16th August 1916
“The weather is pretty fine … The countryside is glorious. Woods & villages and rolling cornlands between. It is a shame to desecrate it with this war. From here when it is fine one can get a distant view of part of the fight down south, Courcelette & Martinpuich (or Corslet & Martinpush!) with the Albert-Bapaume road running between & High Wood beyond. The shelling is continuous: we are gradually pushing the Hun down the Bapaume road. It reminds me of the view we used to get from the Givenchy Ridge over Cuinchy & the plains towards Loos”.
Arthur to Dollie
… My little Darling, its Wednesday evening & the first free minutes I’ve had since last night. I was busy last night up till ten. I turned in then, intending to finish this letter this morning. But heaps of things turned up – & finally I had to go into HQ. I was kept there until this afternoon & then went over to the Divisional School to see the CO. He was looking very fit. They are in a very pleasant château … It wasn’t until about a quarter past 7 that I got in again. I was rather tired for I had been riding nearly all day. I had lunch at HQ. Botterill was there on some soft job behind the lines. He returns to England to-day Lucky chap.
The weather is pretty fine but not so hot; & we have occasional showers, rather like April. The countryside is glorious. Woods & villages and rolling cornlands between. It is a shame to desecrate it with this war. From here when it is fine one can get a distant view of part of the fight down south, Courcelette & Martinpuich (or Corslet & Martinpush!) with the Albert-Bapaume road running between & High Wood beyond. The shelling is continuous: we are gradually pushing the Hun down the Bapaume road. It reminds me of the view we used to get from the Givenchy Ridge over Cuinchy & the plains towards Loos.
I’m afraid this is a fearfully disconnected letter, little one, but I hardly know where to find a quiet time. Darling, this is my last block; & I’ve run short of envelopes. I wonder if [you] could get me some more, could you, sweetheart, please… I think your idea for marking your linen E.V.A is more charming than E.A. isn’t it, dear, especially as the two latter initials are more or less common in our families…
I long for these few weeks to pass … Everyone is confident of success: the Russian news is better every week, the Italians are well away now, the Turks are reeling from the Canal, & here where the Hun has his best troops & his best guns we are surely forcing him back & back. They say that this is the last of all battles & all are hopeful of an early peace. Let us hope so; for I’ve seen two years fighting & five big shows & war isn’t a pleasant job. Worst of all it means separation from you little girl and I do want to settle down with you, never to be apart from you again…