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[Page 9]
lot with very few "weeds". More of a regular stocky build than say English troops, but you would see a much bigger proportion of large men in an English regiment and probably a larger proportion of smaller men, but we suppose that they have the pick of their men (physically) on the Somme front. Almost invariably they have docile and very pale faces which look as a rule, un-washed. I suppose their existence in the foul air of dugouts for months has a good deal to do with their pasty faces. The German private has no swagger. He is a wooden man as a rule, and some of the faces are of that square repulsive type that led me to inwardly comment that it would be easy enough to bayonet him. Then you will see better faces. One poor chap very young, (many of them are) reminded me forcibly of our Wilf (No offence, Wilf old man!) he looked very forlorn and downcast. Most of the others either looked contented or their wooden faces showed no sign. It is amusing to see the willing way they will leap to do what is required of them. Their headress was of a variegated type. Their helmets of course become souvenirs, Their soft forage cap is usually worn but, frequently lost, is replaced by a Tommy's cap or woollen comforter, inside leather of a trench hat etc. A great number wear great round glassed spectacles with thick glass.
It was well towards evening when we got into the theatre of recent events, and began to recognise the names of the villages that appeared in earlier Communiques. Names yes, thats practically all that was left, some were obliterated completely. Trees here standing like bare poles, with the late spring leaves peeping out of the bark and rapidly beginning to fall again. We came to a watering place finally and sat down near a wood, (which I found out later was Mametz Wood), to have a bite. Our Camp was on an opposite hill bare and wind swept and to get to it we had to cross a road (?).
N.B. We are getting into the Somme battlefield and I want you to note that what I write is fact, and I am endeavouring to avoid writing the flowery stuff of the journalistic order - Menatime I had wandered some way into Mametz Wood. It is a perfect
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