Private A Davies, Northamptonshire Regiment

Dear Brother and Sister – Just a line to let you know that I have arrived in Hospital in Aberdeen, but don’t know how long I shall be here. I have been wounded in my left hand, and the bullet passing through the bottom of the thumb and coming out just below my finger. I don’t know if I shall be able to use it anymore after it has healed, but it is very painful and swollen at present. I think I am very lucky being alive. I was in the big charge on Sat, Sep 25th (in the morning), and you can bet that we gave the Germans a great surprise. We used everything we possibly could against them. As I belong to the bombing section I had to carry bombs in a Bandolier in the front of me, and it is owing to this that I am alive as a bullet struck one of the bombs and glided off. We had to charge a distance of 700 yards, in short rushes. After doing about 500 yards we had just got to make another rush when a shower of bullets came along and I received my wound. There was a lot of prisoners taken and they looked as if they were fairly done up. I know that they hadn’t had any rest for some days as our artillery had kept them awake, especially the day before the attack, they poured shells into the German trench, and the noise of the guns was just like one long roll of thunder, lasting all day long. I think we will now close as I don’t feel up to the mark to write any more. Hoping to hear from you soon.