 |
D/DLI 2/7/18(84) Soldier 'Barney' McArdle, 7th Battalion, Durham Light
Infantry, playing the piano in a trench at Armentières, France, c.1915
|
The Durham Advertiser from 15 January 1915 reprints the letter of an
unnamed member of the Honourable Artillery Company, sent in by a Durham
lady. Written on New Year’s Day 1915, it
recounts the events of Christmas and then goes on to say:
“Last night they had a watch night service at the same place [in a
convent near to where they billeted], which was again crowded. I was awfully glad when I heard they were
having it, as I knew you would all be at St. John’s about the same time. When we came back, J--- and myself drank all
your healths in rum. We are served out
with this every night, and I tell you we are very glad to have it in the
trenches when one is frozen…
This evening we and some of another regiment are going to have a
concert, or more of a sing-song perhaps.
We are getting hold of a piano from somewhere. Some of the men in our company have very fine
voices, and it is a great treat to hear some really good songs again. We all enjoy these concerts no end, and hey
buck us up tremendously.”
No comments:
Post a Comment