Letter · 20 Dec 1917
The horror of war
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
"The sights and experiences out here in Flanders are awful at times..."
"I have seen Human bodies used as Temporary Rly [railway] sleepers and as fascines for moving guns over. I have seen bodies & parts of bodies scattered all over the place lying and decomposing. I have seen roads along the sides of which men - horses and waggons have been lying in broken tangled masses. I have seen men killed by shells fall in the mud of the road and the traffic go on just the same."
"Nothing is safe. Cemeteries are blown to pieces, farm former houses, churches, buildings of any sort are smashed to bits. Roads are smashed and mended and smashed and mended. Men are smashed & patched if possible & sent back to be smashed again. Ambulances and Dressing Stations are smashed, railways and trains and motor lorries are guns both great and small are smashed and so it goes on."
"As fast as they are broken, they are replaced."
