10th September 1916
The oppressive weather is matching Arthur’s mood: “To-day is a rotten day: very dull & a heavy drenching mist – it is very like a late autumn morning… The padre built a little covered in chapel – about 8 feet square. This morning I went to Confession and Communion at Mass. It was a strange experience. We are in a great plain, rather like Salisbury Plain. Thousands of troops about us. This little hut – & the padre saying Mass”. Arthur’s superior officer has put his name forward for an honour – but Dollie is sworn to secrecy.
Arthur to Dollie
Sun 11.45
…Your dear letter of Monday came yesterday: Sunday’s hasn’t turned up. I am looking forward to it to-day. I am so happy to get it. You dear; I can only hope that my letters are beginning to reach you regularly again. The mails are rather at sixes and sevens.
To-day is a rotten day: very dull & a heavy drenching mist – it is very like a late autumn morning. Yesterday we made ourselves a little bivouac with some corrugated iron. The padre built a little covered in chapel – about 8 feet square. This morning I went to Confession and Communion at Mass. It was a strange experience. We are in a great plain, rather like Salisbury Plain. Thousands of troops about us. This little hut – & the padre saying Mass.
By the way, darling, Sammy told me that he had put my name forward for something for the last show. This of course in confidence – so don’t tell a soul, dear; until something materialises.
There is no news yet of leave. And I do want it so. I live for it day & night – and all that it means. I’m feeling a bit under the weather to-day. It’s trying to clear up. Meanwhile it’s very oppressive & expression becomes more difficult. There are days when it seems almost easy to say in some small measure what one feels. But to-day is one of those when much more can be expressed by silence than words…
In the evening the 1/3rds moved forward to Leuze Wood…
