Cocks letter diary, 1916-1919 / Verner Cocks - Page 261
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[Page 261]
I can't imagine what they exist on or for - for they work every day including Sunday. Of course it might be different in peace time when their men are back but labour is short & we may probably be helping the farmers get in the harvest.
The striking thing about a french farm is the farmyard - they are all the same & this is what our window opens out on to:- a big heap of filth, dirty straw, kitchen refuse & any kind of rubbish. They seem to have plonked this down & built all their barns & dwellings around it & it is the common recreation ground for pigs fowls horses cows dogs cats rabbits & the children. They all revel in it & I can assure you if it were porridge it would never burn, & certainly never loses its odour for want of being stirred up. I believe they use it for manure & everything goes into it.
We are certainly staying on a farm not one of the Bairnsfather's but one quite intact & have struck a nancy. We are out for a long time for a rest & a good training, the latter in the form of route marching so expect to do a bit of touring - It is a great life & we are seeing much.
I must knock off now - it is 11 pm & lights out at 9.30 pm.
5.