[Colincamps.]

Major J G Brew

No means of posting, or getting letters, Monday or Tuesday. Heavy march in here, 12 miles in snow, yesterday. Transport took 8 hours. Men and horses cooked. Rum ration. In different billets. Tomorrow we take over trench line as a Battalion—two companies here and two companies [and] H.Q. in trenches. Don’t know for how long. Have had no letters since Sunday. I believe a five-day mail comes in this p.m. All well, save for Brew, internal chill, and Allen. Just seen Willie Strong, who is Brigadier R.A. [Royal Artillery] this Div. Came in here to see me. Looking very well, but snow-white hair. W. Stirling here in command of R.A. and S. Gosling, Major, commanding a Battery. Dined with latter. Have to be off in 15 minutes to look round trenches we take over tomorrow p.m. I don’t know how long we shall be in. All sorts of rumours about. This is a weird billet. Pratt, Adjt. and I in one room. I in the mess room, and the kitchen next door. No tables or chairs. Lovely sunny day. Snow still lying. We take over from Brigadier of 10^th Bde., under whom we go, knows both Pratt and Fergie. Rather rushed. Writing on floor, while others are eating! We are going in a very quiet bit of line, and I am living in a dug-out. Much more comfy that this billet, I expect.