The Letters of Arthur Martin-Leake August 1916

 

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1/8/16

My dear Mammy

Many thanks for yours of 25th just arrived. Am still lent out on hire, but may be returned before long as there is not a great deal of work going on here. The news seems to be all good & they say we have now got all the high ground, so should be able to give the Bosch a real bad time.

It really looks as if Austria will not be able to hang on much longer, the Russians are doing so jolly well. If they can be made to collapse it would be the beginning of the end.

We are having real hot summer weather now. It is rather too hot to be pleasant as one is overclothed in khaki. The harvest has begun & the crops are looking very good. Expect you are beginning at home now if you have this fine weather.

The latest German atrocity will, if possible, give a fresh spurt to things & make everybody more determined to get at the Hun. They are the absolute limit.

Hoping you are quite fit & don’t find the heat too much. You should not try to do work when it is so hot.

Best love
Y[ou]r affect[ionate] son
A. M. Leake

{HALS ref: 87054}

10/8/16

My dear Mammy

Good news now from all quarters & the Hun should be feeling very sick. Even the Italians making big bags of Austrians so the corner must be turned. We don’t get much to do just now as the fighting is not on our front. Should think they will be sending me back before very long.

The weather has changed & now we are having wet. It is quite nice & cool, but too much rain is not wanted just now as the harvest is being cut.

Went to see our newly acquired territory the other day, it is interesting to see, & the German fortifications are wonderful. S[teenie] & D[ick] should be pleased with the army they have helped to train…

{HALS ref: 87055}