We have been half expecting a repetition of the Christmas “fraternising” but so farthere has been no sign of it, I hardly think its likely to come just for tomorrow. Bothsides got a pretty severe “telling off” from their respective supreme authorities for sucha lapse in discipline.” John Young Barr, 1915


Image

Christmas day 1914.


Images

Recruiting Staff, Stirling Castle 24th October, 1916.

Recruiting poster, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum.

Recruiting


Transport

Agatha and Sydney Oldham

“Poor old girl, she and I were the greatest of pals. She put her muzzle across my kneewhilst her life ebbed out. She died nobly like a War-horse should, but how it hurt toleave her behind.”

“‘Baby’ never liked the crack of the guns with the result I always had to dismount andlead her past the gun emplacement. She was a bit of an old soldier despite her name.”Sgt Sydney Oldham

(Agatha was an Officer’s Charger; she was later transferred to the Artillery then sent tothe Gas Warfare Service. She was shot from under at Sydney at Gauche Wood.)

Animals at War


Extracts

“The difficulty now is to get horses. There is so much competition for them, and thesupply of saddle horses is soon exhausted.” John Young Barr 1915

“I am to spend my time understudying the Transport Officer (Harold Primrose) – rathera nice job. I hope to have a fair amount of riding, and it will be very interesting learningabout the management and composition of the transport, which is quite a considerableunit by itself, with something like 60 horses.” John Young Barr 1915

The Germans however had now had time to concentrate more guns, and thatafternoon the horses were by next day much reduced in numbers and the remainderwere taken further back.” Diary Lieutenant Colonel HG Hyslop 2nd Battalion, 1916

Images

Bessie and Richard McGill. Bessie was named after his mother. The horse was injured at Montoy and had to be shot; Richardinsisted that he do it himself.


Water Transport

Pack Transport

Cacolet, used for carrying the sick and wounded, c1917.


Friends and Mascots

Sonia the Trench Cat

“Writing is difficult as Sonia the trench cat is padding about on my knees and makingherself into a living sporran. She has come from the ruined farm behind, she neverleaves the dugout but is handed over to each relieving regiment and appears on theofficial indent after the ammunition, spades and engineers, materials etc as ‘Cat’ andbox 1. She has no real affections but prefers kilts as they give accommodation acrossthe lap more than trousers. She has an unpleasant habit of using bare knees as aladder to reach the desired spot.” Lieutenant A D Gillespie 2nd Battalion March 1915.

Trench cat and 2nd Battalion Officer, 1916 Yaikin, 1916

Members of the 7th Battalion and mascot.


Order of the Day

“An Armistice has been concluded with Germany… Hostilities ceased at 1100 today(Monday Nov 11th 1918)”

(Copied and sent to the various companies within the Battalion officially passing thenews to every soldier.)

The War Ends


Extract

“The war is over, the soldiers have returned and the people count their slain. Onlythose who have themselves lost friends in war can realise the bitterness of that loss.Those who fell were not the aged and infirm but the young manhood of the countrywith all the hope and promise of life before them. Theirs was a hard road, they died topreserve their country and all that was dear to their hearts. May the memory of theirdevotion live forever in our hearts.” James C Campbell late Minister of TibbermoreChurch who served with the Regiment in World War I.