Prvt. Charlie Dumsday, of Crawley,
sends us a letter from the Front, dated 12th inst. After referring
to his passage over, Prvt. Dumsday says: “We marched to a rest camp in Rouen, which we left in the following morning, for the
station, and where we entrained and travelled, via Amines, to Valenciennes. We then marched through Baray
to Mons, where
we found the British troops in action. Our ambulance and bearers left us to
collect the wounded, the remainder of us having to retire. We found the
dressing station just cooking dinner. We were expecting a good meal, when, just
as it was served up, the order came for us to retire, as the Germans were upon
us, so we were done out of our dinner. You may be sure there were very nasty
remarks made about the Germans for that.
We retired again through Baray and saw a German Taube
brought down, after a good deal of maxim and rifle fire at it. We still had to
retire, marching day and night. We wondered why we were doing so at all, but the
infantry could tell a tale, as they lost heavily, according to the reports we
heard; but after the stragglers had been collected the losses were not so heavy
as had first been the story. We halted for the night, but at dawn the next
morning the Germans were on us again and we had to march off pretty quickly.
Heavy firing was going on behind us. We saw a fight in the air that day, when
one of our aviators brought down a Taube. The German Taube machine has curved
back wings and looked exactly like a hawk after a swallow, but never really got
above it. We heard a shot and the Taube staggered and glided down, when the
wounded aviator was captured. It was a wonderful sight and looked like to great
birds.
We marched on all day and about 4pm heard heavy firing and
saw shrapnel. We thought it was a small cavalry action, but it soon developed
into something worse, for the cavalry began to come in. We were very near the
end of the column which had just passed through. We rattled along and
afterwards had a meal and slept the night on the pavement. It was only an hours
sleep, but the pavement was hard – like a feather bed, I don’t think.
Next morning we were told the Germans were on us again.
Their high explosive shells make a fearful noise, one cannot imagine what it is
like, but their bark is worse than their bite, I think. I am quite well and all
the boys with me. I am hoping to see some Crawley
boys before long. We have a few prisoners at times and they say ‘why don’t you
give up? You know you are beat.’ That is what they think, but I don’t. We’ve
got a few men this side yet and some more coming up. I am sorry I can’t say no
more about the war; I don’t dare. The north of France is very cold yet. Well, I
want to thank the ladies of Crawley for their
parcel. It was indeed very nice of you. We all had a taste – the best cake out
here yet from Crawley. So I must say goodbye
to all at Crawley for this time. Hope to be
home soon.”
