In his previous letters since the Battle of Messines began, Sherriff had noted the incessant roar of the guns, but now, as he told Pips,  things were different – the guns had quietened, having ‘done their work’, leaving the other ‘branches of the service’ to do their work.

The success of the offensive was evident in the continuing flow of prisoners:

‘All day – through the heat and dust little batches of miserable ragged men came down the road in German field grey – apologies for soldiers – men who seem to have been gathered together indiscriminately – many with glasses and many undersized – I don’t think any exaggeration would be made if I said not half would pass our Medical Board for General Service.’

He went on to describe how the prisoners were viewed by the British soldiers:

‘Our men come and stand at the corners of the road and wait for the procession as though it were a Lord Mayor’s Show – and pass jocular remarks as they go by:
“Yer ole woman will ‘ave to do without yer now, mate”
“Look, there goes ole ‘indenberg..” as some poor wretch without the least pretension of likeness save a heavy moustache goes by – one and all bear the distinct German mark – the bullet head and low forehead which gives many the appearance of tame apes.’

Later that day he expected to head off to his course at the Sniping School, which he thought might last a week or so,. The Adjutant had suggested that, thereafter (‘if only all goes well and leave is not stopped’) he could be headed home on leave (around about the 18th, he thought, although he cautioned Pips: ‘please do not take it for anything like granted’).

Meanwhile, he was remaining in reserve with some other officers, and marvelling some more about how well things had gone:

‘All has gone with quite dazzling success – ground taken which has been a stumbling block for years – how well I know the difference between the Huns on the top of a hill, watching everything you do – and Huns at the bottom of a hill – blinded as they are now – a yard of some ground just taken is worth miles and miles of other parts.’

And with that, he closed his letter, hoping that he would very soon have the joy of ‘looking on glorious old English fields and gardens’.

[Next letters: 10 June]