1 97th ( C. P. ) Field Ambulance B. E. F. France Dear Fr Provincial P.C. When I was changed to this Ambulance I dropped you a card
letting you know and giving the address and presume you got it. I am now attached to a Brigade tho' attached to the Field
Ambulance for billets & rations. I find it a much more interesting and
profitable job than my last. I have come on with and intend to stay
with the advanced dressing station here till we go back for rest.
I do not know if you have yet guessed where I am but it is not
far from Greystones or Killiney. We occupy a pronounced salient in the
line and it is a very hot spot. There is a very good Church here which
is at our disposal — the civil population and Curehaving gone. I say 'our'
because I have run against Fr Sandford of the English Province here and
we run the district between us. We have daily mass for a small congregation
of soldiers at 7.00 to 7.30 and Holy Devotions every night. Then during the
week we try to do scattered units and on Sundays we climate and get
in quite a large area. During the short time we have been up here it
has been bourne in on me that, if attached to a Brigade like mine where
the Catholics are in a proportion of about 1 in 10 and some battalions are
in trenches and some 'at rest' (?) and these latter scattered in various labour
parties, the two things necessary are good physical staying power and
to know the ropes. The latter is not so easy. The work, then, is a mixture
of drudgery and excitement and I have been treated to a little of both.
I just escaped a bombardment by high explosion some days ago by
a 100 yds and 30 secs. I had been up at the line to conduct a burial
and was talking to an officer for a few minutes when the shells began to
fall about 100 yds away. As it was getting dark and I had to make
my way alone back along the trenches I set out for home. I met
the Colonel on my way and he told me to wait awhile till the shelling
was over and told me that my trench was the one which was being
shelled! I had lost all idea of the direction in which I had come 2
and had I not met the Colonel I should have been into it in my ignorance
I have The trench was blown in in several places and large branches
of trees brought down in it. I have been very near shell fine on various
occasions but this was my narrowest escape. We were roused out of bed
here a few nights ago by a night alarm and spent several hours in
the cellar but only a few shells came into the place and these not
very near. We are fully prepared for a bad time when anything big
is on and expect this place to get a bit of a pounding. However we are
in very good not to say excellent form despite it all. I am out now more than ten weeks and am commencing
to look forward to my first leave. Whether I shall get it or not I cannot
say but at any rate I expect to put in for it. If the push comes on
I might have to wait rather too long. Hoping you will remember me in your Masses &
prayers
Yours sincerely in Xt D Roche SJ