Monday 30th August 1915

Nort-Leulinghem

The Battalion remained in billets, with a few route marches began undertaken over the next few days.

Sgt. Henry Herbert Calvert (see 27^th September 1914) was placed under arrest awaiting trial by Field General Court Martial on a charge of drunkenness; the trial would be held on 4^th September and Sgt. Calvert would be found guilty and ordered to be reduced to the rank of Corporal.

The day’s activities were described by Lt. Robert Stewart Skinner Ingram (see 29^th  August) in a  letter to his mother, some of it again couched in the ‘Franglais’ which had been adopted by he and his fellow officers.

30th Aug. 1915

In the billets

France

6pm

My darling

No news but I’m merely writing because I know you’ll want to hear as often as poss. This morning a 15 km march and in the early afternoon respirator and periscope drill. And then I took the Company scouts out for an hour or so on our own. The weather has broken mon pere. Yesterday it poured all day, nous annoyed il fait encore tres bien temps.

By yesterday’s post I got my first letter overseas, an excellent one from Mrs. Wilson, kindly readdressed by Maud. In future, the Brigade and Division is not necessary, just 10th Battalion, the Duke of Wellington’s. Our Battalion interpreter is a splendid old boy. A master at Winchester till war broke out (a good chance for Maud to bring out her usual remark on such occasions).

I’m sitting writing in the kitchen of the farmhouse. We use it as our ante-room, although shared by Madame and 2 howling children and a little girl aged 9 who seems to work from morning till night when looking after the 2 younger ones or doing house work. I wonder if The Times might be sent out to me daily? All the other English papers we can get a day late.

Tom will be with you now I expect. It must be excellent being able to talk to him for more than about 2 minutes. Always before he’s had to rush away again in 2 or 3 days.

With much love to Father and the family

Your ever loving son

Robert

The mention of ‘Mrs. Wilson’ refers to the mother of Ingram’s friend from Harrow, 2Lt. Laurence Cecil Wilson, who had died of wounds (see 12^th August).  ‘Maud’ was Ingram’s sister and ‘Tom’ his brother, serving with the RAMC.