"In the afternoon I went with the Company on a bathing parade. It was
about half an hour's march. They bathed in a canal.
"After tea I had a stroll in the country: it is very pretty, especially
this weather....
"Captain Andrews goes home on leave to-night; so Lieutenant Halstead is
in command of B Company for a fortnight."
"June 15th.
"The weather continues hot. We had another Battalion parade this
morning: procedure the same as yesterday. The Colonel is still most
agreeable; he has not said a cross word to me yet.
"We took the afternoon easy, except that there was a parade for
inspection of equipment at 4 p.m.
"I received, this afternoon, a letter from you of June 11, and one from
Mother of June 10, also enclosures. I am sorry to learn that you are
both worrying. What's the use of worrying? What is there to worry about?
I am quite safe. If I had the 'wind up' it might be another matter; but
I do not, strange to say, even dread the time when we shall go back
into the line! I think it rather exciting. One is inclined to feel a
little 'windy' when shells and 'minnies' are bursting dangerously near,
or when a machine-gun spurts out of the gloaming; but there is a certain
element of excitement about it all. I would not have missed those few
days in the Salient for worlds.
Pages:
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73