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Sapper Campion
C Lines
Chislidon Camp
Nr. Swindon
Wilts
Saturday June 1. 1940

My Dear Audrey,

Your letter arrived yesterday but I was not able to collect same until this morning. That phone call was made from a little village about 1 mile from here. I walked there to send two telegrams, one for mother and the other for you, but after arriving there I decided to telephone through to you. Now all of my previous letters have been short, partly because I had to write them whilst the train stayed at the station for about three minutes. Don’t worry about leave because I will get 10 days within a week or two. I could have 48 hrs leave now but as I haven’t sufficient money to pay the fare and as also travelling time is against me it does not seem possible to get home in time. As soon as I’m able to come a telegram will be sent as soon as I catch the train. Many […] Companies have been cut up and although I ask all I meet about Bill nothing can be traced of the 5th Division. The 1st Corp got the rough stuff. This consists of the 1st, 2nd, and 48th Division.

On the day of the invasion of Holland and Belgium at 3am Friday morning we were ready to march and we were in Belgium at 12.30pm. R was our first stop and then we were under fire until about Wednesday, on which day we returned to France. After 2 days peace we were sent forward as infantry and then the fun started. Day and night we were bombed, shelled, and machine gunned. His tanks were everywhere, his bombers were like flies round a jam pot. For two whole days we killed him and broke him with gun fire and then our food and shells stopped coming up so all that could be done was to destroy the guns and withdraw. The Brigade of Guards after their ammunition ran out fixed bayonets and charged; perhaps a blaze of glory but they will never come back. The Gordon Highlanders, Buffs, Queens, and many more went the same way. The wounded were just left to die. Many men I know will never return. One was the OC in 107 at Middlesbrough, and a Tommy Brooks of the same company. Some men I heard groaning and the others I saw lying still, many of them I turned over to help but if I had moved them they would have fallen to pieces. The OC, Stephenson, of 107 was buried on the docks at Dunkirk. Our Sgt. Major was wounded and I brought him into cover, swore at him and the Officer, accused them of leading us into a death trap: He told the officers that I was a good soldier and then asked me my opinion. When given, he asked me to lead the company to safety. I said that was his job and told him that I was going to live and go to England and the company led by the N. C. Os of his choice could look after themselves. When the B.E.F. was in trouble 90% Officers left the men to die and got away themselves. Even Jerry admits he lost 500,000 against us. Through that terrible Monday night when all seemed lost I thought every possible way of escape and I dug a hole with my fingers between rocks and slept for, well I don’t know how long, but the sun was rising as I dug in and it was only just up when I was wakened by shrapnel which hit my helmet. After that at 7am I struggled onto a Dutch steamer and landed at Ramsgate at 3.30pm. The rest you know so much about. Under that hell’s fire I was never really afraid and I prayed once for comfort for my people and you. The first time I felt fear was when our steamer was bombed. I saw J. Barker and I believe that he got away.
……… [End of letter lost]

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