1 10th Scottish Rifles B.E.F France October7th 1916 Dear Father Thanks so much
for your letter, We are moving
up very soon into the trenches.
I am going up but in the
event of the Battalion going
over the top as it usually
does, I have to remain behind
in the trenches with reinforcements.
They have sent my name
in for a bombing course, so
I expect it will come round
in a week. If The Bosche dropped
a few high explosive in
here & caused a few casualties
One landed in Battalion orderly
room of a H.L.I Battalion 2 And wounded the C.O. 2nd 1/c
and adjutant & 3 others.
It was quite amusing watching
the houses going west as
we were on parade most
of the time about 1/4 mile
away. Only a few fell
while we went in it.
They have almost given up
shelling this place as they
only have about 1 battery
that can reach it. Inhabitants
are coming in, a few every
day. There was a great joy
among the men when they
saw a 'madamoiselle' go
along the road past their
billetd. I wonder if my
letters take as long comßž going 3 ming out home here as ones from
England do coming out here.
They take a full week.
Our C.O. Col Ussher Fergus
quite decent but he has
great fads. We are not
allowed to carry walking
sticks on parade and we
all walk about with
our gas helmets slung over
our shoulder. There is another
division fast coming in
now, I suuppose to take our
place sooner or later.
There are great reports
& rumours going about now
very good ones but I dont
believe in them much so
However I dont think I had
better repeat them. We 4 have a Topping Padré
here. Any amusements to that
the men get are arranged
by him. Cinema concerts, he
goes round and borrows
bands from other units for
us and all that sort of thing
The Bosche here seems to
have the wind up pretty
badly as in the last push
the Battalion were in they
only killed one officer
& a few men but of course
he managed to hit every
other officer. The Battalion
was brought out by a
Sergeant. The only news
we get is through the
papers. But that was
same with you & Jock 5 I dont think I have
any more news to give
except that the winter
is setting in now I think
we have had rain
every day since I came
up. I dont think I want
any kit at present I
will write if I do. Well
I must end now. so good
bye for the present. Yrs aff. Dick