In this letter home to his family in Thurso, dated a day before the official end of the Battle of Loos, David Barrogill Keith acknowledges the receipt of letters and parcels. Despite being on standby for about a fortnight he was not called on to fight in the battle: “I’m in billets all night & quite comfortable & see little of war in its actuality”.
“George” was a cousin who served as an officer in the Seaforth Highlanders.
Dated: 18 October 1915, 10th Cameronians, B.E.F.
My dear Mother,
I got letters today from Tiny, Willie and yourself & yesterday from Mildred & home, for which much thanks.
I thought I had acknowledged the grouse letter. I got them and forthwith they were eaten.
Tomorrow George comes to dinner with us & if the partridges arrive as expected we will do well.
Other than the grouse & butter no eatables have as yet arrived & we have open mouthed awaited to find a parcel but none arrived. Never mind stuff. I’ll have to send some of the stuff I have here back but eatables need not be carried save on the person.
I’m in billets all night & quite comfortable & see little of war in its actuality.
I’ll write again tomorrow or later tonight, meantime I must end as the light is out & dinner ready.
With love to all & hoping all are well.
From
DB Keith
[Caithness Archive Centre reference P38/10/7; the next letter from DB Keith will be published on 23 October]
