The Grays and Tilbury Gazette December 1914.
A 100 years later as we celebrate Christmas 2014 it would be appropriate if we spared a moment on Christmas Day to remember all those who, a hundred years ago, were about to spend a Christmas in the most horrific and dangerous of environments, many of whom would not live to see another Christmas.
Below are extracts from the December 1914 editions of the Grays and Tilbury Gazette concerning residents of Thurrock fighting in Europe or on board ships.
F. Hawkins, who is Physical Training Instructor on the H.M.S. Sutlej, writing this week says; “Many thanks for the Gazette, which I received, and was very pleased to see the admirable way in which Grays has rallied to the old flag. As you know, I am serving on board the “Sutlej”, and there are also two other Grays chaps here, and they also send their thanks”.
Pte H. Dowe, a local man, who is with the 39th Battery R.F.A. at the Front, writes this week thanking the Editor for the Gazette weekly and states; “he is pleased to have it, and to see the old team is doing well, as he was a supporter of the “A’s”.
Corporal G. Thornton, a native of Orsett Heath, No. 8062 “C” Company, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, 14th Infantry Brigade, with the Expeditionary Force, and who, in peace time is employed in the engineers department of the P.L.A., in a letter to Mr. W. Atkins, of that department, says; “Just a line to let you know that I am still jogging along. We are now having a seven days rest from the “firing” line, and we have earned it. I don’t know how things are going at the docks so write and let me know. I have had a belly full of this lot.
"My regiment has had 1,500 casualties since being out here, so you can see what we have been through. You get used to it, and take things as they come. It is no good looking for trouble, as their “Jack Johnson’s” drop anywhere and everywhere. With the exception of their snipers, their rifle fire is nothing, and as a matter of fact you are safer in the firing line than in supports, and you can have a bit of your own back in the firing line, watching carefully for one to show himself and then pilp him over.
"The firing line is one big trench and at some points you can throw stones into their trenches, and the furthest distance in only 100 yards away. So you can guess what it is like. We have just had a spell of snow and frost, and it was bitterly cold. I was glad when another lot took over.
"The last trenches we took, we relieved the French and had to throw their dead bodies out of our way, and just behind us was a trench full of dead Germans. We lost a lot with their big guns; the shells dropping right into our trenches, some being buried and others blown to bits, but one consolation, our guns are doing more damage to them. I’ve seen our shells dropping and bursting right in their trenches.
One of our guns put three of theirs out of action in five shots. I have not come across Ben Gregory yet, his regiment is in the other division”.
DEATH OF A POPULAR TILBURY SOLDIER – The news was received with the greatest possible regret in Tilbury this week that Sergt Benjamin Walter Gregory of the “C” Company, 1st Battalion the Rifle Brigade, 4th Division British Expeditionary Force, had been killed in action on November 9th. Sergt Gregory, who was 28 years of age, formerly lived at West Thurrock, but for several years last he had lived with his mother at 19 Church Road, Tilbury, being a permanent hand employed by the Port of London Authority. He was highly respected and esteemed in Tilbury and was most popular there, being a very keen sportsman.
Sport in Tilbury has suffered a heavy loss by his death. He was an active member of both The Tilbury Cricket Club and The Tilbury Athletic Football Club, being a leading goal scorer for the latter. He also assisted Northfleet. Not only was he a player but he served on the committees of the two clubs. The loss is keenly felt by his club mates, for he was one of the favourites. The deceased was engaged to be married.
FOOTBALL NEAR THE FIRING LINE – Sergt Poggs, who is a Grays man, writing from the Front says; “The sportsmen of Grays might be interested to know that a football given by one of the local clubs was used in a match between 4th Division, Cyclist Company and 7th Field Company R.E., which was played not more than one and a half miles from the firing line. There were several spectators, including two who were watching from aeroplanes. The Cyclists won by three goals to one”. Poggs played outside right for the Cyclists.
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Pte W. Caddy, of the Durham Light Infantry, who is a member of the Port of London Authority Police at Tilbury, and lives there, in a letter to Inspector Crosier, says; “I was very pleased to hear the news of the boys. It is practically the first I have had, and I am glad to hear the majority are still going strong.
My regiment is getting it a bit thick. In the trenches we are only 11 yards from the Germans, and what with sniping and throwing hand bombs at each other it is a bit lively. I am a sniper for the regiment, and you will be pleased to know I have been making them wild. I had them proper crazy before they found my spot. Then we got relieved for five days.
I am sorry to hear you have not had any sport at home. One thing I can tell you is that we have a d—-d good forward line here. You ought to see them shoot. Somehow I think the end of this year will finish the war. We seem to be at a deadlock for the time being, unless they retire. It is getting a bit monotonous now. They have no go left in them. I just missed Turner by a short neck two or three times. The first time I asked for him I was told he was done in, but I found out afterwards he was still going strong. Good luck to him. I should not like to see any of the team go west. I hope Duncombe is not seriously wounded”.
Pte W. Cosby, of the 16th Lancers, with the British Expeditionary Force, and whose home is at 47 Bond Street, Grays, writing home on 30th November, says; “Things are a lot quieter out here and we are having a nice rest and we are likely to be resting for another week or two.
No mistake, how the boys out here have dealt with it, especially the infantry. They have suffered more than we have. There was not much work for cavalry, so we have had to go in the trenches with the infantry, and I can assure you I should not like to be an infantry regiment for good.
Everybody ought to be proud of them and not do as they did before, despise them. It would do some people good to live in one of the towns out here, then they would know what the poor refugees have had to put up with.
It cannot last much longer.”
