[transcription and transcription annotations have been provided by the collection donor]
France
October 3rd, 1918
My dear Carl and Mabel,
Well, I suppose, the N.Y. papers, these days are only printing 4 words to the page. Big war news and good stuff, isn't it? I wrote Herbert all the latest news about a week ago and asked him to pass it on.
The 3rd battle I spoke of, on the 2nd of Sept. was really only a continuation of the second battle, the battle of Arras. Our 3rd big show, opened up at 5:20 AM on Sept. 27th….The battle of Cambrai. We worked hard a few nights before, preparing the position.
The Infantry say the barrage was perfect …at 4:20 AM an aeroplane dropped a flare and every gun on the Front roared together. As the barrage would lift every 4 minutes, the Infantry would advance, and they say every gun seemed to have lifted together.
The Hun retaliated heavily on our position. Shrapnel was flying past in all directions, but we were busily giving him his ration, and had no time to think about it. One piece hit me on the chest, but it was too far spent to go through. I can assure you it has been no picnic from that date to this. Constantly on the move. Digging gun pits, digging funk pits, digging holes in the ground to sleep in. Just get them finished, then another move.
The one redeeming feature about it, is we're on the advance and not the retreat. The weather, on the whole has been fairly good for the offensive, but several days we had to stand out in the open and take the rain all day, and believe me, it's bitterly cold at night and in the day, too, sometimes. He's putting up an awful tough fight for Cambrai, it's one of his biggest railway centers. The old timers say it's the hardest nut the Canadians have ever had to crack, and they always have the biggest nuts, too, as you may have noticed.
It's a recognized fact that the Canadian Corps is the best fighting force in France today, (Americans included). In fact it has not once retreated since the war began. Some record, eh? Our new Major and another Officer were wounded and 2 Officers killed a few days ago then 2 more men wounded. The Battery's lucky star has evidently left it.
Blighty leave looked so far away that I transferred my name to the Paris leave list, which seems to be making better headway. I expect to get 14 days to Paris in November. She's some live town by all accounts from fellows, who have been.
The YMCA follows up the advance very creditably and the forward ones usually have the best stock. Only trouble is, one has to wait in the line up about 2 hours to get served.
Have enjoyed the best of health right along; never even a cold, (looking for wood to knock), and I'm sure one week of this life, would kill any civilian. There's nothing like getting used to a thing.
Had letters from Barbadoes a few days ago. Mamma seems to be feeling a little better. The army certainly has a great mail system; no matter how many miles we move in a day, we get our mail that night just the same.
As we follow up the retreating enemy, we pass though these towns, one sees on the map, printed in fairly big letters. They are only there in name and that's all. Not a single wall standing in any of them. The very foundations pounded out of the ground. Even a city the size of Arras, where all the millionaires of France lived in peace times, a beautiful place, is just a wreck. It's not flattened, like the rest, but all the walls are full of holes.
We see lots of scraps in the air every day. Some end in his favour and some in ours. Very often see them come down in flames.
Many thanks for the clippings you sent me. Read the bottom paragraph: It's an awful lie, I was there myself. It was just a walk over. [clipping missing]
I was awfully glad to get your letters of Aug. 11th and 20th, and am looking forward to the one you are writing about this date. It should be good!!
We get magazines of all sorts from the YMCA and most of the fellows have some sent to them. I get the " Illustrated London News". I laughed and so did all the boys, when I read your paragraph about not being able to locate our guns on Vimy Ridge in the picture. (The best and most extensive view I had in France, was from the top of Vimy Ridge. One can see for miles and miles) It's a lot bigger ridge than I had pictured it to be.
Cameras are not allowed among the troops in France, so I'll have my picture taken in Paris and will send you one.
My cricket score versus the Heavies (heavy artillery) was 41, no out.
Never knew you were such a star bowler, before. Norman tells me he's a great golf player, now. We've only struck one "horse lines", with tennis courts, so will have to do some practicing, before I take you fellows on again.
Many thanks for the soap and powder received OK. My skin is too rough for powder, though, and very often have to use grease. Now you want to know what are the most useful things to send me? Don't send anything to wear. Anything that I want in that line, I can write to London for. [note: Bert's brother Norman had opened an account at Herrod's for him]
The one first great and most welcome gift of all: Lyle's Syrup or sugar or anything to sweeten porridge and make cocoa etc. Secondly, those 10 cent bars of chocolate. In fact, I believe those two, take in our whole heart's desire. Nearly everything else we can get here. Oh,!! Canadian Player Cigarettes, in tin boxes of 50. We get all kinds of cigarettes, here, but it's a real treat, to get a good one.
Don't forget to let Herbert read this too.
Study?? I guess not. I'm through with the business world until this war is over. I think it is a big enough tax on the brain.
You asked:
A day at the Horse Lines:…
Reveille at 6 AM; stables 'til 7:15; breakfast; Inspection at 9AM (shined and shaved etc.) Cleaning harness and horses and general fatigues ' til 11:30; stables 'til 12:30; Dinner..
Parade at 2 PM…Fatigues or grazing the horses,'til 4:15; Stables 'til 5:30pm
Free, unless detailed to piquet or guard or taking ammunition or ration up to the guns.
At the Guns: No reveille; Breakfast about 8:30 AM; Improving the position, getting ammo ready or doing nothing. Dinner about 1 Pm…ditto in the afternoon….Supper at 5:30; Two hour guard, per man, each night.
Firing at any time, day or night. Of course it all changes to suit the circumstances. Sometimes we're working day and night. Other times we do nothing all day.
We found a piano in one of Heinie's dug outs and we have several fellows in the Battery who do good work on it, so have sing songs in the evenings at the horse lines.
Guess that is about all the news at present. Pass it around. Heard from Murrill and Norman not long ago. Understand I'll soon be another uncle. [note: must be Winston, Murrill's 3rd child]
Lots of love for all and selves and write soon to your affectionate brother,
Bertie
PS Am writing another sheet, so that you can show the authorities [?]
