Claro Times - 27th March 1915

Photo - Private Robert Swales, Harrogate, a letter from whom appears in this issue.

Claro Times - 27th March 1915

The following is an extract from a letter written by Private Robert Swales, D Company, 1st Highland Light Infantry, Lahone Division, to Mr W Wibsey, of Westmoreland Street, Harrogate : 

"Dear Ben, Many thanks for letter and parcel of things, which I received on the 16th. I like the pipe and tobacco, but I will not be able to use the soap, for we stay in 'Hell Street' for another six days. We got them on the move about a week ago. We did not half cut them up! They got back into a big wood, but we hope to get them out of it soon. We lost about half the battalion, killed and wounded, and 13 officers, but the Germans must have lost thousands. Our machine guns cut them down like cutting corn. They tried all kinds of games to get over it. I think every German has a white flag. A lot of them came over to our trench, but the Gurkhas would not let them come in. they knocked spots off them. We have only got about 200 of the 1st Battalion left. My company officer was the first man killed. We caught some spies the other day, one an old woman, with some rockets. I hope the war does finish by the end of the year. Some people sat that it has not started yet. Our big guns are giving the Germans hell!

The ground is drying up now, so it will make it a lot better to get on a bit. Ours will be a poor-looking brigade when we come out of the trenches. Sixteen days is no joke. Remember me to all at home. Tell them I have not stopped one yet - I remain, your sincere cousin, Bob".