COU-41

B.E.F.
29/VI 17

Dear Goldsbrough,

Having another lucid moment & mindful of the old chief's urgent requests for letters I thought it best to write you again when the chance presented itself.

Since we came out from the big show on the 7^th June I have had about the toughest time I have had in France, & it was while we were out of the trenches, at a time when you might suppose we would have peace. However there was no peace about it. For four nights I was prowling around our "funk holes" in pyjamas & a steel helmet trying to quieten our men while old Fritz strafed us with a big 8 inch gun, under the fond belief that he was shelling our guns I suppose. Then for two more nights I had to work while we were first reconnoitring ground & then occupying it, & the lack of sleep & the unusual amount of high explosive rather got the better of me & the doctor pushed me off to hospital where I have been resting for he past week. There is nothing wrong but I must have been on the verge of absolute break down.

By the way on the night after we had come out of the fight at Messines I was standing on the top of my dug out watching the very devil of fight going on when the Boche was counter attacking when who do you think rolled up? Young Scilley¹²⁰ who was with the Library Staff at one time. He is with our 10^th Battalion. By Jove but we did well in recruiting. The Army will be complete as soon as Gourley¹²¹ arrives!

I have never seen Hubert¹²² out here at all although I have looked closely for him, is he still with the 14^th?

With being bottled up for a week I have no news for you but as soon as I return to duty there will be more to write about. I wish you could just come out here for about a week to have a look round. You would enjoy it although possibly you would have the same experience as some of the American Staff had who came to see what warfare was like & got blooming well strafed, but they did not wait for all of it, they cleared off, leaving a long trail of dust & pebbles behind them. Still I believe they are going to make good soldiers. What a mixture we are here. In the town where I am now one sees every day British, French, Belgian & Portuguese. I haven't seen the latter in action yet so I cannot say how they are doing but they are a wonderful difference to our smart slick fellows. In fact none of the armies I have seen yet, except the Boche himself has that air of smartness which our men have, & the Boche has it very highly developed. Their N.C.O's are marvels, all of them seem to be like our old regulars & the supply inexhaustible. It is they & not the Boche officer who is responsible for the men putting up such a good fight.

Don't you think our front looks very rosy at the present time?

I hope everyone at home is well & flourishing, please remember me kindly to them all.

Do you see Messrs. Milligan & Gibson¹²³ much? To them also you might give my kind regards. I hope too that Miss Miller¹²⁴ is now recovered from her misfortune¹²⁵ & about again. How are you keeping? Fit & well I hope. Best wishes & kindest regards to you

Yours sincerely,

T. Coulson