Rfn. Cecil Mallard, maxim-gun section, Rifle Brigade, writing on December 16th to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. O. H. Mallard, of Oakmere, Medina avenue, Newport, says:
" Our artillery are shelling the German trenches in front, and as they are very close the shells just slide over tho top of our trench. One burst just behind and 'put the wind' up us., I don't know if we shall be here for Christmas, as there is some big move on one way or the, other.
All the boys are looking forward to getting a Christmas parcel. We are having ' lovely Weather'; it has only been raining for the last three weeks, and some of the trenches are in a fine state. I went for rations yesterday morning, and we had to come back through a communication trench about a mile long. In the worst parts it was over my knees in water and. mud, and the mud in the best parts was over the top of my boots. When we got back we were smothered with mud and wet through. Still we cannot grumble at that, as we had a clean set of underclothing to put on.
On the left there has been a big fight going on for the last two days. Tho Germans shelled a big town just behind us yesterday and set two or three places alight. They are destructive beggars. We heard the yarn that the Kaiser was dead, but we see by the papers of the 13th inst. that he is still alive and kicking...
Our boys are busy sniping at the Germans opposite us. As our artillery drives them out of their trenches they have ' bagged' a few and are quite happy after it, and are looking round for places to find some more to snipe at.
I was on sentry last night from 12 till 1.15. I sneezed and hardly before I had finished tho Germans put six shots in rapid succession in the bank in front, but I was not there; I had moved a bit lower down. You have only to make a noise and the Germans will open fire, as they think we are advancing."
Excerpt from Isle of Wight County Press archive.
2 January 1915