In reply to questions by a “Rushden Echo” representative, Pte. Attley gave the information that his health was now fairly good, and that, after all, his wounds had not done him a great deal of harm.
“When Capt. Stocken came to Rushden,” he said, “to form the 8th Northants, I was one of the first 20 men who joined under him, and well remember the drilling in the Spencer Park in those winter months, and, though that drilling seemed like work, I learned afterwards that it was only play compared with the routine of the infantry man at the front.
“Many people took an interest in us shoe lads at that time, though some were inclined to be a little cynical as to our possibilities of making good soldiers. But if there was any ground for any sneering remarks then, there is none now. All those boys have made first-rate soldiers, and have kept up and increased the reputation of the Steelbacks.
“In February last I was transferred from the Eighth Northants to an active service battalion, and on Feb. 7th I went out to France. Pte. Percy Allen, of Springfields, Higham Ferrers, and myself were the first two of Capt. Stocken’s lot to go out. On our arrival in France we were first taken to the base at Camieres, and in another fortnight we were in the tranches.
“Five months of nothing but trench warfare has been my lot since then, but it was not always monotonous. At times it was pretty hot. Of course, we had our rests – well, I think they call it resting, anyhow! – and different regiments, often the Lancers or the Canadians, would relieve us.
“I hardly know how it is, but it seems to me that the Germans make a special mark of the Northamptons. When we go to take our places in the trenches we say to those coming out (a different regiment altogether), ‘Well, has the shelling been hot?’ The answer usually would be ‘Pretty quiet,’ but we should not be settled in the trenches an hour before the shells came over and things got pretty exciting. Perhaps the Germans are always keeping in mind the way in which the First and other battalions of the Northants fought at Mons and the Marne. It is certain that whenever the Germans came across the Northants they found them an impenetrable barrier, and so they do now and always will do!
“One of the worst experiences I had in trenches was when the Germans sent such a lot of gas over at the beginning of June. I did not get much, as I got my helmet on in time – very useful things, those helmets – but 44 of our men were killed and wounded. On that occasion we were recommended, for sticking to our duty and our trenches, by one of the ‘big-oit’ Generals at the front – I forget his name for the present.
“On June 28th I was wounded. I was in the trenches, and suddenly saw a trench mortar shrapnel shell coming straight for me. I hopped to the left like greased lightning and it burst just on my right. I escaped death, but I got 80 or 90 wounds in all from that shell – 78 in my right leg.”
“You were rather unlucky that morning, then” remarked our representative.
“Unlucky!” replied Pte. Attley, a little surprised at the remark, “I consider I was very lucky indeed – first, in not being wiped out of existence, and secondly in being given an opportunity to leave the firing line for a time, with the prospect of getting home. I did not feel a great deal of pain until I was afterwards inoculated at the dressing station, but when I saw that shell coming I didn’t harbour any hope of seeing Old England again!
“I was taken to Bauilue, on the Belgian-French frontier, and, after a night in hospital there, was conveyed to Boulogne. I only spent one night in Boulogne hospital, but that was quite enough to give me an appreciation of the English nurses there. There was an Australian nurse there, too, and all of them worked well and with patience to increase the comfort of the wounded men. My next place was Dover, and from thence to St. Mary Magdalene Hospital, Newcastle, from whence I have just been released.
“After being wounded, I was on a stretcher for 36 hours, and it made me pretty stiff.”
In answer to a question Pte. Attley said he had not seen much fun at the front.
“When working parties are formed,” he said, “we hear some very pretty language by those who are chosen, and it affords amusement if you do not happen to be one of the party. Some find humour in the fact that often when eating our food in the trenches we have to eat it mud-flavoured. If a man drops any in the dirt in a hurry he usually picks it up and eats it with even less ceremony that the dirtiest little street urchin in London.
“That is all I can say about my own experiences, but I would like you to show my appreciation of our commander, Lieut.-Col. Mobbs. Rising as he did in such a short time from a private he did exceptionally well, and he is a very popular officer at present. Besides his unconquerable spirit perhaps his best characteristic was shown in the interest he took, and still takes, in the men under him. I was sorry to hear that he was wounded shortly after I was. I was also very sorry that Lance-Corpl Arthur Bryant, son of Mr. F. Bryant, 53, Glassbrook-road, Rushden, was killed. That was some time ago, but I keep it in mind because he was a close friend of mine. During my few days on leave I paid a visit to Duston Hospital and there spoke to Bert Hodgkins, of Newton-road, Rushden, who was in my lot and was wounded in the left hand, chest and head a short time ago. He told me he had been through the battle of Loos, when so many of our battalion suffered, but he thought it was a picnic to the present offensive.”
Asked what he thought of army life altogether, Pte. Attley said, “Not much; but if a man, when once in the army, does his duty and looks after himself he will pull through all right with little to grumble at.”
Pte. Attley was employed at Messrs. Nurrish and Pallett’s shoe factory, Rushden, for two or three years before the war. We understand that over 50 out of 100 male employees of that firm have joined the forces.
Private Phil (“Ralph”) Attley, 20792, Northants Regt., son of Mrs. Wallace 
