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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

Sgt. Thomas William Chisholm

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About this blog

My Diary leading up to my capture 27th May 1918 during the Battle of Aisne and subsequently as a POW at Giessen, Darmstadt, and Lamsdorf camps, until my release 1st January 1919.

Entries in this blog

6th - 30th June 1918 Darmstadt POW, it's glories and a Field Post Card to send.

Thursday 6th June 1918 to App 20th June 1917   Huts were built close together and were fitted out with wooden bunks of two tiers to accommodate four to six men, however the hut that I happened to be put into was already overcrowded, and men were crammed between the bunks on the floor, even some were underneath to get out of the way. In the centre was a large cooking range similar to those used in large houses, but it was of little use, as to a lack of fuel it could not be used exce

Sgt Thomas William Chisholm

Sgt Thomas William Chisholm

5th & 6th June 1918 Darnstadt POW and A Red Nosed Sergeant.

Wednesday 5th June 1918   The morning came as any fine morning could be expected to do, beautifully warm and sunny and breakfast over we settled into groups to talk over past events and what was likely to happen in the near future.   About 10am in came a sergeant and called out six names and took the men away along a corridor. Why, we had no idea, as they never came back that way, so we just had to sit and await our turn.   It didn’t come that day and th

Sgt Thomas William Chisholm

Sgt Thomas William Chisholm

4th June 1918 and onwards to Darmstadt POW.

Tuesday 4th June 1918                           Another Move   Up and about by 5am after a meal of what was called breakfast composed of soup of a dark brown colour in which was floating a few grains of burnt barley. We didn’t want much of this as it tasted so bitter and our guards called it coffee, never the less it had to go down with a portion of black bread.   After this we fell in and were counted, the roll called and finally marched off to the rail

Sgt Thomas William Chisholm

Sgt Thomas William Chisholm

2nd & 3rd June we're marched onto Giessen POW Camp

Sunday 2nd June 1918   The day passed without event, and on the night all that could be seen or heard, was the sentries feet and the figures of the guards moving along the stone coping round the top of our prison, and the groups of prisoners down below, on their damp cold ground beds, talking about anything that seemed to come into their heads.   Some talked of home and what their people would have to say when they heard of their sons or fathers plight. Others grumble

Sgt Thomas William Chisholm

Sgt Thomas William Chisholm

1st June on the march again this time to Fort Hirson.

Saturday 1st June 1918   Up at 4am and partaking of coffee and black bread we marched off again, this time under the charge of a guard of stalwart but rather old Prussian Guards mounted on very pristine horses who continued to trot backwards and forwards along the column keeping a very sharp eye on all that happened.   Getting on for about noon this day, the column were passing through a series of small villages, and by this time, we were again in no fit state to marc

Sgt Thomas William Chisholm

Sgt Thomas William Chisholm

28th May the march to Lislet and a couple of days there.

Wednesday 28th May 1918   At 5:30am the rouse came again, and with another drink of flour and water we were turned into a large field just over the other side of the hill. When this was done Fred 1 said ‘I wonder what they are going to do now Bill.’ ‘God knows, and he won’t split.’ say I.   So sitting for a short while we watched Jerry’s movements, until Fred 1 said ‘Billy if you want to keep anything you value get it smuggled quick because they are searching every ma

Sgt Thomas William Chisholm

Sgt Thomas William Chisholm

The battle behind us, the road ahead and so ends my first day of captivity.

One incident which happened goes to prove some of the almost unbelievable atrocities which the enemy committed during the war and a few of our boys being almost in the rear of the column witnessed it without being able to give a helping hand so just had to bear it and keep moving.   It was when their Red Cross men were coming over the ground passing our killed and wounded and not offering to give a hand to relieve their sufferings in the least. (I might mention before going any fur

Sgt Thomas William Chisholm

Sgt Thomas William Chisholm

The Battle of Aisne, my capture, 27th May and march off.

27th May 1918   There were very few casualties considering the shell fire, but the main part had been dumped on the front and support lines, the wind blowing gently from the direction of the enemy lines reeked of powder and the sickly tang of gas.   By this time about 3am our gas masks were in a bad state, the glasses were dimmed with perspiration and the waterproof bag covering was sticking to our faces and very wet, but we dare not move them owing to the  risk of ge

Sgt Thomas William Chisholm

Sgt Thomas William Chisholm

Leading up to the battle of Aisne 5th May - 26th May 1918

Sgt. Thomas William Chisholm (POW), Giessen, Darmstadt, Lager 3A, Barrack 126, Lamsdorf O/Sch., Germany. The Sgt wrote:   Somewhere in the vicinity of the 5th May 1918, I with many others was chosen to go in advance as assistants to our G.Q.M.S. (Company Quarter Master Sergeant). We were supplied with service bicycles which are the most unwieldy article in the service, together with F.M.O and rifles, and extra rations to last us about two days, with orders to meet

Sgt Thomas William Chisholm

Sgt Thomas William Chisholm

Thursday 2nd January 1919 - Awake with a bump, breakfast and bad news.

Thursday 2nd January 1919   I was just semi conscious when I was rudely awakened by a bump from under my hammock, and I found myself in the arms of three marines, who could hardly keep hold of me for laughing, they said that was the way they treated all sleepy heads in the navy but they allowed the culprit tom fall onto the deck, so they put me down. I proceeded to dress and get ready for breakfast which consisted of real bacon, real eggs and we had not seen an egg for nearly
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