Letter from Sergeant P. Griffiths, 6th Gordon Highlanders.

LETTER FROM A BRIDGNORTH SOLDIER
[Bridgnorth Journal, 27th April, 1918]

We have received the following interesting letter from 13381 Sergeant Percy J. Griffiths, C. Co., 6th Gordon Highlanders, whose home is at North Gate, Bridgnorth, under date April 20th, 1918:-

"Once again I am sending you a letter, this being the third, though I hope not the last unless it is that peace comes before I have time to write again. The division to which I belong has been complimented on their splendid performance in helping to stay Fritz's last desperate offensive, and personally I think that all the compliments have been well deserved. On the morning of March 21st, when the battle commenced, my company was in the front line We were severely bombarded for about six hours, and the trenches we occupied were practically levelled. Fritz then appeared in force with his usual paraphernalia - bombs (known to us as " tattie chappers,") also his liquid fire apparatus.

We withdrew about 300 yards to a slightly less-battered position, and although he tried all he knew during that day he could not move us, but everything was against us really, as we had lost our rations in the bombardment, and there were only a few of us left; however, we let Fritz know that he was up against something right hard. We were withdrawn to a fresh position that night, and held there throughout the day.

This occurred several days until we were finally relieved. It was rare sport on some of these days. I am pleased to say I had the pleasure of sniping at least half-a-dozen Huns; one fellow after I had shot him, fell to the ground, and out shot star shells from his pack in all directions. The bullet had apparently gone straight through him into his pack. He must have been carrying a cargo of star-shells.

On our way from the firing line we happened across the King, he descended from his car and watched us march past to the tune of the pipes. We were a tired and war-worn crowd, but out came the chests, and up went the heads as every man realised who was taking the salute.

This last battle was much the same and I assure you we were well in the middle of it, and again we have been complimented, so naturally we are feeling quite proud of ourselves. I expect you are all pretty well excited at home, but rest assured that before long Fritz will be advancing in the opposite direction. At any rate we have badly bent some of his best divisions and my opinion is that the poorest British division is quite equal to the best of the Germans.

I almost forgot to tell you that during the last battle half-a-dozen men of my company captured two machine-guns and thirty Germans."