a call to arms
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Private Arthur Sherington, 3/5th London Regiment (London Rifle Brigade) Since I have been down here, I have done all kinds of fatigues from unloading coal wagons to cookhouse, which is chiefly cleaning out greasy dixies. This is far better than doing drill on the Square day after day. I think they like to vary the monotony by a few fatigues sprinkled here and there. By the way, I tried to get measles the other day as there is five days’ leave attached to it, but it didn’t come off. Private Peter Miller I and two others went to Walton on the Naze to have our blankets fumigated at the hospital. All the blankets for the Company went in motor transports, so we had a pleasant ride. The blankets were put in a huge oven and literally baked by steam for three quarters of an hour to kill all germs and in fact make them generally better to sleep on. We had lunch at a restaurant and a bath in the hospital. Private Arthur Sherington I make my third epistle to the family at large. Would you mind sending down my football knickers together with a pair or two of pants if such be reasonable and also if you can spare it, another towel and last but not least those two thin cotton vests. I have made arrangements for my washing to be done in the village, but this has to be kept quite quiet as we are not supposed to send it there on account of the various diseases to which the said villagers are subject. Private Peter Miller Yesterday afternoon a few of us were watching a sergeant playing with a machine gun, when an officer rushed up and said that the British had broken through 20 miles of front. Later, the evening paper reported 20 miles; now this morning the distance has come
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08/08/2011 15:12:53