On 24 March Sherriff wrote home to his father with details of the training they were giving their men:

‘We are having some perfect weather now, and training is very nice back here – the men are getting instruction in everything: besides the usual Physical Drill & Musketry etc there is plenty of firing on a range – Rifle Grenades, Bombs & Bullets – Digging – Marching & everything pertaining to the soldier’.

He told Pips that he had received a long letter from him two days before, and wished he could think of more interesting things to say in reply. He felt he had said everything he had to say about the French people and plans as much as he could, or was allowed, and there was nothing much to add about his recent activities. ‘But tomorrow is Sunday,’ he noted, ‘and a day off except a voluntary Church parade which I shall go to after a hard week’s work – and after that, I hope I shall be free, and I will summon up all my thoughts to write a more interesting letter’.

[Next letters: 27 March]