15.4, 15

8367. 4 Company
2nd Batt. 1st Inf Bde
France

Dear Mr Irwin,

Received your very welcome letter today & was pleased to hear the news. Glad you are all fairly well.  No I hardly think I’ll come back with a V.C. A man is very lucky to get back at all if he has been fighting out here for it's not all honey I can assure you, but we don’t worry any & you can bet we have lively old times when we come out for a spell. Never mind we shall have to “wait and see” how things go, & if at any time we are needed for a hard task, I hope we shall not be found wanting. We have footer & baseball out here during the week and I wish you could see us.

My Colonel took some photos of my dug-out & when I get one will send it on, you will have to excuse dirty boots etc as the servants forgot to polish up for us?

So Staves is a scout, they don’t use them here just now but will on the advance.

You need not be afraid of me making any proposals over this side, am going to wait till I come back & try & see if I can find some girl to look after (maybe she will have to look after me?) Glad to hear Mr. Buck & Family are well, had a letter last week from them.

No, I don’t think I need anything, thanks the same. Out here if we want anything and have not got it, we just imagine we have and go without. I want to be as little trouble as I can to everybody.

Did you ever have any Army Biscuits (known here as hardtack)? We’re getting lots here at present, will have to fetch you one home as a souvenir. No chance of a bullet going through a fellow if he has one in front of him.

Weather is grand here, sunny & clear & makes one feel thankful he is here to enjoy it. Will close with kind regards to all.

This leaves us all well & happy & looking forward to our return to Norwood.

from

Walter