Stuk 71 - Letter from George to Ruth Mallory, 29-30 August 1916

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from 'Dug-Out' France during the Battle of the Somme, 'Aug 29 1916'

Had returned to the battery and the other half had left for the rest camp. They had been replaced with new men. His back hurt and the world of war was dismal. Torrential rain had been very hard to keep out of their holes and half his hole was a puddle and in a great mess. Describes how he had dug a soaking pit and diverted the water from the roof.

Had been busy on his day off attending to a new dug out which was to be a den of pleasure as the mess room was too dank. Had the holes in the ceiling of the mess room blocked up too.

30 Aug – Very wet day. Had been doing jobs around the battery. Describes the telephonists dug out where he was sitting writing and what he could see from there.
Comments on the good news from Romania and the interior of Germany where it must be bad if their troops were running short of food.
Had received letters from Uncle Hawes and Aunt Jessie but they were badly written. Describes how to write a good letter.
Had written no more of his Book of Geoffrey.