Trenches. November 3rd. [1917]
My Dearest Mother.
Your letter arrived tonight and I received it after returning from my tour round the companies trenches, so I'm just sending a few lines written on the Field Service Note Book. Fate does seem unkind to you. The wounds were not at all bad; in fact not really worth while calling wounds. Yes it all happened in the Somme where we took part in some of the hardest fighting that there has been in that district, thank goodness we have moved from there now to a very quiet part of the line. The fighting in the Somme has been fierce, but of course it has brought a certain amount of personnel promotion to those who came through with credit. I believe I did well. At first I was Brigade Bombing Officer, that brought me under a certain amount of notice and after a while I was offered a Company in the 5th C.M.R.s, this I now command, "C" Coy of the 5th C.M.Rs. While in command of that when leading a certain charge I got hit slightly in the leg. I was the only officer to come through so of course could not go to a hospital, that is probably the reason why no hospital was mentioned.... There are hardly any of the old Victoria crowd left.... By the time this note reaches you it will be on towards Christmas, how I'm looking forward to spending a Christmas with you again. It does seem a long time since we all were together, but never mind we've got to win the war which I believe we are at last doing. The battle on the Somme seems progressing slowly but in the right direction. The Tanks, I expect you heard of them, did wonderful work....
Quote taken from a letter written by George Pearkes. (ACC 74-1 Box 10.4)