On Active Service
WITH THE BRITISH
EXPEDITIONARY FORCE
4
Wednesday, 8/5/18
France
My dearest mother,
I have just had dinner after the route march this morning and feeling very tired I have dropped in the "Boy Scout" YMCA hut. Yesterday passed very much the same as the day before. In the morning I wrote the letter today and read the paper; I usually have the Continental Edition of The Mail in which a summary of all the news is given in French. Having nothing better to do Stuart and I tried to get in the camp cinema, but the place being already full we went back to the tent and had a sleep until tea time. In the evening Stuart, Palmer and I went into the town again where I bought some postcards, two of which you should already have. We walked some way down the river towards the sea and sat down to write our postcards. I got back to camp at about 8.30pm and washed my feet before turning in. My stockings want washing but so far I have not found the place where I can wash them. It is possible to get a steam bath I believe if one is here long enough. I don't suppose I shall be able to get one before I am moved but I have a wash down to waist every day which is almost as good. The weather yesterday, Tuesday, was lovely and it is ever better today. One day is very like another here so that I have not much more to write about. There is a small sea side place near here to which I should like to go by tram if I can get a pass. I wonder how things are going at home? Very much the same as usual I expect. I hope you had all my letters to now - I have 4 - this is number 4. I feel quite sure that you don't worry about me now; I am having quite a good time. I shall miss coming home this weekend and I expect you will miss my fairy footsteps announcing my arrival down the sideway. Never mind it won't be very long before I am back again, so cheer up. Give my love to dad, the boys & Grandma - not forgetting Jo. I shall be very glad when I receive a few letters then I shall have more to write about.
Au revoir for the present,
Your every loving son,
Bert xxxxxx
