Taking up his unfinished letter on Easter Monday, Sherriff told Pips that the weather had deteriorated a bit, with training broken up by some sharp showers of hail. The day before he had taken advantage of the fine weather to go for a long walk:

‘…the woods…are very fine, and much after the style of Oxshott – and from some of the high ground I could see many miles of country stretched out – some of which will be famous in the history of the world, I expect.’

Earlier in the evening he had attended a concert (‘which was very good and quite enjoyable’) given by a Brigade which was billeted nearby, and during it word had come through of ‘some very fine advances…including many prisoners and a complete set of generals. I expect things will buck up now.’ [Here he is probably referring to advances made in the Battle of Arras, which had begun that morning, and where significant territory had been gained, especially on Vimy Ridge.]

He closed by apologising to Pips that he could think of nothing more to tell him: ‘I think the best thing would be for you to jot down a few things you would like me to talk about, and I will tell as much as I can without touching Military Matters of Importance’.