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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

47th (2nd London Division) History


squirrel

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Referring to the regular Officers who were with the Division at St Albans during training and equipping in 1914-1915; AA & QMG Lt Col R M Foot Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.

“Colonel Foot had a passion for paper. He kept two soldier typists clicking away for him not only from morn to dewy eve, but often also from the dim twilight to eleven at night, and he loved to have everything done decently and in order and in quadruplicate. The War Office and Third Army (of which the Division at St Albans formed part) loved this too and insisted on us being taught the full rigour of the paper game; and there was an occasion on which nineteen separate minutes, each preserved in quadruplicate, passed to and fro between battery, brigade, CRA, Division, Army and WO and at last succeeded in making a saving of threepence upon the charge of two and sixpence for painting the name of a field battery upon a bicycle which had been bought for an orderly so as to save the construction of a costly telephone line from the brigade to headquarters”.

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A common complaint in researching is the lack of records. Most historians, researchers and just plain old interested parties could wish that there had been an even spread of Colonel Foots ( Feet?) throughout the armed services and especially in their area of interest.

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It is perhaps apropos to note that the Civil Service Rifles served in the 47th Division. :D

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... an even spread of Colonel Foots ( Feet?) throughout the armed services ...

Prior to 1881 there were 109 Regiments of Foot, each with a colonel ...

Ron

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Here are a couple more items...........

"On the 25th (January 1917) the enemy shelled the 142nd Brigade Headquarters at Bedford House, obtaining direct hits with 8.2 in on the mess and the Brigade Major's dugout. The Staff had prudently retired to the cellars and suffered only the total loss of the sweet course".

"Hard frost continued during the early days of February, the thermometer falling to zero on the 2nd. This made all work, except wiring to existing trees and pickets, almost impossible, and since the water froze as it percolated in to the trenches, it seemed only a matter of time before the garrisons on both sides would be lifted to ground level....."

That last one shows just how cold it was then.....................presumably they were working in Fahrenheit?

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