In France
28 Aug 1915
My dear Mother
We are back again exchanging compliments with the Allemands and not at all sorry to be at business again. But for the fact of having been on the move and also of my having been Orderly Corporal for the last three days, I would have written before; for you complained in your last letter that you had not heard from me for some time. I expect you received a delayed letter shortly after writing. In case you did not, tell Kath that I did receive her parcel and sent a message of thanks and also wrote to her after but perhaps both miscarried.
Delighted to hear that Cyril was going on well when he wired. I wonder if you have had a letter yet. I suspect that he was engaged in the Suvla Bay advance. Dates seem to fit in pretty well. That was a good advance but it is a pity they could not make about another mile, as they might have done with luck. News has been better recently from all quarters, even the Russian front. The German advance does not seem to get home with the rapidity of a month ago and the Riga defeat (I am inclined to think that the early rumours were nearer the truth than the official reports of either side) must have shaken them badly and done much to disorganise their flow of reinforcements.
I wonder if they send all their Dardanelles officers back to England to recuperate after wounds. If they do, it is just on the cards that we three boys might all meet together. Leave is going on all this time and it goes according to seniority: so that I can hope to get home some time before my hair grows grey unless a pukka strafe on this edge of the fighting zone puts a stop to leave before I can get any.
How is my niece? Glad to hear that she “favours” Judy. She couldn’t do better. It is not surprising there should be a likeness, for Arthur’s and JB as babes must have been very much alike.
I hope the fruiting goes on well. It is a big job for the girls as the crop is heavy. Good sound war work, though.
Love to all from
George
