“I have been playing football this afternoon for the Indian ranks of the squadron, and got a severe kick on the ankle for my pains; it will lay me up for a day or two.” * * * * * _Extract from letter from Lieutenant G. R. Pedder, dated 18th December 1917._ “We have been back here about a fortnight now, and I don’t think we shall move again till after Xmas, at least I hope so, as it is frightfully cold at night now, much colder than this time last year; also, I am riding in the Baghdad Plate on the 27th and the Grand Handicap, also 7 furlongs, on the 29th, and I am showing ‘Matches’ in the Horse Show on the 30th. There’s absolutely no news whatever. Moreover, we haven’t got an English mail for over a month now. It must have been sunk. ‘A’ and ‘D’ have amalgamated messes, and it is much pleasanter than having a squadron mess. “Fitzgibbon and Le Patourel have gone into Baghdad for a week, as only eight officers are allowed to go there for Xmas, and those eight are all competitors--Hartigan, Keswick, Self, Welstead, Stirling, Ormrod, Norton, Twist. “I am riding ‘The Witch’ in two races, the horse my servant rode and won on during the first meeting. Box (Lieutenant Jeffrey) hasn’t got back yet.” * * * * * _Extract from letter from Lieutenant G. R. Pedder, dated 19th December 1917._ “Here we are back again after what ended up in quite a mild show, although at first we all thought it was going to be a very murky business. “It has turned frightfully cold. This morning I woke up to find a thick layer of ice on the water in my water-bucket inside the tent. Thank goodness we are back here in our standing camp, with tents galore and plenty of clothes and food to help keep out the cold. Personally I like it, although you have got to wear a thick greatcoat all day. “The Colonel is down river, sick with an ulcer or something, so Twist is commanding. “There is a tremendous show on in Baghdad for Xmas this year. Two days’ racing, 26th and 27th--I am entering two horses for three races,--a duck shoot, which I shall also attend, or hope to, golf tournament, cricket, footer, hockey, &c., &c. Of course, if the rain comes it will all probably be off.” * * * * * _Extract from Lance-Corporal Bowie’s Diary._