Sir - I have been out here nearly six months and next to my letters from home, I look forward with pleasure to the arrival of the Indicator, which is forwarded to me regularly each week.

Although newspapers take rather longer to get here than letters, my patience is well rewarded and, circumstances permitting, I am afforded a quiet hour's reading.

I say "quiet" but this is not always the case. Often as soon as I have taken the wrapper from round my Indicator, a kindly non-commissioned officer pops his familiar face in my dug-out and warns me for some urgent duty.

Sometimes a line of communication breaks down, and such jobs as these must always be attended to without a moment's delay, or we hear the order "action" given, and the boys then have to run to the guns.

Again you see the shell rammed home, the lanyard pulled and the shell sent off on its terrible errand.

When we have a full battery of heavy artillery in action, you may perhaps be able to guess how "quiet" we are for a time.

However, as soon as the guns cease and the din is over, and we are able to return once more to our dug-outs, then up comes the Indicator.

With keenest interest I read down its columns which tell me how dear old Redditch is getting along, even though so many miles away.

After I have had a look at it, my comrades usually have a glance through it.

The thanks of all us out here are due to the Rev Edgar Todd for giving the boys at the front a column of their own.

I have read these articles with much interest and I am sure the time and trouble the reverend gentleman has given to these letters has not been in vain.

Yours truly, Philip B Jarvis, Signaller RGA, British Expeditionary Force, Flanders, September 8, 1917.