First War Journal
Discussion
When I mentioned my great grandfather’s First War Journal in the “Things you always wanted to know the answer to” thread I was surprised by how well it was received. Thanks to those who expressed an interest and many thanks to PH Paul for permitting me to post something in full that is quite so far away from the world of cars.
Mods: Because the initial interest was found in the Lounge, could you leave it here for a few days, please?
William Jesse Bullock; always known as Jesse. His journal was written in a tiny note book, in often difficult conditions, in pencil, by a poorly educated man with no time for punctuation and an unusual way with capital letters. Like many of his peers, service in France in the First War was his only experience of life outside England. As a result of this my notes, in square brackets, are an attempt to correct place names that he, with poor hearing to add to his poor spelling, may only have heard from other English lads.
To keep a sense of his writing I have altered it as little as possible but, in addition to the notes, I have added forward slashes to indicate where I believe his sentences finish.
The Labour Companies were formed to release soldiers from manual labour to concentrate on fighting. He had a wife and three children when he was called up in 1917 at the age of 39.
JESSE BULLOCK
His Journal of his Experiences in France and Belgium
24th March 1917 to 26th August 1918
Where I went To in France.
We left Sittingbourne at 10.30pm on the 24 March arrived at Folkestone at 4 o’clock on 25th / There we stay at the rest Camp Till 6.30 Sunday / we had Breakfast and then we went on Board The Invicta which was a Splendy Voyage / The Sea was Very Calm / we had a air Ship following us till we arrived in Boulogne Harbour at 11.48. / we then march to the rest camp at E. C... [unreadable – main camp was at St Martins] which was 3 miles / we stay There Till the 27 then we took train to Naours / we arrived there at 4 o’clock in the morning / we had Breakfast at 7 and then we had a look around / we saw the first part of the war / Every think in that part was Blown to pieces not a House left / we Sleep in a part of a Stable with the rain and snow fall down on us all day & night / Then the next day we started our march to Etracourt [Etricourt-Manancourt] / there we stops for 3 Days / Sleep any where we Could get what with the wet and cold and Hardly any food to live on / We had a Tin Bully [corned beef] to 3 men and bread to 5 that was a 2 lbs loaf and there we made the best of it / on the 30 March we arrived at Dremis [?] Court there it was no better / Sleep in Houses with no roof on or in dugout what the germans left after they was drove out / it was a terrible sight to witness and to see how they even rob the Dead in the Church yard and leaving The Coffin open for any one to see / They bury their Dead in the same Church yard and Even taken The Stone off of other to cover their own / We was working on the Rail way from Chones [Chaulnes] Junction to Peronne / Every inch of the railway and Bridges was blown up / we starter working at 7 till 5 getting the line Clear / it was a great relief when we got the first train up for the troops as Every think had to go By transport till Then / on The May 13 we had a terrible thunder storm which we was floody out and what with the guns at times it was a job to get any sleep at night / we left Mur...leport [Marchelepot?] at 9 o’clock on the May 20 and arrived at Rocquigny 5.30 then we went to Mannencourt [Manancourt] to Camp where the Irish Guard was / we was working on the Railway from There To Le Boff [Lesboeuffs] / we left there on the 21 June and went to Moral [Morval] that place where There was some terrible fighting / not far from here is Lowes [Leuze] Wood where the London Scottish Rifel was cut up / Middlesex and French men laying about on the field not Bury and Eaten away by flies and where we could bury then we did / Rocquine [Rocquigny] Station there is one of our flying men Got Kill and where he fell he was Bury and a cross put there / Lieut Woodgate at Etree [Estrees?] one of our fellows got hit with a Shell receiveding 14 Wounds by it / a train was Blow up There
now we are on The move again this time we are leaving this Camp Le Transloy / on The 8 July arrived at Rocquigny Faur [?] The Head Quarters / We started again on The 14th July at 11.15am going through Maricourt [Mericourt-sur-Somme] from where the India was camping / Then To Happy Valley. [near Mametz Wood also known as Death Valley] Bufet Vallan [?] / Then we left Albert on the right of us / we was in a Siding for a while then we go as far as Amiens at 4.30 / we arrived at Rhones Camp [?] 7.45 Where we stay for the night and sleep in The Cattle Trucks / we Started again at 4 the following Morning without any Breakfast only having Half rashon with us and could not get anything Till we got to Calaris [Calais?] at 3 just in time to Buy a Cup of Tea Before the Train started on the journey again / Then we got as far as St Omer / it was a fine sight To see the French ladys after Bein on the Battlefields and Never sees any one Else except our own men / Now we started again this time we got to Berguire [Bergues] Station that is the first Station in Belguim / we arrived here at 6 o’clock / we went on to Dunkirk were we stay for the night in a siding which was Destroy by the air craft in 1916 / the other Building was not Damage much / all ships that was Laying in Harbour was with arms / we again was on the move the next day at 11 o’clock for another ride / we went throught Ghyvelde. Bray D..[Bray Dunes] 11-45 passing the Hospitals and Dressing Station which was in charge of the Belgians Staff now / we got to our Station at Avacappelle [also spelt Avakappelle] at last / it was a splendy Outing for 3 Day / we got here at 4 o’clock / the people left here yesterday July 16/17 after Being Heavy Shell / now we have to find a place to fix our Tents / we stops at the Railway Station at Avecappelle for 2 night and Then we had a field not far / But it has been a terrible to live under night and day from 20 to 25 / the guns Fires has Been Very lively / one man was hit on the 24 and that night Shells fell just over our camp / on the 25 we again Pack up and left this place and Started at 8am for the Head Quarters and was very glad to get out of it / We lost over 1000 by the gas Shells sent over in 12 hours a new kind which has play a terrible part in this part of the line / the Belgians go up into the trenches Every Day But have not heard of any one of them getting Kill or Wounded so something must be different for them up here / We arrived at Adinkerke 2 o’clock which is occupied By Civilians and is a very pretty place what with the Sand Hill you can see for miles round / our 1 and 2 Platoons was Shell out on the 28 July and is now Attach to R.A.M.C. as Stretchers Bearers / we are preparing Shell Dump and making light railway Throught Adinkirke to Oxside [Koksijde?] on Aug 18 to 21 we was shell from 6 o’clock This …… [unreadable] … and only Kill 4 Soldiers 1 officer / no further damage was done
on Aug 27 The Canadian Dressing Station was shells and seven person was Kill and wounded / one fellow was Blown To pices on the Operation Table / on the 28 the weather was Very Cold and the sand was Blinding / on the 27 and 28 We had a Metal [medical] and nearly Half was fit and sent down to Bolougne for training / Then we got orders To move To Coxsfete [Koksijde?]/ That was on The 10th of Sept where we Laid near a Cemetery Just Behind the trenches / it was a terrible sight to see the poor fellows Been Brought in as they was Kills Every day / this cemetery was only Open in June and is now nearly full / just think of What that mean To England / I do not Think that they can hardly Know what the men has got to go through and we was shell Every night and day and had to run for our lives To dugouts Where there was one / But we soon had to get to work and get one for ourself for safty / we saw on the 15 a air fight and our air men Brought it down just Behind our Camps after a Hard fight / that night we was again heavily shell Till 4,30 in the morning / the Manchesters, N Z, Canadian, Australian, H[ighland?] Light Infantry. R.N. Air Service, 145 Labour Company 191 L.C on the 18 Oct / the German Shell our Cemetery and six Graves was Torn up / The poor fellows had not Been put there on the 30 / one Shell struck a house and Wounded some of the people what was in the house at The Time / on the road to La Panne [De Panne, Belguim?] on 31st another air raid They Drop Bombs on The Camp Middlesex Huts Killing 1 Wounded 6 and 6 Horses and one of our own was wounded by Sharnal [shrapnel] / 1 Sargent & 2 Mens was hit
we was on the move again Nov 13th we left Coixyde [Koksijde] At 11 to Adinkirke where we went by train to Calais / the train caught fire on the way which gave the Zeps [Zeppelin airships] The Chance of finding where we was going / they drop bombs on the station and Kills 44 Troops and our train Was hit just before we started by air Craft / we left Calais the next day by 12 To proseed To Bapaunne [Bapaume] Which we arrived 11.30 / We lost 2 men on the March going through La Panne which was done by air Craft / We left again on the 18th and at this time we got into another warm place / this place is Fincourt and where the Boys made the germans suffer very much / they Lay in great number in heaps / it was another terrible sight To see / I met the East Surrey Coming up to this place a Bit of a rest Before going into The trenches / in Fins wood that is were our Baby are / they dont half cry too / on the 30th started to move off again from Ruyaulcourt Camp / the German Started sending Shell over all the morning / on the 29 a Tank fetch a O[bservation] Balloon down which was a very clever move on there Part / the 2 men was save by Dropping out into Parshuts and Landing Safe when reach the ground / on the 4 Dec we was again under Order to move at any time as we was Being Shells in all direction / the Camp in front of us was Shell But no one was hit / 167 Lab[our] Company / on the 5 the line was Broken and at 4 in the morning we had Orders to pack up as the train was on the way for us / we got as far a Vaux Junction there we stay 20 Hours then we was on the move again / we went into Dug out about 3 miles from Vaux Junction / Half our Company and the remain had to stay Behind / on the 6th we left and went on to Bus / from Bus we went on to Trices[?] which there was a great Chang[e] since we was there last June / now we are living in Huts and the food was Very Short for the first few day / there was the Black labour On loading the train and reloading from the dump / the Headquarters are staying at Bus untill can get settle / on the 11 and 12 a terrible Barage fire is on and on the 12th the Boys again went over / 21th We Saw one of our air men fetch one of the German air playne down / on the 22th 2 more was fetch down we had air raid and Kill a few more men just above us / Australians and one in the BEF Canteen 50 Horses Kill Field Artillery / 25 Was Christmas day / all have to Work But they had a Concert just to pass the evening off which went off as a sussess
on the 24th Jan we again got orders to Be on the move again / this time we had a run round Albert and to see the Ruins round there and also the Catherdral where the Virgin Mary with Her hand Bending right over as if it was going to fall into the Street / we then when on to pausait[?] and gone in tent a gain But the weather is a Bit Better for the time of year and I think we was very luckie for 106 was wounded on the night we came away / on 28 I went to Mailly Maillet and on the way Back we came round to serrie [Serre] where our poor fellows was Buried on Dec 1st 1916 and some Very Bitter Fighting had taken Place Before it Taken / on Feb 16 I went for a walk as far Gommocourt [Gommecourt] / it is a Village in France that was Retaken by the English and is now To Be Kept as a Historical So that it can Be seen for years after the Bloody War is over / it is well worth see and Then the people in years to come can Tell what our fellows had to go throught / the only Thing that is left of a Church is the outside walls and a Crucifiction that was not damage So the French Government is having it Kept and nothing To Be Move off and any to Be put on it it has got to Be left just the same as our Boys had Taken it / a great many lays in the side of the Road where they can not Be claim as no mans is put there / it is only two officers m[unreadable]. 49 other [ranks] /
on the 15 March we went to Herbeston [Hebuterne?] that Village was very mush Suffer / there is only the Outer wall left of the Church / all houses blow down and the people are now Coming Back and rebuilding the house up again / 24 March the German Broke Through our lines / 25 We was order at 12 o clock to move off / I was sent on with the G S Waggon [General Service Wagon] on to Colling Camp [Colincamps] / on the 26 we again was on the retreat / we went to Arhne [Aisnes? A region rather than a town] / There we was stop to Load up train with Shell as mush as we could get on at 5,30 / we was told to take to the roads again / we went another 10 Kilo to Maureaux Wood [Maureau Wood] / we got there just to get light out / there was a Big air raid and was Bombs all thought the wood But luck no Casualties / on the 27 We lost our Company then we was sent Back to Acheaux [Acheux en Amienois] there we found other Company staying and a great number was Told off to dig trenches as the German was still coming on fast / the 28 our Company was found again and They arrived at 3 30 / there we got meals for them and Then we was sent on to the German Camp / it was a great Blessing To us as we had no Sleep for 4 day / was on the train all the while / we had To Throw Every think we Had a way / 29th the Company was resting Calvillas[?] for a while / we Then went on to No8 P,G,W Camp[?] / There we got again on our footing and settle / on May 27 Fritzes got the range of The Hospitals at Varennes / at 11.15 one shell went throught Dining Room Killing 5 Mens / on the 28 he again Shells Hospital and R,E,Dump 72 172 the number 4 Kills and wounded 3 / the 29 our Camp was shell / only Damage done was apice of Shapnel through on of the Huts and in the Evening I had order To go To Toutencourt in case of having to fall Back and get out of the Shell fire / the Country all around here is Very Beautiful and it is a Horrible thing to see how Every thing is being Destroyed / this is what it is Coming Too Every day now all the ground what has Been planted for the years harves now every thing is Coming to Destruction / on June 2nd we was shells again But the only Damage done was to several of the Tents as it was on the Top of the Banks where we lay / But several went over on to the road / on the 10th we had a nother Medical Board But I do not know how we came off / we are still under Canvas / on July 13 I left Clanfaye[?] To go To Head Quarters / I went throught Toutencourt Then on Val le Masson[?] / There I found out there was no Company so I had a sleep on the side of the road Till Day Break / starting again I found our Horses then I know I was not far / I was very glad to get to the Cook House for a cup of Hot Tea / I left again on the 14 with 6 men / what a time I had / could only get them to walk about 1 miles of a stretch / we got as far Talmas then I got a Drink / I got them on the move again / after a Bit we went and got a Motor which took us nearly to Naours / then we got some Hot Water and made some tea and had Dinner / we got on the move we arrived at Wargnies A very small Village But a Very Pretty County we at last go to our Desternation at Havernas at 4.45 / such a nice Village Too / now we have gone into another Company 741 Air[?] Labour Company But it is a treat to get away from the Shelling and the roar of the Guns
on the 22 August I went on leave got down to Bolougne / there we stay the night / we had a air raid Between 12 and 1 o’clock reveley at 6 and Breakfast at 8 and Dinner at 12 / we started for the Boat at 12-30 / we got to Folkstone about 5 then we took train to Victoria arrived at 8 / we got our money Change and then had a good meal which was serve free of Charge / I caught train from Waterloo At 8.50 for Walton got home about 10 / What a surprise I gave them at home / the next day was wet so I only stay in door / Wenesday we all went to London for the day then we went to Windsor for a Trip / we had a walk to Weybridge and Walton / we went to Egham on the Sunday. Tues & Wenday we had a nother run over and stay the night / on the 4 of August I had to come Back / it was not a pleasant time leaving them all at home But I stay in London at the Maple Leaf for the night and had Breakfast at the YMCA / on Aug 5 the train left Victoria 7.30 / it was a very wet day and when I got to Folkstone we went to the rest Camp Till the Boat Started at 1.30 / we got to Bolougne again we stay at a rest Camp St Martins for the night / Breakfast at 4.30 and on the train at 5.30 / we got Back to Cander [Candas] Station at 7 / we got on to Havernas 9 / when we got there we found out that the Company had gone to Toutencourt / we got there the next day By Motor Buss / then we soon got to know what we got to do
Aug 14 a large air Plane of the German and that got shot down 5 Seater Machine / on the 23 another one came to greaf / this one fell in a field Park Villa / then it was a bit quite for a day or so / 26 I had to take Charge of a Boxing Ring / Quite a good Change for the time of the year
What qualified him to do all the work he outlines in his journal? He was a baker. He was invalided out in 1918 when the journal ends. He never returned to work and died in 1919 from the damage done to him by poison gas. As he was a civilian when he died, my great grandmother initially received no pension. Their three children were still at home when he died. To make ends meet my great grandmother cleaned houses and did so for the rest of her life. Luckily for her one of the houses she cleaned belonged to a wealthy lady influential in the newly formed British Legion who lobbied the authorities on her behalf. As a result of her intervention my great grandmother received a pension of two shillings a week until she died in the early 1950s. Other women had no one to tackle the authorities for them.
To put two shillings a week into perspective, my grandfather volunteered for the Army in 1916 and said he earned a shilling a day during the war. He was in the East Surrey Regiment and most of his war was spent near Albert. Jesse mentions seeing the East Surreys and I’ve always thought it sad how the two men might have met. At that time they only had their home town in common as my grandparents, Frank and Jessie, didn’t meet until a few years after Jesse had died. My grandmother was named after her father.
Despite being a civilian at the time of his death, W.J. Bullock’s name does appear on the War Memorial in Walton on Thames.
I would be pleased to get any suggestions for clarifications, corrections or missing place names.
When I find them, I'll post some pictures of the areas mentioned and the picture we have of him in uniform.
Mods: Because the initial interest was found in the Lounge, could you leave it here for a few days, please?
William Jesse Bullock; always known as Jesse. His journal was written in a tiny note book, in often difficult conditions, in pencil, by a poorly educated man with no time for punctuation and an unusual way with capital letters. Like many of his peers, service in France in the First War was his only experience of life outside England. As a result of this my notes, in square brackets, are an attempt to correct place names that he, with poor hearing to add to his poor spelling, may only have heard from other English lads.
To keep a sense of his writing I have altered it as little as possible but, in addition to the notes, I have added forward slashes to indicate where I believe his sentences finish.
The Labour Companies were formed to release soldiers from manual labour to concentrate on fighting. He had a wife and three children when he was called up in 1917 at the age of 39.
JESSE BULLOCK
His Journal of his Experiences in France and Belgium
24th March 1917 to 26th August 1918
Where I went To in France.
We left Sittingbourne at 10.30pm on the 24 March arrived at Folkestone at 4 o’clock on 25th / There we stay at the rest Camp Till 6.30 Sunday / we had Breakfast and then we went on Board The Invicta which was a Splendy Voyage / The Sea was Very Calm / we had a air Ship following us till we arrived in Boulogne Harbour at 11.48. / we then march to the rest camp at E. C... [unreadable – main camp was at St Martins] which was 3 miles / we stay There Till the 27 then we took train to Naours / we arrived there at 4 o’clock in the morning / we had Breakfast at 7 and then we had a look around / we saw the first part of the war / Every think in that part was Blown to pieces not a House left / we Sleep in a part of a Stable with the rain and snow fall down on us all day & night / Then the next day we started our march to Etracourt [Etricourt-Manancourt] / there we stops for 3 Days / Sleep any where we Could get what with the wet and cold and Hardly any food to live on / We had a Tin Bully [corned beef] to 3 men and bread to 5 that was a 2 lbs loaf and there we made the best of it / on the 30 March we arrived at Dremis [?] Court there it was no better / Sleep in Houses with no roof on or in dugout what the germans left after they was drove out / it was a terrible sight to witness and to see how they even rob the Dead in the Church yard and leaving The Coffin open for any one to see / They bury their Dead in the same Church yard and Even taken The Stone off of other to cover their own / We was working on the Rail way from Chones [Chaulnes] Junction to Peronne / Every inch of the railway and Bridges was blown up / we starter working at 7 till 5 getting the line Clear / it was a great relief when we got the first train up for the troops as Every think had to go By transport till Then / on The May 13 we had a terrible thunder storm which we was floody out and what with the guns at times it was a job to get any sleep at night / we left Mur...leport [Marchelepot?] at 9 o’clock on the May 20 and arrived at Rocquigny 5.30 then we went to Mannencourt [Manancourt] to Camp where the Irish Guard was / we was working on the Railway from There To Le Boff [Lesboeuffs] / we left there on the 21 June and went to Moral [Morval] that place where There was some terrible fighting / not far from here is Lowes [Leuze] Wood where the London Scottish Rifel was cut up / Middlesex and French men laying about on the field not Bury and Eaten away by flies and where we could bury then we did / Rocquine [Rocquigny] Station there is one of our flying men Got Kill and where he fell he was Bury and a cross put there / Lieut Woodgate at Etree [Estrees?] one of our fellows got hit with a Shell receiveding 14 Wounds by it / a train was Blow up There
now we are on The move again this time we are leaving this Camp Le Transloy / on The 8 July arrived at Rocquigny Faur [?] The Head Quarters / We started again on The 14th July at 11.15am going through Maricourt [Mericourt-sur-Somme] from where the India was camping / Then To Happy Valley. [near Mametz Wood also known as Death Valley] Bufet Vallan [?] / Then we left Albert on the right of us / we was in a Siding for a while then we go as far as Amiens at 4.30 / we arrived at Rhones Camp [?] 7.45 Where we stay for the night and sleep in The Cattle Trucks / we Started again at 4 the following Morning without any Breakfast only having Half rashon with us and could not get anything Till we got to Calaris [Calais?] at 3 just in time to Buy a Cup of Tea Before the Train started on the journey again / Then we got as far as St Omer / it was a fine sight To see the French ladys after Bein on the Battlefields and Never sees any one Else except our own men / Now we started again this time we got to Berguire [Bergues] Station that is the first Station in Belguim / we arrived here at 6 o’clock / we went on to Dunkirk were we stay for the night in a siding which was Destroy by the air craft in 1916 / the other Building was not Damage much / all ships that was Laying in Harbour was with arms / we again was on the move the next day at 11 o’clock for another ride / we went throught Ghyvelde. Bray D..[Bray Dunes] 11-45 passing the Hospitals and Dressing Station which was in charge of the Belgians Staff now / we got to our Station at Avacappelle [also spelt Avakappelle] at last / it was a splendy Outing for 3 Day / we got here at 4 o’clock / the people left here yesterday July 16/17 after Being Heavy Shell / now we have to find a place to fix our Tents / we stops at the Railway Station at Avecappelle for 2 night and Then we had a field not far / But it has been a terrible to live under night and day from 20 to 25 / the guns Fires has Been Very lively / one man was hit on the 24 and that night Shells fell just over our camp / on the 25 we again Pack up and left this place and Started at 8am for the Head Quarters and was very glad to get out of it / We lost over 1000 by the gas Shells sent over in 12 hours a new kind which has play a terrible part in this part of the line / the Belgians go up into the trenches Every Day But have not heard of any one of them getting Kill or Wounded so something must be different for them up here / We arrived at Adinkerke 2 o’clock which is occupied By Civilians and is a very pretty place what with the Sand Hill you can see for miles round / our 1 and 2 Platoons was Shell out on the 28 July and is now Attach to R.A.M.C. as Stretchers Bearers / we are preparing Shell Dump and making light railway Throught Adinkirke to Oxside [Koksijde?] on Aug 18 to 21 we was shell from 6 o’clock This …… [unreadable] … and only Kill 4 Soldiers 1 officer / no further damage was done
on Aug 27 The Canadian Dressing Station was shells and seven person was Kill and wounded / one fellow was Blown To pices on the Operation Table / on the 28 the weather was Very Cold and the sand was Blinding / on the 27 and 28 We had a Metal [medical] and nearly Half was fit and sent down to Bolougne for training / Then we got orders To move To Coxsfete [Koksijde?]/ That was on The 10th of Sept where we Laid near a Cemetery Just Behind the trenches / it was a terrible sight to see the poor fellows Been Brought in as they was Kills Every day / this cemetery was only Open in June and is now nearly full / just think of What that mean To England / I do not Think that they can hardly Know what the men has got to go through and we was shell Every night and day and had to run for our lives To dugouts Where there was one / But we soon had to get to work and get one for ourself for safty / we saw on the 15 a air fight and our air men Brought it down just Behind our Camps after a Hard fight / that night we was again heavily shell Till 4,30 in the morning / the Manchesters, N Z, Canadian, Australian, H[ighland?] Light Infantry. R.N. Air Service, 145 Labour Company 191 L.C on the 18 Oct / the German Shell our Cemetery and six Graves was Torn up / The poor fellows had not Been put there on the 30 / one Shell struck a house and Wounded some of the people what was in the house at The Time / on the road to La Panne [De Panne, Belguim?] on 31st another air raid They Drop Bombs on The Camp Middlesex Huts Killing 1 Wounded 6 and 6 Horses and one of our own was wounded by Sharnal [shrapnel] / 1 Sargent & 2 Mens was hit
we was on the move again Nov 13th we left Coixyde [Koksijde] At 11 to Adinkirke where we went by train to Calais / the train caught fire on the way which gave the Zeps [Zeppelin airships] The Chance of finding where we was going / they drop bombs on the station and Kills 44 Troops and our train Was hit just before we started by air Craft / we left Calais the next day by 12 To proseed To Bapaunne [Bapaume] Which we arrived 11.30 / We lost 2 men on the March going through La Panne which was done by air Craft / We left again on the 18th and at this time we got into another warm place / this place is Fincourt and where the Boys made the germans suffer very much / they Lay in great number in heaps / it was another terrible sight To see / I met the East Surrey Coming up to this place a Bit of a rest Before going into The trenches / in Fins wood that is were our Baby are / they dont half cry too / on the 30th started to move off again from Ruyaulcourt Camp / the German Started sending Shell over all the morning / on the 29 a Tank fetch a O[bservation] Balloon down which was a very clever move on there Part / the 2 men was save by Dropping out into Parshuts and Landing Safe when reach the ground / on the 4 Dec we was again under Order to move at any time as we was Being Shells in all direction / the Camp in front of us was Shell But no one was hit / 167 Lab[our] Company / on the 5 the line was Broken and at 4 in the morning we had Orders to pack up as the train was on the way for us / we got as far a Vaux Junction there we stay 20 Hours then we was on the move again / we went into Dug out about 3 miles from Vaux Junction / Half our Company and the remain had to stay Behind / on the 6th we left and went on to Bus / from Bus we went on to Trices[?] which there was a great Chang[e] since we was there last June / now we are living in Huts and the food was Very Short for the first few day / there was the Black labour On loading the train and reloading from the dump / the Headquarters are staying at Bus untill can get settle / on the 11 and 12 a terrible Barage fire is on and on the 12th the Boys again went over / 21th We Saw one of our air men fetch one of the German air playne down / on the 22th 2 more was fetch down we had air raid and Kill a few more men just above us / Australians and one in the BEF Canteen 50 Horses Kill Field Artillery / 25 Was Christmas day / all have to Work But they had a Concert just to pass the evening off which went off as a sussess
on the 24th Jan we again got orders to Be on the move again / this time we had a run round Albert and to see the Ruins round there and also the Catherdral where the Virgin Mary with Her hand Bending right over as if it was going to fall into the Street / we then when on to pausait[?] and gone in tent a gain But the weather is a Bit Better for the time of year and I think we was very luckie for 106 was wounded on the night we came away / on 28 I went to Mailly Maillet and on the way Back we came round to serrie [Serre] where our poor fellows was Buried on Dec 1st 1916 and some Very Bitter Fighting had taken Place Before it Taken / on Feb 16 I went for a walk as far Gommocourt [Gommecourt] / it is a Village in France that was Retaken by the English and is now To Be Kept as a Historical So that it can Be seen for years after the Bloody War is over / it is well worth see and Then the people in years to come can Tell what our fellows had to go throught / the only Thing that is left of a Church is the outside walls and a Crucifiction that was not damage So the French Government is having it Kept and nothing To Be Move off and any to Be put on it it has got to Be left just the same as our Boys had Taken it / a great many lays in the side of the Road where they can not Be claim as no mans is put there / it is only two officers m[unreadable]. 49 other [ranks] /
on the 15 March we went to Herbeston [Hebuterne?] that Village was very mush Suffer / there is only the Outer wall left of the Church / all houses blow down and the people are now Coming Back and rebuilding the house up again / 24 March the German Broke Through our lines / 25 We was order at 12 o clock to move off / I was sent on with the G S Waggon [General Service Wagon] on to Colling Camp [Colincamps] / on the 26 we again was on the retreat / we went to Arhne [Aisnes? A region rather than a town] / There we was stop to Load up train with Shell as mush as we could get on at 5,30 / we was told to take to the roads again / we went another 10 Kilo to Maureaux Wood [Maureau Wood] / we got there just to get light out / there was a Big air raid and was Bombs all thought the wood But luck no Casualties / on the 27 We lost our Company then we was sent Back to Acheaux [Acheux en Amienois] there we found other Company staying and a great number was Told off to dig trenches as the German was still coming on fast / the 28 our Company was found again and They arrived at 3 30 / there we got meals for them and Then we was sent on to the German Camp / it was a great Blessing To us as we had no Sleep for 4 day / was on the train all the while / we had To Throw Every think we Had a way / 29th the Company was resting Calvillas[?] for a while / we Then went on to No8 P,G,W Camp[?] / There we got again on our footing and settle / on May 27 Fritzes got the range of The Hospitals at Varennes / at 11.15 one shell went throught Dining Room Killing 5 Mens / on the 28 he again Shells Hospital and R,E,Dump 72 172 the number 4 Kills and wounded 3 / the 29 our Camp was shell / only Damage done was apice of Shapnel through on of the Huts and in the Evening I had order To go To Toutencourt in case of having to fall Back and get out of the Shell fire / the Country all around here is Very Beautiful and it is a Horrible thing to see how Every thing is being Destroyed / this is what it is Coming Too Every day now all the ground what has Been planted for the years harves now every thing is Coming to Destruction / on June 2nd we was shells again But the only Damage done was to several of the Tents as it was on the Top of the Banks where we lay / But several went over on to the road / on the 10th we had a nother Medical Board But I do not know how we came off / we are still under Canvas / on July 13 I left Clanfaye[?] To go To Head Quarters / I went throught Toutencourt Then on Val le Masson[?] / There I found out there was no Company so I had a sleep on the side of the road Till Day Break / starting again I found our Horses then I know I was not far / I was very glad to get to the Cook House for a cup of Hot Tea / I left again on the 14 with 6 men / what a time I had / could only get them to walk about 1 miles of a stretch / we got as far Talmas then I got a Drink / I got them on the move again / after a Bit we went and got a Motor which took us nearly to Naours / then we got some Hot Water and made some tea and had Dinner / we got on the move we arrived at Wargnies A very small Village But a Very Pretty County we at last go to our Desternation at Havernas at 4.45 / such a nice Village Too / now we have gone into another Company 741 Air[?] Labour Company But it is a treat to get away from the Shelling and the roar of the Guns
on the 22 August I went on leave got down to Bolougne / there we stay the night / we had a air raid Between 12 and 1 o’clock reveley at 6 and Breakfast at 8 and Dinner at 12 / we started for the Boat at 12-30 / we got to Folkstone about 5 then we took train to Victoria arrived at 8 / we got our money Change and then had a good meal which was serve free of Charge / I caught train from Waterloo At 8.50 for Walton got home about 10 / What a surprise I gave them at home / the next day was wet so I only stay in door / Wenesday we all went to London for the day then we went to Windsor for a Trip / we had a walk to Weybridge and Walton / we went to Egham on the Sunday. Tues & Wenday we had a nother run over and stay the night / on the 4 of August I had to come Back / it was not a pleasant time leaving them all at home But I stay in London at the Maple Leaf for the night and had Breakfast at the YMCA / on Aug 5 the train left Victoria 7.30 / it was a very wet day and when I got to Folkstone we went to the rest Camp Till the Boat Started at 1.30 / we got to Bolougne again we stay at a rest Camp St Martins for the night / Breakfast at 4.30 and on the train at 5.30 / we got Back to Cander [Candas] Station at 7 / we got on to Havernas 9 / when we got there we found out that the Company had gone to Toutencourt / we got there the next day By Motor Buss / then we soon got to know what we got to do
Aug 14 a large air Plane of the German and that got shot down 5 Seater Machine / on the 23 another one came to greaf / this one fell in a field Park Villa / then it was a bit quite for a day or so / 26 I had to take Charge of a Boxing Ring / Quite a good Change for the time of the year
What qualified him to do all the work he outlines in his journal? He was a baker. He was invalided out in 1918 when the journal ends. He never returned to work and died in 1919 from the damage done to him by poison gas. As he was a civilian when he died, my great grandmother initially received no pension. Their three children were still at home when he died. To make ends meet my great grandmother cleaned houses and did so for the rest of her life. Luckily for her one of the houses she cleaned belonged to a wealthy lady influential in the newly formed British Legion who lobbied the authorities on her behalf. As a result of her intervention my great grandmother received a pension of two shillings a week until she died in the early 1950s. Other women had no one to tackle the authorities for them.
To put two shillings a week into perspective, my grandfather volunteered for the Army in 1916 and said he earned a shilling a day during the war. He was in the East Surrey Regiment and most of his war was spent near Albert. Jesse mentions seeing the East Surreys and I’ve always thought it sad how the two men might have met. At that time they only had their home town in common as my grandparents, Frank and Jessie, didn’t meet until a few years after Jesse had died. My grandmother was named after her father.
Despite being a civilian at the time of his death, W.J. Bullock’s name does appear on the War Memorial in Walton on Thames.
I would be pleased to get any suggestions for clarifications, corrections or missing place names.
When I find them, I'll post some pictures of the areas mentioned and the picture we have of him in uniform.
Edited by DickyC on Thursday 13th January 06:53
cazzer said:
What regiment was he in btw?
Northants from memory but I'll check. My grandfather volunteered in 1916 and went straight into the East Surreys. The organisation of the Labour Companies presumably was different to the fighting units but why my great grandfather didn't go into the East Surreys when he also lived in Walton, I don't know. There is very little written about the Labour Companies. I intend to learn more.
I was in my early forties when my uncle gave me the journal. As I began to transcribe it, and realised what he had gone through, the idea that Jesse Bullock had been called up at 39 was very sobering.
Smashed said:
Awesome, seriously thanks for this! I hope journals like this never get lost. Have you spoke to a museum about it?
I haven't, but I will. The best way I reckon would be to offer copies to the local museum in Walton and the regiment but send the original to The Imperial War Museum. There are things I'd never heard of. A camp for the cry babies? Officers were sent home and treated for mental breakdown but not so the rank and file by the look of it.
My plan is to do more research and possibly retrace his steps. I bought an image of an old postcard featuring Candas station last night from a French image company. I'll post it presently.
My grandfather, Frank, who I mentioned married Jesse's daughter after Jesse had died, joined up at eighteen. He and his cousin went to see the recruitment sargeant who had set up shop on the recreation ground in Walton. The sargeant took one look at them and invited to go for a walk round the field and come back when they were older. So they did and came back just ten minutes older. It wasn't what he meant but he signed them anyway. When Frank wasn't posted he sent home for his birth certificate to prove he was eighteen. To see the pictures of him as an eighteen year old recruit lost in his uniform with his baby face and to see him a couple of years later as a sargeant with two wound stripes, the difference is staggering. The things they saw, as Jesse makes clear, some of them would not have been able to bear.
His cousin Fred looked older and was posted. He fell asleep on guard duty one night, was court martialled and sentenced to be shot. His parents managed to get his birth certificate out to his unit in time to prove he was fifteen and under age. I don't know if he was dishonorably discharged but one way or another he survived and went on to be an undertaker.
My grandfather came back to find he had lost his position as an estate agent's clerk and followed his father and grandfather into becoming a carpenter. He spoke very little about the war; little to my uncle and even less to anyone else. For my brother and me he had a couple of funny stories. When we were older he said the only time he remembered his father swearing was when he told him he'd joined up. "You're a bloody fool, boy."
His cousin Fred looked older and was posted. He fell asleep on guard duty one night, was court martialled and sentenced to be shot. His parents managed to get his birth certificate out to his unit in time to prove he was fifteen and under age. I don't know if he was dishonorably discharged but one way or another he survived and went on to be an undertaker.
My grandfather came back to find he had lost his position as an estate agent's clerk and followed his father and grandfather into becoming a carpenter. He spoke very little about the war; little to my uncle and even less to anyone else. For my brother and me he had a couple of funny stories. When we were older he said the only time he remembered his father swearing was when he told him he'd joined up. "You're a bloody fool, boy."
My grandparents were too young and great granparents were all in africa during the war and I don't know if they were involved at all. My dad was in the border war in South Africa, 2 years national service, he will never ever speak about it to anyone. My gran told me before she died though that when he came back he was totally different, very quiet. Seems a lot of people don't want to talk about their experiences at war.
DickyC said:
My grandfather came back to find he had lost his position as an estate agent's clerk
I've often wondered about that. Many of the men called up would've been away for years, and in many cases called up from significantly better paid employment. How did their families manage?As far as I know, only one of my Great-grandfathers actually fought in the war. Both my maternal GGFs were farmers, so a protected profession, and I'm not sure about one of my paternal side. The other on my paternal side won either an MM or MC (as a warrant officer he was in theory eligible for either), but I know nothing more about him, and as he was in one of the Lancashire regiments with a very common Lancs surname, it's not easy to find out more.
My maternal grandfather's earliest memory (he was born in 1911) was of the vicar in their Shropshire village collapsing in the pulpit as he tried to read out the list of the dead. Every single young man who could've signed up from the village did so, all on the same day. They all died on the same day together too.
Our generation just doesn't know it's been born.
Kermit power said:
but I know nothing more about him, and as he was in one of the Lancashire regiments with a very common Lancs surname, it's not easy to find out more.
A day spent in the National Records Office in Kew will reveal so much. It is a fantastic place. Give it a go. Some of their records are on line, but I would urge anyone to go there in person.Opulent said:
Thanks Dicky, interesting, interesting stuff.
That's kind of you, Opulent. There's a bit extra for you on Jesse's home leave. Before the war he occasionally rented the bakery horse and cart at a nominal rent from his employer to take the family for a ride out into the country. In his journal entry he talks about walking. I wonder if the horse had been requisitioned for the war effort by that time. If you walk through along the linking corridor beneath the platforms at Waterloo there is a plaque commemorating the ladies who provided the food and drink for the soldiers. Jesse mentions Victoria, so I assume all the main terminals had similar arrangements. It's a interesting sign of those times that my great grandfather is so pleased to find it is free of charge.
On a related note, I was talking to a friend at the weekend, and his father had dug out a load of old photos, ranging from probably late-1800's through to the 1950's.
While some were interesting, such as a late-Victorian shepherd, complete with Captain Ahab beard, collie on a piece of rope, and fantastic old-school crook, others were simply macabre. There were photos taken from trenches in WW1, showing bodies and parts of bodies in various states, intermingled with photos of family members in their WW1 uniforms. Looking at them reminded me of the journal above, and the sheer horror people (on both sides) had to see.
While some were interesting, such as a late-Victorian shepherd, complete with Captain Ahab beard, collie on a piece of rope, and fantastic old-school crook, others were simply macabre. There were photos taken from trenches in WW1, showing bodies and parts of bodies in various states, intermingled with photos of family members in their WW1 uniforms. Looking at them reminded me of the journal above, and the sheer horror people (on both sides) had to see.
One of the many shocking and sobering things about the great war is the devastating loss of a generation.
This was brought back to me 20 odd years ago at my uncle's funeral. He was born in 1920, the funeral took place in his family church in the village where he was born and lived most of his life.
He had two Christian names. In the church there was a very large memorial to the fallen of both wars.
The memorial was more or less covered with his surname. His two Christian names were there, clearly he had been named after two uncles.
Back in 1918, this village can't have had more than 1,800 residents. The Great War memorial represented a huge chunk of that village's young male generation.
The tragedy was it all happened again 20 odd years later. The names on the 39-45 church memorial contained the names of my uncle's cousins - but luckily for him no brothers.
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