9.8.17
Dear Mrs Dymer
You'll perhaps pardon the liberty I'm taking in writing to you as I am a stranger to you, but I wish to express on behalf of myself and the rest of the officers' servants of this battery our deepest sympathy with you and your children in your terrible bereavement. I think I can say with all truth that I was one of your husband's pals, the best I hope. Anyway, I have been a close friend of his during the time he took over his duties as an officer's servant, as I am the cook and was in charge of all the arrangements of the mess. Bert and I have had some rough times together, Mrs Dymer, especially since the Germans retreated.
He was also a fine chum to me, one of the best fellows I've ever met during my 15 years' experience of soldiering. Always so nice and obliging in everything. Especially did I find him so when on the move. We had to rig up shelters against the bad weather we had during the move. Bert was an expert in such matters. The place we are in now we built together. We got two wooden beds and the shelf over one bunk; wise you know.
Honestly Mrs Dymer, I miss him very much. I could not miss him more had he been a brother of mine. I always admired his principles, they were so fine and straightforward - no brag, no bluff, just simple honest straightforward talk he always had. Often we spoke together over our respective families. I also have a wife and a girl and boy. Often he showed me the snapshots he got from his boy from time to time.
At the time of his death we were running for cover from the shells. Unfortunately we ran into the open ground where they were bursting. I was more than 10 yds in front of him and the concussion of one of the shells gave me shellshock at the same time as poor Bert was killed. They took him to the field ambulance and me too. I recovered some few hours later, very dashed and shaken. Poor Bert lay dead. I was sent down to our wagon line and we took your husband's body with us, burying him in a newly formed cemetery the next morning. I acting as one of his bearers lowered his body to his grave, thus seeing the last of my best pal and your Dear Husband.
I hope you will excuse any liberty I may have taken in writing Mrs Dymer, but I thought you'd like to have a letter from one who was your husband's pal and who practically was with him at the last. My address if you care to write is
48967 Gnr H Mills
c/o Officers Mess
B Battery
181 Bde RGA
BEF
France