News from the East

[Tom Y]

Here's another letter I unearthed from my pile of odds and sods. From, I think, the Eastern Front, probably around Riga, it goes to 16 pages. I've tried to translate it without a net, but other than learning tha it's to his parents and sister from the trenches where he's been for 6 days I haven't made a whole lot of headway Rather tha wait a decade or so I decided I'd post it now and take advantage of those more gifted.

I guess I should set the scene by starting with the envelope.

[Tom Y]

Page 1. Tuesday, 5 October, 1915. Evening in the trench.

I'll leave it at this for the nonce, as it looks like he's preparing for battle. Dontcha love cliffhangers?

[Guest Rick Research]

That's too light for me to read. Scribbly pencil.

Apparently from Gefreiter Klemm, 1st Battery, Saxon Field Artillery Regiment 48, 23rd Infantry Division. Not even sure of the name. Can you darken this up any?

[Tom Y]

This should be better.