Gunner R Whiteman, Royal Field Artillery

We are not having an exceedingly hard time here now, although it gets a bit monotonous at times. We have reveille at 6.30, and, at 7.30, breakfast with the usual diet of bacon. We are not allowed to do much ‘outdoor’ work during the day, that is if it is clear owing to the activity of the German aircraft. Talking about our aeroplanes: I saw a good ‘scrap’ in the air the other day between a British biplane and a German scout. The German machine seemed to tilt all of a sudden, at an awful angle, and looked to me as if it dropped just in its own lines, but whether or no, I could not say for certain: this happened immediately above our heads. We do not lack ammunition, not by a long way; but on the enemy’s side it is doubtful, as not many months ago the Germans used to retaliate with about three shots to our one. But now, where we are it is a great event if we hear a shell let alone see one. We have had it a bit hard with the firing lately, as I can tell you it is no weaklings job to handle 36lb shells especially when you have had about a dozen rounds as fast as you can. The climate out here is suiting me to a ‘T’, nice and sharp in the mornings which gives me a good appetite for breakfast. I was pleased to hear ‘Jimmy’ Skinner was still well. Kindly remember me to all the boys in the office.