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Not This Hell of Strife


Ed Kermode

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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.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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.]

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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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