Gunner J. A . Baker

I am writing to let you know I am still alive behind our big guns. We keep letting the Germans have some shells. They were trying to find us the other day, they downed the farmhouse on the other side of the road to ours. We live in a farmhouse. We had to clear out of our billet sharp until things had baited down a bit, one chap killed and five injured, but none of our chaps. We have been busy making stables for our horses, because it is cold here at nights. Water and mud knee deep, and then it freezes at nights, but we have had such a lot of rain since I have been here. We have seen some sights since we came up; we had a German aeroplane over us – our guns were busy. I have heard from brother; he is about 20 miles from here. We came through that place when we came here. We are about 2 miles from a town: we go up and down for a bath and clean clothes. Well I have heard from my wife, and she has sent me one of my photos. My word its grand, the best I ever had taken. I have shown all our chaps it, and officers too, and they think it’s a grand photo. Its very funny here – the money is all franks (10d). We get mixed with it. Fancy bread 9d a loaf (they call it pain), candles 1d each (only small ones too). Well we shall soon have Christmas here. Well I really must close, as I don’t know what to put in as we are not allowed to tell you much. Kindly remember me to the family and Mrs Jennings and yourself. I beg to remain one of your old scholars. Kindly remember me to all the Choir. I wish I could hear some of Eynesbury Choir singing out here. We can see about eight churches from here, but they all being shelled and about down. People that are in England ought to be thankful that the Germans are not there.