France Thursday

27^th July 1916

My Dear Harry & Ethel,

            I received your two letters today & am getting an answer ready for post tomorrow.  With regard to the lady in question you will remember that towns often bear ladies’ names.

            I received your parcel the day I posted my last letter but as we are now allowed to post only one letter per day I was not able to let you know I had received it before.  I am glad to say it arrived in very good order and I thank you all very much indeed.  I am now writing on the paper you sent & smoking your cigarettes.  About the lemonade – there was no sugar with the mixture & as I can’t get any here I had to do without.  It was rather bitter but certainly quenched the thirst.

            We are still fairly active here and I hope to hear of some good results shortly, and as you say if the cavalry had a good chance we might get some interesting reading.

            I today received a letter from Alan, he appears to be making periodical visits to the trenches, but unless he is concerned in a “push” or “show” the danger is not so very great.  A lot of the infantry say that would not have our job at any price, as after a spell in the trenches they do get a rest.  Alan apparently gets plenty of opportunities of spending money as there are canteens and shops of a sort in his vicinity, but such conveniences do not reach us, neither is there any sign of a Y.M.C.A.  We certainly did start a canteen of our own in a tent but a stray shell some weeks ago blew it sky high & since then it has withered away (the canteen I mean).  The worst of it is that I have plenty of money (about 40 francs and a pound note) which I am dying to burn.

            I should imagine that the Germans did expect to hold their positions for ever judging by the solidity of their dugouts, but for myself I don’t like their system of such deep dugouts (some of them I believe go down as far as 30 ft) as there is the danger of getting buried in case a shell hits the roof, which has happened in many cases.

            You are certainly getting on very rapidly now and in another week or two should hear where your new post will take you.  I hope however your holiday will not be interrupted and that you will have a good time at Rush.  When we witnessed the cavalry manoeuvres there some years ago it certainly did not strike me that I should ever be playing that game.  I am glad you are getting better weather and hope it will hold up for your holiday.  There are all sorts of insects here but not too troublesome.  Our present dugouts though are overrun with rats and mice.

            With regard to the question of destiny (? identity)I can only say that you can say what you like in your letters – mine are censored.  I did not mean Ada or anyone I met in Ireland.  Think hard.

            I can quite understand and your trouble in finding something to write about but my position is worse as I am full of information that I am bursting to impart but have to restrain myself.  I have very nearly filled four pages which I hope will satisfy you but I am very much afraid of the quality.

            Yours,

                        Bernard.

In envelope addressed to Mr & Mrs Harry R King, Esq., Munmore, Zion Road, Rathgar, Dublin. Ireland.  Ans^d 6.8.16

Postmarked FIELD POST OFFICE T.47.  30 JY 16.  Hexagonal PASSED FIELD CENSOR 3447.  Signed J.W. England.