Gunner Alfred Firmin, son of Mr and Mrs A. W. Firmin, of 'Pendennis,' Dunstable Road, Luton, who is at the Front with the 3rd Battery of the Lincoln Artillery (1st North Midland Division), has written home a very interesting letter describing the latest tactics of the Germans in spraying vitriol into the trenches.

The wounded, he says, were a pitiful sight, but the fortitude displayed by the men was marvellous. So many stretchers were in use that those who were at all able to do so had to walk to the dressing station (a distance of about three and a half miles, and part of it under shell fire).

Some of the wounded helped other weaker and more seriously wounded comrades along, and Gunner Firmin was particularly struck by the wonderful spirit of one poor fellow, who was strutting along smoking a Woodbine, although his arm was shot off up to the elbow.

"The bombardment," he goes on, "was terrific, and the infantry had a very stiff fight, both sides losing a lot of men. The wounded were coming up in a continual stream until late at night.

"Our wires were all broken during the bombardment, and I and a gunner had to go out and mend them. It took us all the afternoon, as we had to keep taking cover from shell fire. Altogether we had a most lively time...but I am pleased to say I did not receive a scratch, not did the gunner who was with me, although we were working in a trench where about 20 men had been wounded during the night by 'whizz-bangs' [light shells from small calibre field guns].

In another letter, written by Pte L. Killer, of the 5th Battalion Sherwood Foresters to the landlady of the house in which he was billeted, a second reference to the new German tactics. He wrote: "WE have just come out of the trenches after 25 days, so you can understand we are ready for a rest. We have been in some hard fighting this time. The Germans have started using liquid fire which comes over our trenches and set everything on fire. Bet, after all, they won't win, with all their foul ways. British pluck will beat them."

[Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph: August 14th, 1915]