The Sherwood Foresters in the Great War 1914-1919 | Page 9

almost
invidious to mention names, but one feels (though they themselves
would be the first to deny it) that a special debt of gratitude is owed to
the Nuns of the Convent at Booking, whose kindness and care for those
who were billeted at the Convent, and for all with whom they came in
contact, were beyond all praise.
In order to prepare for any possible German landing on the Essex coast
orders had been issued for a series of trenches to be dug to form
defensive lines for the protection of London, and we were at once set
on to this work, which was pushed on as rapidly as possible, systems of
trenches, redoubts, gun positions, and other defensive works being put
in hand. Our work was mainly at Panfield, Marks Farm and Black
Notley. It was not an ideal season for trench digging, especially in the
clay of Essex, which was the "genuine" article, and we were glad when
the bulk of it was finished by Christmas. This work was carried out
under Royal Engineers' supervision and was in some ways instructive,

although we thought that the principles we had been taught in the
Military Manuals were frequently violated by the siting of trenches
along the sides of prominent hedgerows. Nevertheless, what we did
was more after the nature of what we were to meet in France, and
therefore of considerable practical value. That our work was
satisfactory was testified to by the insertion in Central Force Orders of
January 23rd, 1915, of the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief's
keen appreciation of the soldierly spirit and enthusiasm shewn for the
work by all ranks. All the same, we have no regrets that it was never
necessary to occupy the trenches for actual warfare.
Owing to another scare Christmas leave was cancelled. Scarborough
had been bombarded on December 22nd, and there was apparently a bit
of a "breeze." According to one writer this was due to a little lack of
liaison between our Naval and Military authorities. The former had
apparently spread a rumour that an invasion of the German Coast was
to take place, and the enemy concentrated numbers of troops there in
case it happened. This concentration came to the knowledge of our
military spies, who, however were not told of the cause, and their report
appears to have caused our War Office to think that an invasion of
England was contemplated. We were not, however, by any means dull
at Christmas. On December 24th, we beat the 6th Battalion 2--1 in the
first round of the Divisional Football competition, Vann being skipper,
and in the evening the Warrant Officers and N.C.O.'s had a dance at
Braintree Corn Exchange. On Christmas Day there was Church Parade
at Braintree, when the Bishop of Derby preached. Later, dinners were
issued on a sumptuous scale, and in the evening the Officers were
entertained at the White Hart by the Colonel and Major Fowler.
In a later round of the Divisional Cup Competition, we beat the
Divisional Mechanical Transport Column 3--0, and got into the
semi-final, when, however, we were badly beaten by the 4th Leicesters
at Bishop's Stortford, by 3 goals to nil. In a Brigade paper chase which
was held on December 26th, Pvte. Allen of E Company came in first.
On December 28th, we returned to Luton by train to carry out final
firing practices at the Wardown and Galley Hill Ranges, and field firing

practice at Dunstable in appalling weather, when frost, snow and rain
made accurate shooting perfectly impossible, and we were glad indeed
to get back to Bocking on January 6th, 1915.
The rest of our time was spent in final training, mainly carried out at
Gosfield Park and Abbot's Hall, and in preparations for going out, in
which the inspection and completion of equipment of all kinds played a
prominent part. This was not too easy a job for the young Company or
Section Commanders, as the men by this time were up to all the "old
soldier" tricks, and were very clever at making one article appear
almost simultaneously in half-a-dozen different kits. Drill included a
certain amount of new bayonet fighting and other exercises under
Major A. C. Clarke, who had attended a course at Chelsea. Mules
arrived in January and were objects of much interest; our miscellaneous
transport vehicles were discarded and replaced by new ordnance pattern
issues, to which were added two Lune Valley Cookers, kindly
presented by the ladies of Nottinghamshire. At the end of January the
Battalion had to be completely reorganised in order to come into line
with the regular Battalions: the old 8-Company system was abolished,
and the 1914 Double Company organisation introduced, entailing an
immense amount of work and keeping us busy right up to the time of
our