A.A. Laporte Payne letter 1 April 1917.

B.E.F.

France.

April 1^st 1917

My own darling,

Just a line to let you know I am still in the land of the living and to send my love.

The Colonel is out with the Corps Commander and I am alone in the office. The letters are just going so I just had to send one to you – even if it is a short one.

The weather is just as bad – cold and wet – and there is nothing very exciting going here – so the usual routine goes on. I spent the morning visiting O.Ps and this afternoon in the office.

The mail cart has just arrived so I must hurry if I am to get this letter off. I am very glad I am not a gunner or a driver and have my letters censored by someone I know.

How are you keeping? Alright I hope.  Have you had any more riding or are the visitors in the way too much.  Tell them to amuse themselves as best they can.

I hope there is no famine in the land or leave won’t be worth having! Do you think so?  I will let you guess what I really think.

This paper is perfectly awful to write on. It is the sort of silly stuff the French would use.  The decorations of this house too are quite getting on my nerves.  I have never seen a really nice house in France.  Perhaps there are some somewhere.  Have you been to any more theatres lately?  I have heard of nothing very exciting on in town now, but perhaps the papers are misleading.

We have got a lot of new records. Some of them are quite exciting.  The Colonel spends a lot of time playing them.

I must try and get a day off this week. I want to go into a town behind and get some things.  It is about time I did.

Excuse short note & scribble.

With all my love & kisses.

Ever yours

Archie.