Cocks letter diary, 1916-1919 / Verner Cocks - Page 222
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[Page 222]
[Page 7 of letter missing]
front line trenches, has earned ten VC's. We have seen a bit & we come next behind the infantry in the field but compared to his experiences ours pale into insignificance. The regimental stretcher bearers are all heroes - they have perhaps the worst job of all if any distinction can be made between the front trench men. In no other department of the war game can anyone hope to talk with an infantryman - that's my opinion & the expressed opinion of many others - not to say that any job is good in a "stunt" - they are all bordering on the "hellish" side. However it is all over now & in no other case has such a complete victory been won in a day. The organisation was wonderful from the start when "the earth opened & the lines disappeared" as one paper said. I saw Mick Aspinall before the stunt. I don't know how he got on he was in it too. We are shifting farther back tomorrow I think. I received your parcel of the 29 March the day before the stunt so had my ration bag full - many thanks the cake went bosker & quickly too. The day we came out I received a parcel from Miss Davis of Tuggerah.
14/6/16
Shifted back about 7 miles to a quiet little village in the country & are billeted in a couple of barns in two old farm yards. These are great old places built round a square courtyard into which all the farm refuse is thrown & their allowed to remain while pigs & fowls roam about at their pleasure. We all sleep out under the trees in an orchard so that will tell you what beautiful weather we are having. Met Capt Gadd yesterday - he is on the staff. Do you remember he used to drill us in the reserve & came to our place one night. Advised me to go into an officers school - am thinking about it
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