I have just returned from taking the men to have a hot bath in some
baths the Engineers have rigged up. You asked about our padré. He is
at present at the base; he has been very ill for a little time, and we
have no padré at present. Yesterday afternoon I went down to see "C"
Company, and, whilst I was in a farm talking to Gillson, a Fokker came
and dropped two bombs a few hundred yards away. They did no damage as
they exploded in the middle of a large field. I am sorry that I have
not sent this letter before, but I have been rather busy lately, not
only with work, but with social business. Last night I had dinner with
the A.S.C., and the night before with Major Warder, of the Scots, and
the Signalling Officer of the Brigade had dinner with us. You will be
surprised at the menu:--Soup, lobster, roast beef and fried potatoes,
chocolate blancmange, welsh rarebit, coffee. Quite good for France.
Fuller, my servant, cooks for us, and he is turning out a genius as a
cook; he cooks toppingly. We have rather to try and make ourselves
pleasant to other people, when we are an independent unit, they can do
so much for us. A captain of the A.S.C. took me into the town I have
often mentioned before--20 miles from here. I wanted to buy a
gramophone, a lot of people have them in the dug-out. I am thinking of
getting one. Will you ask May to get me two catalogues, one of Decca
gramophones and one of Master's Voice. If I go on like this I expect
you will all be coming out here for a holiday. We fired off our guns
the other night and the Colonel in command of the R.E.'s came to see
us fire. I asked him to dinner, but he could not come.
I cannot write a long letter, but will write again soon. To-morrow we
go towards the trenches and will be in them in a day or so. Much love
to all,
From your loving Son,
ALEC.
11TH SUFFOLKS,
A/101 TRENCH MORTAR BATTERY,
B.E.F.
This letter is in two parts--this is No. 1.