es. He come striding
along, head up, not stooping as all those who don't live in the
trenches (and some of those who do) do, with a cheery word for
everyone, and a memory for anyone he knows. A curious thing is that,
as you may know, dotted all over the roads in France, are crosses and
_prie dieu_, and I have seen scarcely one touched; you can see
villages in ruins and in the middle of it all a shrine untouched, not
a flower, not a piece of tinsel, not a bit of gold paint damaged. You
become sort of superstitious sometimes out here, and when there are
shells I always try to get behind the nearest one, and I know I am
safe. I have seen no Wesleyan Padres out here at all. We have in our
brigade one Church of England, one Catholic, and a Presbyterian for
the Scots.

To-day I had company, one Northumberland Fusilier and one 15th Scots,
to lunch, three men to tea, and I have just had dinner with our
quartermaster and our interpreter, a Frenchman--roast duck. _Bon._

This is rather a mixture of a letter. The next time I am in the
trenches I will describe it in detail if you like, but it is all just
the same, sometimes you long to get out and over the parapet and have
a go at the blighters and settle the matter, instead of potting at
each other from behind mud heaps, especially when you see a man killed
by a stray bullet; we have only had a few, thank goodness. Well, I
must to bed.

Much love to all,

From your loving Son,
ALEC.

P.S.--We are now changed to 101/1 T.M.B. not A/101 any longer.

101/1 TRENCH MORTAR BATTERY,
101ST BRIGADE, B.E.F.

My darling Mother,--

As you see, the name of our battery is changed. We are in billets at
present, in divisional rest, none of the Brigade is in the trenches.
We do not do very much. This afternoon we fired about 30 rounds for
practice. Rest is chiefly a social and bathing time. We had a good
wash yesterday. Two visitors came to lunch to-day and two are coming
to dinner. Will you look in the papers every day at the "Gazette" and
tell me when I become a First Lieutenant; my name went in a month ago.
I never see the papers. Again this week, I have not received "Punch"
or the "Tatler." I am afraid this will be a short letter, as I have
little news, and I don't want to write just for the sake