The Letters of Arthur Martin-Leake February 1918

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9/2/18

My dear Mammy

I sent you a line from Boulogne & hope you will get it. There is a new officers’ club there & letters can be posted without any difficulty. It seems to be a very good place & is well run by the W.A.A.C.; feeding good & very reasonable. I did not stop there as it was quite full & this is apparently always the case.

The shops in Boulogne were interesting, esp[ecial]ly the Butchers, of which I counted four in one street, & all packed full of meat. Such a change from England. Other provision shops in the same condition & great masses of butter to be seen. One would imagine that France could easily export butter & eggs to England. I will try sending some of the former if you have difficulties over it.

Arrived here last evening & found all just the same, as there had been no move; it seems as if we shall stop on here for some time. Horses & everybody quit [i.e. quite] fit & as usual wanting work to do. The weather has been quite warm & on the whole fine, much as you have been having at home. A circular has been sent round about cultivating land & growing potatoes. I am hoping they will give us some land & let us start at once.  We have plenty of horse & man power being wasted during these times. Hope you are quite fit & looking after yourself.

Best love. Y[ou]r affect[iona]te son

A.M. Leake

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