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on the night of the big raid we had a few people over, 3 or four officers, and several ladies.

These officers invited us to spend the next night with them in a dugout 50 feet deep and apparently safe. So on all moon-light nights we run over to theirs in a wagon which they send for us.

Now since the big raid night and the following night we have had no raid, but mother as I said before has been badly shaken, so that if another big raid was to happen I don't know what would happen.

On the other hand mother is very loath to leave the place, on account of the impossibility of coming back for another indefinite time, and on account of the garden.

Again on the other hand, these officers may leave, and so leave us without a dugout, which is a help to mother, as she feels among friends.

Unfortunately, it (the dugout) is near the railway station, and as I do not fear the bombs, as it is a big chance for one to hit you, but rather the effect of one falling near and giving mother a shock.

Mother is going to write to you, but if this letter reachs you before hers I should act before then, by either coming up as she is asking you, or telling her to leave before it is too late.  As you see mother is not willing to leave, and as she thinks show the white feather.

Why I am writing to you at all, is because just a little while ago we heard two bombs or a dump or something blow up in the distance, and mother called for me and said we would leave, but in about a quarter of an hour she wasn't sure.

I made up my mind before this happened that I would write to you as there are too many distractions for me to work steadily, but now I see how mother is, I am not going to leave her till I hear from you
I send heaps of love
Your loving boy.

Jesse -