Liet A.E. Brock 28 Dec. 44
"C" Coy
48th. Highlander of Canada

Dear Mrs. Pulsifer:

I am the officer in charge of #14 Platoon of which your Son was a member. It is with great sorrow that I write to you concerning his death. You lost a splendid lad and I lost a very good friend and an excellent soldier. I had known him for several months and he was one of the most popular boys in the Platoon. Although the loss is bitter and hard to bear, we still know that he gave his life for a very great cause.

I can give you a very accurate description of the circumstances surrounding L/Cpl. Pulsifer's death as I was quite near him during the whole action. On the night of Dec. 10 the 48th, along with other regiments made a bridgehead over the River Lamone. #14 Platoon was first part of "C" Coy. to go over the river and our first objective was a house which we took with little trouble.

As soon as we heard the house every man dug a slit trench for his own protection against enemy firse. I personally checked to see that every man was under cover and I found that L/Cpl. Pulsifer along with another Cpl. And a Pte. Had a very good position between two haystacks- well dug in My trench was about five yards from theirs.

It was just by a terrible trick of co-incidence that a heavy German mortar bomb came as I was quite near him during the whole action. On the night of Dec.10 the 48th, along with other regiments made a bridgehead over the River Lamone. #14 Platoon was the first part of "C" Coy. to go over the river and our first objective was a house which we took with little trouble.

As soon as we cleared the house every man dug a slit trench for his own protection against enemy fire. I personally checked to see that every man was under cover and I found that L/Cpl. Pulsifer along with another Cpl. and a Pte. had a very good position between two haystacks- well dug in my trench was about five yards from theirs.

It was just by a terrible trick of co-incidence that a heavy German mortar bomb came down between the two hay-stacks and exploded on the front of L/Cpl. Pulsifer's trench. The stretcher-bearer and I immediately dashed to the spot but found all three men with no sign of life. They had all been killed instantly and I doubt if they even heard the bomb coming.

The following day after the battle had rolled on, our wonderful Padre, Major East, M.C buried our dead on the high grassy banks of the river Lamone which they had so bravely fought across. And as he so correctly said to me later, "There you see Glory on those dykes."

Since that terrible night, more graves have appeared on the dykes, but not in vain have these men fought and died. We have continued to advance steadily for eighteen days due to the fact that the bridgehead was made and held. I would have written sooner, but we just came back from the front yesterday and this is the first chance I have had.

I will close now by reminding you that your son suffered absolutely no pain and by hoping that your grief has not been too great.

Very sincerely- A.E. Brock Lieut.