1 Dearest mamma Many thanks for your letter
also the woolen flannels which were
most welcome - I really should
have written for them earlier but
the cold snap came on suddently
and I was taken by surprise -
it is bitterly cold out here. Most
of the snow is gone but we are
having sleet showers and very
heavy frosts at night. We are just back from
our week up in the trenches, where
we came in for a fairly rotten
time for this part of the line -
mostly on account of the weather
but the "Bolch"was inclined to
be rather uppish also and we
had a few casualties in consequ-
ence. I don't get many
chances of getting about and 2 seeing what is doing in the
trenches but had one most inter-
esting morning. Our guns
had prepared a bombardment
and I went out to watch it,
with a gunner colonel from one
of their advanced observation
posts. It is rather a curious
part of the line at this particular
spot - the Germans have a lookout
and so have we, the conseuence
is that the trenches are practically
side by side. Where I was,
we were only 200 yards away
from them and looking into
the back of their trenches so to
speak! —Till our guns started
we had to lie low but once they
got busy we stood up and
looked over the parapet in
comfort, as the Germans naturally
go to ground when the bombard—
ment starts. It is a magnificent sight 3 to see a big bombardment like
this at close quarters and I was
lucky to have the opportunity— Our shells were passing
over our heads and bursting
on the German lines within 200
yards of us —all sizes of shells
and the greatest satisfaction to
see them plumping on th "Bosch"
trenches and tearing up yards
of ground. It gives one an
idea what it must be like when
the reverse happens — What
surprises me is the extraordinary
small casualties which result. We had about 300
German shells fired on to quite
a small frontage if you like one
morning and yet had only 15
killed & six wounded as a
result. Apparantly our gunners
are getting out a much bigger
supply of shells now though 4 I daresay they can still do
with more! I am amused at our
Brigades composition now — We
deleted texthave anationalist and an
Ulster Division battalion side
by side in the trenches and appar—
antly quite fond of one another. Redmond was up here
last week and inspected some
of our men —he is a fat com—
fortable old gentleman but his
son who was with him looked
a horrible bounder! I don't know of any comforts
you can send me at present as
all one can make use of is
deliveries in the way of food and
they would hardly have safely
from Ireland to here and
now I hear all parcels are
confined to 7lb weight and
must be wrapped up in water 5 proof cloth. I shall try and
order some stuff out direct from
London which will have a better
chance of reaching safely. I had a nice letter and a
pair of mits from Auntie B
which I will acknowledge when
I get a chance. Nixon has left to take over
command of his regiment and
his successor a Capt Day from
the South of Ireland has just
arrived — He seems an excellent
fellow. Glad to hear of Sam's decoration.
I am sure he has well earned it — I wish I could come across
him or Charlie. I must end up now as
it is nearing midnight. Best love to all, I am in 6 the best of health and as safe
as possible so you need not worry
about me.
Ever your own Terry 26/11/15