Day 4

Well, I something got me in the back very early in the raid.

So the Sergeant Major brought me down, back to the dug out.

Dennis says that he's going to have me taken back home but I feel alright, really.

My legs just feel like something's weighing them down. Dennis says that they're just numb from the shock so I'll be fine.

I just feel so rotten down lying down here while there rest are up in the trenches.

I just asked Dennis to fetch a light for me, it's awfully dark, and cold down here in the dugout.

But the view on the horizon is beautiful, like a faint glow of red along the horizon.

Anyway, if anyone back home is reading this, don't you worry about me, I'll be back soon.

Jimmy.

Day 3

Perhaps I was wrong about war; maybe glory was just an illusion tricking my eyes from seeing the cold, hard truth that was war.

Osborne is dead.

Killed by a Boche grenade.

I had a fight with Stanhope; he really is a different person.

Just like what Osborne had told me.

Well, I just had dinner with my men. Sergeant Baker suggested that I did so but I knew I had to have dinner with my fellow officers; Stanhope had invited me. And yet I did. Maybe I was trying to get my mind off Osborne, I really don't know.

No one seems to care about Osborne. It was as if he was never there to begin with.

But maybe I misunderstood Stanhope; I mean, Osborne was the only person who really understood him.

The big raid is tomorrow, so I really should be getting some rest soon.

Jimmy.

Day 2

Today started off rather horridly.

After breakfast, Dennis; or rather, Stanhope told me to inspect the rifles of my men at nine.

On my way out of my dug out I stepped into a rather abrupt silence in Stanhope's and Osbourne's conversation; perhaps I was interrupting something not meant for my ears.

Well, I was just about to seal my letter to be collected when Stanhope informed me that it was a rule that all letters must be read. I really didn't want Dennis to read it, it was like having your best friend read your diary.

So I decided that I had changed my mind; but Stanhope was not really ready to accept that. It was so unlike Dennis to get into such a fit.

He said something about it being an order and tore the letter from my hand. Dennis had changed, just like Osborne had said.

Is this what war does to people?

Perhaps it was a fault on my part, disobeying his orders. After all, it is his job as the skipper to censor the letters.

However, things seemed to turn for the better after that. Stanhope told me later that day they were planning a raid and Osborne, myself and ten other men were taking part. Osborne even told me that him and myself were specially chosen!

How frightfully exciting!

Jimmy.