1 Please
destroy when
read. T.D. June 3rd 1916 My dear Father Darlington At present we
are enjoying a short rest,
a few miles back from the
trenches. I posted you a
short letter a day or two
ago,in reply to yours
of April 23rd, and hope
very much that you
have received it
safely. Well Father I
find necessity a great
compelling force and
I have accomplished tasks
which in ordinary life I
should have thought 2 practically physical
impossibilities. I have
developed a great
respect for the chaps
who have stood the
riguors of the trenches
for nearly two years
now. I have acquired
quite a comprehensive
knowledge of the true
significance of the
term 'artillery activity.'
I hope and pray that
I shall be fortunate
enough to see this
horrible war through.
If I am so favoured, I
think I shall be able to
exact a good deal of
compensation from the
proper enjoyment and 3 appreciation of the
advantages of civilization
and freedom, as we know
it in our Empire, and
which previously, I for one
looked upon as a part
of our national inheritance
and never fully realized
the dangers and
hardships that have
been willingly undergone
in order to obtain them.
I keep on praying for my
commission and have
asked Our Lady of
Pep. Succour to take my
cause in hand and
obtain good success.
I think I shall ask
St.Ignatius also for he
was a soldier once. If 4 I fail I shall be happy
for I shall be sure it is
for the best. Well, Father
I have definite news
for you today. I had
an audience with
my company (A) Officer,
Captain Clifford, he is
a Catholic and will
help me all he can
in the way of the
commission. He says it
is no use his taking
me before the Colonel,
and asking that I
should be recom m ended,
for he has done it for
many and the Colonel
has absolutely refused
to recommend any one,
excepting for gallantry 5 please destroy T.D.
on the field. Well I might
wait years and not
get an opportunity
and if an opportunity
does turn up, I must
be noticed. Captain
Clifford has advised
me to get another
c/o to write a note, to
(not an official one) to
my Colonel telling him
he is interested in me
and would like me
for an officer. Well
Father can you help
me now? I don't know
if Sir Henry Bellew
will be willing to write
to my c/o in the sense
suggested. But I am