Mr Harold Fossey, of 25 Ash Road, Luton, has received a very interesting package from a soldier who was billeted with him for a time, and who is now in the No 2 General Canadian Hospital, Le Tréport, France. He was wounded in the battle of Loos and sends three postcard views of the hospital, which was originally a magnificent hotel run by Germans.

The package included a number of photographs and letters he took from a German officer he "happened to finish," as he thinks the letters may contain some interesting information. With one exception letters were written to the dead soldier by relatives and friends, but there is a note which he wrote himself to say that he had finished his training and received his field outfit and would write later to say where he was going.

From the date of the letter it is evident that he was killed immediately he arrived in the firing line. He was only a young man, and Mr Fossey's correspondent in mentioning this, says: "I can say for certain a good number I saw lying dead round Loos were not more than 15 or 16 years of age."

A translation of a paragraph in one of the letters is: "Oh! If the war were only finished! We can hardly pay for everything - 1 lb sausages cost us 1.80 marks (1s 8d), bread 1.60 (1s 7d) per pound, pork half pound is 9½d."

Another letter, from his mother, says: "I have sent you a parcel. It is only a pound parcel and contains a pound of bacon, the last of ours. Let us know if things are cheaper there than here, where everything is much dearer. I have gathered some oats" (meaning she had been gleaning in the cornfields).

Another note says: "There are no men left here. H.F. has fallen, but surely it is his own fault, as he could have remained at home if he had not volunteered. I think they are all regretting it now."

[Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph: November 13th, 1915]