_Letter 1.--From Sapper George Bryant, Royal Engineers, to his father, Mr. J. J. Bryant, of Fishponds:_ Aug. 17.--Sailed from Southampton, on _Manchester Engineer_, 4.45 a.m. Aug. 18.--Landed Rouen, 6.20 a.m. Proceeded to rest camp at the Racecourse, Rouen. Aug. 19.--Left camp 9 p.m., and entrained to Aulnoye. Aug. 20.--Marched to Fiezines. Aug. 21.--Marched to Mons, and proceeded to the canal, to obstacle the bridges and prepare for blowing up. Barricaded the main streets. Saw German cavalry, and was under fire. Aug. 22.--Severe fighting and terrible. Went to blow up bridges with Lieut. Day, who was shot at my side through the nose. Unable to destroy bridges owing to such heavy firing of the Germans. Sight heart-breaking. Women and children driven from their homes by point of bayonet, and marched through streets in front of Germans, who fired behind them and through their armpits. Therefore, our fellows were unable to fire back. They rolled up in thousands, about 100 to our one. Went from here to dig trenches for infantry retreating. Was soon under fire, and had to retreat, and infantry took our position, and were completely wiped out (Middlesex). Aug. 23.--Severe fighting and bombarding of a town, shells bursting around us. Retreated, and dug trenches for infantry, but soon had fire about us, and retreated again and marched to take up position for next day, which was to be a rest, us having had but very little. Aug. 24.--Were unable to rest. Germans pressed us hotly, and fired continually. One of their aeroplanes followed our route, and was fired at. One of our lieutenants chased it, and eventually succeeded in shooting the aviator through the head, and he came to earth. Three aeroplanes were captured this day. We had no close fighting, and marched away to take up a position for next day’s fighting, which was a hard day’s work.