Letter · 8 Aug 1917 · Flanders Fields, Belgium
A desire to forget
He received the Distinguished Conduct Medal: Citation for Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM): 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in an attack. He led a small party on his own initiative to fill a gap between his company and another unit. He rushed a pill-box which was inflicting casualties on two battalions and captured thirty prisoners and three machine guns. He showed the greatest initiative and courage throughout.' (London Gazette, 26 November 1917)
Extracts from this letter
"When I get back Amy my one desire will be to utterly and absolutely forget many things that I have seen here and yet it will be impossible."
"The more I see of it, the more amazed I am at human beings. Civilised beings carrying on like this and yet one cannot but help admire the endurance and cheerfulness of all amid surroundings that are sometimes beyond description."
"At the present moment I am in a school of musketry somewhere in France."
