Sherriff wrote home to his mother, sounding more cheerful than he had in recent days:

‘Today is Sunday and one of the most beautiful days we have had this year, fine, sunny and crisp. I am going for a walk this afternoon into a large town nearby – quite a nice town, but not quite so big as one which we were near in the line.’ [As they were billeted in Bas Rieux, the town to which he was referring was most likely Lillers.]

Although it was Sunday, there had been no church parade, since there were few places big enough to accommodate it. They had used a YMCA hut the previous week, but another regiment was using it on this occasion, so they had to do without. He went on to describe his surroundings:

‘I am sitting in a big open room that looks out onto a farm yard where there are chickens, accompanied with the usual crowing and cackling that reminds me of home [the Sherriffs kept chickens in their garden in Hampton Wick]. There is an old dog chained in a corner and an old horse who patiently works on a machine for cutting chaff.’

Sherriff’s mother, in nurses uniform. By permission of the Surrey History Centre (Ref: 2332/6/6/3)

He reminisced about their walks together in Bushy Park, observing that ‘it must [be] getting that fresh green look again’. Thinking about it made him hope that it would not be long before he was given leave and could see it again. He was pleased that he had not known, when he first arrived in France, how long it would be before he would be given leave – he had thought it might be in three months, but here he was, five months later, still waiting, but hoping that he would not have to wait much longer.

His mother had obviously been working the night shift at the hospital, and he sympathised with her: ‘Night work is an awful strain, I know – and don’t you feel so tired after a full night awake. I expect you think it almost worthwhile to do it to appreciate the rest afterwards.’ As lunch was just about to arrive he had to bring his letter to a close, but not before reassuring her that he would try to write at least every other  day, ‘unless it is quite impossible’

[Next letter: 28 February]