The Letters of Arthur Martin-Leake March 1915

World War One letters from a double VC

Read by Nicholas Blatchley

From Arthur's Wartime Photo Album - Hertfordshire Archives & Local Studies

Letter 86972

Hertfordshire Archives & Local Studies

To listen to the audio clip, click play on the bar below the image on the right.

15/3/15 — 5th F.A.

My dear Mammy

I am in want of a khaki shirt & tooth brush, if Bella will send them I shall be very much obliged. I think there is a shirt in my room. That little ass, Carter, did write that letter & sent it to most of the papers including the medical journals. He wrote me a letter enclosing replies from Lancet & B.M.J.; they would not put the letter in without authority, so he wrote for this to be sent immediately. I answered him by return & think that I have shut him up. He is probably mad otherwise I would have been very rude to him.

Things here seem to have reached their normal state of stickiness again, but progress has been made further up the line.

Enclosed are a few films taken some time ago at Vielle Chapelle. Have taken a few lately & am waiting for some developing powder which should be out soon.

The weather now is very spring-like but dull, the hedges are showing signs of green & spring flowers doing well.

I hope you are very fit & are getting some fine weather.

Best love
Y[ou]r affect[ionate] son
AM Leake

{HALS reference 86972}

18/3/15 — B.E.F — 5th F.A.

My dear Mammy

Many thanks for letter with copy from Frank, & the old sailor’s letter. I will write to him one day.

I received a fine parcel the other day, it was as usual full of good things. Thank Bella much for it.

Dick seems to be at home now, & I expect he is glad to get a little civil life again. It will be a great day when we can all return to our normal state again. You will see I am still with the 5th F.A. & I expect I shall remain here. We are at a dressing station & have an advanced post further up. It is quite a safe job & you need have no anxiety at all. Hope Willie has lost his pains & has fixed up about his job at Hounslow all right.

We have had a bad day, very cold & snow storms, but it doesn’t matter much now as better times must be coming soon.

Am glad to say that my dinner with the general is now a thing of the past; don’t like these shows & am pleased to get them over.

All seems to be quiet here now after the attack. Our losses were heavy, but the Germans lost more…