You have heard of British victories,
And no doubt you have read,
How many of our brave comrades
Lie numbered with the dead.
To add to these great victories,
This one I’m going to tell
How us lads of the 7th Suffolks
Pulled through a living hell.

Many of our brave lads lie sleeping,
Still a few remain
To tell of this brave battle,
From ……. Up to ………,
It’s not of air raids on London,
Or any other town,
But the battle the 7th Suffolks won,
Near the Hohenzollen Redoubt.

It was on the ……
We lined up to attack
And not a man amongst us,
Would have thought of turning back.
At twelve o’clock that morning,
Our hearts were beating fast
As we stood firm with our bayonets fixed,
Waiting to carry out our task.

Twas opened by our artillery,
With many numerous guns,
Set to destroy the trenches.
Held by the German Huns,
After two hours stiff bombardment,
An order came soft and low,
To charge the line of trenches,
Held by the German foe.

Midst sounds of battle raging,
And the flash of bursting shell,
How we managed to advance,
I really cannot tell:
But when we reached their trenches,
The Germans turned and fled,
Leaving all behind them,
Their dying and the dead.

Several hours the brutes bombarded,
But we all of us confess,
That each and every one of us,
Hung on and did our best
There were other regiments in it,
Each man was proud we know,
To add such laurels to our flag,
We still and will uphold.

The Suffolks took the centre,
The ……. took the right,
The … was on our left
And held their own all right :
But there is one more regiment,
I have not mentioned yet,
The gallant 9th Essex,
That’s the name they get.

I am in good health at present, we have had some very hot times. The first Sunday we landed we had a big charge and gained a lot of ground, and got a very proud name which I hope we will keep. I am very sorry Col Butler has finished with us. We have lost a lot of officers and men. We keep gaining ground every night. It is very hot in the day and cold at night. I often think there are some more young fellows in St Neots who could come and do their bit over here. We were on the water just over a fortnight. We stopped at Malta and Alexandria. I was bad the first two days, but soon got used to the water, just the same as we get used to the bullets and the shells flying about. A few of our fellows got wounded but I don’t think there were many killed. I am in the trenches 24 hrs and out for the same time. We only get a quart of water to last us all day, so we don’t get much to do our cooking with. We get no bread at all out here, it is all biscuits, but we shall have to make up for that when we get to England. I have not seen a house since I landed, it is all rocks and hills. I have not had a wash for nine or ten days, so you can guess how I feel. I hope you have got plenty of work on the go. I shall know how to rough it when I get back to England, as I hope I shall. The worst thing in the day time is the flies, you cannot rest for them. Some kind person has sent us some nets to put right over our faces which we find very useful. There are lots of aeroplanes flying about. We cannot get hold of cigarettes, and the only pleasure we get is smoking.

We have had some lovely warm weather out here lately, and the farmers have got all the corn up all but a few beans, which are all ready to get up. They have also pulled a lot of the ground up for next year, but it is not like it is at home. It is only ploughed up a few inches and most of it is cultivated with a scuffle, such as is used in England on rough land. Everything out here is done the old fashioned style like you see in books, carts are drawn by chains, and are on three wheels and mules are used a lot. They have no shafts on the old farm carts or wagons. The light traps have nearly always a hood, and they nearly always have them up, but they are high on the wheels and built strong. One sees very few civilian cars knocking abut in this part although people would think there was no war on. People go about, taking no notice of anything. Women do most of the farm work, also carting and stacking. In some parts the soldiers have helped.

We had a pretty fierce fight on Sunday, in fact I did not expect to some out alive, but I escaped it pretty well. I got a bullet through my left foot, and I left here on Sunday. We were put on a hospital ship and are now lying on an island for a time. I do not know how many there are of us left, when I was with them they were falling like ninepins. No mistake they are some good fighting chaps, they have made their name already. We were not sent out to take a hill and in less than four hours we had go it. If they can keep it I think it will soon be all over here, thank God for it.

I am getting on much better and feel much better in myself. I think I must have got some gas as I was so sick when I got down here and could eat nothing for four days. The Germans are using it in their shells. I was Brigade orderly and had been up to the trenches twice before I was hit. Of course I was wearing a pack over my mouth, but it was only one that I had made myself. The Brigade Headquarters was only about 150 yards from the trenches, it being what was left of an old farm house. The Germans must have known it was being used for something for they were shelling it the whole of the time and it was there that I received my souvenir. Well I was very lucky, for from the size of the piece of shell, it was high explosive, it looks as if it must have killed me. I have got the piece and will try and send it home, as I am not expecting to get home now. My wound is going on all right. Well, I don’t see how anyone would have know before you at home that U was wounded, as I was hit on Sunday the 9th, and wrote you first. There was a small parcel for me yesterday and the Corporal brought the mails up and left it in his hut, but someone had more right to it than I, so he pinched it, and I don’t know who it was from. Parcels with money should be registered. It is a great mistake to write “Cigarettes” or “Chocolate” on a parcel as they are often taken out when they reach this end. I don’t know what became of the other parcel you sent. We are in huts here, four in each hut, they are very nice too. Please remember me to all friends at home.