‘We have had a very lively day today,’ he wrote to Pips, ‘”Fritz” evidently having saved up some shells. But we gave him a very warm reply, and by standing on a high point behind the line we watched our artillery going him a fearful “strafe”, dirt and sandbags flying up in all directions, since which he has been considerably politer’.

‘The Guns’, taken from Sherriff’s ‘Memories of Active Service’, facing page 157. By permission of the Surrey History Centre (Ref: 2332/3/9/3/2)

In the midst of all this action they had completed their Xmas preparations, and were looking forward to quite a merry time: ‘A tinned chicken, and home made plum pudding, fruit etc will make a nice Xmas dinner and a special bottle of cherry brandy (the first intoxicant I have bought for our comfort) will warm us up’.

He hoped that, knowing that they would enjoy themselves in their dugout as much as they could, Pips and the family would try to enjoy themselves too, and would give him a full account of their celebrations afterwards. After thanking him for the two postcards he had sent (of Hampton Court, and Hampton Wick), he signed off and went off to his shift in the mine.

[Next letter: 24 December]