Sherriff wrote to his mother from the ‘officers’ rest station’, to which he had moved after spending a day in hospital. He was now waiting to see a dentist: ‘I am now some way back in a fine old-fashioned town which I am anxious to look around tomorrow when it is light.’ He told her that the other patients appeared largely to be officers who were recovering from minor complaints (such as ‘slight wounds, trench fever’ etc). He was in a very nice billet where he would sleep, but the men would come together for all meals at the Mess. He had not yet had time to explore, but he presumed there would be reading and writing rooms.

He planned to investigate the Mess later, after finishing up his letter, but thought he would turn in quite early, and ‘get some good nights rest if possible’. He went on to explain why, although he had been reluctant to go sick, he felt it was the right thing to do:

‘…I feel that the last 4 months continual (or almost continual) trench life has rather told on my nerves – you know that I am naturally rather a nervy person, and I think that it tells more on some than others – I really feel very mean in coming to a place like this while all my fellow officers are in the trenches, but I felt it best for myself and the men, as to have a nervy officer, who naturally would not feel very confident, in the line with them would not inspire them much if I showed any signs of it.’

Meanwhile, the weather was staying ‘fine and frosty’, and although it was bitterly cold, at least it was very healthy, with ‘no mud and slush’. He hoped, if he was to stay at the rest station for a few days, that he would be able to ‘get some good walks, which I am so fond of.’

[Next letter: 27 January]