Jan 9th 1915 [sic - should be 1916]
My dear Mother
We evidently did the Suvla job so well that we were used again to repeat our efforts. We only had a few hours’ notice when ordered to go which accounts for my inability to write before moving. I have just got back safe again to camp, a comparatively early arrival.
I could not write while away because the post office was evacuated when we got there. Still you can always rely upon no news being good news from me out here, as the other sort gets to you much quicker than letters ever can.
I had one perfectly rotten day during our stay, when the Turks got rid of all their reserve ammunition on us, two days ago. I never want to stand for hours in a bunk hole again with 6in and 8in high explosives fairly raining around all the time. I quite understand how a week or two with much of that sort of thing drives me mad.
I never thought to revisit old scenes as I have just done. Curiously I occupied actually the very same line of trench I was in in the summer. Conditions were very different though and preferable on the whole, in spite of shells.
I hope we get a bit of real rest now as all this knocking about from place to place is tiresome. I will write more soon.
Love from
Your affectionate son
Cyril E Sladden
