A short time ago, Mr Horace Cox, of 43 Brook Street, Luton sent some cigarettes to a soldier at the Front through the medium of the fund organised by one of the London newspapers. He received a letter of thanks from the recipient, Gunner G. Nicholls, of the 6th Siege Battery, R.F.A.

In a letter received by Mr Cox this week, Gunner Nicholls has some strong comments to make on certain people at home, and in particular those who cause labour troubles, those who should enlist but do not, and those who say we should not use against the Germans the methods they employ against us.

He says: "I wonder if the people at home would have a row as to who should be in No. 1 trench and who in No. 2 for one shilling a day. The shells flying around would soon make them come to a peaceful settlement.

"It is marvellous beyond comprehension how the boys stick it. I speak with some knowledge of what I am saying, because I have had a decent spell out here since last September. I have seen all sorts of places and all conditions of fighting, and in every case you find the German as a fighting man is good until our boys charge. Then it is true they throw down their arms. Only the Prussian won't, and he fights nearly as well as our boys.

"I only wish they would let us use the same stuff at them as they are using against us. Why don't they send out here the class of people who sit at home and say, 'Don't use it on them, because we are honourable'.

"I should like a few bombs to drop on the houses of some of the muddlers of our nation. What keeps this war on so long is that the German authorities preach to their men that England has nearly run our of munitions, and that the members of the Government are nearly fighting one another. The result is that the German soldier goes into the fight with a far better heart than he would otherwise do."

[The Luton News: Thursday, July 1st, 1915]