War Letters of a Public-School BoyJones, Henry Paul Mainwaring
History
War Letters of a Public-School Boy
Jones, Henry Paul Mainwaring
World War, 1914-1918 -- Personal narratives, British
Last Sunday we had a real first-rate game of Rugger--not very
scientific as far as passing and outside play were concerned, but
a great struggle forward. My own side had a couple of splendid
Scottish forwards against it, and I had a great deal of defence
to do, falling on the ball, etc. The final was 6-3 against us,
but one glaring offside try was allowed to our
opponents--accidentally, of course, as the referee's view was
unfortunately obstructed at the time. It was a grand game to play
in, though I was not in the best of training--one's first game
for fourteen months is usually apt to be a bit of a strain, and I
hadn't played since I turned out for the O.A.'s at Dulwich in
December, 1915. It was simply great, worth living years for, to
touch a Rugger ball again.
_March 17th, 1917._
These days for me are crammed full of work, 8.30 A.M. to 6 or 7
P.M. as a general rule. I am enjoying life hugely, however. To me
hard work has always been preferable to slack times, and I like
going at high pressure. Besides, this is such a grand job that
the work is a sheer pleasure. By Jove! if you only knew how much
happier I am these days than in any period during the twenty odd
months I had spent previously playing at soldiers in the "Grub
Department." It amazes me that I could have been so long
contented with work like that of the A.S.C. Well, anyway, those
days are over and done with, and a new and brighter era has been
ushered in. As a rule, I am now almost always in an incredible
state of grease and oil and grime, which, remembering my old
propensities, you will know delights me. The old gas-engine at
home was nothing to it. I have had to set aside a special suit
for daily use, as even with overalls on there is not sufficient
protection against grease, oil, petrol and mud. I cannot tell you
how supremely happy I am in my work.
Ambrose returned to his company from a course of instruction last
week, and he came across immediately to see me. We discussed old
times and old friends with great gusto. There are two other
Dulwich men in the battalion whom I never knew well, as they were
fairly senior fellows when I was only a kid, though I distinctly
remember both. Their names are Trimingham and Sewell. They were
in what was in those days Treadgold's House.
I am sending back by the same post a pair of spectacles which got
broken recently. Will you please get them repaired? I still have
four sound pairs, but I always like to keep up the set of five
with which I started in the War.
The breaking of the great frost created appalling conditions on
this countryside, which for some time was an absolute quagmire.
Even now things are pretty bad, though the weather improves
daily.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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