_Such a nice letter from Auntie._
* * * * *
His letters came usually by the last post of the day, and continually by
twos and threes—‘in close formation,’ as he complained when we told him,
whereas he posted them ‘in open order.’ During the war that last post
has become very late in our part, no doubt by reason of this very mail
from the front; and many a night last summer would I go downstairs again
to wait, even at the open door, even without shame in the middle of the
road, till the postman’s lantern glimmered in our darkened street. On
the night of July 7, he was later than ever, but that only enhanced the
eventual joy of two of Oscar’s best and brightest—written with all the
splendid confidence the war was giving him—even in a hand never so firm
or so decided as in the trenches under fire!
(64)
July 4th, ’15. 8 P.M.
MY DEAREST MUMMY & DADDY,—A stewing hot day and my booby infested by
flies! Last night I had a very full bag in letters—two from you and
several others! I was so glad to have the sermon—you know how much I
appreciate it.
The Pastie also arrived, and I spent the dull hour or two between 12
A.M. and ‘stand to’ in eating it hard! I have finished the whole 2
boxes already! I am so glad the lace arrived safely—I heard from G.M.
too—thanking me for it. I wrote to Mrs. W. days ago!
Nothing doing today—there was to have been a bombardment by our guns
this evening—but it seems to have been a wash-out! Last evening we got
hold of some rifle-grenades—explosive bombs which you shoot out from
the rifle—and I plumped several beauties among the Bosches—they had
been doing the dirty on us all day so we showed them we weren’t exactly
asleep! You fire these missiles off from the trench of course.
There is a ruined Estaminet (beer-house) between my fire-trench and
communication trench, and they keep up a rapid fire on this all through
the night to stop any of our little games—for a ruined building in the
front line is a dangerous thing to the opposing party!
Old man Clarke has just rolled in with a list of available men for
tonight’s working. Wire, bombing party etc:—We are going to give them a
few Crème de Menthes early tomorrow morning—just to stop them working.
You never heard such a row as Fritz makes opposite us of an evening!
Sawing wood and riveting bolts and goodness knows what else besides. He
has some game up his sleeve—mark you, he has sapped up to within 20 yards
of us—so one has to be canny!
I’ve got some more verses to send you very soon—so brace yourself up for
the shock!