"Somewhere in France, April 27/17," the letter begins:

Dear Lily, Just a few lines to let you know that I am still "alive and kicking" and to ask why I have been so neglected lately? There hasn't been a letter from you for ages and ages! Guess you must have forgotten me entirely this time. I would have written to you before but things have been too busy for much letter-writing these days over here. And it was up to each one of us to put our whole energy into the affair. Now that the first part's over, we are having a bit of a rest.
I wonder if you are having lovely sunny spring days in England. Over here we have had a lot of wet and cold weather but lately it has turned warmer and we are all feeling so much better. During the first of "the push" it was most miserable in some ways. In fact, the "weather man" did his best to drown us out and then to freeze us. We had quite a brisk snow storm and as we were living in shell holes etc., with plenty of mud and water, things weren't the most comfortable. But the men are fine ~ always cheerful and happy. I'm afraid that the above looks as though I was grumbling ~ [underlined] I'm not doing so at all. We had the time of our lives. But we do grumble when our friends forget to write to us! Now that was very cruel of you Lily dear! Just at the time when things are fairly rough for us! I wonder what you have been doing lately. Are you back in town again? It is so long that I don't believe I even know whether you are still in My Lady Frayle [A musical play]. I think you were the last time you wrote. I hope that your foot has been better and that you have been having a good time lately. Give my regards to May and to the rest of the family ~ and look here, Lily dear ~ you just get busy now and write a nice long letter to me! Wish there was some chance of leave again ~ but it seems further off than ever just now. Well, I must stop. Cheer-Oh, Lily dear,
With lots of love Bassell.
P.S. Don't forget that letter. [underlined] Please write.

Actual letter saved between the pages of one of Lydia (Mrs. Drew) Thompson's books. Tomorrow: A letter from Bassell, dated Aug. 8th, 1917.