2110-2-13-23

British Headquarters

May: 17: 15

My dearest little Susie

I was glad to get your letter yesterday. I had a very interesting day. For a change it was bright sun & quite hot. I went to Aire [Aire-sur-la-Lys] in the morning & saw D. Haig's staff, then to where the Canadians are in reserve, where I saw General Alderson & had a long talk with one of the Brigadiers about the battle & met some of the men who were in the gas. They were the jolliest lot. Not a touch of Canadian brag, but very simple & quick & they talked about their experiences as if it had been a pheasant shoot.

Then I went on to where the battle was being fought on our southern front. We had already made a fine push forward, & we were hard at it all day. I watched it from a church tower about 3 miles off (where the Kyrie Eleison was being sung below by white-faced women & little girls). I was just opposite la Bassée. I never saw anything like the British artillery

They plastered the hillside with every kind of shell - Jack Johnson, lyddite, Shrapnel. One could not believe that anything could live there. Then came the infantry attack which I could not see for the woods. I saw our wounded coming back - not a pretty sight. I saw what gave me great joy - a long string of German prisoners - such a set of ruffians as you never saw. They were Prussians from the 9th Corps & looked purely criminal - just the kind of lads to use gas.

This morning I am going on to Flying Corps with David Henderson [ST: Head of the Flying Corps]. I am as well as possible. I only wish you were here, for you would love it. I do hope Mr John will soon get quite fit. Much love to the blessings & to Gerald & Marnie

Your ever affectionate

John