Amos Charles Ashdown’s War Letters
Hello, my name is Amos Charles Ashdown. I grew up in Beckenham,
Kent and when I was 14, moved to New Cross, Kent with my family.
We have never had much money so we live together with my
grandmother, grandfather, auntie, uncle and three cousins.
I have always been interested in woodwork and studied it at school.
At the age of 14 I became an apprentice to a carpenter and have
really enjoyed it.
I turned 18 two weeks before war was declared in 1914. My friends
from school and I all enlisted together and became part of The Queen’s
Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). We completed our twelve weeks
training and were then sent to the front line. No amount of training
could have prepared us for what was to come.
Friday 19th November 1914
Dear Mother and Father,
I arrived at the front lines today; I am not able to tell you exactly
where I am in case this letter falls into enemy hands.
Before I left, I heard some terrible rumours about the conditions of the
trenches where we will live and fight, but nothing could have
prepared me for the harsh realities I have come to face.
It is very difficult to put into words how horrendous the trenches are.
They are filled with wet mud and lots of water. There are also large
holes everywhere, where shells have been fired and if you are not
careful where you tread you can suddenly be up to your waist in
dirty rain water. There are bits of shrapnel and metal everywhere
and you have to be really careful that you do not cut yourself on it, as
you have a very high chance of developing tetanus. The trenches are
infested with rats and I am not exaggerating when I say that they are
the size of cats! I have been told this is a result of all the fresh meat
from dead bodies, which I understand is a gruesome though but it is
part of the harsh realities of war. Us soldiers are also at risk from
trench foot which is a disease as a result of our feet being in wet
muddy boots all day. I will not go into graphic detail but what
happens is parts of your feet rot and fall off.
When I arrived I received my set of uniform. It consists of a woollen
tunic and trousers in khaki, a peak cap and ammunition boots which
are black with no toe caps and a steel plate on the heel. We have only
been given one set of uniform which we are expected to eat, sleep and
fight in.
I have been introduced to Edward Smith whose Mother was looked
after by Grandmother before she moved to Beckenham. Please could
you mention it Grandmother and see if she remembers Edward’s
mother, her name was Elizabeth Shaw.
I will try to write at least once a month but I suspect I will be
extremely busy. Please give everyone a kiss from me. I love you all
dearly.
Your Son
Amos Charles Ashdown
Wednesday 27th December 1914
Dear Mother and Father,
Merry Christmas! I hope everyone is well and enjoyed the festivities.
Thank you very much for the home-knitted woollen jumper; I am the
envy of the trenches. It is very soft and keeps me a bit warmer during
the harsh winter nights. I loved the picture drawn by Sophia, how is
my niece? I hope she is well? I know that she worries about me, please
show her my letters, tell her I am thinking of her and that I am well.
On Christmas Day, something very strange happened. We had several
games of football in No-Man’s Land with the enemy. It was a strange
but wonderful experience; I had a lot of fun. I met a young man called
Franz Bauer, whose father is currently in Germany working on his
farm and helping towards the war effort. He showed me a picture of
his girlfriend, and I in turn showed him mine. I told him about my life
back home, about how I was an apprentice to a carpenter. We
exchanged addresses and promised, that if and when this war was
over, we would write to each other. It was a good day, however, when
night fell, everyone returned to their trenches and the next day we
were back to fighting.
I found it quite difficult firing over to the enemy trenches yesterday.
There was a voice in the back of my head saying, ‘You could have just
killed Franz’ but I had to persevere and do my duties to serve my
King and country.
In the trenches we do not have much to give as gifts. However, I do
have a little bit of money, and during my weekend off, I went into the
closest village, it was about a three mile walk, and bought a box of
chocolates. I know that it is not much but I have ensured that there is
a chocolate for each family member, just so they know that I am
thinking about them and miss them all dearly.
Merry Christmas Everyone
Your son
Amos Charles Ashdown
Monday 21st January 1915
Dear Mother and Father,
Happy New Year! Sorry I have not had chance to write, but I have
been extremely busy. I heard news today that there was a zeppelin
raid on Britain on Saturday! I hope that nobody we know was injured
or killed. Please let me know how everybody is doing; I miss them all
dearly. Hearing news like this makes me even more determined to
defend our country and defeat the enemy.
I regret to inform you that I have trench foot and so far have lost the
little toe on my left foot. It is painful but bearable, the nurse has put a
bandage around what is left of my little toe to try and stop it
becoming infected. I know that after telling you this, you will worry
about me more than you are currently, but please do not, I am alive
and well.
Edward was shot in the left arm a couple of days ago by the enemy. I
am extremely lucky that it did not hit me; it skimmed by right arm
and hit Edward. I immediately took him to the field hospital where he
had the bullet removed and the wound was bandaged up. Thank
goodness it was only a flesh wound; otherwise he might not have
survived. He has been suspended from fighting for two weeks to allow
the wound time to heal. I go and visit him in the field hospital every
day after dinner to keep him company and tell him about the events
of the day. I can tell that the first few days he was enjoying his time
in hospital, but now he is getting bored and is eager to get back to
fighting on the front line.
The conditions in the trenches are getting worse! My uniform is
infested with lice! I am extremely itchy and have bites all over my
body. I have been shown a way of getting rid of them though, you pass
a candle over your uniform and you can hear them pop like popcorn.
Speaking of popcorn, I do miss home-cooked food, especially your
chicken casserole, it was always my favourite. The food here is
extremely bland. Most of our food is canned corned beef, bread and
biscuits. The biscuits and bread go stale though and sometimes the rats
eat the meat. The kitchen staff cook everything in large pans and
saucepans so everything we consume tastes like something else. This
morning my tea tasted like last night’s vegetable soup. It was
revolting! The kitchen staff put our meals in cooking pots, petrol cans
and old jam jars then carry them to us in a box, but by the time they
reach us on the front line our hot meal has gone stone cold.
Since arriving, I have been involved in a vast amount of front line
fighting and I am becoming more and more annoyed by the day. They
said the war would be over by Christmas! Christmas has been and
gone! Every day I see my friends and colleagues knocked down like
dominos. I would just like to know that someone somewhere is trying
to find where, in this sea of mass of murder, lays the solution to end
the war.
When I enlisted in the army I was full of energy and enthusiasm, but
now I wish that I could return home. I am praying that the war will
be over soon so I can see everyone again.
Love to you all.
Your Son
Amos Charles Ashdown
Saturday 20th February 1915
Dear Mother and Father,
I have some terrible news. Edward’s condition has worsened. The
nurses predicted that he would soon be well again, however, he has
taken a turn for the worse. After the two weeks rest, we all assumed
he would be able to fight again, however this is not the case. He had
been complaining of having headaches and feeling nauseous for a few
days but the nurse had said that it was just a common cold. However,
when the nurse was changing Edward’s dressings today whilst I was
conversing with him, she took one look at the wound; hastily re-did the
dressing with the same bandages and rushed off. She returned with
another nurse and the doctor. They all had a look at the wound and
delivered their verdict. Edward’s wound had become infected, which
would be the reason he was feeling unwell. They have put some iodine
on the wound, it smelled appalling and I could see from Edward’s
facial expressions that it was stinging quite a bit. The doctors and
nurses have said that the iodine should clear up the infection but we
will have to wait and see.
We have progressed in our fighting so my fellow soldiers and 1 were
required to build another trench today. It took us six hours and 450
men to construct 273 yards meters of trench. Then we had to add
barbed wire, sand bags, and board walks. We were constantly at risk
of being shot at by the enemy whilst constructing the trenches. It was
a mammoth task. I was lucky that I was not killed today, as when a
new trench is being constructed we are unprotected from enemy fire.
I was just out of the line of fire and I dug my 2 yard by 2 yard section
of the trench as quickly as I could. However, we lost a hundred men
whilst building the trench today and we lost many more from
fighting. I fear that as we are losing so many men, the British
government will introduce conscription. I am praying that this does
not happen because that means that cousin Henry will be called up to
fight.
I have heard that Germany have declared a submarine blockade of
Britain and all approaching ships are considered targets. It might be
a good idea if you stock up on basic food such as sugar and butter as
this news means there may be a shortage of food.
I look forward to hearing from you soon, I miss everyone greatly.
Please give them my love.
Your Son
Amos Charles Ashdown
Sunday 14th March 1915
Dear Mother and Father,
I have some devastating news. Edward Smith has passed away. I went
to visit him today and, when I arrived at the Field Hospital, one of
the nurses informed me of his demise. I am devastated. Edward was
my best friend, someone I could trust and rely on. I have other friends
but I feel as if I am now all alone in this sea of disaster. I burst into
tears. He was like my brother but I never got to tell him how good a
friend he had been to me and now I will never get the chance, I did
not even get chance to say goodbye.
I left the Field Hospital, took a slow walk back to the trenches and
tried to comprehend what had happened. When I returned to the
trenches I sat down and tried to eat some lunch but I struggled. I only
had two mouthfuls of corned beef. After lunch I was fighting again.
There is not time to feel sad and receive sympathy in the war. People
get killed every day and you have to learn to keep your feelings to
yourself and you have to remember that everyone is in the same boat
as you and nobody gets any special treatment or time grieve.
I know that I need to be positive and I know that he is no longer in
pain, but it is extremely difficult. I have tried to keep my mind off it
by keeping busy by fighting for my King and Country but when I am
not fighting I struggle to keep my feelings inside. I feel like I would
like to stand at the top of the trench and scream and shout about how
awful the conditions are I would like to challenge the commanders in
London to come and see for themselves the true cost of this war.
I am praying the war will be over soon but I have my doubts. They
claimed it would be over by Christmas, and here we are three months
later still sitting in the freezing cold trenches having made hardly
any progress. The only difference is we have a lot less men, who
bravely gave their lives to defend their country.
Do not worry about me mother and father; I am sure that I will calm
down. I suppose the reason I am infuriated is partly because of the
premature death of Edward. The enthusiasm and ideals I had when I
volunteered for this war have long vanished and I now feel numb. I
perform my duties as though in a terrible dream, no longer knowing
what to believe in.
I cannot wait to hear from you again soon, your letters are what are
keeping me going.
Love to you all, your son,
Amos Charles Ashdown
Tuesday 6th April 1915
Dear Mother and Father,
I fear this may be my last letter to you, I am feeling extremely unwell.
I am both mentally and physically tired of the fighting and atrocious
conditions. I have not eaten in several days as I am finding it difficult
to stomach anything. The mud is sapping my spirit from my body. I
am finding it difficult to move around the trenches as I am so weak.
I am finding it challenging to write this letter. The words are getting
jumbled and my hands are constantly shaking, please excuse my
penmanship.
I fear that I will never see your faces again or ever return home and
smell mother’s chicken casserole and fresh baked bread.
I had a dream last night that the war was over and I had returned
home a hero to your loving embrace. I woke with a shock and a heavy
heart at 2am this morning as we were being fired upon and I realised
it had been a dream.
I hope to write again soon if my strength holds up. Send my love to
my girlfriend and the rest of our family.
Your son
Amos Charles Ashdown
MADAM, IT IS MY PAINFUL DUTY TO INFORM YOU THAT A REPORT HAS
THIS DAY BEEN RECEIVED FROM THE WAR OFFICE NOTIFYING THE
DEATH OF L/8230 LANCE SERJEANT AMOS CHARLES ASHDOWN, THE
QUEEN’S OWN (ROYAL WEST KENT REGIMENT) WHICH OCCURRED ON 6TH
OF MAY 1915 AND I AM TO EXPRESS TO YOU THE SYMPATHY AND
REGRET OF THE ARMY COUNCIL AT YOUR LOSS. THE CAUSE OF DEATH
WAS KILLED IN ACTION. ANY APPLICATION YOU MAY WISH TO MAKE
REGARDING THE LATE SOLDIERS EFFECTS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO
THE SECRETARY, WAR OFFICE, WHITEHALL, LONDON.
In Memory of
Lance Serjeant
Amos Charles Ashdown
L/8230, 1st Bn., Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) who died on 06 May 1915
Remembered with Honour
Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial
Commemorated in perpetuity by
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
This is a picture of Amos Charles Ashdown’s entry on the Ypres
Menin Gate Memorial (panel 45 and 47).