Private S H Irons

I am keeping well and hope all at home are the same. We are in the trenches again and only 50 to 80 yards off the Germans. Our fellows could hear them singing this morning is playing as anything. Of course they keep firing at us all the time, and we let them have something back you maybe sure. I don’t know whether you have written again but have received nothing from you since you told me of Violet Ashford’s death. My thoughts are always about you, I’m wondering if you’re keeping well. I suppose things are looking nice at home now. I hope you will have a good crop of potatoes as I know things are very dear at home. You must go out as much as possible and enjoy yourself. We’re having some lovely weather here again now, but all the same I would rather be at home with you. Of course we know some of us must be out here or we would have those binders over in England. May God keep you and protect you from all harm.

As I am writing these few lines the guns are going off and very fairly shaking the earth. Also rifle fire is going on, and as I sit in our dugout, I think that the shirkers at home ought to be ashamed of themselves for not coming and trying to do a bit for their country, but I hope and pray to God that it will not last much longer, it is wicked to see the lives lost everyday