The noise we made was
deafening; we cheered and cheered until the little group of
England's unknown heroines on the platform passed from
sight. Our hearts were very full.
"And so we passed down into the Somme district, the first
English soldiers to hold that part of the line."
Here are a few typical extracts from Sydney Baxter's letters about
this time.
"We are at rest after some days of trenches, and of course
are not sorry to be able to walk about and get a brush
up--apart from the catering side, which you can realise is
no small item. The weather has been very good of late; and
while we were in the trenches it was fine but cold, which
makes life more comfortable. We had a new system of guards
and work last time, and it was a treat. _I never enjoyed a
spell of trenches as I did that_, although the time spent in
work and other duties and guards was nearly twelve hours.
"Thanks for chocolate, which found a ready home. Girls are
not the only ones who like chocs., judging by the amount
that disappears here. Sorry my last letter was censored. I
am ignorant of what information I could have given; possibly
I had a grumbling mood on and was somewhat sarcastic about
the many defects and inconsiderations in army life."
_Later.
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