France 15/5/16 Dear Sister I received your letter and parcel this morning this is the second letter that I have received from you, so this one will have to answer for the two, we just came out of the trenches this morning after sixteen days but we were not all that time in the front line, we were in for five days, five in the supports and six in reserve, well as for giving you my experiences there I don't know how to put it a week past yesterday was the first time I was really under shell fire we were shelled for about half an hour. I don't hardly know what it feels like, but it is rather a peculiar feeling, but I have got fairly well used to it by now, Well I must thank you for the box everything was fine, especially the Essence of Lemon as I was rather cold when I got the parcel as I had just got up from a sleep - the first we had had for about 24 hours one pair of socks was enough to send as I have four pairs now and they would only get lost around here, the weather is rather damp just now with lots of mud but we cannot always have good weather well I think this is all this time hope this finds you all well as it leaves me fine. I remain Your loving brother Alex