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Remembered Today:

Andrew Richard Buxton. 3rd Rifle Brigade


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To a Sister,

Trinity College,

February 18, 1915.

"Mother's piece of ham is delicious. Why is is that everything that mother provides is bigger and better and nicer than anything obtained elsewhere ?"

Cambridge,

February 18, 1915.

"One night we had a march, not getting in till 1 a.m. This was all right, but it started with nearly an hour's wait before moving off, which to me is the hardest work of any, but from T.'s description of the 'Front,' which I have written to R., is no doubt useful training. I expect to leave here on Wednesday and wrote on Tuesday to the Adjutant to ask for instruction and whether I could have till over the Sunday before joining at Sheerness. The Military Hospital here on King's Ground has 1,200 men in it."

In March 1915, he was given a Commission in the 6th Rifle Brigade as a 1st Lieutenant. He proceeded to join his Regiment at Sheerness.

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He writes from Sheerness :

Sheerness (Billet).

March 2, 1915.

"I got here all right last night and have had three drills to-day and a lecture. I have seen Colonel Dawson, but not to speak to yet. Charles Verber (1) is very kind and I have seen others whom I knew were here. Thanks, I think, to C.W. I have a very nice billet next door to my Company Office - occupied by a friendly old retired Marine and his wife who are anxious to do anything for me. I have a very nice, as far as I can yet judge, servant called H., who has been at the Front and is back shot in the ankle. The Mess is very nice, and of course I have all meals here and a nice room to read in also, so I have no need of provisions and thus can save you any thought of them. J.B. is in C. Coy, which I am sorry for."

(1) an old Cambridge friend, who was an assistant-master at Harrow when war broke out. Killed 1915.

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Sheerness,

March 8, 1915.

"I wrote you a card yesterday and told you that I was on Orderly duty, or rather supernumerary for the purpose of learning the job. The day was extremely strenuous as I did not get to bed till 6 a.m. (so till 11.30 to-day I have slept). The Orderly duty consisted of at 12 (noon) attending Commanding Officer's orders, i.e. Col. D. for seeing defaulters, after which going round to the three hospitals and seeing all 6th R.B. in the wards had all they wanted, then to the prison. After lunch I saw the start of a football match of the 6th v. Crew of H.M.S. Albemarle, then to the parade square to see drills were all right. At 4 to mounting the Guard in Alma Road and sending them to their different stations; at 5.30 a tour round to the six kitchens - one to each Company - to see everything was clean and in order. The men, or as they are called 'Riflemen,' are billeted and fetch their meals from the kitchens. From these to the Q.M.S. store to supervise the giving of rations for 24 hours. Everything of course is exact measurement, such as 20 lb. 2 oz. cheese, 3 lb. 13 oz. tea, 10 lb. butter 1/4 lb. mustard, 4 tins milk, 24 tins herrings and tomatoes, packet of pepper, etc. I wished you were here, also for the kitchens, as you would have been much interested ! At 9.30 p.m. dismissing the Orderly Sergeants, at 10 dismissing the Billet patrol. The Billet patrol goes to all billets to see the men are in. At 12.15 a long trudge round till 2.15 to the three guard pickets outside the town - a very muddy and difficult walk and extremely dark night, challenged of course by all sentries on route. Turned out and inspected each guard and questioned sentries on their duties. They are all instructed to look out for pigeons - one described looking out for 'pigeon-carriers' ! He may or may not have known what was meant ! I thought R. would probably be better at seeing them than the sentries - probably the authorities do not know what it all means to see a pigeon in the dark ! At 4.15 a.m. a similar inspection of the three gurds in the town, then to bed at 6 a.m. It made quite a trenuous day, especially after two quite hard morning parades of physical and other drill, but I need hardly say, I am nothing but very fit."

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To D.

6th Rifle Brigade,

Sheerness,

March 18, 1915.

"Here we progree well. The officers are a really nice lot of fellows; a great many quite young. This week we sent out seven, of which Archie Pelham Burn was one. The 5th Battalion also sent out seven the same day, the rquirement being no doubt due to his last engagement.

This morning I have had a long three hours on a Court-Martial for the purpose of my own instruction in this business. You have no idea of the amount of work and bad effect on others that a few indifferent characters give to a Company. It would be the best possible thing for the Army if such men were dismissed."

To his Father.

"D'Abernon Lodge,

April 18, 1915.

"I have been able to accept an Officer's invitation to motor with him from Sittingbourne to Redhill, by which he could drop me at Kentwins. We came through Maidstone and near Sevenoaks and got to Kentwins about 11.45 a.m. and saw Dorothy and Arthur, who came with his anti-aircraft motors. About 3.30 A. took me to Redhill on these motors, which was magnificent. Rolls Royce cars weighing two and a half tons without men and on pneumatic tyres. We went into Camp on Thursday which is much more satisfactory. At present I have a tent to myself. Arthur came for Thursday night, which was very nice, and it was satisfactory that as he left the station the anti-aircraft guns there shot at a Taube which was steering towards the Dockyard. It felt just like a partridge drive and as though standing behind some one who was shooting. Unfortunately the shooting had no effect to turn the aeroplane back - after it turned it looked much as though it was coming down, but no such luck."

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Never thought of trying to see a pigeon in the dark! Quite funny thsat the sentries might not know what a pigeon carrier was. Dunno why I;'laughhing though - how could you tell the difference between that and an unconscripted pigeon?

Marina

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To Rosamond

6th R.B., Sheerness.

May 6, 1915.

"How sad the number of deaths just now of people we know; Birchall, Alan Fowler, Cheny Garfit's son, Alan Ronald's brother, and dear old 'Chip.' (1)

I started early this morning to get out about seven miles along the sea for field firing practice with targets in hedges, etc. It might easily have been Scotland, and my thoughts were once more on cross-lining and winch-mending, and the many other remembrances of that place now so impossible of repitition with John Trotter and Chip gone.

If England and her officials would recognize the Kingdom of God the events of the war would, I believe, be, under God, at once in our favour."

To his Father.

Queenboro'

May 10, 1915.

"For the Range Shooting I, apparently, got 144 points and thereby got what is called a 'First Class Shot,' for which 95 points is sufficient."

(1) Kenneth Trotter.

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Queenboro'

May 17, 1915.

"I am sorry to say that Charles Verner, who was in the 2nd Battalion with W., is, like him, missing. This Battalion seems to have been fearfully cut up in the engagements of the last fortnight. The programme here this week for Officers, after the afternoon drills are done, is - to-day signalling; Tuesday, bayonet fighting; Wednesday, map reading and use of compass; Thursday,. bayonet fighting; Friday, general work. This is such a strange place - a very big pottery, which continues manufacturing, but we take a number of their large rooms, etc."

Queenboro'

May 18, 1915.

"I have orders to go to Winchester to-morrow. I know not what for nor for how long, but anticipate that it is owing to a shortage of Officers there and a large number of new men coming in. Winchester is the R.B. Depot, and we get our drafts of men from there. The Y.M.C.A. hall here is well used and I went in this evening and took the few minutes of prayers with which we close each night......... I did not respond to the request for a speech on going away tomorrow ! The Gamekeeper paper which I take in appears much appreciated by all as a variety from the war topics ! I feel very sorry to be leaving here as I am just getting to know my platoon."

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Charles Werner and the other officer mentioned from the 2nd Battalion (Lieut. Watney) were as a result of Aubers Ridge (9-5-15) where the 2nd Battalion lost horrendous numbers of men. Taking the German Line they fought all night to keep hold of this bit of trench.

A tribute is paid to the work of the battalion on this day in a letter written by a German Roman Catholic Priest serving as a volunteer in the ranks, and afterwards killed in action, who writes :-

"After two hours fighting the enemy was beaten back. You can scarcely have an idea of the work this represented. How these Englishmen had in twelve hours dug themselves in ! The hundred fellows who were in our trenches had brought with them an enormous quantity of ammunition, a machine gun, and one they captured from us. With the aid of the material lying about they had got everything ready and ship shape for defence. Almost every single man of them had to be put out of action with hand-grenades. They were heroes all, brave and true to the end, until death. We captured about fifty of them, well set up, extremely muscular soldiers. In the course of the day we picked up about thirty more of them wounded. They were all men of the 'Active English Rifles-Brigade.' "

Andy

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Winchester,

May 31, 1915.

"(in the train) Now 9.30 p.m. on my way from Queensboro' where I have to-day taken a new draft of men. I was Orderly Officer, but they appeared to want me for this draft and I left via London and getting to Queenboro' at 6.15. I marched across from Waterloo to Victoria as I just missed a S.E. train at Wtaerloo. How little I had ever thought that I should be in command of men marching down Victoria Street !"

To his Mother, before taking a draft of men to France.

Queenboro'

June 22, 1915.

"I parade at Sheerness at 4.30 p.m. and leave about 5.30 for Folkestone and Boulogne with another Officer."

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To his Mother.

France,

June 23, 1915.

"It is quite difficult to write as I know you like details...........I must comply with censorship regulations.

I paraded at Sheerness yesterday and marched the men to the station accompanied by the Band......At Folkestones we got on to what was said to be a bigger boat than usual, but it was a rotten little thing, and we had 900 men on board (other drafts joined us at Dover and Folkestone). There was none too smooth a sea, but it did not upset me, though some men were bad. We were escorted across by destroyers and got in about 11.30 p.m., when it took a long time sorting up the men, and we then marched up to the Camp about two and a half miles from the station. When we got to camp tents were allotted, 12 in a tent, and I drew a blanket each for the men from the Quartermaster. I was responsible for fifty men and had papers respecting them given me at Sheerness which I had to give to the 'Embarkation' Officer at Folkestone, also at Boulogne, and also here at this place. After the men had got into tents it began to rain hard, by which I suffered a bit, having a search for my kit-bag, fishing bag, and Burberry, all of which I had sent on in a motor at the station. These had been put in an Orderly tent and it was a bit of good fortune I found them at all......"

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Chapter 5 - The Front - First Experiences

July - August 1915.

Andrew received his orders for France in July, 1915. He writes to his Mother from Sheerness :

July 6, 1915.

"Just a line before Mess at 8 p.m. to tell you what I fear you will be sorry to hear, that I fully expect to be now 'on the list.' This is the current expression for a list of Officers put up in the Orderly Room whom the Colonel has recommended to the War Office as suitable for the Expeditionary Force.........The probability is that I shall go abroad in two or three week's time, but it may be longer or shorter. Anyhow I expect to have 24 hours notice and should be extremely surprised if I went within 10 days from now. I am afraid you and father will mind when the time comes for me to go across, but you must on no account do so. It will be of extraordinary interest to put into practice what I have been attempting to learn for nearly nine months (since September 24, 1914) and as I fully anticipate getting through without harm you need not fear. I was Orderly Officer yesterday and got back from visiting the guards at 2.10 a.m. It was so jolly as I went into my tent to have a lark get up close by and announce the morning with a ripping song."

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To his Mother

July 12, 1915.

"I now go off to the front....... There are six Officers going from this battalion - Captain Prescott Weston; Capt. Campbell; 2nd Lt. Johnstone; Capt. Tatham; 2nd Lt. Wilson; and self......... Geofffrey Barclay (1) is, I hear, badly wounded. He was in our 1st Battalion, which I expect to go to, and which has been so very badly cut up."

Not long after he left, Mrs. Brennan wrote of him from his billet in Sheerness :

August, 1915.

"With you we hope and pray he may be spared........ He did look fit and well and ready when he left us and said, 'You may rely on me to do my best,' and we know he will. I bade him 'au revoir,' and when his smiling face had vanished, woman-like, I had a good cry...... He will come through, please God. He is steady and capable, you will hear good things of him."

(1) Major G.W. Barclay, killed in action July 28th, 1916.

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Not long after he left, Mrs. Brennan wrote of him from his billet in Sheerness :

August, 1915.

"With you we hope and pray he may be spared........ He did look fit and well and ready when he left us and said, 'You may rely on me to do my best,' and we know he will. I bade him 'au revoir,' and when his smiling face had vanished, woman-like, I had a good cry...... He will come through, please God. He is steady and capable, you will hear good things of him."

How poignant of Mrs. Brennan to write those words ............... !

gave my heart a lurge to read 'You may rely on me to do my best' God love him !!

I can just imagine the trepidation and excitement all mixed up together !! how lucky we are to have had men like him !!

Annie ( sorry Andy ! didn't mean to interrupt !! )

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Annie,

No problem, interrupt away.

Andy

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Despite all the horrors of modern warfare, he was wonderfully happy at the Front; indeed it makes for happiness or at least contentment, as thousands have discovered in these years, when a man finds use for every quality, mental, moral and physical with which nature has endowed him. Like many another good Officer, Andrew excelled in looking after his men; it came naturally to his intensely sympathetic nature to care for their every need, and he was indefatigable in his visits to lonely sentries. The day before he was killed, as one of his corporals afterwards related, "He himself carried, in order to save his men, four petrol tins of water slung round his waist"; and added, "He was always like that, trying to save the men and doing the hard jobs himself."

His medical knowledge came in very useful, and his men said of him, "He's better than either Padre or Doctor." Another who was with him at Messines has recorded that when he returned to the Company the men said, "Now we shall get some medicine. The Captain always has his medicine chest."

Another Officer who was bleeding to death was saved by Andrew's knowledge of First Aid.

His Mother notes that "he once wore a steel waistcoat, but would not again ah he disliked being differently and more safely clad than his men. Possibly if he had done so when the fatal shot was fired it would have saved his life. We have since read in his Diaries of the many very narrow escapes he had during his time in France, viz. 'Nearly done in'; 'Badly sniped at'; 'Shell exploded exactly on the spot where I stood five minutes before'; etc., but he did not enlarge on them to us at home."

It was characteristic of him that he found or made time to write an extraordinarily large number of letters to his family and friends at home. To his mother he wrote very nearly every day.

He was posted to the 3rd Rifle Brigade.

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He writes from France :

To his Mother

July 17, 1915.

"I have less luggage than any one, but feel splendidly equipped. The equipment which goes on my back I am awfully pleased with as everything goes on so well......... Very interesting to see Indian Cavalry."

To his Mother

3rd R.B. 6th Division, B.E.F. [at Rouen]

July 18th, 1915.

".........Huts are much preferable to tents - they are long shaped, wooden framed things covered with canvas. Here we are not blessed with beds, but if I get blankets under me as I can here I really don't mind....... I am just back from Church Parade, which was a very nice service taken by a Presbyterian Minister in the open. He preached on Ps.xxiii. very well, with his broad Scotch accent, and so many Scotch Officers and men here I felt like being in a Scotch service in Scotland...... How I wish you could see this abode, as it would interest you so much and to be able to picture the lie of the land, but unfortunately I cannot even get a snapshot to send you showing a bit of the Camp, as camera's are not allowed."

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To his Mother.

July 20, 1915. [Rouen]

"I am just writing you to say I got orders, as also Capt. T. and 2nd Lieut. W., to report at the station here this afternoon at 5 and to leave by the 6.5 for the Front (i.e. the rail-head). A very instructive morning again to-day. It is most exciting now really moving on."

3rd Rifle Brigade, B.E.F.

Wednesday, July 21.

"I hope you got my wire yesterday to say I had orders to leave last night for the Front. The train left at 6.15 p.m. and I am now writing at 12.15 p.m. It is indeed strange to be at last going to the Front and passing the places whose names one has associated with it. The journey is not swift, and it is further strange not knowing where we are bound for, and shall be turned out. T. is O.C. and we three are in one carriage, also another nice Officer. We have our valises with us, and all of us slept a certain amount. It was very tantalizing to find ourselves at Etaples at 8.15 this morning, and then pass outside Boulogne by Wimereux, and not see either Leonard or David. We had a sandwich and boiled egg for breakfast and badly wanted a cup of coffee, but no such luck ! We have though just got at a stop some hot water, and made tea and cocoa. (This from Mother's delicious peptonized cocoa)"

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3rd Rifle Brigade, B.E.F. [at Poperinghe].

Thursday evening, 22nd.

"My Dearest Ros,

When Tatham, Wilson and I got to the rail-head we were met in style by an Orderly riding, and a gun-carriage on which we put our valises, and ourselves on top. I sat behind with legs hanging over, and you can imagine on an appalling cobble road, full of holes, the two miles we sat them was bumbpy. We got off at some large sheds and Army stores and worked on, still Est, then to the right after about a mile, and for another mile across country into the wood where we are now comfortably placed. The huts are very good, about 12 ft. square, with wooden floors. I am in a hut with my Captain, by name Swan, and 2nd Lieut. Knight, both very nice, and I am lucky. Captain S. has been out ten and a half months, and never been hit or sick. He is, I should think, about 28 or 30. Oh, how I wish you and all could look in and see my abode. If you looked in at our hut, you would ask what tramps abode it was, with sundry goods hanging round; a good deal of straw on which odd blankets, sleeping bags, valises, kits, etc. etc., are, and one corner with a mixed supply of provisions. Meals we have at a table behind the huts, except tea this evening, which we had on the floor of the hut as it was raining hard. Eggs and bacon for breakfast are cooked within a few yards on a stick fire. There is a far too ample supply of things of every sort; tinned tongues and meat, chutney, cakes, sugar, jams, chocolate, biscuits etc.

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"The country right up to here is very like England except for the fields of very tall vines. I am absolutely amazed at how well cultivated it is; everywhere beautiful crops of every kid and in splendid order; a more than ordinary (English) number of farm houses, most of which appear occupied by our men for some purpose. We have a gramophone here, and the men keep in very good spirits. After I got here yesterday evening there were two or three hostile aeroplanes about, though not directly above us. It would have interested you, as it did me, to see the shrapnel being fired at them. Each burst remains as a little white cloud for a long time so that you can count twenty or thirty altogether. The shooting seemed very bad, but no doubt the ranges were big. I saw about forty shots at one. After dark it is interesting to see at a distance the endless sequence of flares sent up by either ourselves or the enemy; also hear artillery from time to time. This morning our Company had practice of attacking trenches. Some companies have been doing bomb throwing, which is disturbing to the peace of the camp. I looked at the different kinds of way of working them. The fuses are usually started by loosing a spring, or somehow mechanical, but you can light them. Some are hand made out here of jam tins. It is quite a dangerous proceeding to get the men accustomed and confident.

There are five Officers away from the Battalion sick. There is a strange thing called 'trench fever,' which a good many seem to get, and certainly one of ours has it; high temperature and shivering, etc. I do trust I do not knock up. It would be the limit, as I am now fully fit, and very happy indeed. The Battalion go into the trenches again next Tuesday for sixteen days (namely till the folowing Thursday fortnight). Then we have eight days off, then another eight days in and eight off. We have seven miles to get to this trench, either through a much heard of place, or, if it is being shelled, just skirting to the north. I have this afternoon been served out a helmet to go right over the head, and also a mask to go over the mouth and nose. A bottle of stuff to renew the chemical is provided. Under the effect the chemical changes caused by the gas the former mask keeps its value about two hours, the latter one quarter of an hour. It was a bit of luck joining my Company just as they were out of the trenches, and being able to look round instead of going straight there form the train."

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Friday, July 23, 1915.

"Just had breakfast and finish this sitting on my bed, which is, I think you would agree, in better order than the rest of the hut, which is trewn all over deep with papers, bags, clothes, food, kit, mattresses, parcels, letters, and decorated with fly papers, for which beasts I feel heartily sorry. There is also an ample supply of mud all the time brought in owing to the heavy rain of yesterday and last night. Nothing gets tidied up, but this is all to the good, as otherwise thimgs would get mixed up more, and I told my servant to leave my things alone. My sleeping bag is just right, and will prove most useful, and probably, as it rolls up, I shall take it to the trenches, though little can be taken, as we only have a handcart for the Company, on which mostly supplies are put. The valise has proved very comfortable to lie on, as it is nice to have an end to shove feet into. My Captain goes on leave in two days, so that Knight and I will be the only Officers in the Company. I shall therefore start trench work in charge of the Company, which is a big move ! To-morrow, I understand, we are going to be gassed in order to show the men that there is nothing to fear with the helmets on.

We have a family 'sea' waistcoat, and I want to get a 'land' one too. Several here have them, commonly called 'funk' waistcoats, being a sort of armoured thing which would, no doubt, turn a slanting bullet and protect from shrapnel or splinters.

Small girls and women come round the huts selling chocolate and cigarettes. The huts are arranged in a square shape, the distance across being about 100 yards. I am reminded here, with the wood and camp, of camp life in Canada. A lot of chaffinches in the wood, which are very jolly, also a few other birds. S, has got a good Mauser 303 rifle, with telescopic sights, whith which he has done some very effective sniping. Water is scarce, and is brought up in Army water carts. I manage though to have a tub in my bucket each morning outside the huts."

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Sunday, July 24, 1915.

"This morning we practised going through chlorine gas in trenches with helmets on, which worked all right except in the case of the Captain who was working it, who had a defective helmet on so was quite badly hit by it."

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