August 11, 1916

My dear Daddy,

With my usual brilliance in such matters I remembered your birthday only when it was upon me. It has been a full day - map-reading and trench-digging, and there is an exam to-morrow morning; so I have not time for a letter; but only for this word to let you know how sweet my thoughts of you are, and how my heart yearns toward you every day. May the Lord continue to watch between us while we are absent one from the other! I am sending a little book of verse by John Oxenham, which I shall keep, however, to read on the way to Birmingham, whither I go to-morrow to see Aunt Kate.

Lovingly,
Bernard.