Arrival in France

During the first few weeks of his time in Flanders, Frank acted as orderly to the Chaplain, the Reverend Arthur Morrell Pratt, who had been the vicar at Frank’s church, St Giles, in Willenhall, Staffordshire. It was not long before Frank’s RAMC duties took over all his time.


The Battle of Neuve Chappelle was the first one of the war to be deliberately planned. The objective was a strategic one, to hold German troops on the Western Front and relieve the pressure on the Russian Army in the East. The surprise attack began on 10th March 1915 with a heavy artillery bombardment followed by an infantry advance (or ‘charge’), a pattern which was repeated throughout the war.


Frank notes in his diary that the Staffordshire Brigade went into action for the first time on 20th March near Armentieres, France. It had been held in General Reserve during the Battle of Neuve Chappelle. The ‘action’ meant going ‘up the line’, into the trenches, where there was constant shelling, bombing, and sniping between the German and British positions. It was at this time that Frank notes ‘went out collecting for the first time’. This meant collecting the casualties, giving them basic treatment where possible, and carrying them by stretcher if necessary to medical aid stations. After that baptism of fire, the beer must have been welcome

 

Transcript

14 Sunday - 15 Monday
Estaires.
Church parade.
Rest.
Pratt.
Battle of Neuve Chapelle. Some of the heaviest cannonade by our artillery in history. I watched it from a distance.
Started to march but was turned back after 3 miles. Rest.
Casualties: Germans 20,000 British 18,000.


16 Tuesday
Left Estaires. Marched 9 miles. Outtersteene. Billeted in barns.


17 Wednesday
Outtersteene. Rest.
Spent most of my time with Pratt in village.


18 Thursday
Outtersteene.
March out 6 miles.


19 Friday
Outtersteene.
Stretcher Drill.


20 Saturday
Left Outtersteene arrived Armentières.
Staffords Brigade go into action for first time. Shelled by Germans.
Went out collecting for the first time.
Billet in a large hospital with regular RAMC. Had beer