Item 85 - Letter from George to Ruth Mallory, 26 September 1916

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from France during the Battle of the Somme, 'Sept 26 1916'

Liked the high position so had arranged with Dunbar that he would stay there all day and go back to the battery for dinner.
Had been a great day with Thiepval taken all the high ground south of Grandcourt. A lot of prisoners had been taken passed them and many casualties too. Describes how he thinks the battle will continue and the advantages in their favour. Thought the Germans gave themselves up more easily than before and Bell reported the prisoners he saw were quite happy. Hoped the Russians could get on again. Got the impression they were now doing what they were meant to do.

Describes the dugout where he is writing from, the two signallers at the telephone (one asleep and one keeping watch with a magazine) and the dull noise of the guns. Was using the Morning Post as a tablecloth because the table was so dirty.

Had received letters from her. Says what he doesn’t like about the National Mission. Asks her to think carefully over her attitude towards the type of parish work she describes.

Pleased to hear that Clare is crawling and asks news about her father’s fall.