The Letters of Arthur Martin-Leake July 1916

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

 

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22/7/16

My dear Mammy

You will have got my letter saying that I have been moved to another C.C.S. [Casualty Cleaning Station] for temporary duty. This is in the busy area & in the early days of the push* there was a great deal of work. In the last few days not so much. However quite enough. We don’t hear much & still depend upon papers to tell us what is going on.

I shall get your letters all right from No. 30, & as it is impossible to say how long I shall be here, it will be best for you to go on using that address. Hope you are having some fine weather, it is very variable out here & we generally get many samples in 24 hours. Will write more later.

Hoping you are all quite fit.

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

{HALS ref: 87051}

* The Battle of the Somme began on 1st July 1916.

28/7/16

My dear Mammy

Many thanks for the two fine shirts which have just turned up from Marshals & Smalgroves. They are just the kind I wanted. The war news seems to be very good & we go on pushing forward. Just hear that some new places have been taken.

The work here is not excessive just now & I may be returned to my unit before long.

Beautiful summer weather which is quite nice & perhaps we shall have a fine August.

How did Mr. & Mrs. Clarke get petrol? I thought there was no joy riding to be done in future. Have they heard from their boy who was at Kiel?* Have not seen his name in the casualty list so suppose he is safe somewhere.

The crops are turning yellow here & look very fine. Hope they are bad in Germany to help finish this show.

Good news from Russia & the Old Turk must be awfully sorry for himself.

Best love.

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

{HALS ref: 87053}

* Perhaps a reference to the Battle of Jutland, fought 31st May to 1st June 1916