In France
29 May 1915
My dear Mother
Your letter dated the 26th has just arrived and I gather that you had not received mine written as soon as I got back here, but I should think it reach you very soon after. From what you say I think an intermediate letter of mine must have gone astray for I did not let more than a week go without writing. I think all stray letters from home have now reached me. The “missing now rejoined” includes one of yours (15 May), three of Father’s (21 Apr, 6 & 21 May), May (16 May) and Kath (25 Apr & 2 May), also several papers and Aunt George’s parcel which was most judiciously made up and welcome. The information you received about us a few weeks ago was quite correct and though we have been moved a little way to another batch of trenches, it is very little further up the line. The fighting has been very hot hereabouts and I expect the official reports will shortly give some description of it though I don’t know whether they will mention the troops engaged. Our division has lost heavily, but our Battalion has been lucky and has had losses which may be called fairly light as losses go in this war. Our boys have only been called upon for one assault at present and in that case the position attacked was found to have been vacated by the enemy. I was surprised to hear that Bert Idiens has already been here and wounded; I thought he came over in one of the later detachments. Lucky that his wound was light. A good easy wound sufficient to put you out of action for several weeks is a highly prized possession out here, and great is the anxiety of every possessor of one to know whether it will get him back to England or not. Nobody here is very excited about the new Cabinet except on account of the possibility that it may at last bring compulsory service. We also are very angry with the DM. I think the meeting at Northampton voiced the opinion of the army when, it resolved that it would rather be wrong with Kitchener than right with the DM.
Much love from
Your affectionate son
George
