First experiences of Chatham Barracks in World War I

My great grandfather, Herbert Jollyman, was sent to Chatham Barracks in Kent for training at the beginning of the First World War.

He wrote almost 200 letters home to his wife, which have survived as a remarkable account of his experiences.

Here’s an extract from his first letter home:

In the first place, I am feeling very well, much better than I anticipated. At Warley one of the first duties was to draw my pay which I did, and asked no questions, but understood it was for 3 days pay & rations. & amount was 7/9 & the first thing I did after getting my clothes on was to go to the canteen & have a meal, Ham Tomato, Bread & Butter & a Cup of tea for which I paid 7d.

That over, I sauntered back to the barrack square & waited till time to fall in & then when I found we had to wait a couple of hours, chummed up with a very decent young fellow and went out to the post & got rid of some money for which I expect you have had the receipts. Had a walk through the town, a glass of lemonade & then back for our kits & a nice hot march to the station, & didn’t I just about perspire, phew! It rolled down first one side then the other & thankful we were it was downhill to the station.

The journey was uneventful & the Sergeant in charge of us said we should have a ten minutes walk from the station to the barracks, & we did. It took us 25 minutes before we got to our tent, lugging our kit in one hand, overcoat & blankets & groundsheet all bundled up in the other.

We dumped it down with many thanks & then marched over to the parade ground & were registered… We then had tea – bread & Butter, fried bacon & tea. Not so dusty for a start.

Then back to our tents & prepare for the night. I couldn’t get to sleep for a long while, not that the bed was hard, naturally there was not much spring in it, but groundsheet, doubled blanket & overcoat to lie on made quite a respectable cushion, and if I could have dropped off at once I should have had a good night’s rest. As it was I had only 3 or 4 hours as although I woke too early, I thought it safer to get up then rather than later.

We have a squad all to ourselves, mostly old men – like myself – & 2 or 3 youngsters & one only 18 – but the old stagers are complimented as being the smarter. After breakfast at ¼ to 8 consisting of boiled cod, parsley sauce, bread, B and coffee, we had our first lessons in drill, right turn, left turn, about turn, halt! Stand at ease, stand easy, ‘shun! Form fours, &c, &c.

As it threatened rain, we were marched back to the marquees where we have our meals, & had a lecture on first aid by a lieutenant, a good speaker with just enough humour to add a spice to an otherwise dry subject. To, any rate, those who like myself are not particularly struck in that line.

I quite forgot to mention that we have a cup of tea & biscuit at ½ past 5, so you see I don’t do so badly after all, the only difference is we have to walk across to the marquee for it instead of having it brought up on a tray by a very nice girl I know.

PS I should much prefer the latter, but must wait a week or so for that I expect.