‘We have come in for a spell of good mild weather,’ he told Pips, ‘and it is a great change to the biting cold that we have had such a lot of’.

Other than the weather there was very little to write home about, since they were still in the line, and he could not tell Pips where they were, nor really describe his surroundings [although we know from the battalion diary that he was in Cité Calonne]. He could at least say that they were ‘quite comfortable as regards dugouts’, and he promised that, ‘if I ever have the chance (as I greatly hope) after the war, I will have some very interesting things to tell you about the place we are in’.

Sherriff’s father Herbert, on their Battlefield Tour in 1921. By permission of the Surrey History Centre (Ref: 2332/9/7)

He complained that he had a bit of a cold (‘like nearly every one else has here at various times’), but not enough to get him sent home. He was longing for leave, but knew that it was still some way off. At least when it came, however, they would enjoy it much more because of the long time he had waited for it. Beyond that he had nothing much more to write, since ‘my descriptions of French people and things have rather run out’. He reassured his father that, even when he had nothing to say, he would simply write ‘letting you know I am quite well’.

[It is notable that, although Sherriff’s letters home are brief at this point, they are at least more frequent (three in successive days, six in a week) than they had been throughout February, when he was suffering with his neuralgia. It suggests that, as on previous occasions (and as would happen later), Sherriff was generally more agitated by the prospect of moving into the line (even when the move was far from imminent) than by actually being in the line.]

[Next letters: 8 March]