The next installment of the diary recounts the events at Arras and Vimy Ridge in 1917. It seems that Albert was treated to a tour of the major British battlefields of the First World War.

From 1918 Albert has kindly left a birthday book which he used as a diary during the final push by the German Army. What a shame I have to work for a living, rather than researching at the PRO...

'They'

The Bishop tells us: 'When the boys come back
'They will not be the same; for they'll have fought
'In a just cause: they lead the last attack
'On Anti-Christ; their comrades' blood has bought
'New right to breed an honourable race,
'They have challenged Death and dared him face to face.'

'We're none of us the same!' the boys reply.
'For George lost both his legs; and Bill's stone blind;
'Poor Jim's shot through the lungs and like to die;
'And Bert's gone syphilitic: you'll not find
'A chap who's served that hasn't found some change.
' And the Bishop said: 'The ways of God are strange!'

Siegfried Sassoon

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