The Thirteenth Hussars in the Great WarDurand, H. Mortimer (Henry Mortimer)
History
The Thirteenth Hussars in the Great War
Durand, H. Mortimer (Henry Mortimer)
Great Britain. Army. Hussars, 13th; World War, 1914-1918 -- Regimental histories -- Great Britain
[Illustration: BILLETS AT WARNES. APRIL 1915.]
_Captain W. H. Eve--May 29._--“The British Cavalry are out [of the
trenches] now, came out last night, and I think, though am not quite
certain, that the 1st Division of this Corps has gone in. If this
is so, we may perhaps get our turn next. No one would choose trench
fighting, but there’s nothing else just at the present.
“Here we are just peace soldiering. ‘A’ squadron have their sports on
this afternoon and we have ours next week. ‘B’ squadron has gone off
to do Divisional Cavalry--chiefly orderly--duties to various Infantry
Divisions. I envy them, as it is a change, and they are nearer the
centre of things.”
_Lieutenant Chrystall--June 15._--“On Sunday last (June 13) I had the
honour of acting as Escort to the King of the Belgians when he reviewed
the Indian Cavalry here. It was quite a decent show for war-time.”
_Captain W. H. Eve--June 16._--“We have had rumours of a possible
move, but otherwise are carrying on as usual. Lovely weather, and we
are playing polo this evening, which is a great thing--having got some
sticks and balls out. We have got a Horse-Show (Cavalry Corps) on
Thursday 24th, which ought to be very good.”
_Lieutenant Watson Smyth--July 13._--I may have got the date wrong,
but the day is Sunday. As far as I can see, there is no likelihood of
our doing anything for a bit. The Regiment is digging trenches about
three miles in rear of the line; we go up for four days and then come
back for eight. In that eight we do exercise every day except one, when
there is a Brigade route-march.”
_Captain W. H. Eve--July 11._--“There is very little news from here,
as you will have gathered from the papers. Kitchener was out here and
came and inspected us last Thursday. He told us (what none of us knew
before) that his father was in the Regiment. We have been fairly busy,
and now have about seventy per cent of the men away trench-digging for
a week. Three of my officers and most of my men are gone--went up in
motor-buses yesterday, and with the few men left I have my work cut out
to exercise and look after the horses.”
_Lieutenant Watson Smyth--July 13._--We are now up at ----,--at least
seventy men and two officers per squadron are--digging the second-line
trenches. We are about 2000 yards from the Huns, and they can see us
nicely, thank you.... They shelled the second party yesterday and
killed two men of ‘D’ Squadron,[12] very bad luck, as they have shelled
the trenches lots of times before and never yet hit anybody. I had
fever all yesterday. I don’t know why I got it, but I’m all right
now....
“We go up in two parties; one goes up at 7 A.M. and digs from
8.30 to 12.30; the other goes up at 11 and digs from 12.30 to 4.30.
It is not very interesting work, but it is better to be up here than
back with the Regiment. There is only one man to about eight horses,
and the result is that every one is working all day getting the horses
exercised, fed, and rubbed over.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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