15th January 1916
Arthur and his Company are now out of the front line and he is enjoying being in a “most luxurious cellar” which “boasts of a pukka door with a latch to it”, “a folding bed with my valise on it”, “a table and two chairs”, “a kind of sideboard with a big glass over it (about 3 feet long by 2 high) a set of shelves and a stove” – luxury indeed!
Arthur to Dollie
In a cellar, Satur. 5.20pm
Thanks awfully for your dear letter of Monday – that reached me up on the South Crassier last night. Also for your letter of Tuesday that arrived when I got back here together with a parcel from the Mater and a little red book on Night marching from Mr Duncan of Stibbard Gibson’s.
Yesterday was pretty quiet, dear, save for some affectionate reminders from “Minnie” that she hasn’t forgotten. They are brutes, her bombs. The crash of the explosion is terrific & soul shaking but unless she gets a direct hit the damage is small…We were relieved about 7 and have come a little way back into some corons (S. M-c) where we live in cellars till tomorrow evening when we go back a little further.
I have a most luxurious cellar – relics of French art. First of all it boasts of a pukka door with a latch to it. Next item a folding bed with my valise on it. A table and two chairs. A kind of sideboard with a big glass over it (about 3 feet long by 2 high) a set of shelves and a stove. So you see dear heart, I’m very snug. I wish you could see it. I’m enclosing “SANS TABAC” which I found in here. I’ve spent the greater part of to-day asleep! We didn’t have breakfast until after eleven, and I’ve been asleep again this afternoon…
Lloyd is very fit. He is going off on a Lewis gun course to-morrow. Brady & Rice are still with me. Hammerton is at present on a course but should be back on Monday. I haven’t seen Sammy for a few days. He very kindly gave me a scarf & thanks you for your message re his “mention”…