France

Sept 20 1916

Dear Mr Walters,

            It is some time now since I wrote to you, and now I am in a strange place for writing.  At the present time I am in a nice cosy dugout in the front line about 300 yards or so from Fritz.  I know it is hard to believe, when I tell you we have a spring bed leather chairs and a table which boast of a cloth.  We have a stove and cooking utensils, so just to make things homelike we make a pudding now and then using army biscuits crushed into powder for flour.  We are in a very quiet part of the line now, but we can do with it after the taste of the Somme we had.  I have been in these trenches for 5 days now and we shall not be relieved for another 3 days yet.  It rained all last night and part of today so the mud in some parts of our trenches is well over the tops of our boots.

We have plenty of rats here and very large ones too.  I got one of our magazines the other day (even if I am in the front line) so you see I get to know how you are all getting on.  I was sorry to read that more Whitwick lad had gone under.  I often think of you all at our men’s service, and other meetings which I used to attend, more so when I am in the trenches and have nothing to occupy my mind.  While you were holding your men’s service on Sunday I was just doing a two hours sentry go.  I was with you in mind if not in person.  I hope you and your family are in the best of health.  I am alright with the exception of a nasty cough.  Will you please remember me to all.  I hope I shall soon be back with you all and the war over.  I think we have had enough now.  Excuse writing as I am writing by candle light, I have been transferred to this regiment now so I have a new number 43418  yours J.W. Weston.

In envelope addressed to Rev. T.W. Walters, Vicarage, Whitwick, Nr Leicester.  England.

Letter postmarked FIELD POST OFFICE 13  21 SP 16.

PASSED BY CENSOR 1968 in hexagonal cachet in red.