In France
1 Mch 1916
My dear Mother
March has come in like a lamb, but I hope it won't be true to the proverb; for if it had started a day or two earlier it would have had a sufficiently leonine beginning to satisfy it! I think you had much the same spell of snow and cold; certainly London did, from what I hear.
Life out here consists of two functions. One, when "up the line", sharpening the wits and enlarging the experience of the German Staff. Two, when "back at rest" performing the same service for our own Staff. For us, the poor pawns in this game, the latter process involves the more trouble by far. I dare not say whether this means that the Germans are the quicker pupils and need less teaching! At all events we don't like "rest" - that is the long and short of it.
3rd - I put this letter aside and have not had an opportunity to start again. We have been stationary, but we have had a great deal of cleaning to do after a long and indescribably filthy trek; and we are, as usual, short of men.
Glad to hear you are slowly improving: this milder weather ought to do you good.
I haven't a thought in my head worth writing down. The Army is just a forcing-frame for vegetables.
Love from
George
