"I Have Not Seen a Bed Since I Left Home"

Tuesday 9th February 1915: Private Wright of Riseley, serving with the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, in writing to friends at Riseley says: - "Last time we came out of the trenches we were marched about seven miles, to a place I am not allowed to name. There we went to a lovely greenhouse and had some of the finest grapes you could wish to see. I have not seen a bed since I left home in August. We sleep in barns or anywhere for shelter so long as we are in the dry. The other day in the trenches  the Germans started shelling us and one dropped about five yards from where I was. Nobody was hurt, but the next shell got three of our fellows. One has died since, and the other two are getting on fairly well. We get it always like that when we are in the trenches. This is not war, it is murder left and right. These last two or three days about 20,000 have gone with a bang(1). Do you people think for a minute that the Germans will get to England? No fear, unless they come as prisoners - that is about the only chance they have got. I am writing this by a nice fire, with a nice drop of cocoa. We are having to make up for lost time. Don't worry, we pass the time out of our trenches having a route march to keep us in good trim, ready to push the finishing touch to the Germans".

Source: Bedfordshire Standard 19th February 1915

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(1) Clearly an exaggeration but indicative of the man's state of mind.