The Letters of Arthur Martin-Leake May 1918

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9/5/18

My dear Mammy

I sent you a line the other day to wish you many happy returns of your birthday & hope you will get it about the 12th. Am wondering if you will get a gooseberry tart this year. Things seem to be pretty forward here so you may. I visited the garden plots yesterday found the potatoes about 6” high & ready for banking. The Boche has not done them much harm, but had tried to improve the digging in one part.

We are in a fairly good place now; it is an old malting & there is plenty of accommodation though it has been rather knocked about.

We are having wonderful spring weather now & the country is looking its best in spite of the war. Marshalls must be beautiful & I expect you are very happy in the garden. I have just seen some of the results of amateur gardening, which has been done by the army, peas, beans, cabbage, etc. sown as if they had been mustard & cress. Amusing to look at but a great waste of seed…

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18/5/18

My dear Mammy

We are now in a bout of real hot summer weather & it is very nice when there is not much work to do as at present.

Marshalls must be at its best, & the garden full of promise… Am glad Frank has some leave & hope it is longer than usual this time.

Quite quiet at this front & no news.

Best love

Y[ou]r affect[iona]te son

A.M. Leake

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