In this letter David Barrogill Keith writes to his family in Thurso after being in the trenches. Clearly he hasn’t got time to write in detail of his experiences here as they go back “in a day or so”. He’s at pains to play down the element of danger – “Except for dodging shells and one strafe of our own it was monotonous” – and to focus on the food parcels from home and other matters.
Dated: 2 November 1915, 10th Cameronians, B.E.F.
My dear Mother
I have regularly got your letters & very frequently your parcels for which I have to thank you very much. The last parcel I received from you contained a brace of grouse & a piece ham which was much enjoyed. However don’t send any more ham as we get loads of it & jolly good stuff too. I also got a third parcel from Tiny which was also excellent. I am indeed very well off in respect of parcels for which many thanks. The C.O. & I had many meals off the grouse & partridges arriving while we were in the trenches. We go in again in a day or two so a repetition & continuous feast will be most acceptable. You will remember also to keep a turkey & goose for Xmas.
About stuff for the men, honestly they want absolutely nothing. They get a brand new rigout every time they come out of the trenches. They get a ration issue of cigarettes. They get papers & presents. I can honestly think of absolutely nothing in the way of ordinary comforts that that you could send them that would be of any use. Parcels of eatables are of course asked for when they write home but then you can’t cater for that.
About my stove at home the only one that is any use out here is a PRIMUS paraffin stove. I had one once a small pocket one. It seems to have got lost. If you find it you could send it otherwise don’t bother. I really don’t need one, only if there was that one knocking about unused we could use it. I don’t think it is tho’ & a methylated stove is useless & an ordinary paraffin one too heavy to take about.
I am sorry that Father has a cold & Ed the mumps. However I hope both are now better. You will see Foulis got wounded, a soft “cushy” one we call it. It means a slight wound enough to let him get home & do no damage. He is as right as rain.
That last tour in the trenches was more or less eventful. Except for dodging shells and one strafe of our own it was monotonous. One day an attack was reported & I had the messages calling up our artillery written out. It didn’t come off. I have the messages & later when ancient history will send you the identical messages which will be interesting to keep. I have also drawn rough sketches of my dugout. You might ask Poll next time she is in Princes Street to go to DOIG Wilson & WHEATLEY in I think Castle Street on the left hand side go going down & buy a small 6d rice paper sketchbook or perhaps 1s & a good drawing pencil a soft one to make sketches here.
You could send out one or two 7d or 1s novels they always help to cheer the monotony of existence.
Well I must end up now as I have some more letters to write. Love to all, thanks for the parcels.
Hope all are now quite well with love from DB Keith
[Caithness Archive Centre reference P38/10/10; the next letter from DB Keith will be published on 4 November]
