The Letters of Arthur Martin-Leake December 1914
World War One letters from a double VC
Read by Nicholas Blatchley
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26/12/14 — No.5 Field Ambulance
My dear Mammy
A letter from you today. Thanks very much for all your good wishes. The Xmas pudding was a great success, & what we could not eat went to the servants who enjoyed it much. Plum puddings were issued out to the men & they all had a good fill. Every man had a card from the King & Queen & today Princess Mary’s present. We all got the letter, but the cards were short so the officers did not get one. More have been applied for & if I get mine I will send it to you.
Have packed up Princess Mary’s present & am sending it to you when I can get to a Post Office. It is quite a nice box, & the smoking materials inside are for Steenie & Dick. They are to have these as they are doing much good work for the country. There was also a pipe which I am keeping for myself.
We have moved again, only a short way from the last place & are only here temporarily. A letter from Bella — please thank her for all the news & the photos. I enclose some of these as I want more prints (small). The men taken are very keen to have copies.
We have had two days rather hard frost, but now the weather has changed & it has got warmer.
Will you please send me a small size bath towel — not one of the big ones as they are so bulky to carry.
Hoping you are all quite fit, & with best wishes for the New Year.
Y[ou]r affect[iona]te son
A.M. Leake
{HALS reference 86953}
29/12/14 — No.5 Field Ambulance
My dear Mammy
Letters received with copies & photos. Thanks much.
Enclosed is letter for India. Please stamp & post.
No news here at all. Things are very quiet & we have very few wounded.
On Xmas day there was an unofficial armistice between one of the Indian Reg[imen]ts & the Germans in front. Smokes & rum were exchanged & much bon hommie. I believe they are Bavarians in front & they are said to have no ill will towards us.
Am afraid there is not much chance of meeting Willie.
Best love & hoping you are all quite fit. Will write more later.
Y[ou]r affect[iona]te son
A.M. Leake
{HALS reference 86954}
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