‘Today is Christmas Day,’ he wrote to his mother, ‘and as regards the war, things seem to be going on just the same outside as usual – or perhaps a little livelier than usual. I really rather expected a quiet day, but it is not so.’

The men in their dugout. From Memories of Active Service, Vol 1, facing page 243. By permission of the Surrey History Centre (Ref: 2332/3/9/3/2)

He told her that their Xmas celebrations had passed off so far in a ‘most satisfactory way’. On Xmas Eve they had enjoyed a meal with Xmas pudding (‘yours, dear,’ he told her), various fruits and a Medoc (but unfortunately no cherry brandy). Their midday meal on Xmas day had consisted of tinned chicken in jelly, cold Xmas pudding and dessert. Later on, at the invitation of the RE officers, he would be joining them in their dugout for a turkey dinner, ‘so on the whole we shall not do badly’. He and Patterson had also bought treats for the East Surrey men who were on mining duty with them – a box of cigarettes each, two oranges, a ‘nice ham’ and plum pudding. He had just been along the trench to see them issued their Xmas dinner, which he hoped they would be pleased about, since it made a change from their usual fare.

He reflected on the rather surprising fact that, despite his surroundings, and being away from home, he had enjoyed his Christmas, and was regretting its passing (as he always had in previous years). He had been happy writing his letter to Pips the previous day, because it had cheered him by ‘bringing back all the old thoughts of Xmas’. He also reported having received a small parcel from an old colleague from the Artists [G R Rudolf, who was somewhat older than Sherriff and had gone on to a job in munitions in London], who had given him some more fruit, chocolate and bulls-eyes: ‘It was nice of him to remember me.’

And with that he left to go on duty, promising his mother a much more complete account of the festivities when they were finally over.

[Next letters: 26 December]