"Our first job in the trenches was to dig ourselves dugouts to sleep in. These are just little caves dug under the side of the trenches, ours is about 6 by 5 ft & about 3 ft high, tor two of us."

Extract 2

[Page 1]

"We got a bit of a fright coming over, another transport which left Alexandria a few hours after us & caught us up was torpedoed by a submarine before our eyes. We saw her go down & I think it was the most awe inspiring sight I ever saw. Her stern went down & she almost stood on end, & then as a plank slides over a bar, she slipped back and was gone for ever.

She had men [number struck out] aboard & of these only some [number struck out] were saved, by a passing 'Red Cross' ship. Our boat of course put on full steam at once & we were fortunate enough to escape. All hands got on their lifebelts for we did not know but that at any moment we might suffer a like fate, but thank God we were spared. We felt terribly helpless – we were like rats in a trap & could not help ourselves whatever happened for we had not a single gun on board."

Extract 3

[Page 1]

"Now I have some worse news for you although you probably know all about it by now even, but still I will tell you again. While we were having breakfast on the beach, I spied old Gib Johnson strolling about & I went down to see him & get news from him. Poor old Gib he is not looking so fit on it.

[Page 2]

He looks really worn out. I wanted to know all about the boys from our district & he didn’t seem to mention them, so I asked him how they were, & then he told me. My God, I did get a shock, I could, could scarcely believe my ears. It appears that last Sunday week they had a big scrap with the enemy, & all our boys were in it...They were all knocked out in the same fight – it must have been a terrible struggle. I would like to tell you all about it but all these letters are censored they tell me, we have to leave them unsealed & if I say too much they may destroy it altogether."

Extract 4

[Page 2]

"I am getting used to all the funny noises they make over here day & night now. The big guns from land & sea make an awful row, & this is accompanied always with machine guns & rifle fire. We can hear the shells screaming over head and the shrapnel bursting all day long..."

Extract 5

[Page 3]

"In fact there are stray bullets flying everywhere & one stands a chance of 'stopping one' at any time... By Jove, it is great this underground life – here I am sitting in my little dugout writing to you – not alone, oh dear no – there are thousands of flies to keep me company, they just about drive one mad & every time you move & touch the roof or walls down comes a

[Page 4]

shower of earth. Still you would be surprised how comfortable one can feel even under such circumstances."

Extract 6

[Page 4]

"...we are not being treated to badly at all. We get Bacon every day & twice we have had eggs. Bully beef, dried vegetables, rice, raisins, tea, sugar, tinned milk, jam, very hard biscuits & sometimes a bit of bread, are all on issue. We also get tobacco & cigs at the rate of about 2oz per week. Our water is the worst job, we are on top of a hill & we have to carry all our water up from about half a mile away."