This is part of a writing exercise for a course I am doing. It's looking at the effects of WWI on my ancestors
It’ll
be over by Christmas
"Well that’ll do us no good he said, flinging
the newspaper down onto the table. No good at all."
"Ere, lookout that’s all my nice clean
washing you’re muckying up."
"Never mind your washing Mother there’s
gonna be a lot a things more muckyed up than just your clean washing".
"What’s it say now then, them papers is full
of all sorts of rubbish these days, never know what to fink anymore."
"Well she said," turning to look at her husband, "you gonna tell me what it ses
I aint no mind reader you know."
Daily Mail June 29 1914.
Murder of The Austrian Heir and His Wife.
We regret to state that the Archduke Francis Ferdinand,
the heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, and his morganic wife, The Duchess of
Hohenberg were assassinated yesterday.
On
the first of August 1914 Germany declared war on Russia then on the third of
August it declared war on France. Germany’s demand of unrestricted access
through Belgium, so that it could invade France was refused. The Belgian
government looked to Britain for support. Britain chose to honour the entente cordiale it had signed in 1839,
and when Germany ignored warnings not to set foot in Belgium Britain declared
war on Germany it was Wednesday August 4th 1914.
To many
it must have seemed an exciting time, and when the government asked for 100,000
men more than 750,000 eager men answered
the call in just one month.
“I
just don’t want to miss anything Florrie” he said swinging her around excitedly
“Look” he
said proudly pointing to the muscles on his arms, “…it’s gonna be good strong men like me that win the war. It’ll be all
over by Christmas just you see if it aint.”
“…and besides, my country needs me”. His parodying of the
words of the recruitment posters that were everywhere did nothing make her feel
any better.
“Aw c’mon Florrie gel, all the blokes are
off to enlist and I’m not gonna be left behind a wishing I had gone too”
George’s
laughter died as he looked into her eyes ‘Ah Florrie girl you’re the love of me life
you know that ’ then taking her hand in his, he dropped to one knee ‘Marry me Florrie…say yes…please say yes’
He enlisted on September 21st 1914 just a
couple of weeks after his 24th birthday. George and Florence were
married that October.
The
following are extracts from the regimental diary of the 11th Essex
regiment
21/8/1915: About 12 noon received confidential
instructions from 71st Brigade to commence mobilisation with orders for a probable
move to France in about a week…during this time the battalion was having four
days leave at 15% at a time. This was curtailed to 48 hours.
23/8/1915: Battalion spent the day at Cobham Common and
a lot of the night digging and improving of trenches was continued
26/8/1915: Battalion marched to Cobham Common, 200
strong and filled in the trenches previously made.
28/8/1915: A party consisting of 103 men, transport and
horses left at 6pm for Southampton.
30/8/1915: The Battalion less the other party that left
on the 28th, entrained at Brimley Station, 26 officers and 839 other
ranks…left for Folkestone, then by transport to Boulogne. Moved to Ostrohove
rest camp arriving at about 2pm 30/31 August.
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