t every joint, the gunners using cloth to
handle the breech levers because of the heat. We had three batteries in
action with four guns added from the other units. Our casualties were
half the number of men in the firing line. The horse lines and the wagon
lines farther back suffered less, but the Brigade list has gone far
higher than any artillery normal. I know one brigade R.A. that was in
the Mons retreat and had about the same. I have done what fell to hand.
My clothes, boots, kit, and dugout at various times were sadly bloody.
Two of our batteries are reduced to two officers each. We have had
constant accurate shell-fire, but we have given back no less. And
behind it all was the constant background of the sights of the dead, the
wounded, the maimed, and a terrible anxiety lest the line should give
way.

During all this time, we have been behind French troops, and only
helping our own people by oblique fire when necessary. Our horses have
suffered heavily too. Bonfire had a light wound from a piece of shell;
it is healing and the dear old fellow is very fit. Had my first ride
for seventeen days last night. We never saw horses but with the wagons
bringing up the ammunition. When fire was hottest they had to come two
miles on a road terribly swept, and they did it magnificently. But how
tired we are! Weary in body and wearier in mind. None of our men went
off their heads but men in units nearby did--and no wonder.

France, May 12th, 1915.

I am glad you had your mind at rest by the rumour that we were in
reserve. What newspaper work! The poor old artillery never gets any
mention, and the whole show is the infantry. It may interest you to
note on your map a spot on the west bank of the canal, a mile and a half
north of Ypres, as the scene of our labours. There can be no harm in
saying so, now that we are out of it. The unit was the most advanced
of all the Allies' guns by a good deal except one French battery which
stayed in a position yet more advanced for two days, and then had to be
taken out. I think it may be said that we saw the show from the soup to
the coffee.

France, May 17th, 1915.

The farther we get away from Ypres the more we learn of the enormous
power the Germans put in to push us over. Lord only knows how many men
they had, and how many they lost. I wish I could embody on paper some of
the varied sensations of that seventeen days. All the gunners down this
way passed us all sorts of 'kudo