TCD MS 11274/63a folio 1 verso
[20 March [[1917]
but as I say the conception of it was very fine. I wonder will they send the medal to you OK. and will you like it. It wasnt of the place we were at with the Cathedral but of a smaller place nearer here. The original of the medallion is a great sight. The big golden figure of the virgin and child is just hanging pendant from the spire and looks very striking. It was struck of course by a German Shell. It is remarkable enough how many cricifixes remain standing where most of the surroundings have been broken but it it is Im sorry to say not universal for I know of one case where about the only thing hit is the crucifix and of course others where everything good & bad has gone. Did you ever hear of such a thing as the Germans removing church spires so that they wouldnt be used as a point to range on. The unbelievable Huns did it under our very noses but we got the better of them for we could still see it through the trees and managed very well and as the reports say “the effect was good”. I suppose there is the same amount of nonsense talked about these brutalities of the English in Germany as there is the other way about in England. Do you remember the son of TW Russell being Killed. I saw what I take to be his grave today along with about 8 others officers of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers who were all killed in action last November I didnt know the names of any others of the officers. The name was TW Russell so I suppose it is the son of the MP
Goodbye now dearest
& take good care of yourself. I am doing the like and keeping the fire warm
Pat