Transcript of letter home May 1917

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On Active Service

WITH THE BRITISH EXPEDITIONARY FORCE

Sunda

20th May 1917

My dear Mother and Father

I am afraid you may be getting anxious about me as I have not been able to write you for a week. I

sent you a postcard on Tuesday last I believe. Since then many things have happened. We went into the line

last night in a very hot place of which you have read a good deal in the papers. We were not in proper trenches

but in little holes in a sunken road and so on. The village we were facing had changed hands many times but on

our side the Germans still held it with their strong posts and were very active with machine guns and snipers.

My Batt. received orders to attack and finally clear the Huns and at 2 o'c on Thursday morning we went over

the top. It was very dark as you may imagine and dirty work too. It was raining and the ground we had to cross

was a mess of shell holes. As soon as our guns opened on the Germans trenches we were off, and when the

barrage lifted we dashed through the German wire and into their trenches. My place was in the first wave as

the officer follows in the second wave. It was a very exciting time but we cleared the Huns out and as the

second wave came up we pushed on to the final objective in the village. Here we dug in for our lives and

before it was light we had got cover for ourselves. It was as well for we got shelled during the day. We

expected to be relieved about dawn but it was impossible and we had to hang on all day. We had no rations

and had to go without food until about 4pm. However we had succeeded where other troops had failed again

and again and we were very pleased with ourselves. In the morning we were relieved by another Company but

only to relieve in our turn troops who had been holding the front line on the right. All Thursday night and

Friday we held a position in another sunken road from the village. I am glad to say that I came through the

attack unharmed though I lost several of my boys. During Friday however we had a hell of a time. The Huns

shelled us unmercifully and my platoon suffered. High explosive plays the very devil. I lost my officer before

breakfast. He had only been with us a short time and now the poor chap is buried. It was a most unlucky day

for my own boys and I am very anxious to know what happened after I left there.

About 5.30pm my own turn came. A wizz-bang burst a few yards from me and I know I was peppered at last.

Please don't worry about me, as I am alright. In fact I am already down at the Base Hospital and from the

window I can see the sea, so you may guess I am not far away from dear old England. I was well peppered, but

my steel helmet saved me from the worst. I was hit in six places and altogether but four of them are little marks

that only require a dab of Iodine. I am wounded in the head and back, but not seriously I assure you. The head

wound is not giving me much trouble but the back is somewhat stiff and sore at present. The shrapnel hit me

in the small of the back, almost in the spine but fortunately did not penetrate enough to be serious. I left the

trenches about two hours later and walked to the village where I got the motor ambulance. I was taken back in

this to the CCS where I spent the night and yesterday came here - about a twelve-hour train journey. I am

quite comfortable and well looked after so please do not worry a bit. I will write each day. I doubt if I shall get

to Blighty but there is just a chance. I hope I do get home if only to get a sight of you all. Of course I missed

your letter of Sunday last and may miss the one you will write tonight. Write me at once in case I get shifted.

My address is no. 8 Stationary Hospital, B.E.F. France

Good bye till tomorrow

Yrs affectionately

George