LETTERS TO HELEN [Illustration: CRUCIFIX CORNER Between MONTAUBAN & HIGH WOOD One of the hands was shot away, and the figure hangs there suspended from the other.] LETTERS TO HELEN Impressions of an Artist on the Western Front By KEITH HENDERSON Illustrated LONDON CHATTO & WINDUS MCMXVII PREFACE These letters were never intended for publication. But when the pictures were brought back from France it was suggested that they should be reproduced, and a book evolved. Then a certain person (who shall be nameless) conceived the dastardly idea of exposing private correspondence to the public eye. He proved wilful in the matter, and this book came into the world. ILLUSTRATIONS CRUCIFIX CORNER _Frontispiece_ A CONFERENCE IN THE CHATEAU _To face page_ 6 BAILLEUL 10 LE MONT DES CATS 18 FRICOURT CEMETERY 32 TRENCHES BETWEEN FRICOURT AND LA BOISELLE 48 GIRD TRENCH 54 A HOUSE IN GEUDECOURT 60 A WOUNDED TANK 66 EXPLOSION OF AN AMMUNITION DUMP 78 THE BUTTE DE WARLENCOURT 92 PERONNE 106 LETTERS TO HELEN _June 6, 1916._ Well, here we are in the slowest train that ever limped, and I've been to sleep for seven hours. The first good sleep since leaving England. And now, as we've got twenty-eight hours to go still, there's time to write a letter. The last three days' postcards have been scrappy and unintelligible, but we departed without warning and with the most Sherlock Holmes secrecy. Not a word about which ports we were sailing from or to. However, I'll tell you what I can without disclosing any names of places. After moving off at midnight from among the Hampshire pine-trees, we eventually reached our port of departure. Great fun detraining the horses and getting them on board. The men were in the highest spirits. But how disgusting those cold rank smells of a dock are. We sailed the following evening. Hideously rough, and it took seventeen and a half hours. The men very quiet indeed and packed like sardines. It was wonderful to think of all those eager souls in all those ships making for France together over the black deep water. Some had gone before, and some came after. But the majority went over that night. I felt decidedly ill. And it was nervous work going round seeing after the horses and men when a "crisis" might have occurred at any moment! Luckily, however, dignity was preserved. Land at last "hove in sight" as the grey morning grew paler and clearer. What busy-looking quays! More clatter of disembarkation. No time to think or look about.