March 1916
MELIZCOURT & TOURBE
Days at Rest: 12
Days in Trenches: 19
Total Casualties (KIA): 11
1st March
7e DI JMO day review: The river is no longer flooded and the water in the trenches is improving. A couple of exchanges in the Calvaire sector of the 315e, but otherwise a quiet day in the trenches during daylight. In the evening however the French railway gun opened fire and the Germans counted on the town of Neuville, which was shelled in the evening around 21h00
“Tonight Jules mentioned they are going into the frontline trenches for 4 days. The good news is that during the day everything has calmed down a “bit”, so everybody hopes that will be the case this evening, when moving up to the frontline.
As previously mentioned in the letter of the 25th February, postage rules from the front have been changed, which means soldiers are no longer allowed to send items back home*. Jules now assumes this information has come out in the papers, but there is little surprise to know that the new policy has not gone down well with Jules and other soldiers “faut tout supporter et ne rien dire”. This rule change does mean that the ring he is making for Jeanne, is going to have to wait to be sent”
Letter – Trenches day 5 moving into frontline: Ring finished
*Write up to follow here on the French Postale service during the war
Casualties: 3 wounded from shrapnel (including Captaine Morineau 21e)
Melzicourt frontline
2nd March
7e DI JMO day review: Rifle and machine gun exchanges in the western sectors near Tourbe, with the Germans in the morning. German guns focused on bombarding the Bois d’Hauzy and “cases Canadiennes” and a violent bombardment on Vienne la Ville.
Les canons tonne tout le temps, jamais je n’ai entendu tel vacarme
letter 2nd march
“Letter written around 08h00 on 2nd March. Back in the in the frontline trenches, with the handover completed at midnight, the weather is now lot less cold and wet, which finally means the mud can start to dry. One element that has not changed is the continuous firing of the artillery from both sides. The sleeping arrangements at the front are cramped and they are three sleeping in a small corner, where only 1 can sleep on the floor at a time, so they are having to take turns…. But there is hope that the situation may change in the coming days”
Letter – Trenches Day 6: Sleeping arrangements
Below are pictures of the French artillery stationed in the Melzicourt area during this period. The photos were taken by Daniel Durand of the 315e regiment and show a French 75 and a 120
4th March
7e DI JMO day review: Quiet day, with two violent bombardments but not in the 315e sector
“The Melizcourt sector, as hoped, is quiet and during the 14e compagnie time on the line, they have had no injuries. As Jules points out that is mainly due to the giant lake that is separating both frontline and preventing either side from attacking. Therefore the main danger night and day are shells, but they have good “abri” to hide from them!
There has also been some issues recently with the post, due to the “Vaguemestres” pick ups becoming more and more irregular. Tomorrow evening they are moving out of the trenches back into a rest period, but this time there will be little rest. As they have been tasked with building more trenches …. Which at least is more interesting than doing guard duty, but Jules hopes that his “signaleurs” course may get him out of doing too much manual work! Final comment from Jules, which is no surprise, that due to the situation at Verdun, all leave is suspended”
Letter – Trenches Day 8: all quiet at Melzicourt
Casualties: 1 killed by shrapnel
5th March
7e DI JMO day review: A balloon (unsure if French or German) is spotted in the sector and it falls in the German front lines
“Le 05, relève par le 102e dans les mêmes conditions: CHARMERESSE (5e bat.), LA NEUVILLE (EM, CHR, 2 CM, 4 et 6e bat.)”.
315e are relieved without incident by the 102e and the 4e (jules) & 6e Bat go to Rest at Neuville and the 5e to Charmeresse.
La bataille contenue sur Verdun car nous entendons un grondement continu.
Quel massacre que cette bataille
“Today they are due to leave the trenches in the evening and the weather is very favourable. Just before writing this letter Jules says that he has been photographed in front of their shelter/trench with two other friends. Jules hopes that the photo is good and he will be able to send it when he get a copy during the up coming rest period. Nothing new in their sector, they can still hear the continuous rumbling from the Verdun battlefield. Due to the quiet nature of their time at the front, Jules has finished the ring and is ready to be sent. As previously mentioned post is suspended and no items can be sent, but Jules has a plan to send it through civilian post during his next rest period”
Letter – Last day in Trenches: Photo taken
Casualties: 1 (Albun Didia Godard 20e compagnie died in Bois D’Hauzy)
Photo Analysis: which one is it?
In the above letter Jules mentioned he has just had a photo take with two friends and he hopes the photo comes out well, so he can send it once he receives it. Which photo is it?
…..find the full analysis of the photo here
6th March
Temps une carte simple car on n’ose plus rien dire, cette carte arrivera peut-être……
“All letters from the front are suspended, therefore today he sends a postcard, but with very little information. As Jules says as they dare not say anything, which suggests rumours and heresay are awash in the trenches. He does confirm they left the trench during the night and back at rest, but he is unsure if this postcard will even arrive”
Postcard – First day of rest period: Letters suspended
7th March
Il neige mais pour nous nous ne craignions plus rien, nous sommes habitués à tout.
“It seems that the post suspension has been lifted, as one letter has found its way back to Jeanne and Jules has received a letter aswell. Therefore Jules will try tomorrow to send the ring via the army postal service, but with the back up to send via the civilian post in town …. The talk of the trenches is of peace soon …. but Jules hope is true, but as a harden soldier now he believes very little he hears. Finally winter is still having its final say, with snowing coming back, but as Jules mentions … they are use to everything now, so they will be fine.
Letter – Rest period: ring sent
“Hopeful undertone in the letter of talk of peace soon” For context on the 7th February the Germans captured the Hill 360 near Verdun and the Germans are still advancing at Verdun. Therefore such a statement or hearsay is very unusual, unless soldiers thought that the war was going to be lost soon, which says little for the soldiers moral at the time.
Casualties: 1
8th March
Nous allons travailler cette nuit et faire des tranchées, encore un drôle de repo
letter 8th march
“Despite hope yesterday that letters were moving again normally, it seems it was false information and letters are still suspended, therefore the sending of the ring has been put on hold.
Currently still on their rest period, but as predicted there has not been much rest for the 16e compagnie, as tonight they are spending the night digging new trenches”
Letter – Rest period: Post suspended
9th March
“20h00 in the evening and still no letters, which can only mean that letters are still suspended. The lack of letters is adding to Jules « cafard », which has been caused by his teeth playing up again. The trench work from the previous night, was a snowy and cold affair”
Letter – Rest period
The boredom of the rest period (day 4) is now setting in again, with less rest than expected and letters being suspended. This shows how quickly moral can start to drop, but also how important the postal service was for moral of the troops.
Casualties: 1
SLT Ernest Auguste Felix Renard
Reported “disparu” after 25/9/1915 Auberive
Wounded and taken prisoner of war
Died in German Hospital at Trier on the 9th March
10th March
Ici il ne faudrait jamais être malade ou alors sérieusement pour être évacué sur une civiere ou un sac, mais j’aime encore mieux rester ici
letter 10th March
“Post is still suspended, plus the cold weather has set in with snow falling, but there is a silver lining that tonight the compagnie will not be digging trenches. Jules teeth have started to get better again, but it also means he gets time to think about if he could use his teeth issues as a way for some time off. Unfortunately as Jules puts it, the only way out is via a stretcher or a body bag, therefore “mieux rester ici”.
Intriguingly he does mention that during “these times” i.e. rest periods is when many soldiers try pull a “sicky”
Letter – Rest period: how ill to be sent away?
11th March
la neige va fondre et peut-être fera-t-il moins froid car dans plus beaucoup de jours, va falloir retourner voir les boches
letter 11th march
12th March
Confirmation he is “due” to train a squad of “grenadiers” in an English camp for 5 days during the next rest period, which is why Jules asks for 25 francs from his uncle, because he will need the money for the training course
Postcard
The “grenadiers” training is actually to head up a “nettoyeurs de tranchees” unit “trench cleaning unit.
13th March
“Le 13, le 315e relève le 102e, mêmes conditions: 4e bat. (MELZICOURT), 5e bat. (42), 6e bat. (cases canadiennes)”
During the night at 20h00 the 315e go back into another tour of the frontlines, with the 4e bat going to Melzicourt, 5e bat to 42 and 6e bat to “cases canadiennes”
Confirmation from today letter written at 14h00, that letters are now arriving and departing, which brighten Jules and his units mood before going back into the frontline later today. Jules enquires again to make sure the 25 francs are going to be sent, plus signs off to say they will be leaving for the front in the next 30 minutes
Letter – back to Melizcourt
Casualties: 2
(Charles Vandemal – Adolphe Dubie both died of previously sustained wounded)
Below pictures from the 2 Poiriers Trench
14th March
7e DI JMO day review: Calm day apart from in the western sector (315e) with rifle fire exchanged during the day and night and intermittent artillery from the Germans
A demain, je vais faire un petit tour aux tranchées
letter 14th march
“Back into the trenches at the Melzicourt sector, for another tour. Now into mid-march the weather is getting better and the handover went well. One part that has changed, are the Germans, that are rather excitable …. with artillery and rifle fire all day. Duty time on this tour so far has been limited, with only 2 patrols to be done during the 4 days in the frontlines.
In addition Jules comments that he will be going on a training course on the 25th March for 8 days to learn how to throw/launch a new type of grenade. He is going with his friend in the compagnies called Dole (who was mentioned in a previous letter on 14th January). Jules is excited about the course, because post course he thinks they will be able to create specialist units within the 4e battalion. Reflecting on their rest period it seems it was especially long, due to the fact they had no wine to drink due to the price of wine in the region sky rocketing to 28 sous for Red and 30 sous for White (around 1.5f). The assumption is that tobacco is the same and Jules asks for a parcel of tobacco to be sent, as it has become sparse even in larger towns like St Menehould.
The ring which were due to be sent last week, still has not. Nice touch at the end of the letter as he mentions he is off for a stroll in the trenches
Letter – First day back in trenches: wine prices and shortages, grenade course
Casualties: 1 (Georges Louis Latouche)
16th March
7e DI JMO day review: Calm day for the most part, apart from some heavy calibre shells in the afternoon around 14-15h00 and then small rounds in the late afternoon around 16h00
Regiment rumour mill is up and running and there is talk of them moving to a new sector soon, which is not welcomed news as their sector has quieten down. One areas that is continually an issue for the 315e and the French army in general is food. Jules complains about have nothing to eat and drink and is this because there is nothing to eat or that supply chains are blocked, to which Jules comments if this is the case then it is doing very little to encourage the men to fight
Letter – Day 3 Frontlines: No food
Mal nourris et rien à boire, plus de café, si ce régime continue cela n’est pas fait pour nous encourager
Casualties: 1 (George Louis Verrier)
18th March
7e DI JMO day review: Calm day, work in the western sector is focused on building more shelters in and around “pruneau”. German artillery inactive, whilst the French artillery is active
Jules is writing the letter whilst German planes are buzzing around overhead and the artillery are taking pot shots at them, so Jules decides its time to move to the shelter. The 16e compagnie has now moved down from the frontlines into the reserve trenches. No other news of note
Letter – Day 5 frontline tour
19th March
7e DI JMO day review: Calm day apart from bombardmart of ouvrage O with around 50 shells
Quel fourbi de tout et quand donc la fin
Nothing new to note today. Food and drink situation still dire and artillery have been keeping the regiment up all night with their incessant bombardment ….
Letter – Day 6 frontline tour
Since the 16th March, there has been a lack of food and drinkable water, which means the mood and moral of Jules is wavering and his letters over the pass 3 days have shown this, especially today where he describes the situation as a “quel fourbi” i.e what a mess.
20th March
7e DI JMO day review: Calm day, more work done at Pruneau and Le Verger to improve shelters
Ce matin des officiers d’état major visitaient le secteur
Tomorrow the 16e compagnie is out of the trenches and back into another rest period tomorrow night. Rumour are back that they will be changing sector, which has also been fuelled by the d’etat major visiting their sector in the morning. Apart form that nothing new apart from there has been heavy artillery to the right of their position all night
Letter – Day 7: Another photo sent
Another photo is mentioned as having been sent, which is of “une tranchée de première ligne près de notre abri” is this finally the below photo, click here to find out
21st March
7e DI JMO day review: Calm day, hand over to the 102e passed without incident.
“Le 21, relève par le 102e, cantonnement CHARMERESSE (6e bat.), LA NEUVILLE (EM, CHR, 2 CM, 4 et 5e bat”
315e are relieved by the 102e and the 4e & 6e Bat go to Rest at Neuville and the 6e Bat to Charmeresse.
Je vous avais demandé de m’envoyer 25 f, mais peut-être n’avez vous pas reçu cette carte?
Postcard from from Neuville where Jules is worried, why is he worried you may ask? well it seems the 25 francs he asked for have not arrived, along with the extra tobacco. So Jules questions if Jeanne has been receiving his letters or is just ignoring him.
Casualties: 1 (Sgt fourrier Gontran Rene Schenck died of wounds)
22nd March
Order has been resorted in Jules world and tobacco and 25 francs have now arrived. However his long awaited “grenadier” course has been postpone and instead he is now going to another course to learn how to use a new “fusil mitrailleur”
Postcard
The assumption here is that Jules is learning the “fusil mitrailleur modèle 1915” which enter service in late 1915/ early 1916. The “Chauchat” as it was known is picture below
23rd March
Mais lui n’use pas beaucoup de plumes pour m’écrire trois fois par mois
Rest period for the 4e battalion and nothing new to report. Today Jules has been reliving is pre war job as a police officer, which was rather dull as their were not many people outside to check their papers, plus it was cold and wet.
Today for the first time in a long time Jules gets news from his brother Camille. This seems to be quite a rare event as Jules comments that he does not use his pen very often to write.
Letter – Rest period
24th March
The 4e bat and Jules are still on their rest period, but they have just found out they are on the move
Jules today has news that they will be moving tomorrow back to their old sector in Tourbe. His comment is that at least it is an area we know and we don’t have to go too far! They will therefore be in the frontlines for 6 days from tomorrow evening. The one hope from Jules is that it is less wet than the last time they were there from November to early January.
25th March
7e DI JMO day review: confirmation of multiple troop changes
Le 25, la 14e brigade devenant réserve d’armée, la 124e DI étend son secteur jusqu’à la route de CERNAY excluse. Le secteur de la 7e DI est compris entre cette route incluse et l’AISNE. Le 315e occupe le sous-secteur ouest dans lequel il relève le 103e. Deux subdivisions partagent ce secteur:
– 1 : subdivision du VERGER occupée par les hussards
– 2: subdivision du CALVAIRE (4e bat (Jules bat) et CM1
315e Back at Ville-sur-Tourbe
Official 315e RI records state that on the 25th March the RI moved back to their old sector of Ville sur Tourbe, replacing the 103e RI
First postcard back in the Ville-sur-Tourbe trenches, where the weather for once is nice. Nothing new to add, apart from hoping that it will be a quiet next 6 days.
Letter – changing sector tomorrow
Casualties: 2 (Paul Cristofini – Alexandre Maunoury)
26th March
7e DI JMO day review: Focus of work in the sector is on shelters, the worked is carried out by the 4e Bat in Calvaire sector.
On mange toujours froid, cela n’est guère bon
The 4e bat arrived at midnight yesterday back in their old trenches in the sector of Ville sur Tourbe after a long walk. The bat themselves are finding the adjustment back to the sector hard, as they have been use to Melzicourt sector which has fewer trenches, compared to the maze of trenches in the Tourbe sector. This sector is bit better than when they left, but the trenches are still full of mud and the situation likely to get worse as it has just started raining. Good news is that currently the Germans are calm and quiet, but how long will it last? Jules confirms their tour of the trenches is for 6 days and then 6 days rest, then 6 days in reserve trenches and 6 days in front lines…. Finally after that they will get 12 rest. Therefore 315e and Jules have a tough couple of weeks ahead, plus there are problems with getting food to the front again. The current situation is that the compagnie are only getting food in the evening, and when the food arrives its stone cold … and its going to be like this for 6 days.
Letter – Day 2 in the trenches
Je ne sais si ce calme durera, arrivés on entend même pas un coup de canon, ni de fusil
letter 26th march
27th March
7e DI JMO day review: Below is the overview of next rest and frontline tour periods
28th March
C’est une forêt de fils de fer
Jules mentions he was part of a patrol into no mans land, which was more challenging than normal, as it was an inky black night, plus the amount of barbed wire in the area has turned no mans land into an “iron forest”. Despite the darkness and the dense wire, the patrol got up close, to about 10m from the Germans lines, more by accident than by planning. Therefore as Jules comments he was delighted made it back to French lines without a shot fired.
Letter – Patrol in no-man land for Jules:
29th March
7e DI JMO day review: Couple of rifle exchanges during the day, with a couple of intense exchanges around 6h30, 16h30 and 18h30.
A grim night on watch with a gusting wind and sleet falling. Jules is writing the letter at 02h30 in the morning, after finishing his rounds to check in with sentries in the trenches. The night is as dark as inky as the previous night on patrol. There is artillery firing and machine guns sporadically firing at the sound of any noise, which means Jules is having to move around quietly in mud, which is proving to be very hard. At least for Jules after his duty, he can go and warm himself in his shelter, but the poor sentries and men in his section are stuck outside in the wind and sleet.
Letter – day 4 in the trenches
Casualties: 3 wounded, including a telephone operator catch in rifle fire
30th March
7e DI JMO day review: In the 315e sector an aircraft was seen to fall behind the enemy lines after being hit by a projectile
Postcard: Nothing new, but the weather has improved which has improved Jules mood and morale. “Vivement Dimanche” so they can get out of the trenches.
31st March
7e DI JMO day review: Calm day, “Montagu” trench has been finished and a munitions store is being started near the “Deliberos” trench. In the afternoon there was a short bombardment of Ville-s-Tourbe and a small bombardment of the “Vix” trench
Comme des taupes nous sommes terrés dans nos tranchées, pas un seul homme, ni une tête ne se voit au dessus des tranchées, c’est la guerre et on ne voit personne, mais cependant tout remue partout
31st March Letter
End of March today and time to reflect on another month gone, stuck buried in the ground like a mole (see description above). As Jules explains, there is a very good reason for being buried like a mole, because despite being 300m from the Germans, if he were to show his face or helmet over the parapet, it would be swiftly followed by a rattle of machine gun fire.
At least the compagnie is safe in the knowledge and thankful that they are staying in this quiet sector compared to being sent to the raging furnace of Verdun. For the last two days it has been quiet and the sun is out and drying the mud and spring is in full swing. Only 2 more days left until another rest period
Letter – day 6 in the trenches
Casualties: 4 wounded including 1 Sergent
Next Month: April
