We are out of the trenches now for a rest, which we can all do with, as we have been working day and night in the last fortnight. We have been on what they call the flying column; go wherever they want us to be in the reserve for them when they do a charge. We did a bit in attack on Sunday morning, the 3rd, about 7 just as it was getting light. I shall never forget it as long as I live. We had been in reserve for over a week. We have been close to —–, as you will know it is a hot shop, only eight yards away from the Germans. It wasn’t half a sight the dead and the wounded lying all over the place. You could nor move without treading on them. I thought my time had come then, but I wasn’t to be hit. I though I should never be able to see you all again, but the Lord spared me once more. I thought you would like to know the reason why you did not hear from me before, but don’t worry about me, as I shall try to pull through somehow or other, but it is a great strain on anybody out here now. We have been 48 hours without anything to eat or drink only what we found lying in the trenches., and then when we did get anything it was eight loaves between 45 men, so we never got much of a blow out on that. That is the best food I have had lately. I got your letter just after dinner, and the parcel about 4 o’clock, so I am enjoying myself once more, but I wish I was under the table again. When we did get so that we could have a sleep it was out in the open, and it has been raining a lot out here lately, but that did not matter. As soon as you get asleep you would wake up frozen with cold. We only had our overcoats to keep us warm. It would be a change now to have nice bed to sleep in, so that you could take your clothes off, as I have not had mine off since I left England. How are all the other fellows getting on out here away from Caxton? I never hear from any of them. I should like to run against someone I know out here, but I don’t think it will be over yet from what I can see of it. We are in an old barn now, lying on a bit of straw where there are plenty of rats and mice running about. Thanks very much for the parcel and the fags I got all right. Send me a few matches next time.