Pte. F. Dickens, of the Coldstream Guards, has sent further interesting letters from the front to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. Dickens, of Rushden.

He writes "We have had it a bit cushy this last day or so, but I expect we shall have to make up for it when we do make, another start. I am glad to say I am still all right and I got your letter with the camphor in, and that one with the disinfectant powder in. I have tied the camphor round my neck and I think it has made those little Willies shift, as I haven't felt much of them since. We were in the reserve billet last night and we got called out during the early morning so you can bet we are having a lively time. I don't mean our mob only, but the others as well, we have been bombarding steady this last day or so and we have had attacks every night in which we have made a big success. I think I am a lucky chap although I haven't seen so much as some I have seen quite enough. I shall be glad when it is over but I don't think it will be over for another good 12 months, but let's hope it is. I went to an open-air service yesterday (Sunday) and they had a prayer for the loved ones at home, I enjoyed it very much. We had a night out in an orchard last night. I curled up underneath a big bush and I slept quite easy. I was having breakfast by 3 a.m. I must tell you some of the latest telegrams that have just come in. We have captured several rows of trenches and the Germans are surrendering in mobs of 50 and 60 and we have taken a road which has cut their line and things are still going strong. I hope they will remain so.

"I was very pleased when I got that parcel and the contents were very good. I enjoyed some of them while I was in the …… That old saying is a true one. 'There are no friends like the old friends,' and I am living in hopes of getting back to them, as I don't think it will be so long now. I thought my letter was very nicely reproduced in the 'Rushden Echo.' Please thank the editor for the paper and tell him that I knew some of the photos, and I thought their letters very interesting. I had a look down the casualty list and I see that our regiment still holds the head of it. They lost most in the big battle of Mons. I feel very sorry for the widows, children and parents that they have left behind.

"We had 5 days in billets at —— and on Sunday afternoon there was a sermon by the Bishop of Cantoon and I thoroughly enjoyed it as it was interesting. It seemed a bit funny having sermons on active service but I think it will be the making of a good many who have led a rough life, let's hope it is. There have been a few of our chaps knocked over this last week and I was very pleased to see that they respect them a little. They have made a small cemetery in which they have buried them. Tell Lou (his sister-in-law) that I am waiting for the time to come when I ran stick one for her on the end of my bayonet."

In a later letter Pte. Dickens says: "We are having some lovely weather here now, the summer is near. It seems lovely to hear the birds whistling, and see the trees in bloom. It reminds me of the country lanes at home. The war can't stop the beautiful silence of nature, can it? but I shall be glad when it is over as you can have too much of one thing, can't you? We have just been relieved from the trenches again and we have had a lively time as usual." Later he writes:—"I have had the pleasure of having one swim in France already, but bathing is prohibited now, so I can't see that I shall have another one just yet, anyhow. The trench we are in is only about 100 yards from the Germans, and we can hear them singing and talking, but they don't give us much chance to have a pop at them. I wish they would just to make it a little more exciting."

Under date May 3rd, he writes: "I should be pleased if you would send me three or four squares of camphor as there are some disagreeable smells out here at different times and I think the camphor might prevent any disease. I am still all right at present, but I must say that I have been very lucky since I have been out here. I expect you have read about the Germans using gas. I haven't seen any signs of it yet, but we have been out here, but we have been served out with nose bags, and we have got to dip them in a kind of solution which will make the gas harmless, but I don't think the gas will be any good to the Germans when we get on the move.

"I have just heard that our chaps have advanced five kilometres and taken 1,500 prisoners, and they are still on the move, so things are beginning to look a little brighter and I hope they will remain so."

On May 10^th Pte. Dickens wrote: "We have had it a bit exciting this last day or so, but I expect they will be a bit quiet after this lot. We have had some of their gas, but owing to the wind being wrong way it didn't take any effect. We don't take any notice of trifles like that.