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G.H.Q.
July: 1: 16

My dear little one

I got your letter late last night. I am afraid I have been a
bad correspondent, but I never knew where I would be. Yesterday, for example, I
went off to the French G.H.Q. at Chantilly & had a delightful afternoon. They have given me
the full Verdun reports. The French H.Q. staff are perfectly delightful. I dined with them
and sat next to Castelnau. They are in outstanding spirits. I shall never forget the drive
home in an amethyst evening - for the weather changed yesterday - through the green
Picardy uplands.

This morning I went out at 5.30 & saw the beginning of our great offensive.
The 1½ hours final bombardment - hurricane force - were terrific. Then came at 7.30 a
lull & our gallant fellows got on the parapets. They carried the first Boche
positions in their stride with very few losses, for the Boche artillery was extraordinarily feeble.
This is only 10 a.m. but we have got the first Boche positions on a front of
25 miles, & it is only the beginning. I am going out now to see our first wounded, and