Private J. Clough, Royal Army Medical Corps.

Private Clough, who used to drive Messrs, Hinsbys’ motor ‘bus, and now drives a Motor Ambulance at the Front, writes as follows I am very sorry to keep you waiting for a letter but we have been so unsettled this last week that I could not find time to drop a line, Since Saturday I have not taken my boots off until last night. You will be surprised to hear that we have shifted
again, a little bit nearer the firing line this time and had the experience of being under shell fire for the first time yesterday. The Germans were shelling all round the hospital at the rear of the lines, so we were sent up to remove the wounded. It is very exciting to hear the shells bursting over your head, I tell you it makes you feel bad for the time but you soon get used to it. You see the other chaps go up and down the road not taking the slightest notice. One would wonder how it is, but it’s like everything else, you get used to it. I was on guard on Sunday night and the cannon was terrible. They started about 12 30 in the morning and lasted right up to last night without hardly a break and they have just started again. The
German aeroplanes have been flying all day over our lines and the shots that are wasted trying to hit them is surprising, but still they come. They don’t take the slightest notice. Now about myself. I am still keeping all right, nothing to grumble at, and I get on just as well as I did before. I have been very fortunate up to now. I have met three more fellows that I know, Harry Stanford from St. Neots and two of the Bedford bus drivers. They stopped in the same town where we were for two days. They belong to the 6th Beds. and went
off to the firing lines yesterday morning. Now I cannot tell you any more news. I am expected to be called out any minute. Remember me to every- body and say that I am quite well up to the present. God bless you all and trust he will keep me safe for your and the children’s sake.