"I Don't Know How Long This Elysium Will Last"

On the 18th August 1918, 2nd Suffolk were out of the line in a rest area at Sus-St-Leger. It was a Sunday and day had been like many in the rear areas, with an open air church service in the morning, followed an hour of relaxation, before the Battalion paraded for the presentation of medals by Brigadier-General Porter.
After the General had departed, a period of calm, before the training programme commenced once more in the early evening. The weather was fine at this time. That evening, the recently arrived young officer, Lieutenant P.C. Layard wrote an letter home to his mother.
"Still in rest, but I don't know how long this Elysium will last. I have spent a gloriously lazy afternoon - it being Sunday. I stopped writing this at about 3.15; then I lay on my bed and read to 3.30; then I slept till 4.30; then I couldn't fag to walk 3/4 mile to tea, so I made them, give me some bread and butter and coffee, and I scrambled two eggs myself  - and your honey, which isn't finished yet, put the finishing-touch of joy to my tea. It is now 6 p.m. as I write, and when I finish this I shall read "Mary Barton" until 7.30 p.m. when I go to mess."
Layard had served previously with the 4th Battalion and had been wounded on or around the 18th June 1916 in a trench raid in front of the village of Bazentin-le-Petit, and it had taken almost 18 months to recover. Almost two years to the day, he was ordered back tot the front to serve this time with the 2nd Battalion.
Two days later, he wrote again to his mother that "We go into the line to-night, I believe. Our rest has been too lovely and welcome for words. We've had sweltering weather lately, but to-day has been dull, with an occasional drizzle..."
For the 2nd Battalion, a large attack was now imminent and they had been hastily withdrawn from the training camp and placed back in the front line ready for the next big offensive.

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