1st September 1916
A morning note and an evening letter from Arthur. The weather is now drier so the long route march to work every day is more pleasant. Tonight they have night operations to look forward to. Dollie voices her concern over a remark made by ETA about Arthur’s health and their longed for wedding; news from brother Dickie – he is now at Hurdcott and Dollie’s brother Edouard is now back with his Company. The new padre is a bit of a talker!
Arthur to Dollie
Friday 7.30am
… This is just a short note, sweetheart before I go on parade, to say Good-morning, dear, and a happy month. Yesterday we were out from 8 in the morning till after 7. It was a long day, though the work was interesting. We’ve a march out and back of 4.5 miles, and it’s a bit of a pull after a days work. Luckily yesterday was fine – the first fine day we’ve had for about a week. You may imagine we appreciated it. To-day we are out this morning till half-past one. To-night we’ve night operations, which will mean I expect the night out… its time to go. I’ll write again this afternoon.
Friday aft: 6pm
I have your Sunday’s & Monday’s letters. How happy I am to have your dear news. Darling mine, don’t let the Pater’s suggestion worry you. I am perfectly fit again D.G. Anyway, I don’t think I could endure to wait the two or three days, even if I wanted to… I suppose we will have to let a day go by for there will be a certain amount to fix at the last. But no more than that darling. It is awfully hard to write thus coldly of our marriage … Dear little girl, may it come soon.
There is little of news here. Edouard [Noel], they say is back. We were out working this morning from 7.45 until half past 2. We parade again at 6.30 & shall be out I expect until about 3. It means a long day, for we shall have marched 16 miles in addition to our work by the time that we finish. Bert Pearce asked to-day after you all – he is in “A” Coy, under Clarke. I had a short note from Dick, saying that he was down at Hurdcott.
The weather to-day started very fine: but it soon clouded over, and now all is grey again. We have a new padre; a Scotchman – little Padre Provost left yesterday for Rouen. He is an awful talker. I hope he’ll settle down soon…