Lieut Col Grove.
It is with the greatest regret that I have to tell you of the death of your son this morning. He was directing fire upon a small party of Germans he had seen, and on turning round to give an order must have exposed his head, for he was shot in the back of the head and died at once. He cannot have suffered at all for he was dead when the men got to him. He was a very brave fellow and was doing well. I have had the small things from his pockets packed in a small box which will go by post to-day, and I enclose a list of the contents. The remaining things will be sorted out and sent home to you later when we come out of the tranches.
Several of us were present at Nation Farm and amongst many of our men. The service was read by our padre Rev. F. Stewart. We will have a suitable wooden cross put up to mark the grave as a temporary measure & the little cemetery is well looked after.