A Rushden warrant officer sends a representative of the “Rushden Echo” some remarkably interesting particulars of incidents in connection with the recent heavy fighting on the Somme. Writing under the nom de plume of “Ubique,” he says:-

“This situation is within a few hundred yards of the heavy guns; in fact, they are all around here, in woods, and everywhere that adapts itself naturally for a gun position. Close here is an observing station reached by a 70 rung ladder into a “crow’s nest,” as it were, boarded and railed. The country around here consists of ranges of hills and valleys, with here and there small and large woods, with villages a few miles apart. There are miles and miles of country without any fences, the general appearance being like a draught board, caused by the marking out as it were, in fields or plots, by the many varieties of vegetation under cultivation. Pasture land is also cultivated, being defined by its crops and their stages of growth, all making a harmonic effect to the eye.

“It is very difficult to write about the battle now proceeding, owing to censorship, although the papers recently have been very accurate in description. It is impossible for any one writer to give an account, except from the area of his vision and from the same source as I have obtained the following particulars, i.e., interviews with officers, N.C.O’s, and men returning from the trench area.

“In many cases the trenches are now shell holes where the first attack was made. I was employed supervising the erection of hut buildings for two casualty clearing stations, and on Sunday, July 2nd, the wounded came in by their hundreds; in fact 4,000 passed through it in 24 hours. The stations are equipped and staffed for 1,000 in each. Tents are for the temporary wards, and hut buildings for operating theatres, cook-houses, administration blocks, stores, and generally accessory buildings. All were ready, the staff improving the site by paths, drains etc., until required. Since then it has been continually in full use.

“A railway line, broad gauge, runs parallel with the site where I saw hundreds lying on stretches on this beautiful sunny Sabbath day, besotted and in some cases saturated with blood, wounds dressed and awaiting Red Cross trains, the organisation being very efficient. Nurses had arrived some days previously. These lined up as they came out of motor ambulances, the drivers of which were working 18 hour shifts, smothered in dust. Such of the wounded as could walk took their turn as if forming a queue for the theatre, doctors and sisters in smock aprons for ever trying to get them cleared, and so it kept on for days.

“Incidents of the war were given by N.C.O’s and men by thousands. One sergeant of the Ulster Brigade with whom I was having a chat showed me a German bayonet which killed his officer. The German was killed instantly. There were three of them left out of the party of – officers, and four were killed in a small party demolishing a machine gun which caused so much damage.

“After three or four days I was ordered up to join the advanced headquarters of our corps at ----. Since then I have been supervising road repairing between two villages, both of which have been evacuated by the enemy and are in a ruined, deserted state. This road is about two to three miles in the rear of the trench area, approximately parallel with it, and here I have been daily since arriving.

“Last Sunday I watched, for two or three hours, from an elevated position – the ‘crow’s nest’ previously referred to – the battle raging. It is impossible to see any detail or even human beings at this range; but the sight was grand in its destruction. Along a line running north to south-east for three to five miles long were continuous columns of smoke, flames, earth, etc., as if it were a long volcano. Tear shells, exploding shrapnel, and every conceivable shell, all seemed blended together, making the area along this line appear as if it were all on fire.

“Interwoven with it were the flashes of explosion, fantastic shaped clouds after the bursting of shells, which seem to keep their shape for quite some minutes before they diffuse themselves into the cloudy, destruction-laden atmosphere.

“All around the hills and woods were reverberating with the sound of the various heavy guns competing with each other, as it seemed for quickness and efficiency.

“After all this it seems a miracle that the infantry in the trenches have any nerves or physical energy left, but such is habitual discipline that, on the word, off they go, and for their brave deeds and heroic example you will have read all by now.

“I saw one division from its formation at Aldershot 18 months ago, and also out here, where it went into action about three days after the start, and alas! the full toll has been demanded, the average per regiment being about 300 left out of the battalion, the slightly wounded, however, being considerable from general observation.

“It has also been my experience to interview some scores of stragglers belonging to regiments that have been relieved for a few days. Remember the general action has not ceased to any appreciable extent since it started, being carried on by relief reinforcements. I may mention here that the general situation is considered very good and strategically sound, i.e., taking the whole line of attack.

“It may interest you to know that the French lost 30,000 last year here, the place where their line appears stationary.

“A Company-sergt. Major of a regiment on his way back, states that there were scores lying in ‘No Man’s Land,’ one poor fellow too bad to be moved. Food was taken to him, his wounds were dressed, and he was then left there. This went on for several days.

“Another managed to crawl in after having lived on his ‘iron rations’ for six days.

“I met another young fellow of ---- Regiment who had been lost since the fight commenced. This was six days after. He was only 18 last birthday.

“The guns all around here are of all sorts and sizes – transported in every conceivable way from caterpillar engines to horses for field guns.

“Our area appears like hundreds of fair grounds, without the means of enjoyment. Units situated between plots of corn, studded here, there and everywhere and woods conceal hundreds of huts.”

LATER.

“Splendid day to-day. Record I should think.” I was omitting the observation balloons which poise gracefully over the lines, about 20 of them. I have no hesitation in saying, in our area, that the Allies’ airmen are absolutely indifferent to the enemy, and the enemy’s planes are rarely seen this side. They are vigorously attacked if they do come.

“It is a pretty sight to watch the firing by anti-aircraft guns. Each shot shows how close they go to the plane, and at times it is very exciting.

“All the heavy guns have pet names – ‘Grannies,’ the largest – fancy shells 15 cwt to 18 pounders, ‘Lucky Jim,’ ‘Vimy Ridge,’ etc.

A lot of news is about, so look out. Kind regards to any enquirers.”

In a postscript “Ubique” writes: “The above only refers to our locality which is ‘some’ locality at present, so you can imagine what the whole is like, eh! Perhaps some time if desirable I may give a little idea of the last nine months’ preparations from our point of view – water supply, accommodation of the troops, railways, etc. This all had to be done and the forward area kept going at the same time and the line held all winter. We are in hopes of repairing the road to Berlin next. Compre?”