I am not asking you to do anything to-day for me, as I hope to come in
person, leaving here on Monday morning. The hour of my arrival at
Carlton depends on whether I can get through quickly or not, and
whether the Kaiser tries to sink the Boulogne to Folkestone boat.
Knowing his peculiarities, I think he would probably wait until he
found an emigrant ship well laden with women and children. What brutes
the Germans have proved themselves! After heavy rain, the day has
turned out bright and cold. The ditches are nearly full of water,
which means that all communication trenches will be worse than ever,
and Heaven knows they are bad enough already! Yes, I sent some of my
private affairs to Carlton to await my return after this war, when I
can attend to them, if I really do come back.... There are moments I
wonder if anyone will!... _The Times_ of December 28th gave the names
of 45 officers killed and 66 wounded between December 21st and 24th.
We were fighting fairly hard all the while, but still, if we are as
one to nine of the French, this shows that our combined losses would
be roughly 1,100 officers for four days, before you come to the men.
How matters stand with the Germans can only be conjectured. We learnt
from a prisoner the other day that we had inflicted such terrible
losses that they had been obliged to change their hour of relieving
trenches. As a matter of fact, it had not occurred to us that we had
given them any losses at all to speak of at those particular times.
Anyhow, if Germany is losing as it is said she is in proportion of
three to one of our men, the war cannot continue indefinitely. I hear
the fight on my right and on my left at Ypres and La Bassee, both
places being hard fought for by the opposing sides, and the row is
sometimes deafening. As to your inquiries about Major Abadie, there is
nothing to be said. If alive, he ought to have been heard of before
now. Probably the poor fellow is dead, and was buried by the Germans
or by the Belgian peasants, and no one will ever know what has become
of him. A lot of Christmas cards have been sent to me ... but of
course I cannot carry them about ... I am afraid mine is very much a
soldier's faith. It seems to me one's duty is placed in front of one
by Providence, and that if one carries it out faithfully and honestly,
whate'er befalls, it is well, ... and this, I am sure, is the creed of
all good soldiers. The shelling is making the house shake, but nothing
very serious, I think, at present.
Yours....
G----.
IN BILLETS.
_January 3rd, 1915._
Just across the farmyard under my windows is the barn where my
Catholic men are having High Mass, and where in half an hour, if
alive, we shall have our service too. There was a good precedent for
stables, I believe, 1915 years ago, so we do not view it as
incongruous, but I understand that High Mass is unusual, and no doubt
a great honour to the Regiment. I hear that our leave does not come
off till January 6th. That puts me into the trenches to-morrow night
again, for a short time. Last night, about 10.30 o'clock, I was
snuggled in my blankets, not very well, for ice-cold water has a way
of making you feel it after you are forty-four! However, I was
awakened by a tremendous bombardment, all our guns going around us. It
broke out twice again: I knew then what it was by putting two and two
together. We had found out from a prisoner that the Germans were
changing their trench troops about that time, and if we managed to
catch them, we must have done them much harm. Rode over to inspect my
transport yesterday. Incidentally, Major Baker and I bought 1-1/2 doz.
eggs at four for a franc. Famine price, of course, but I have only
seen two since I came over here! As to the discomfort of this work, it
is not very pleasant, but I do not trouble greatly about it. As an
unmarried man, I should not mind the danger either very much, having
had a certain amount of experience in Egypt and South Africa, but as a
married man, I hate it, because I think it would probably make a great
difference to our young people when they grow up if I get killed.
Sybil R---- wrote to me yesterday. You know I am her trustee. As to
matches, etc., for the troops, keep all waiting now till I get over,
and then it will be easy to help you about these things. Well, I must
stop to go to church, and there is a good deal also for me to see to
afterwards....
_January 4th, 1915._
No letter from you last night. So far, no further news of my leave
either, but I believe it is due on January 6th all right. Slight
rheumatism, that is only to be expected. It has been raining hard, and
we are off to the trenches to-night, and I should think they will be
worth seeing. It is said that the ground our trenches now occupy will
soon be turned into a lake, and we shall have to go boating there. I
warned the General the other day in fun that he would require boats
ere long to bring up our rations, and it is really coming true! Such a
cold, bleak day as it is! I am going over to the Cashier to try to get
some money to bring me home; this is the only way one has of obtaining
funds in this part of the world. Sad thing about that man-of-war being
sunk. What beasts the Germans are with their mines, to be sure! Up to
now the lambskin coat has not yet appeared, but I received a note
saying that it was sent off on December 30th, so it ought to turn up
some time or other, and then one can see. I suppose, if I get through
this war, it would always come in as a lining for a motoring coat.
Well, I must close this epistle and dash off, as I have to see to many
other things before luncheon. We march to the trenches this afternoon.