1 In the Field 13.12.15 My Dear Father I have yours
of 29th questionable reading with enclosures
for which I thank you.
The second revolver holster
was for Maynard Sinclair
who will probably pay me
for it sometime when we
have a square up. I wont
bother about Acetylene
Lamps just at present
thanks. Carbide is the
difficulty & we are now
being issuedwith paraffin
for lamps. We have got quite
good cheap oil lamps, which
we carry about with us. I havent spent your £1 yet 2 as we got quite a lot of
candles both from Belfast
& from Govt. issue. The
fuel question is also adjusting itself. I got
your very welcome parcel
yesterday, containing
3 paper holders with at which
my Coy. Sergt. Major &
Coy. Q. Master Sergt were
delighted. They will come
in most useful. I am
I am writing this with the
fountain pen which is
a much appreciated Godsend. The handkerchiefs were
also most useful. I hunted
the whole parcel for a
note from you but came
to the conclusion that 3 that you must have forgotten to put it
in. I am in splendid health &
spirits. In fact I think I have put on
a little weight. We also appreciate
the galore copies of Punch which arrive
quite safely. I hope you read the
"At the Front" articles. They are
undoubtedly written by someone who
has been through it. They are quite
true as regards atmosphere and
detail. We scream over them. It
is the first thing we turn to. 4 Courtney Shillington had a
lucky escape. Men & Officers
have been lost since he was,
going to the same place on
patrol duty. Gaffihin's
Coy lost 3 men there
last time we were uo &
the 8th lost Stanley Hunter
there & all the patrol
except one Corporal, who
crawled back wounded. The Germans put the
notice about Courtney
Shillington's safety (nicely
framed) in a place
"tween lines" known as
the "Near Willows" at the
very certain risk of their
lives. The notice was found
attached to a willow tree 5 not more than 20 yards
from our WIRE. Plucky of them wasnt it?
This is the first fine day
we have had for weeks.
You dont quite realise what
that means to us. It means
that by working men until
they collapse, are tinkered
up again, & worked more
that we may get a little
ahead of the mud & water
in the trenches & make
g dugouts a little more
weatherproof & then when
you ahve done quite well
at it, you get shelled
the whole contraption
smashed up & start again. I have had more 6 trouble with drink. I had
another sergeant broken
by Field General Court
Martial and a Rifleman
sentenced to a lengthy
spell of Field Punishment
No !. This is not a
pleasant punishment.
Part of it is tying up
by the hands above the
head as high as they will
go (without injury to health)
for an hour in the morning
and another hour in the
evening, feet tied as well. While men are in the
trenches punishment
is suspended but begins
again as soon as we
come out again. I have 7 to see the men tied up. I have 12 at
present all for moderately trivial
offences. They dont look pretty on a
cold morning after they have had
about 3/4 hour. Incorrigibles
can be helped towards better ways by
placing their feet on a brick, tie up
hands as high as they will go &
then remove he brick for ten
minutes or so. One of mine was
quite cured this way. I can see
a German Aeroplane being shelled 8 from where I am sitting
writing this. They are
hard to hit. I havent seen
one brought down yet.
I have seen them staggered
but they always got back
safely. Over the drink troubles
I have taken the drastic
step of not paying the
Company. I warned them
first of course. Then they
two cases occurred & when next
pay day came neither
William nor the money
was there. I understand
they were stunned with
horror. They are now
blacklisting all the
doubtful boys with a 9 view to taking care of them
when within a mile of
drink. They have sent several
deputations to me with all
sorts of pathetic tales of
children at home being
disappointed at not receiving
Xmas presents etc. etc. etc.
But a Coy. Cmdr. in the field
would not keep his job long
if he weakened on tales like
that. They have done some
good work lately & so next
time we come out, I shall
parade the Coy. & rewarn
them & pay them. It is requested that none
of all this 'be communicated
to either press or public'. By the way I wonder 10 could you find me two
Aluminium cases for my
razors. They are so rusty
now that they are getting
positively dangerous to use Horace is in great form
He is father. I must close now as
we move again this
afternoon. Your affect son W. Montgomery 11 Harford H Montgomery
Monacherra
Malone Park
Belfast. JM Sinclair