Robert Bragg to his mother, Gwendoline

Robert writes to his mother from school about a training exercise he went on with the cadets.

Dryden, May 30

Dear Mother

I am so sorry that I have written so little this week but I have to work in ever spare moment to get my prep done. We have had a field day this week, on last Thursday we got up at 6.15 & donned our uniforms with great glee but when we came down stairs it was to find it pouring with rain. We had breakfast at 7 still hoping that it would clear up and we would be able to go. Well it did clear up & we assembled at the schools where 15 rounds of blank cartridges were dolled out. Then we marched down to the station with the school band on ahead. The band succeeded in awaking all the people of Oundle who watched us pass from their windows.

We entrained & went about 12 miles in the direction of Peterboro’. At a small way side station we got out and marched in the direction of the enemy who were posted in a small village about 5 miles away. We were all equipped with rifles ammunition — belts haversacks waterbottles & belts with bayonets, altogether weighing a good deal we were attacking the Oundle Yeomanry (mounted) and had some other horsemen on our side. We met the rest of our side about 3 miles from the station. Then we marched on towards the enemy & when we got near extended so that each man was about 15 paces from his neighbour. We went in a straight line over & through everything I can tell you it was no joke running over a few miles of ploughed fields all damp & sticky with the rain. Then we would suddenly get the order to lie down & commence firing for by this time we were quite near the enemy. At first we lay down in the mud but then we were about as muddy as possible we did not mind so much. We had to walk bang through any hedges we happened to meet and as they were all those great prickly box thorn ones about 10ft high. I am still covered with scratches from them.

ell we succeeded in capturing the village & had a rest to eat our lunch each haversack contained a battered role & hard boiled eggs a piece of cheese & 3 big sticks of chocolate provided by Juggie wasn’t it decent of him. In the afternoon we tried to take the camp itself which was even a harder ‘sweat’ because we were on ploughed fields the whole time. This time I am sorry to say we were outflanked. After the sham fight we were entertained at the camp so to speak. We were given mineral water & cake the drink was most welcome. When we started back it started to pour & came down in sheets all the way to the station which was about 3 miles from the camp. We got out at one station & got in again about 2 stations further on. There was a push ball at the camp the first I have seen we had a fine time with it.

When we got back we had hot cocoa & bread & butter which was most welcome. Then we changed & I did some work. Matter dear I think perhaps you had better send me some more black socks because I can’t wear those coloured ones they are too gaudy apparently it is all right to wear ones of one colour only but if you employ more than one colour they are pronounced unwearable. Do you think I ought to go to camp at the end of term, it takes up the first week of the holidays, do you know where or when we are going away or are we going to stay at home. I would like to get back to you as soon as possible but on the other hand Juggie likes everyone to go to camp. Could you tell me what I had better do, I don’t altogether object to going because we go to Aldershot with about 2000 other people so it wouldn’t be bad fun.

Now I must tell you something about the school work. I got 86% in the arith exam. We had an algebra exam yesterday I got 8 sums right out of 10, the last 2 I could not do. Mr Hale has been consulting the Head about my move up. The head thinks I will do well in the lower certificate but not very well in the School Certificate because there is to such a lot of difference between the two.

I must stop now if I want this to go by the post.

Good bye Mother Dear.

Your loving son.

Rob.

Photos courtesy of the Royal Institution. RI MS WLB/37a/2/18

Notes and General Information

The Bragg family moved from Australia to England in 1909 when William Henry Bragg was appointed professor at the University of Leeds. Robert was sent to Oundle School, in Northamptonshire, which had a reputation for scientific excellence. He arrived for the Summer term of 1909 and joined the cadet corps as well as taking up cricket, rowing and rugby, although he understandably took a bit of time to settle in. It’s clear that he still has some things to learn about his new school.

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