Oxford
August 27, 1916
Dear People,
There is little to record since my last lengthy epistle, but that little will perhaps be on interest.
Thursday we were out at Wytham Park trench-digging. After lunch we were taken to a bit of fresh ground and practised "digging ourselves in " with our entrenching tools. The entrenching tool, as you perhaps know, consists of an iron portion shaped thus [small drawing] with a wooden handle, the iron part is carried in a leather or canvas pouch suspended from the back of the belt - the handle is carried at the side - strapped to the bayonet scabbard. To dig yourself in (under fire of course) you lie on your left side and scoop out a nice little grave according to your size and shaped like this [drawing], throwing the dirt out to the left front. You cover the dirt pile with the bits of turf you took out first which you layed on the right of the grave during digging; and in from 15 to 20 minutes, in good soil, you have a neat little trench into which you slump and are tolerably well protected from rifle fire, but not at all from shrapnel. You fire past the right side of your pile. The regular trench-digging is not done, I need hardly say, with such tools unless no others are available.
Friday afternoon we were down among the canals and railroads north of the stations doing outpost drill in the rain. I was detailed as one of a rations party, but as there no rations to fetch we were set to watch a stretch of the river, and made ourselves quite cosy and comfortable under the trees.
Yesterday I went down town after lunch then took a text-book and the Golden Treasury over to the park, selected a nice spot in the grass and lay with the wind blowing over me, and fed my soul on a row of poplars with their tops wind-bent across the sky till dinner-time. The books were unopened.
In the evening I went for a stroll with Bird - a nice English youngster - down through Christ church meadow and along by Folly bridge.
This morning I have been at church parade to St. Mary's; and this afternoon if it is fine, Murdoch and I go punting with the expectations of picking up some passengers at Mesopotamia.
So far so good. I occurs to me that I may pad this letter which ahs already developed surprisingly by appending out timetable for the past week, and for the coming week, which should give you a fair idea of how our working hours are spent.
Love to all,
Bun
Week ending August 26.
Monday
7.15 Run
9.30 Squad and rope drill
10.40 Physical training
11.45 Platoon drill
2.00 Musketry
3.00 Company drill
8.30 Study
Tuesday
7.15 Run
9.30 Extended order drill
10.30 Company drill
11.45 Lecture (Military Law)
2.10 Bayonet fighting
3.10 Musketry
8.30 Lecture (Organization)
Wednesday
7.00 Adjutant's Parade
9.30 Lecture (Outposts)
10.30 Miniature Range
11.40 Physical training
2.00 Squad and rope drill
3.00 Musketry
8.00 No parade
Thursday
7.15 Squad drill with arms
9.30 Lecture (Organization)
10.30 Entrenching
11.40 Physical training
2.00 Squad and rope drill
3.00 Musketry
8.00 Lecture on Great Offensive July 1 to 20th
Friday
7.15 Squad drill with arms
9.30 Lecture (Organization)
10.30 Company drill
11.45 Lecture (Posting piquets)
2.00 Outpost drill
8.30 Study
Saturday
7.15 Inspection of rifles
8.55m Parade for C.O.'s parade
10.30 Examination on Military Law
Week ending Sept. 2nd
Monday
7.15 Arms drill
9.30 Outpost
8.30 Lecture (Tactics)
Tuesday
7.15 Arms drill
8.30 Musketry
10.30 Study
11.40 Bayonet Fighting
2.00 Lecture (Field Engineering)
3.00 Platoon drill
8.30 Study
Wednesday
7.00 Adjutant's Parade
9.30 Lecture (Tactics)
10.40 Bayonet fighting
11.45 Musketry
2.00 Knotting
3.00 Company drill
8.30 No parade
Thursday
7.15 Extended order
9.30 Entrenching
8.30 Lecture (Tactics)
Friday
7.15 Run
9.30 Lecture (Tactics)
10.30 Musketry
11.45 Company drill
2.10 Bayonet fighting
3.00 Study
8.30 Study
Saturday
7.30 Inspection of rifles
8.55 C.O.'s parade
10.45 Kit inspection
11.30 Parade with map enlargements etc.
