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Somewhere in Belgium
4th July
1917
Dear Mother
Just a few lines to let you know that I am still well
& in the best of spirits. I believe that my last two letters have
gone to the bottom, so if you do not get them you will know where they
have gone. I have had letters lately from Mal, Arnold & Stan Botting.
I am on night work now, on a light tramline, pulling
trucks with a mule up to the trenches. It has been hot work being
shelled at every night. Running for our lives, dogging showers of big
shells & one night big [illegible] fire. This has been over newly
won ground (June 7th) & the smell of dead Fritzs over in the old
German lines is getting awful. There are thousands of unburied &
half buried Germans lying there. We have had the good news today that
Russia has started again, we have got more heart now.
Did you now that Cecil Dunn was killed. It was nearly
a fortnight before being found. Sgt Swan who father knows has now got a
star (7/7/17). I know that Swanny has won a military medal. We have had
a warm time of it the last day & night on this tramline.
I came out of my dig out last night to get my tea and
just after a dirty big shell blew it in. I witnessed another big
air fight last night. It is hard to describe a fight in the air for all
you can see is the planes circling to get a better position than their
adversary & then let drive with their machine guns. Two of Fritzs
Albatrosses were driven down.
King George visited the scene of the recent fighting
the other day, I saw him. I went & had a look at one of the mine
craters, it was nearly 60 feet across and half a mile wide. Well I
must close now hoping you are all well & in the best of spirits.
I remain
Your loving son
Frank
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