1 Y.M.C.A. On Active Service
WITH THE BRITISH EXPEDITIONARY FORCE Sunday. .Oct 1st /1916. My Dearest Aunt Tweety. I cannot thank you enough for the
£80 you have sent to Nona. It has indeed lifted
a great weight off my mind as I had been worring
all along about it. And I shall see that it is returned
as soon as possible. This certainly is a strenuous
life because you never know what will happen
next. I will give you a brief outline of our
days work. Breakfast 7 fall in at 8.15 & build
huts till 11 'oclock then at 11.30 lunch or breakfast
for those out at night. In afternoon 1 hrs work
for those going out & then rest till evening the
other lot continue what work we were doing vice versa per day.
6 o'clock tea & at 7.30 fall in. Rifles helmets, gas H
& 50 rounds of amunition everything is overhauled
& then we march to trenches in single file after 2 passing rendezvous. inIn certain places machine
guns & snipers get a pot at us, & so we continue
till we get to our appointed place of work & when
the word comes , over we jump the parapet & start
filling sacks. At every flare we have to remain in
what ever position we might be in & believe me you
feel pretty big when you see the German trenches
only 100 yds away, sometimes more, sometimes less.
All the time machine guns are spraying lead
about & we have to duck & let it pass over when
the order is given. However German snipers often
get a bead on the party & its ping, ping, ping
everywhere. However we plug along filling sacks
& building up the parapet. Of course we strike
places where the dead has been buried a little
time before & its anything pleasant working in
that vicinity. Also water & rats are very plentiful
the latter sometimes as big as cats. Still the 3 boys are very cheery & make jokes & jeer at Fritz's
shooting although sometimes he gets a bit too
close to be pleasant. Still it does not always do
to show what you really feel. But beleive me
theiris not a man in the whole division who
does not wish it all over now but it must been
seen through, now or never. We carry on in
this fashion till 12.30 or 1 & then march home
& about 2.30 turn in after having a tot of
rum (very small indeed) tea & bread & jam,
& sleep till 11.30 (if possible). You must always
remember you have rats & the sounds of guns
etc ringwringing wet clothes to contend with.
But still here we are all merry & bright. The
Officiers are fine & do their very best to make
life as easy & enjoyable as possible under the
circumstances. The Major who commands my Co. 'D.'
is from Salt Spring & put me with him. Our
platoon Officier seems very decent indeed but I dont
know him very well as yet, but he seems to know
his work which is such a great point. I hope
soon to hear poor Edward is reinstated. I think
although I only heard a rumour from my mother
that he has been shamefully treated & that the 4 other chap will be before long
on the mat. Well heres more
power to his elbow. Will drop
you a line or card from time
to time to show we I am still
going. Again thanking you
from the bottom of my
heart. Always yr affec nephew Fred- P.S. One of the letters
I sent to you has
just been returned
to me I wonder if
the other will ever
reach you or me.
RB 5 back of envelope postmarked Ballinasloe