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The year was coming to a close and on the [[15 December]], Capt. L.B. Hogarth, having recovered from his sickness at Boulogne, was now attached for duty in Commanding the Royal Engineers of the 51st Division.<ref name="wddec15" /> For a few days the Lonsdales had been at the front, the Companies separated and attached to other battalions.<ref name="lonsfrance" /> Lt-Col. Machell went out daily to visit each Company in the line and noted that "they certainly are behaving extremely well."<ref name="lonsfrance" /> But on a personal level, knowing that officers had relative comforts and where possible were supplied with the best billets and dugouts available to them, he could only sympathise for the conditions in which his men had to endure, stating: "I feel very bad about the men, and one can't do enough for them."<ref name="lonsfrance" /> These are the words of a selfless man who clearly cared for the wellbeing of his men, working tirelessly to ensure what little comforts he could afford them were made available or, at the very least, visit them as often as he could. In general terms the fact remained that comforts were more often than not bestowed upon men of rank and well-to-do backgrounds, which seemed somewhat unfair when compared to what the common soldier was allocated. Whilst Lt-Col. Machell's family history would suggest a certain privileged upbringing, a lineage dating back to the 5th century CE and marriage to Countess Victoria Alice Leopoldine Ada Laura Gleichen, daughter of Prince Victor of Hohenlohe-Langenburg,<ref>[http://www.thepeerage.com/p5439.htm#i54390 Countess Victoria Alice Leopoldine Ada Laura Gleichen] The Peerage. Accessed 12 August 2016.</ref> who himself was Queen Victoria's (half) nephew,<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Victor_of_Hohenlohe-Langenburg Prince Victor of Hohenlohe-Langenburgone] Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia. Accessed 12 August 2016.</ref> might conclude Machell was a man given to a particular affluent lifestyle, yet he was a military man that had spent many years away from the comforts of his home, instead choosing a regimented career in Egypt over a socialite one in England. He had an understanding of the war machine, using that understanding to great effect and, ultimately, wanting to see his men pull through the war they now very much a part of. By this point in time the war was in its 16th month and those that though it would be over by Christmas 1914 were sorely mistaken. A year on and attrition had caused little development in the conclusion of a war that would continue to wage on for almost another three years. |
The year was coming to a close and on the [[15 December]], Capt. L.B. Hogarth, having recovered from his sickness at Boulogne, was now attached for duty in Commanding the Royal Engineers of the 51st Division.<ref name="wddec15" /> For a few days the Lonsdales had been at the front, the Companies separated and attached to other battalions.<ref name="lonsfrance" /> Lt-Col. Machell went out daily to visit each Company in the line and noted that "they certainly are behaving extremely well."<ref name="lonsfrance" /> But on a personal level, knowing that officers had relative comforts and where possible were supplied with the best billets and dugouts available to them, he could only sympathise for the conditions in which his men had to endure, stating: "I feel very bad about the men, and one can't do enough for them."<ref name="lonsfrance" /> These are the words of a selfless man who clearly cared for the wellbeing of his men, working tirelessly to ensure what little comforts he could afford them were made available or, at the very least, visit them as often as he could. In general terms the fact remained that comforts were more often than not bestowed upon men of rank and well-to-do backgrounds, which seemed somewhat unfair when compared to what the common soldier was allocated. Whilst Lt-Col. Machell's family history would suggest a certain privileged upbringing, a lineage dating back to the 5th century CE and marriage to Countess Victoria Alice Leopoldine Ada Laura Gleichen, daughter of Prince Victor of Hohenlohe-Langenburg,<ref>[http://www.thepeerage.com/p5439.htm#i54390 Countess Victoria Alice Leopoldine Ada Laura Gleichen] The Peerage. Accessed 12 August 2016.</ref> who himself was Queen Victoria's (half) nephew,<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Victor_of_Hohenlohe-Langenburg Prince Victor of Hohenlohe-Langenburgone] Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia. Accessed 12 August 2016.</ref> might conclude Machell was a man given to a particular affluent lifestyle, yet he was a military man that had spent many years away from the comforts of his home, instead choosing a regimented career in Egypt over a socialite one in England. He had an understanding of the war machine, using that understanding to great effect and, ultimately, wanting to see his men pull through the war they now very much a part of. By this point in time the war was in its 16th month and those that though it would be over by Christmas 1914 were sorely mistaken. A year on and attrition had caused little development in the conclusion of a war that would continue to wage on for almost another three years. |
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The Lonsdales situation would see no major events for the next few months but their routine remained fairly consistent. They were still at the front near Bouzincourt and [[Albert ( |
The Lonsdales situation would see no major events for the next few months but their routine remained fairly consistent. They were still at the front near Bouzincourt and [[Albert (Somme)|Albert]], relieving the 1/6th Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders on the [[19 December]]. It was around this time Captain C.H. Clart, the Commanding Officer of B Company, was admitted to hospital and in his absence Captain B.C. Harrison took over as commanding officer of the Company. The trenches they occupied were of a loam and clay mixture, which were in a dreadful state. The Battalion's 2nd in Command, [[P. G. W. Diggle|Major P.G.W. Diggle]], also an officer that held high esteem for the men wrote of these trenches stating that: |
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:{{quote-left}}In many places there were no [[duckboards]], and, in consequence, the mud and water was four or five feet deep. It was impossible to get all along the front line trench without going "overland," as there were two stretches of about 100 yards each that were impassible. However, we got them right eventually. The men used at times to get quite stuck and unable to move in the mud. Then the [[gum-boots]] had to be left.{{quote-right}}<ref name="lonsfrance" /> |
:{{quote-left}}In many places there were no [[duckboards]], and, in consequence, the mud and water was four or five feet deep. It was impossible to get all along the front line trench without going "overland," as there were two stretches of about 100 yards each that were impassible. However, we got them right eventually. The men used at times to get quite stuck and unable to move in the mud. Then the [[gum-boots]] had to be left.{{quote-right}}<ref name="lonsfrance" /> |
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