France 18.4.17 Dear Mother. I am writing this letter in side an old threshing machine. Three of us have ripped the inside out of it & thrown a sheet over the top & rigged up a stove so that now we are enjoying the height of luxury. We arrived here two nights ago in the pouring rain. I put our horses in a great big shed which the Germans had for some reason overlooked. Your parcel (no 13) arrived last night just as we had finished up the ‘livy'. Everything was in excellent condition & tasted very good especially the butter. We are about 10km S.E. in a country hastily evacuated by the Germans, although of course they found time to destroy all the villages fruit trees etc. They have certainly got the art of destroying property down to a fine [?]. Every apple tree in the country has been cut down. There are whole orchards all lying flat. On this particular move we are the reserve Brigade in the Division. The Indian Cavalry to which we are attached have gone up this time. You must excuse this grubby piece of paper but everything is pretty much the same way. Isn't the weather awful we have been having snow storms etc every other day. It is very hard on the horses. Much love Cuthbert