let; we have a pleasant life, because we get pleasant sleep in
pyjamas, and plenty of exercise to keep us fit. We have just had
lunch, and are lying out in the field in the sun--it is rather
pleasant. There are only about two things we want, and they are a
gramophone, which Winnie is getting for us, and a tennis court, which
does not seem probable at present. We are very impatient for the
gramophone to arrive. Kitton is with me at present; he is a topping
chap, and is in command of the other battery in the Brigade.

Last night I had to take some ammunition (200 rounds) up to the
trenches, also two dug-out frames and 2,000 sandbags; we get through
in the battery about 500 sandbags a day. They are brought up to the
dump, and from there we push them up tramway lines on trucks,
across the open up to the firing line, and then along it in the open
behind to the place where they are wanted. Stray bullets and machine
guns make it rather exciting; we had one man wounded--the bullet went
right through his calf just about half an inch under the skin, a tiny
little wound, but he will only be a few days. I hope Amy is quite
better again.

I was made a First Lieutenant on March 1st. It is possible that I may
be made a Captain sometime in the future. There is talk of making all
Battery Commanders Captains. I am afraid that soon we will be moving
further south; we are very comfortable here, and I am enjoying myself
greatly. I am not feeling up to writing much; I am going to read or
sleep.

Much love to all, from your loving Son,
ALEC.

101/1 TRENCH MORTAR BATTERY,
101ST BRIGADE, B.E.F.
Wednesday.

My darling Mother,--

I did not quite know what was the meaning of the telegram the other
day. It was dated April 1st, which made me rather suspicious, and it
did not arrive here till April 4th. I wired immediately, but it is
difficult to do so; I wrote last Sunday and once the week before; I
hope you have received them all right. You can be quite happy about me
now, as after this afternoon I shall be quite safe for some time. This
afternoon I had my first real taste of heavy shell fire, and I was
glad to find that I did not object to it half as much as I thought I
should. We were doing a pre-arranged straf