We were informed by Col. Ralston that we would remain for at least five weeks at Rubempre which time was to be spent in training and reorganising and in enjoying ourselves as much as possible in our spare time, a very cheerful prospect indeed after the strenuous times we had been through. The first thing to be done was to re-equip and reorganise our platoons and companies which took up the first week of our spell, at the end of which week we shone like new pins and were even blessed with an officer in charge of our platoon. The next week, we began to train in real earnest. Reveille was blown at 6.30 am and the following half hour was spent in physical exercise and running exercise in the open spaces on the outskirts of the village.
After breakfast at 9 am the companies were fallen in on the roadside in front of the billets where the rolls were checked and our officer, Lt. Browning, carried out an inspection of our rifles and gear and personal appearance. Then the whole battalion was marched in column of route to a training ground about four kilometres distant on the outskirts of a forest, and there we went through the morning’s training, composed of Bayonet fighting, Gas drill, musketry, company and platoon drill, skirmishing in open order and field exercises, such as the attacking of imaginary strong points.
The training was carried out under the supervision of a Staff Captain from Brigade Headquarters who was not always very complimentary in his remarks to the Officers and N.C.O.’s if they made a mistake. One day, I was ordered to give my platoon some rifle exercises. But since I had only recently been promoted corporal, whilst in the forward area, I did not possess much knowledge of the methods of drilling a platoon, so of course, I made a terrible hash of the attempt. The Staff Captain watched me for five minutes and then called me up and asked me if I was aware that I had made twenty mistakes in the last five minutes. I stated my case, however, and respectfully asked him if he thought it would be a good idea to send Corporals like myself to an Infantry Training School where they would probably be in a position to learn their jobs.
At 12 o’clock the training ceased for two hours, during which time the men were allowed to rest and eat lunch. On such occasions the battalion cookers were brought out to provide hot tea for the men. After lunch, the training continued until 3.30 pm, at which hour we were formed up in column of route again and marched back to billets.
For five solid weeks, the battalion went through this form of training and at the end of that time it would be difficult to find a more fit or smarter looking battalion throughout France. Of course, besides our training, we had our times of pleasure. On one occasion, the 20th Battalion played a football match under league rules, against the 17th Battalion, and after a strenuous and exciting game, the 20th Btn. won by 14 to nil. On this occasion, I scored two tries. The same night a travelling concert troupe from another division entertained the battalion in the Y.M.C.A. hut, affording the men great amusement. During the second week, a fancy dress carnival was organised by the 17th and 20th Battalions at Rubempre which was exceedingly well carried out and was very amusing. Some men were dressed women, having borrowed female attire from the local civilians, whilst others blackened their faces and did themselves up to represent niggers. One man went as “Chudley” carrying a bag with “the answer” inscribed on it and only wearing a light calico skirt with the sleeves cut out.
Lt. McColl, platoon commander of No. 10 Platoon dressed up as a Tommy private, whilst Lt. Browning dressed himself as a German prisoner, in charge of Lt. McColl. The German prisoner wheeled a barrow under the escort of the Tommy private with fixed bayonet. The prisoner carried out his part so well that the French women were completely deceived, one old dame bringing her umbrella down on the shoulders of Lt. Browning with a crack that was sufficient to break it. This caused roars of laughter from the troops and it was some time before the old French woman could be made to understand that the supposed German prisoner was in reality, Lt. Browning. Then the poor old lady became frightened and could not be sorry enough, which caused a good deal more amusement. Altogether, the fancy dress carnival was a huge success and it was classed as an event in the history of the Village by the local villagers who talked about it for months after.
The Brigade also held a sports carnival, lasting two days, at Contay, a village about four kilometres distant. The events included running, jumping, walking, pole vaulting, etc. while a boxing tournament was also run in conjunction.
In the 5th Brigade, were several boxers of considerable reputation so that during the tournament we witnessed some excellent boxing bouts. Reg Sproule was champion middle and heavyweight. At the end of the fourth week of our stay at Rubempre, the second division held an Horse show or Horse Sports. Prizes were awarded for the best officers hack, high jump and flat race etc. while prizes were also awarded for the best pair of farm horses produced by the local civilian inhabitants in the Brigade Area. To all these carnivals and shows etc. we of course had to parade in holiday attire, i.e. belts and loose order.
The sports were always welcome because it afforded the troops a spell away from the monotonous routine of training and fatigues, but Horse shows were about the slowest form of amusement ever invented in the army and as soon as the troops arrived at the grounds and were dismissed, we generally made our way back to billets independently, leaving the Horse show to those who could not get away or who were really interested.
Whilst at Rubempre, I was raised from temporary corporal to Lance Sergeant, which rank gave me the privilege of the Sergeants mess, besides giving me many more responsible duties. I was now a platoon sergeant with all the hundred and one worries attached to the position. I was responsible to my officer for everything connected with the workings of the platoon, such as the equipment, rations, roll calls, etc. whilst I frequently had to take charge of the platoon on the training ground. Every week it fell to my turn to be orderly sergeant, either for the company or the battalion, which meant that I was then responsible for the cleanliness of billets, feeding, fatigues, guards piquets, lights out and reveille, etc. Also, as it came round to my turn I had to take charge of the Quarter Guard when I was responsible for the prisoners in detention, for my own guard, Government property and the law and order of the camp,etc. So that it can easily be seen that with my rise to the rank of Sergeant, my duties and responsibilities had materially increased.
However, I did not mind as my pay had increased with it, and moreover I was exempt myself from having to perform the manual work, sentry duty and general guard, and had better food and accommodation and was out of the common herd.
Leave was granted daily to a small percentage of the battalion and on two occasions I availed myself of the privilege to visit Amiens which was only about 14 kilometres distant. As soon as we had received our passes and were inspected by the Orderly Officer, we were free for the day to do as we pleased, and generally made for the Doullens-Amiens road, and waited until a motor lorry should come along, going to Amiens. When at last one did arrive, we would climb in and be rattled and jolted along at about 15 miles an hour towards Amiens. At the Barrier, we had to show our passes to the guard stationed there and then would proceed into the city until the Railway Station was reached. Then we would get out of the lorries and mix with the cosmopolitan crowd in the streets and spend the remainder of our day in poking about the restaurants and shops and in seeing anything of interest that there was to be seen, until it was time to return.
Then we would catch a lorry going towards Doullens and would eventually arrive back at Rubempre in time for Tattoo Roll Call at 10.30 pm. Thus our five weeks rest at Rubempre passed delightfully by, amidst the glorious spring weather for which France is famous. Our health and strength had returned to our bodies, and that bad dream, the Somme winter, had almost faded from our minds as we enjoyed ourselves in the midst of such glorious surroundings of golden sunshine and peaceful rural scenery.