1 Moore Green,

Aux Red Cross Hospital,

Mosely, Birmingham

Dear Alex:

              Received a letter from your yesterday, just before I left the First Birmingham and believe me old man, I was glad to hear from you. I have certainly been one of the lucky ones so far in this great war and if I am ever lucky enough to have a kiddie and he says “what did you do daddy,” I think I can say, “Oh, a little of everything.”

              Since last February, I have seen quite a lot of the line and there are not many spots we have not seen. Our initiation was at Loos, in front of Lens and he used to Minnie us there to beat the dickens. But I guess by all reports, Loos is about Bomb Proof now as he is kicked out of Lens, etc. From there we went up to La Somme when Fritz came over there. After that we were shot back to Arras, I was on raids covering parties, outposts and about every job a person could get.

              We were in at a place called Telegraph Hill, (not the one on Hankley) about the 1^st of August and were expecting to do 24 days, but about the 3^rd we were relieved by Imp. And we went on another jaunt and believe me old man we never had the slightest idea where we were going. On the 6^th we arrived at a place about 6 kilos from Villers Bretteneaux and even then we did not know what was doing. We moved up to Villers Brettineaux on the night of the 6^th and were “suck-holing” in cellars etc., all of the 7^th. On the night of the 7^th, we went up to our positions, which was represented by a white tape just behind the front line. We arrived there about 2 A.M. and as the zero was 4:20, most of us got a little sleep. The morning of the 8^th was very hazy and I think it saved our casualties a good deal. At 4:20, the heaven and earth and everything seemed to move; tanks had already moved up into position and that barrage was immense. Our battalion had to go to the second objective, so we did not have to start until about a half hour after the barrage started. While we were waiting, I saw some of the funniest sights it has ever been my pleasure to see. Ten minutes after that barrage started, Fritzs were coming over in batches, twenty or thirty in a bunch, and they had their wind up so bad, they did not know whether they were on an aeroplan or how they were coming. They got the first objective, 5500 yards, about 5:30 and up to there it was just a walk over, although the previous wave had some hard fighting against M.G. It was just as we were getting in A. formation, after passing the first, that I got mine and she was a dandy; rather a large flesh wound on the left upper arm. It got part of my muscle, but even now I can use my arm and I am afraid if they do not end this war darn quick, I will be over there again soon.

              I am certainly going to try and connect somewhere over here as a Lewis Gun Instructor. I sure know that job and have seen enough of France.

              Murray was right beside me when I was hit and I felt like shooting him so he could come with me. I heard from him on the 20/8/18 and he had come through the Aiemins stunt jake. But I see by the paper that the Canadians are at it again.

              Wish I could work my ticket back to Canada as an instructor, but no luck.

              Remember me to all and write again soon.

                           Your old pal,

                                         Bob

#803,022. R.W. Leach.

Convalescent

Canadian Convales. Camp

Hut 22 Div (B)

Woodcote Park

Epsom