British Expeditionary Force
26 May 1915
My dear Father
There is not time to write a long letter but I will write a few lines to tell you that I have just got back to the Battalion I find the Section in good form. While I was away they had one mishap: a shell burst on a stable killing two horses, old friends of mine and wounding Corporal Callie, not badly. Otherwise all are well. This is a hot corner but I suppose that all the British line is much the same at present. We have had a fair number of casualties by now but not so many as other battalions of our brigade; so I suppose we must consider ourselves lucky. By the way, future letters should be addressed:
Number Rank and Name
Section
Battalion
47th (London) Division
That is our new designation. A fairly high number isn’t it! I left Rouen very quickly and went to Havre so I didn’t see anything of Arthur’s, though I kept my eyes open for him! I am very glad to be back here though I was quite comfortable at Havre, where we were camped in a lovely spot. I am feeling quite fit again and the weather is lovely. Also there is a canal to hand where we can swim in comfort. So we are quite well placed. Everybody out here is delighted with the action of the LCC regarding the tram strike. No words can describe the bitter feeling of every soldier here towards the man who stays at home and expects to suffer no hardship, even monetary. It is impossible – it would be impossible even if a thousand vivid writers were armed each with a thousand pens and unlimited discretion – for people who have not actually seen it to realise anything of the enormous hardships and risks and sufferings mental and physical that men endure in the front lines in the war. The behaviour of a striker, no matter what his trade may be, appears to us out here as brutally callous and cynically devilish.
I received a whole packet of letters and papers when I got here as well as several just before I left Havre and I think all the strays are now accounted for.
Love to all from
Your affectionate son
George
