Not This Hell of Strife
OK, stick with me as we travel together the rocky road of creativity (or at least documentation). I will try to do periodic updates of my progress in writing my book which is largely based on the 80 or so letters my grandfather wrote back to his wife in 1916/1917 from the UK. I have at least got the title for the book, I think.
Here is my draft front and back pages for the book:
Front cover:
NOT
THIS
HELL
OF
STRIFE
The WW1 letters of Thomas Kermode
Bombing Instructor
1916 - 1917
[insert image here - re bombing school, Hurdcott - see next bit of blog by me ...]
Back cover:
"Not this hell of strife & bullying & perpetual alarms. Nothing secure, nothing stable. Violence tonight, the whole week long, & month after month of it. Bayonet & bomb & bullet. All desperate murder & killing till it becomes sickening."
So writes Thomas Kermode on 12 December 1916 as his inner struggle intensifies and he hardens his resolve to find a way back home to wife and kiddies. Amidst the uncertainty of his fate, Thomas's stands firm and ultimately triumphs. But is it really a triumph? Was Thomas Kermode, DCM & King's Corporal in the Boer War, a hero or a coward in WW1? Or, like all of us, a bit of both? As you read Thomas's story, you will form you own view. We could never know the truth, not even if we were Thomas himself. This book takes us as close as we ever could be to standing in his muddy boots on Salisbury Plain, retrieving an unexploded grenade.
In some 80 letters Thomas records events and his emotional rollercoaster experiences literally (at times) as they happen. The camaraderie, the grind, the pride, the disillusionment, the spirit, the apprehension, the awe, the anger, the guilt, the longing, the "grin and bear it" determination, the heartache, the humour. And much more. Thomas's WW1 experience was unlike most other participants. His war was within himself and against the army system.
The book is often in subject order using Thomas's own words. The letters are published complete as an appendix.
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And here is my draft of the first chapter:
NOT THIS HELL OF STRIFE
by Ed Kermode
Chapter One
Introduction: This book tells a simple story. Yet it has layer upon layer of complexity to it. The main character is Thomas Kermode, my grandfather. The book is based largely on the letters he wrote home in 1916 and 1917.
Here is the sequence of events, in broadest terms:
Decorated Boer War veteran enlists and leaves for the UK
He regrets it almost immediately
Despite some early positive experiences
The situation deteriorates for various reasons
He inwardly rebels against the army
He loses his sergeants stripes and extra duty pay over a trivial matter
As a result, he openly rebels against the army
He succeeds in efforts to be classified Ciii (unfit for duty)
This occurs only after a period of great uncertainty, worry and stress
He returns home to South Australia as an AMC (Army Medical Corps) personnel on troopship/hospital ship Pakeha
Decorated Boer War Veteran enlists and leaves for the UK
Thomas Kermode (born 29 March 1879) was a young man and single when he fought in the Boer War. He enlisted in Adelaide, South Australia as Trooper Kermode of the 5th IBC (Imperial Bushmen's Contingent) with army number 495 (as per the Australian War Memorial Nominal Roll).
[insert photo here with caption "Corporal Thomas Kermode (photo taken in 1902 on return from South Africa)"]
He fought in various engagements including at Graspan - Reitz (6th June 1901) and at Grootvlei Farm (1st/2nd August 1901, where he was awarded a DCM and was promoted in the field to King's Corporal. The citation for the DCM reads as follows: "South Australian Mounted Inf. --- 495 Trpr T. Kermode (promoted Corpl.); for conspicuous gallantry in attack on Grootvlei, Aug. 1; he was first man into the farm and bayonetted the first man, and although wounded in three places, continued to fight" - London Gazette: 10 September 1901; page 5980, position 2. He was also mentioned in despatches - London Gazette: 15 November 1901; page 7384, position 1.
He returned to civilian life in rural South Australia and at the time of enlistment for WW1 he was married with three young children and owned a farm at Pyap, near Loxton. Enlistment was at Mitcham (check this) on 4 February 1916 (attestation date). Army Service No. 3581. Rank Acting Sergeant. Unit: 8th reinforcement/32nd Battalion AIF. Thomas was 36 yrs and 10 months old. He stood 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighed about 14 stone. He trained at Mitcham Camp (eastern suburb of Adelaide City) until embarkation at Adelaide on 12 August 1916, some 6 months.
Mitcham training etc (passing mention of, in his letters):
8/9/1916 Ballarat (ship) - Orderly Sergt on a troopship is something similar to what I had to do at Mitcham.
22/9/1916 Ballarat (ship) - I miss the taste of the food at home. Mitcham camp was tasteless enough …
1/10/1916 Codford No. 13 Camp - A very intense system is in vogue & men are made soldiers, not by playing like we did at Mitcham.
8/10/1916 Codford Camp - Many men are paraded for things overlooked at Mitcham.
18/10/1916 Codford Camp - but all the same, Mitcham education is not to be despised.
20/10/1916 Codford No. 13 Camp - We still are pursuing our studies. It is almost like the N.C.O. school at Mitcham again
1/11/1916 Codford Camp - We cannot escape like I used to at Mitcham
3/11/1916 Codford Camp - All the subjects taught at Mitcham were very good & they certainly don't do any better here.
3/11/1916 Codford No. 13 Camp - Saluting & coming to attention is smarter but anything else is the same.
3/11/1916 Codford No. 13 Camp - It (Sgt's position) is several times worse than Mitcham for fighting for place.
13/12/1916 Hurdcott - Nobody goes for trips to Adelaide in the Mitcham electric car & char-a-bancs.
28/12/1916 Hurdcott - I am orderly sergt today, tho' it is nothing so easy as Mitcham
30/12/1916 Hurdcott - (re discipline and winning respect of the men) although it was tough going at Mitcham & on the boat it won at last & they highly loved me.
8/4/1917 Fovant Hospital - Huts built like those we had at Mitcham, only with sides & windows
4/8/1917 Hurdcott - I am still wearing the same hat that I did in Mitcham
Embarkation:
20/09/1916 (on the Ballarat) Your face was Oh so sad the last I saw of it, at the Outer Harbor. You realized then, my dear, what was happening. You were blanched with loneliness & tears were hanging like a cloud in your eyes.
13/07/1917 Hurdcott It will be 12 months next month since I last saw you at the Outer Harbour & waving that doll & big tears in your eyes. I saw you until the crowd became one blur & could see you no more. That was a long while ago.
[That's it, so far - what do you think? By the way, I have entered all the letters onto a database, over 4,000 records. An awful long way to go before the whole story is told in Thomas's and/or my words.]
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And here is a snippet of some of the subjects recorded in that database:
Attitude - figuring out ways of getting home again
attitude - patriotism subjugated, this is the only chance of return home
attitude - to entertainers
attitude - to entertainers (reminds Thomas of May and home)
Attitude compared with Boer War
Attitude pessimistic
Attitude positive/philosophical
Attitude positive/philosophical/hopeful
Attitude re Germans in Australia voting on conscription
Attitude to African natives
Attitude to army discipline
Attitude to army discipline etc - pride dealt a blow as private
Attitude to army lectures/orders
Attitude to being at
Attitude to Belgians
Attitude to censors reading his letters to May
Attitude to chances of avoiding France
Attitude to chances of return home
Attitude to chances of return home - first mention of Weymouth
Attitude to chances of return home - to go to Weymouth in two days time
Attitude to christianity
Attitude to civilian men who have not enlisted
Attitude to conscription
Attitude to courage of nations involved in the war
Attitude to death
Attitude to discipline etc
Attitude to England
Attitude to England compared with Australia
Attitude to English & Australians, hostile
Attitude to English upper class
Attitude to English women
Attitude to enlisting
Attitude to enlisting - origional feeling/reason to do so still with him
Attitude to excess
Attitude to farm if not sold
Attitude to farm life wheat etc
Attitude to French/France
Attitude to future
Attitude to German neighbours
Attitude to Germans in Australia who have not enlisted
Attitude to Germany
Attitude to Germany U-boats
Attitude to his situation
Attitude to his situation - a "self-putdown"? &/or signifying a change in his perception of self and his situation? IMP?
Attitude to his situation - could make a go of it if May were here with him
Attitude to his situation - leaving Hurdcott
Attitude to his situation - leaving UK etc
Attitude to his situation - pleased at own decision not to have operation
Attitude to his situation - predicts will be home for Christmas dinner
Attitude to his situation - professes to not feel guilty in going home to Australia
Attitude to his situation - raring to go, after spell at Tidworth & in Fovant hospital
attitude to his situation - reasons why he should NOT stay
Attitude to his situation - reasons why he should NOT stay, sop to conscience
Attitude to his situation - reasons why he should stay
Attitude to his situation - states preference for France but knows that is unlikely
Attitude to his situation - still uncertain
Attitude to his situation - strategy/actions were so Thomas could get home sooner to May & kids
Attitude to his situation - works the system
Attitude to home life, etc
Attitude to home life, etc
Attitude to his age.
Attitude to horses
Attitude to hospital
Attitude to Irish
Attitude to legal protection/agreements
Attitude to marrying May
Attitude to May's letterwriting
Attitude to meeting up with
Attitude to money
Attitude to news that May helped by neighbours
Attitude to officers
Attitude to process of getting back home
Attitude to process of getting back home - settled and "in control"
Attitude to process of getting back home - undecided but "in control"
Attitude to prostitutes
Attitude to rank & file
Attitude to rumours
Attitude to smoking
Attitude to the sea
Attitude to theft and profiteering
Attitude to Thomas K
Attitude to Thomas K & vice versa
Attitude to time-wasting
Attitude to troops in France
Attitude to unmarried troops' situation
Attitude to VD
Attitude to war - determined
Attitude to war - did not matter who started it
Attitude to war
Attitude to wheat growing
Attitude to women
Attitude to work
Attitude to work dodging &seeking warmth
Attitude to, by British
Attitude towards
Attitude towards coalminers, wharf-lumpers, etc
Attitude/response to May's letterwriting
Austerity measures
Austerity measures - Government backdown
Australia affirmed
Australian troops affirmed by
Australian, proud of being
Ballarat (travel in)ballarat sinking - Thos sends newspaper article to May
Ballarat's progress
Ballarat's seaworthiness
Band/music
Battalion Orderly Sergeant today
Battalion parade - Major falls on his bum due to icy ground
Been in UK 15 months, seen no fighting, just lucky
Befriends Sergt Major of Mons (Ware)
Behaviour
Behaviour - emotional bank invested towards May
Behaviour new years eve
Behaviour of Ballarat ship's company towards
Behaviour on night prior to departure
Behaviour, ribald
Bijou Theatre vaudeville performance by
Bluff and combativeness
Bombing display - two men hospitalised
Bombing sergeants, only ones left with Thomas
Bombing work, believed in by
Book
Bought item lost on holidays while sober
Brave face kept despite fears
Burial at sea prompts morbid thoughts from
Thomas
Buys mementoC iii mates
cable - suggests May cable him every 8 weeks or so
Cable address of, sent to May
Cable sent by - well, after hospital stay, and not to France yet
Cable sent by - will May answer it
Cable to be sent when leaving Weymouth
Cables worth the money
Camp (Hurdcott) becoming empty due to lack of reinforcements (crucial change?)
Camp (Hurdcott) practically empty (cause = ?) on Thos return from leave
Camp address, exact given to May
Camp conditions described
Camp conditions described - C company merged with B company
Camp conditions described - camaraderie
Camp conditions described - daylight saving time means getting up an hour earlier
Camp conditions described - daytime activity
Camp conditions described - disease
Camp conditions described - early morning routine
Camp conditions described - food
Camp conditions described - icy slippery ground: hard to keep one's footing
Camp conditions described - lack of good cheer
Camp conditions described - lice
Camp conditions described - nice quiet day
Camp conditions described - no washing facilities or hot water (camp only new)
Camp conditions described - short of men, need more recruits
Camp conditions described - slack atmosphere due to Christmas etc
Ed K
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