Somewhere in France.

Dear Alan,

Sorry I have been so long in writing to you but really I have been busy the last few weeks.  Since coming up here I have had a very different time to what I used to have with the old mob.  In those days I used to be one of the parade dodgers but now my duty is to see that other fellows do not dodge parades.  Got about thirty men under my charge and they take as much looking after as thirty children.

You would doubtless be surprised could you see me on parade endeavouring to make a heterogeneous mob of men move as one man and threatening them with extra parades in case they fail.

Of course at present I only hold acting rank and whether my rank will ever be confirmed is more that I can tell – it all depends on my proving myself efficient or otherwise.  However enough of that for the moment – sufficient to say that I am enjoying life and keeping in the best of health.

Never heard a word of Saye since the eventful occasion – I suppose he is too concerned with his own state of bliss to think of his old friends across the channel.  Thanks I got the parcel of cigarettes quite safely and although as you say, I have had many changes of address I have never changed my locality more than a few hundred yards.  Incidentally there is still another change of address to record – 188B Coy Royal Engineers, G.H.Q., British Expeditionary Force, France.  I have met one or two Manchester men up here and apparently Walker, from Shanghai or somewhere, one of your Bell Scholars is an officer in this lot.  He seems to be a very smart fellow and although a strict disciplinarian his men speak well of him.  So do Kendal people foregather whilst the war turns social conditions upside down.

In fact I have met several of the officers in my past civil life, some of them I used to have charge of and others used to have charge of me.  I, of course, enlisted much too early, but I am glad I did.

You ask me if there is anything I am in need of.  Well there are one or two things I could do with firstly another half dozen razor blades, secondly a new strop for my autostrop (I have lost the old one), and thirdly a rubber sponge.  A little Euthymol bath paste would always be very welcome and needless to say cigarettes preferably ‘Three Castles’.

I also want you to enquire the price of a strong army pattern, reliable, luminous wrist watch.  When you are up in town you should see any number of them in the Strand.  I hear that Smith’s in the Strand stock a very good pattern fitted with an unbreakable front.  A screw case is also considered a great advantage.

It will be absolutely necessary for me to have a reliable watch and I shall be greatly obliged if you will make the necessary enquiries and let me know the price as soon as conveniently possible.  Remember me to the fair Madge when next you write and you might tell her that I find writing paper very hard to get hold of out here.

Hope to see you again before very long whether the war finishes or not – my turn for leave might come in November or December though in all probably it will not do anything of the sort.

Must draw to a close now.  Write soon

Yours Dick

R.M. Beesley