Letter from Percy Whitehouse

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This letter to his wife describes conditions in the trenches and the soldiers’ food. The transcript has been edited for punctuation and spelling.

Nov 13 1915

Dear Ettie,

I got your letter and papers yesterday, Nov 12, and they came in just right.  I was in my dugout when they came and was very pleased you are all well, as I am at present.

We came out for rest last night and it was a rough journey. A thunderstorm came, and I have never seen it rain so hard – it fell down.  The trenches we left are half full up with water and we have been wet through all the time we have been here.  We go in again on Monday 17 so we shan’t have time to dry our clothes, for there is nowhere to dry them here unless we get a fire day, which I don’t suppose we shall.  It rains day and night here.  We are in huts here and not much comfort – bare floor and one blanket and wet throughout and the mud here is awful.

We got in about 2 o’clock this morning (Sat). They gave us a small glass of wine and for breakfast biscuits and cheese and one small loaf between 12 men, so you see they don’t overfeed us! We spend our money on bread and candles and coffee, and we don’t know how we should get on – still, we keep living.  I should like to have some of those people that put photos in the papers out here with us for a week; it would open their eyes a bit, I think, up to your knees in mud and water, biscuits and cheese to eat, bacon sometimes if you can make a fire without making a smoke.  If you do, the Germans send a shell over to see how you are getting on. It would do them good, I think.

A lot of our men went to hospital from frozen feet this time. I don’t know how it will be a bit later. And now, dear, the name of my chum was H. Strudwick. His name was in the Argus you sent me. They have not got half the list yet. He was killed Sept 25th in the big advance and I never missed him until the next morning.

And now dear I think this is all this time. Hoping you will write soon, from your loving husband

Percy xxxxxxxxxxxx

P.S. Kiss the kiddies for me.  I will let you know if I want anything.  I should like the Argus now and again but not the other papers, as there are plenty of daily papers, but no local one.  Good night and god bless you dear. Happy dreams.

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