1st December 1916

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1st December 1916

Arthur and Company have been out of the front line for a few days now and he is starting to enjoy the finer things in life: “After the show we went into Estaires again to the Hotel de Ville for dinner. Just a typical table d’hôte but everything scrupulously clean and the cooking excellent”. Things are also looking up on the furniture front: “The General had a table & a couple of benches sent along & I’ve managed to get hold of a lot of timber, wire netting (“rabbit” wire) & duckboards – which are long wooden gratings that we use for pathways through the mud. The pioneers have made me a very noble wire bed”.

Arthur to Dollie

Fri. even. 5.30pm

… I didn’t get in last night till a quarter to ten: I was awfully pleased to find your dear letter of Monday waiting for me. There was also a very cheery letter from Barbara & one from John: also a short note from Thomas. To-day there has been no mail so that I’m already looking forward to to-morrow…

Yesterday afternoon I rode in to Davis at La Gorgue and met the Doctor there. We went into Estaires for tea & then came back to the “Bow Bells”. They’ve one or two new “numbers” & really they are awfully good. After the show we went into Estaires again to the Hotel de Ville for dinner. Just a typical table d’hôte but everything scrupulously clean and the cooking excellent. We went out at 9: Davis walked down to his billet & the Doc & I rode home. It was a very dark night but there was no wind. The weather lately has been very cold & damp with a heavy mist all day.

Our billet is beginning to gather furniture. The General had a table & a couple of benches sent along & I’ve managed to get hold of a lot of timber, wire netting (“rabbit” wire) & duckboards – which are long wooden gratings that we use for pathways through the mud. The pioneers have made me a very noble wire bed.

To-day I’m afraid I’ve rather slacked – the men are out on various working parties. Minshull has been in twice, Rochford & the Doc & Sneath – a fellow who was in the 2nd Londons & who went sick whilst at the Army School with me in July.

This evening I am going up to HQ to dinner – it’s rather a distance – something about a mile & a quarter. Alfred, they say, should be back on Sunday. I shall be pleased to see him again. Minshull, I think, is going to the School next course – but I don’t think that is quite definite…