I have got a little piece of news for you to-night that will cheer
you. Intimation came to us this morning that a French decoration was
to be given to your first-born son. It is called 'Chevalier, 5th
Class, Legion of Honour.' I don't know what it is for, but
someone--I don't know who--has been so kind as to recommend me for
it, and it is to be given to-morrow, Sabbath, by the Commander of the
Third Army at a little village behind the lines.
I don't know what there has been in the work of each day that has
seemed to those in authority to be worthy of some mark of
approval.... It has come as a complete surprise to us all, and I try
to say that it is an honour more to the Battalion than to me.... It
is exactly one year to-day since I took up my duties as Staff Captain
of the Scottish Rifle Brigade at Falkirk.