Fit as Fiddles and as Hard as Nails

MS11274-95_4_LOMS11274-95_4_LOTCD MS 11274/95 folio 2 versoTCD MS 11274/95 folio 2 verso[undated] coming in. I got up and lit a candle and a cigarette and swore a good deal and put on my mackintosh suit and went asleep again at 5.30 am I took out of my bed the full of one biscuit tin of water about two gallons. It had all collected around my feet. Wasnt that a slot of water to sleep with? I think Ive fixed it now in fact I fixed it that morning, yesterday it was, I believe the strong wind was responsible for it.
An amusing thing happened the night before when we were aroused by about 50 rifle shots in this field. It turned out to be a tent on fire exploding.

MS11274-95_3_LOMS11274-95_3_LOTCD MS 11274/95 folio 2 rectoTCD MS 11274/95 folio 2 recto[undated] Belloc says the Enemy will be starting on his downward path next January at the latest. I think it would be fairer if Sir Wm Blunden was to have the Suit Case. You see I am bad at taking care of suitcases and if it were a thing he particularly wanted. Id hate not to let him have it so youd better tell Olive to write and tell Lady Blundon that she shall have it. A direful thing happened After two weeks dry weather the other night the rain came down in torrents and at 2am I was wakened by the water

MS11274-95_2_LOMS11274-95_2_LOTCD MS 11274/95 folio 1 versoTCD MS 11274/95 folio 1 verso[undated] was as nothing so I hope that if you have another it will be as with me I am glad you met Uncle Bob. He is a nice man.
Thank you awfully for the nice parcel (not arrived) It is grand of you to be sending these things so often. I have the wee sober man in my pay book Case I cant well wear him in my hat because it would be an unsoldierly trinket I have the tricolour in a little flag in my hat. I think the French are great, I think they’ll blow the Germans to the Divil before the End.

MS11274-95_1_LOMS11274-95_1_LOTCD MS 11274/95 folio 1 rectoTCD MS 11274/95 folio 1 recto[undated] Tuesday
My dearest Mary I had a letter from you today and another one yesterday. Posts are arriving erratically. That is why you say I didnt write for a week also why you were troubled at my not having mentioned your French trip for I asked you about it the first letter I wrote after hearing you ad decided it may not till after I knew that you were going there
Im very sorry dear that the typhoid injection has been very beastly. Are you having only one in the Army we has 2 or 3 but with me only the second one

[undated] piece. I forgot to tell you I got your pretty heather and have put it on the shack walls, it looks very nice.
I wrote to George yesterday and sent it per Ritch for him to fill in the name of the bike shop. I told George I was ready to sell the Triumph and thought it worth £40 of the Folkestone people had fixed it up properly. If Ritch didnt know the name of the shop I told him to forward the letter anyway. The people in Folkestone are agents for Triumph motorcycles and should be traceable easily that way by getting a list of Triumph agencies.
Tell SBS this.

[undated] quarrelling in hell. When it gets raised high I shut my hands over my ears. I cannot stand it any more. Good-bye Im going to put this in a green envelope I dont think it would be good for a healthy-minded young officer (with a head like a pound) to read it
Farewell not for long we hope
Lovingly Patrick
Chorus of Yells 17000000
Jackasses let loose

[undated] France Germany all wounded struck at, attached like by mad dogs. Unfortunately (me ? again) E. is not my comrade nor is F. nor is R. I hope you dont hate my meandering on or think it an affectation. It amuses me more than a little and doesnt hurt you indeed you not even read it. The only thing that prevents my enjoying indefinitely writing stuff of the kind is the ? of the ? who is shouting to her clients in a voice that is nothing less than hellish. No words of mine can describe the ? of it. It shrieks like seven devils

[undated; begins incompletely] and are going to beat Germany as sure as a gun, provided that she and the Allies think it worth while which I dont, but then Im a decadent-peace-fanatic and dont amount to a row of beans
Yes Germany will be pounded and pounded and serve her very well right too if it comes to right. But Right, Equity are not worthy dying for. Is anything worth that? Probably. A wounded comrade….a dream….”the mist that does be in the bog!” Possibly. And that is what they die for a wounded comrade. England

[29 October [?1915]]from the trenches says the same.
They dont think of rifle fire at all the same way apparently. These shells were the only ones Ive met since the last I told you of. I keep you well posted in them dont I? The fellows from the trenches tell me it is impossible to get used to shells I dont know if this is so but very likely with most people it is.
Im extremely well and everything goes excellently
Dont be surprised if you get a letter from R in England Ive asked him to write to you and I expect he will.
Goodbye
Much love Dear
Pat

[29 October [?1915]] home and the next day spent it fixing it where it was broken down. While we were working in a yard our artillery had been a little active all morning and began to get worked up when apparently the G’s got annoyed and began to pitch shells back.
First two came over us not very close and presently four almost simulataneously one of which smashed the next house and threw a piece of itself into our yard. I have the piece and will show it to you. The civilians poor women etc. were in a fearful state. Nobody was hurt. An officer came in with his hand in his pockets to our yard and said “Theyll get you yet” I dont like shells nobody does anyone who pretends not to object to them is lying. Everyone Ive met