April 1^st

Thursday

Dear Sir,

            Thanks for your card I received it with great pleasure I guess you have heard that our Batt has been in the trenches But we are now away from the firing line for further instruction in holding our own and some have been inoculated.  The next time you hear from me we shall have had some more of it.  They shelled us out of our barn which we had slept the night hitting it and making the tiles rattle.  I knew it was Holy Thursday today because the French people went to mass quite early this morning.  We had a good experience for the first time shells bursting all about us all day.  I should like you to see the ruins out here I have seen a church blown down.  All that remained standing was the crucifix.  I don’t know if there are many lads left who ought to at Whitwick.  The other night as I was doing my turn at the telephone I heard to shells pass over the Billets where we are now I don’t get on very well in speaking French.  You help the country one way and I am out here for another I hope you still have your class as usual.  Our Capt makes a good Vicar.  You can see them shelling the aeroplanes in the air.  I am sending you a piece of palm I had given to me.  I think this is all this time.

From One Your Boys

Signaller F.W. Ducker.

There is no envelope with this letter.

There is a Field Service Post Card postmarked FIELD POST OFFICE 138 27 JY 15 on which was said I am quite well. I have received your &c.  Letter follows at first opportunity.  I have received no letter from you for a long time.  Signed F.W. Ducker 27.7.15