Dear all at the cottage
I have been ill this week and am just about better now. I was delirious for about 24 hours thro’ being inoculated. Altho’ fully dressed even with shoes on and in bed with blankets and overcoat. I couldn’t keep warm. It is a good thing to be inoculated and I am quite well again and fever proof.
I am on bayonet fighting. It is fine. A rifle and bayonet is nearly as long as myself and very heavy. It is fine being an NCO. No more duty work, coal parade or washing floors.
Yesterday there were some sports here and I managed to get there although I felt really shaky. On Tuesday I couldn’t lift a cup of tea. The finest sight I have ever seen was 20 pipers and 10 drummers in full Seaforth uniform marching up and down the field with their sporrans and kilt flying, plaids etc and what a row they made! The pipes do stir the blood.
With best love Norman
July 11th 1915
Dear mother
I enclose a postcard of the prison here which I was in charge of from 9am Friday until 9am Saturday. I was Corporal of the Guard and had 3 privates with me (all been wounded in France). Each private has 2 hours on sentry-go for 24 hours. My job was to put in prison any drunken men who came in late and let in any motor-cars etc and change the sentries every 2 hours. I also saw that they were washed and shaved, and took them for a walk with two privates with fixed bayonets each side. At night I hadn’t to sleep of course and we are not allowed to remove our belts or bayonets. Yesterday I got another new kilt. You see I am a ‘pal’ of the Quarter Master and he got some fine kilts in with box pleats instead of the ordinary pleats, so I ‘swapped’ my ‘old’ one. It is much warmer and has about 7 yards of cloth in it. Did I tell you that I have a full English uniform as well as the highland one? I wear this on such things as coal fatigue or any rough work. It is surprising what a lot of trouble they take over our dress in war time.
Best love Norman
PS Monday. Will you please send me some strong disinfectant soap and some Keatings. Some of the chaps here are not clean. I am sending home my flannel to be washed and disinfected. I think I will send my washing home every week as it is not done properly here, just dipped in and out and it is always wet when we get it. Will you send my other flannel and two thin cotton shirts as they are far healthier and prevent ‘livestock’. I will send the shirts I have here in exchange for the cotton ones. If you can send me some stuff that will prevent and get rid of lice etc I will be much obliged as they are fairly common here. Norman.
‘Stirring the blood’. The pipes could quickly re-invigorate the step of tired men on the march.
Undated
Dear Bolton
I have just got word that I am to be Orderly Corporal for the rest of today. It is an awful job. I have to see that every one in ‘C’ Company gets his food, and I am the postman and have to deliver perhaps 100 or more letters and parcels…. The book on infantry is very useful; we are now doing a lot of extended order drill ‘skirmishing’ and we work by signals…. It is very interesting. We run a few yards then drop down flat on the ground and practise crawling for any little hollow in the ground. We drill behind the rifle range and are used to the ‘whine’ of the bullets. If a bullet misses the target it goes over our heads and they are sometimes uncomfortably near.
…..I wouldn’t advise you to join any of these Corps such as the Royal Army Medical Corps or Army Service Corps where eyesight tests are not needed. It is very rough work. We have clerks here who use typewriting, shorthand etc. We could do with a few ‘business men’ to look after the pay. They make an awful mess of it here. We get shillings stopped off our pay and no one has any idea why. We are supposed to get 1 shilling per day (private) and Lance Corporal 1/3 and yet I have usually got 6 shillings and sometimes 4 shillings a week.
Best love Norman.
PS 7.0pm just fed 204 men and delivered their letters, at 8.0 I have to look after their suppers.
Since last week we have got 4 meals a day instead of 3. It is a new order. We got a cup of coffee and some cheese. The cheese is well trained. If you shout ‘quick march’ it walks off the table!
We have got our full kit. It weighs about 90lbs with the rifle. There’s a valise in which we carry overcoat, tommy tins, knife and fork, spoon, 2 shirts, 2 pairs socks, boots, shoes etc, a haversack at one side for food etc, 2 big pouches for 150 rounds of ammunition, one each side, a trenching tool for digging ourselves in if wounded, bayonet and case, water bottle etc and rifle. It is like harnessing a horse to dress. We do not take blankets to France, just sleep on the ground. Ta ta Norman
22-7-15 Thursday 9.45am
Dear Bolton
Yesterday our battalion marched to Nairn and back with full kit. You will see it on the map. We set off at 9.15am and arrived at 12.15. Then we had a pie and a bottle of lemonade and half an hour’s rest and marched back at 4.30pm. I was rather unlucky for I was in charge of the A.S.C. guard that night (about a mile away from the Fort) and so had just time for something to eat and a wash then on duty again at 6.30 until 8am this morning. We go on guard with full kit (including rifle and bayonet). There are 3 men in our room off parade with bad feet after the march. The first lieutenant of our company has just been enquiring how I feel after a long march and 13 hours’ duty immediately after.
Well, about getting a commission. On Monday our C.O. called me out on parade and we had a long talk. He asked where I had been educated, what my trade was and if I was old enough to take up a commission. He said he could see that I was different to the other recruits and complimented me on the neatness of some reports that I had written for him. He said that I was a d[amned]fool for enlisting as a private as I was not in my right place in the ranks. He only had 7 weeks’ training before going to the front and he told me all about how to get a commission and the cost of everything. I promised him I would apply for one and he told me to hurry up about it. The Government allowance is £50 and in an English regiment the kit only costs from £20 to £30. In a Highland regiment it costs about £50 so he advised me to try the Durham Light Infantry or the Royal Field Artillery or the Royal Garrison Artillery.
I have written to Uncle Tom about it and have asked him to obtain the names of the COs of any of the Durham or Yorkshire Territorials. Next to a Highland Regiment I prefer a Cavalry, Yeomanry or Royal Field Artillery. I will be sorry to say goodbye to the kilt though. With my engineering and Technical College training I ought to get on well in the R.F.A.
Preparing for physical training or ‘Swedish Drill’ as it was known.
In a fortnight’s time ‘A’ Company leaves for France. They have only had 11 weeks to 16 weeks’ training and have had no leave. Before going they will get 4 days. ‘C’ Company goes either the last week in August or early in September. (I asked the C.O.).
We have had our bonny red and white stockings taken away and been given khaki ones. In the trenches we pull them up above the knee at night. They are very long. The tartan kilt is hidden by a khaki apron and the cap by a khaki cover. The reason we go out so quickly is because the 4th Seaforths have only about 300 men at the front out of about 1,500.
I am quite content here as an N.C.O. tho’ it would be much better as an officer. As far as education goes I am sure I will do. I am good at mathematics, algebra, trigonometry, writing etc. There are several second lieutenants that I know who haven’t had much education. Some of the N.C.O.s here who have applied could not write the application form out.
I think a person who has roughed it as a private makes a better officer and understands the men better than one straight from school. The Highland training is very good too. We have been thro’ everything practically while the majority of Kitchener’s army know nothing of rifle drill or bayonet fighting. Thank you for the paper.
Nairn: ‘Brighton of the north’ according to Norman.
The man that took my photo knew nothing about it when I went for it, so I had them taken again on Sunday. They will be ready today but I will get them tomorrow when I get paid and
will send them straight away. There are no professional photographers within 12 miles of here so I don’t suppose they will be very good.
I will close now… Best love to all. Norman.
Tuesday
Dear all
…We have to be very careful about changing our shirts at least once a week, as with sweating every day a peculiar kind of ‘livestock’ develops if a person wears the same underclothing for a fortnight. I have a bath twice a week. At the front all the officers and men are infested with millions of creepers and it’s impossible to keep clear of them.
An order came out yesterday that everyone must grow a moustache. If we shave our upper lip we will get Guard-room! I hope you’ll recognise me when I return.
Best love Norman
Sunday 10.00am
Dear mother
….I was at Inverness yesterday for about two hours (5pm to 7pm) had a good tea in a café and bought a few presents.
There are some lovely tartan novelties here and I could spend pounds on them. I had a look in the ‘Clan-Tartan Warehouse’ and it looks very novel to one who isn’t used to seeing kilts, tartan bonnets, sporrans etc instead of trousers and bowlers.
I hope you will like the socks, Bolton, they are the real Mackenzie (Seaforth) tartan. The Seaforths are composed of several clans, Mckrays, Urquharts, Mackenzie, Mcleans, Macdonalds etc and the Mackenzie tartan was chosen as the Regimental tartan. Collins is a real scotch name (Edinburgh district) and Norman is real Highland.
I would like to spend six months’ holiday touring the Highlands. There are reindeer, wild-cats, Golden eagles etc in the woods.
With best love Norman
Nairn Sat 6.30pm
Dear all
I am having an afternoon’s holiday here. This is a bonny place and is called ‘the Brighton of the north’ as it is a popular health resort for the English visitors (you see I am seeing the world free of charge).
I have just seen our draft away to France. It is the first from ‘C’ Company. A lot of my chums have gone and a lot more just had six weeks’ training. They had the trains chalked with notices such as ‘First stop Berlin’. When an officer goes to the Front he wears the same equipment as a private and carries a rifle and bayonet but not sword or leather belt.
…It is wonderful how fit we keep as if our clothes are wet we let them dry on us and after washing anything we sleep on it. This is the correct way in the army! It was three months yesterday since I last slept in a bed.
I am writing in a ‘working men’s club’ paper, pen, envelope free. Scotch people are the best I have ever met. When we are marching through woods we often see old women of about 80 gathering wood. Some try to dance to the time of the pipes and some start to weep. They do look picturesque though with their tartan shawls.
Sunday 1pm (still at Nairn). We decided to stay overnight here and so were recommended to go to a Temperance Hotel by the ladies who look after this Club. It was fine to sleep in a bed again and have our shoes brushed for us and have ham and eggs for breakfast. My chum (Jock Macgregor) was inoculated on Friday as he is going to France in a fortnight’s time and so we are having a week-end together. I have just have been introduced to a lady called Thompson from Sutherland. Her brother works in the National Provincial Bank at Hartlepool and was in the house next to the one in which the Salvation Army Captain was killed during the bombardment. I happened to have a photograph of the very house with me. [Ed. see page 19 bottom] This was a curious co-incidence meeting each other so far north. …Could you send me a set of views of the bombardment as people are very interested about it here.
With best love Norman
Sunday Fort George
Dear all
I’ve had a very quiet weekend, just eating and sleeping. The life seems to suit me as I now weigh 10st 81bs in uniform and that belt you sent when I first joined won’t go around my waist. I haven’t grown any taller but have the thickest leg in ‘C’ Company and am the youngest.
All the men who joined when I did go on furlough on Tuesday for a week as they have fired their Trained Man’s Course. I am not entitled to one as I was kept back to drill recruits. They all go to the Front when they come off leave. We have 35 officers in the battalion and there are only about 500 men left. When I joined we had only about 6 officers. There are about 6 applications for commissions waiting to be signed by the C.O. mine amongst them. I am quite content as I am at present as I am learning a lot and often act as a subaltern in command of a platoon. When I get a commission I will know my job thoroughly. It is amusing to see the new officers try and drill a squad. They are very nervous and many a time I give them a hint what to do. They are decent fellows though; that is the majority…
We have an old reprobate in our room, an old soldier of about 55, one John Stubbs. We dress him carefully on a Saturday and he goes off to the village of Inverness for the day. At night he comes rolling in and we undress him and put him to bed, fill his pipe and light it and keep him quiet so that he doesn’t get guard room. He can drink 12 pints of beer without rolling at all.
Yesterday I was forced to put a man in the guard-room for insubordination. It isn’t a nice job but had to be done as an army is no use without discipline. He will be tried tomorrow.
With best love, Norman
Monday, another draft picked today of 60 men to go out on Wednesday, as they are needed urgently. If I had had my leave I would have had to go. Been bayonet fighting today. Sticking sacks.
Monday Fort George
Dear all
….Did I tell you of the burglaries? About six weeks ago there were watches, pocket books, razors, belts, money, and dozens of articles to the value of about £30 missing. The chap that sleeps next to me had a pocket book taken out of his box. One morning a chap was seen walking on the sea shore outside the Fort, with a jam tin in his hand and was arrested for being off parade. The tin was full of watches, jewellery etc the spoil of the day’s raid. His box was full of stolen articles and also a hoard was discovered under the floor in his room. He was sentenced to about four months’ hard labour and discharged from the service. I think he got off very easily.
A fortnight ago a young Irishman of about 18 years (in our room) deserted but was caught about 40 miles past Inverness. He meant to walk to Ireland over the Grampian Mountains. He would probably have lost his way and not been heard of again if he hadn’t been captured, or perhaps become a hermit and let his hair grow.
I will be about the oldest trained soldier when we move as the rest have gone or are going to France.
With best love, Norman
Tuesday
…A draft went last week and another goes August 14. Today the draft was chosen for September. We commence the musketry exam on Monday so I will try for the last week in August at home. …I was at Inverness on Saturday afternoon at some sports. Uncle Tom is sending me a note from Colonel Robson to show the C.O. when I get my form signed. The Royal Engineers unit is up to full strength so I will try for the infantry as I am trained for that.
In three weeks’ time I will have passed through the full course of training and be a ‘trained soldier’. I think we are to get the new style of short rifle. Up to now the Seaforths have fought with the old Lee-Enfield with the short bayonet.
Best love, Norman
12/9/15 Fort George 15th Week
Sunday 9.30am
Dear all
This week we have had lovely weather. I was glad to hear that the Zeps hadn’t been to Hartlepool. I thought they had as London Opinion, John Bull etc didn’t arrive. Every week these papers have come punctual to the minute. All the June and part of the July recruits are on furlough this week as they go to France next week. I am amongst the dozen who are left. Yesterday I turned the scale at 11 stone, in the kilt, so you see I am not wasting away with hard training. Those stories about the British Army being badly fed are not true, at least they do not apply to Highland regiments. …I was made a full corporal but when it was known that I have an applicat
ion for a commission in, it was taken from me….. We are getting a lot of Zeppelin alarms for practice. It is usually when we have gone to sleep and are very unwilling to turn out of bed. The bugles sound the alarm and in three minutes we are lined up and marched on to the parade ground. Then the whole battalion and also the regulars are marched out of the Fort through the main gate (about 6 feet wide) and onto the common where we scatter and lie down on our faces. Of course we always had the usual fire alarms but were not marched outside the Fort. We have often been turned out in the pouring rain at 12 midnight.
Best love, Norman
Sunday 19/9/15
Dear all
I wrote on the Monday morning and meant to post it but I wasn’t very well and had to go to the hospital. I think it is with drinking bad water, as my throat was black. All last week my temperature was buzzing about 103° but today I am about normal and go on solid food tomorrow. I’ve had milk and soda last week and couldn’t swallow and at present am very hungry. When I get a leave home I will only get about an hour’s notice so may only be able to give you the same notice, so have all the grub ready. The dinner I am looking forward to is: rabbit pie with ham and eggs in and plenty of brown crust and mashed potatoes. I haven’t seen a peeled or mashed potato since I became a Seaforth. Our cooks spoil the food. I’ve seen 40 or 50 cabbages thrown away by the men as they were served up raw and stores of ham and meat thrown away half raw. Luckily I have good teeth and can handle most things. The quality of the food is the best possible but we have amateur men cooks.
There is a possibility of me getting about three days’ leave after being ill so don’t be surprised if I am sitting on the step when you come back from gathering firewood.
Best love, Norman
Editor: It is clear from the following letter that Norman was given home leave, although if he received just the three days he was predicting, he could barely have arrived home for more than a few hours before undertaking the long journey back to Fort George.
Last Man Standing Page 5
