My dear Grace,

By now I am sure you will have received word from the Army about our poor Jacob, but I wish to add my report to their doubtless dry and utilitarian efforts.

He is injured, though not too badly, and as best they can say he will be right as rain before too long has passed. I know you will take solace knowing he fought bravely, never shying from his duty.

You do not need the details of the assault in which we took part, save but to say that all was going swimmingly until a shell burst among our company, throwing us around the place. I am fortunate that someone is not writing this letter on my behalf, or worse - so many will have telegrams going home today with the dread news for their loved ones.

When the smoke cleared, I found that I had rolled into a deep crater, old and full of wet mud. My ears were ringing and my vision blurred but I assure you my first thought was to find Jacob and see if he were all right. My arms and legs struggled to lift me out of the pit, and by the time I emerged the fight had moved on ahead. I looked around me, finding only poor souls beyond my help but thanking God himself that none were my closest friend.

I found Jacob behind a boulder; whether the blast threw him there or he crawled, he was alive. His shoulder was bloodied, and his arm too, but his eyes were bright so I knew he was not in too bad a way. I dressed his shoulder and stayed with him as long as I could.

After maybe an hour I heard our chaps coming back toward us, saying a general retreat had been ordered. I urged them to take Jacob back to the trenches with them but they had no stretchers and he could not walk far. My intention was to stay with him until they could send a party out to collect him but they ordered me to return to our lines at once.

I cannot put into words the pain and fear I felt on leaving him but I hope you will forgive me as I truly had no choice. As soon as I made it to our dug-out, I agitated for a stretcher party, but the vast number of casualties meant that Jacob would have to wait his turn. As you can imagine, I was beside myself with worry and made it my duty to check every man returning from no-man’s-land to see if it were he.

It was around 5pm when he appeared, having walked from his hiding place back to our own lines unaided. Such is is his strength of spirit and character, and I am certain these same will speed his recovery and return to you.

I am and will remain,

Your faithful servant,

Harry Burns (Pvt)