Letter from Siegfried Sassoon to Thomas Hardy, 24 February 1916
[Page 1]1st Battn. R.W. F.
B.E.F.
Feb. 24 th
1916Dear Mr Hardy
It was a great pleasure to me to receive your letter. The book will be sent you in a week or two, but I shall not be able to inscribe your name in it owing to my being at these wars.
It is not a cheerful performance, 'coming back again'. I wish I could find a spark of glory in it. But there is none now: only organised destruction, & a general feeling of hopelessness. The Army is one vast Stupidity; one "does one's job" & longs for ignoble comforts. And the humour of the Army, – could anything be more English? But no doubt if I were on General Haig's staff I should be an optimist!
Everyone believes in the war except the man in the shell hole. But I have just had German measles, & that has probably given me a feeling of sympathy for the enemy.
With all good wishes.
Yours sincerely,
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Summary
Letter from Siegfried Sassoon to Thomas Hardy on the First World War, 24 February 1916
Metadata
From
Person
Siegfried SassoonPlace
Date
24 February 1916
To
Person
Thomas HardyPhysical Description
Letter written on thin, lined paper. Pencil library marks on page 2: H.5131.
Source
Dorset County Museum, H.5131
