Item 64 - Letter from George to Ruth Mallory, 15 August 1916

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from France during the Battle of the Somme, 'Aug 15 1916'

He had been rather depressed as he had visited their trenches after a futile attack. Describes his reaction to seeing corpses and the fact that seeing the wounded always distressed him.

Communications had failed as all the wires were broken when he arrived. He had a line laid and hoped to do useful registration but due to a disgusting piece of mismanagement by higher authorities he couldn’t get anything done.

Had been busy the day before in the battery and doing the accounts for the canteen and the mess which he hated doing.

Thanks her for the parcel and especially the lavender but says the rock buns arrived in a bad state. He asks her to rethink her packaging possibly using tins. Bell has stuff put in tins and then wrapped in cloth. Soup tablets and prunes arrived in good condition. Asks for a new strap for his wristwatch.