86 - Prellbock, 19 September 1915

Prellbock, 19 September 1915

[Sunday]

Dear family,

I received Lene’s card and Hanne’s letter of the 14^th, furthermore parcels nr 327, 328 and the 20 Mark sent by father. Many thanks for everything.

Film nr 5 still has not arrived. But everyone complains about the mailservice with Germany at the moment. Letters arrive frequently, but parcels now always take 5-6 days.

There is not much to reply on in Hanne’s letter unfortunately. Why we were in Ostend, or at least what I think the reason was, I have already written you in my last letter. There can’t be any reason for a redeployment there. And I’d rather not welcome such a redeployment. We have built up and strengthened our positions here, and then we would have to start all over again there. No, thank you very much.

It does look much nicer upthere though. I didn’t take any photographs because I didn’t have any film. But then I don’t think you can make nice landscape photos with this camera. It certainly is not possible here at the Prellbock, and if I want to take photographs in Auchy walking there and back takes at least 45 minutes, and I don’t have the time for that. It is easier once we get into the Uhrgraben again [= Reserve trenches].

It is a shame Feldwebel Scheffel did not call. He told me he definitely wanted to visit you.

Well, I look forward to the cigarettes and the biscuits. You’ll have to drink the wine then yourselves at a suitable occasion. I don’t know for how long his leave is actually. But I don’t think it will be too long.

In how much Else has changed I don’t know either. I just had that feeling after I read her letter. Maybe she’ll tick me off in the next letter? I hope August won’t get drawn into this.

We still have enough soldiers. I saw that in Lille, Ostend and Bruges. You won’t believe the amount of military folk walking around there.

I don’t know what else to write, I still want to write to uncle Otto. By the way I have to excuse myself to Helene for not writing about her card. It was a fun card, great depiction of Dieter Kümmel. However I don’t know carpenter Frinke’s son, at least not with a beard.

Many warm greetings sent to you by

Your Fritz

Please ask more. Otherwise I don’t know what I should write. 

The original letter: