To his mother Charlotte Capell
Sept 23/16 [1915]
[Bazentin/Mametz area]
Dearest Mother:
Respite
The last party of us came back first thing this morning (Roffe & Willett among us, of
course). A hard night, but a successful one (unlike one or two previous nights).
I don't intend trying to give you an account of our doings. The great distances (we have
been almost to the furthest point of the advance) – and, most, the appalling weather
have made this last affair the stiffest we have ever been in. My impressions are confused.
The magnitude of the business simply baffles the imagination: this makes it all different from
previous affairs.1
There has been a lot of muddling on our part – (at times we, frankly, lost all
confidence in our leaders & chiefs): but sheer hard work has retrieved much.
About our infantry: I daren't say a word. Tragic glory! –
Through being sick I missed the first day or two. I am now well; nothing at all wrong but
an enormous indolence! Yesterday the sun shone, & improved the ground. It had been a morass.
Five of us on a stretcher were at one moment stuck in mud helplessly, & had to be dragged out.
I have fallen over in mud fifty times.
I have had heaps of kind letters – Alex's today. It would be nicer if I were
really brave; which I am not!
Tell Auntie L. that in spite of everything I made the most of her parcel.
Caldicott is in hospital at Etaples, quite all right & cheery. We mourn the death of L/C
Holdom – one of the best. No-one in the Amb. had done better, – all along. Our
wounded are all slight cases.
Thank Mrs Pettit for letter, Auntie A. too. I haven't the energy to write much at the
moment. This indolence is too luxurious!
My love to Frank & Isabel. I did not see the D.M. of Monday – haven't seen a paper
for a week, as a matter of fact.
Roffe & Willett have done finely. Alas! this medal business is a stupidity. We have had
six in the unit – four R.A.M.C. & two "attached" men. Dean & I have just done what
there was to do on different occasions (nothing out of the way). For the others: – but
who am I to talk?
I am just off to a hand at Auction: – prize anodyne! My tenderest love Richard
1 On 15 September the Ambulance was
involved in the renewed attack on the Somme front, from Bazentin towards
High Wood and Flers. Richard must have rejoined them two or three days
later.