Second letter from the trenches - 1
Sat 20th Nov
My darling mother
I have received 4 of your letters but I am sorry to say that mine would not have got you until the 22nd of last month. You need not have fears as to my health at present. I can’t think what it will be like in the winter, only the other day we had a most awful storm which washed nearly the whole regiment out of their dugouts. And when the winter comes, most of the cemeteries will be washed away, as it was a good many dead were seen floating about. I happened to have a fairly good dugout which only let in a little water.
I have been up in the trenches for 5 days and I was so dirty when I came back you would never have recognised me. Already I am getting the colour of the country here, my face has got a sandy hue to it. Next week we are going up to the trenches for 14 days. I expect we will be pretty tired of it when we come out….