Love Letters From The Front

Weather conditions start to take their toll as Eric reveals to Phyllis that he has to walk through 12 miles of mud each day.

Phyllis hears how Eric's days drag on - 'The days seem to drag and drag and there seems to be no ending to this weary road. No house in sight where one could rest'.

Eric is left heartbroken after leave to see Phyllis is cancelled and he faces more wearying warfare.

'I am going to write just a little to let you know I am still alive. Why am I such an unlucky bloke?' - Eric sends a heartfelt message to Phyllis.

'I remember you saying in a very low, quiet voice, "Eric you mustn't". 'It was the first time you had ever called me by my name'.

Eric seeks reassurance from Phyllis as he asks: 'Will you be watching for me as the train comes past at the end of the garden?'.

As shells burst all around, Eric explains what it's like to be in full view of the German lines.

Eric is candid about Phyllis's love for singing - 'Phyl, I have told you before. I hate your singing, or rather your love for it, because it seems to be my rival.'.

As the pelting rain makes life wretched, Eric and Phyllis realise they can't escape the grim reality of war.

Eric is in sombre mood - 'Phyl, when will this cursed war ever end? Everything seems to be going wrong all at once'.

Eric ventures through the ruins of a town as machine guns fire around him.

Eric shares his regret about war and what it's meant for their love - 'I used to think I was your knight and I was going to fight for you...'.

Eric describes what it's like at the front, with the trenches set alight with shell bursts and rockets.

Eric recounts the latest action at the front - 'This place is never quiet now; even at nights there is someone firing'.

Eric's hope of leave to see Phyllis is dashed. 'A message came in and what do you think it said? All leave is stopped.'.

As another period of leave seems certain, Eric dreams of meeting Phyllis again in her home town of Athlone.

Cold and harsh conditions on the front line begin to take their toll on Eric.

'I have just been looking at the army list and I find that I am 122nd on it; that isn't much when there are about 2,000 second lieutenants'.

Eric leaves the trenches and ventures into a nearby village, where he is appalled by the devastation wreaked by war.

Amid unrelenting anti-aircraft fire, Eric reflects on the meaning of a piece of paper which Phyllis has kissed.