Hell Oct 27, 1916 Dear Mother and Dad - Just got back from a working party of four days. Had nothing but muddy over coats to sleep with all the time. The first two nights we slept part of the night in dug outs and walked around the ruins the rest to keep warm. The next day our place was shelled and knocked all to pieces. We were working on a little narrow gauge railway. We've advanced you see and were taking the iron rails to make new gun pits and officers dugouts etc. I never had such a hell of a time in my life as Ive had on that working party. He kept sending them over in bunches perhaps twenty in a radius of 50 yds when you hear one shriek you might as well hit for a hole of somekind. One day about two oclock Vradenburg & I were coming back, he had a horse pulling the truck. We just started back as we heard the order to put out all fires and keep down. Fritz had five balloons up. We just got back about a ¼ of a mile when he started. We unhooked the horse and got into a trench. A shell came near the horse and he bolted and came home to the lines. He stopped for awhile and we got out. A little later he started again. A big High explosive came near me and the flash and powder kind of got my goat and I thought I saw a big hole. I floundered into it on my head and it was only about a foot deep. I was like an ostrich then trying to bury my head in the mud. Just as I hit the bottom a big "dud" unexploded shell came over my shoulder half burying me. When I got back down the line to the old position it was all torn up but one dug out and two fellows were wounded and one shell shocked. I thought I was due for that but I didnt get it. I dont make any bones about saying Im darn scared of shells and anyone who says differently hasnt been there. Yesterday I was filling sand bags and I noticed a mule team on the cusp of the hill. The drivers were dismounted and seemed to be lost. I said to a fellow beside me, "They hadnt better stay there long" Just as said it a shell lit behind the waggon and scared them. They mounted and started off at the trot. I thought to myself "they're getting out lucky" when a big fritz came shrieking down right into the centre of them. Five mules and two drivers were blown completely The other mule stood there and "hee hawd." One leg was blown off. Somebody ran over and shot him. The one driver left came running over to us pretty well shaken up and he certainly ought to be too. A little later a bunch of infantry were taking covers behind a tank and next minute one of the gang I was working with said "look" and I saw a shell go into the bunch and one man go up as high as a big elm tree beside the tank. I don't forget sights like that in a hurry. Im so used to dodging shells that when a horse whinnows I duck. Roy has something the matter with his hand and is back at a hospital 1 ½ miles from here. Some guys are lucky. I dont suppose he'll be away long. I saw Bill Mc. Fadden Dad will know him. Passed him one night at dusk near the trenches. Probably thats what happened to Dayton although the other is more probable. He was captured on another front than this. I have lots of buttons and souveinirs but dont trouble much about them as the only souveinir I care about taking out of this place is Driver HL Irwin 302396. How is old trail getting along without me. Glad to hear there's someone to fill the gap. That was a dandy slam to give me mother. I am glad youve sent boots and a raincoat etc. This is sure an awful place for weather and mud. I would write a whizs long everyother day but they never get out of the box for a week so whats the use. All the boys are well and unhappy. Love to all, Bert PS - I'm as lowsy as a pet coon.