p.

Letter No. 1. Tuesday, 3rd March Major J. H. Massey
6. Pal[illegible]

darling Barbara,
I am very sad & depressed. I almost [illegible] broken
I know that you will be sad for me when you hear
what has happened. Peter was killed yesterday afternoon by
a R.A.F. [illegible]. I had just left my office, he of course,
had joined me. As I was walking along talking to
Ben, I heard a screach [sic] of breaks [sic], then yelping from
Peter. I turned around & saw him lying struggling on his
back on the road. I raced to him, I saw one back
leg very broken. I thought that this was all that was
the matter. So I picked him up as gently as I
could. I began to carry him to my office. He was
crying very much, I immediately [illegible] my ear [illegible]
on it, but I did not mind this very much or I thought
it helped him. I bent my head down towards one
of my hands, he then got his teeth into my thumb. As
I carried him along. I decided that I was not going
to allow him to be put away & even if two legs were
broken, I would look after him until he was better
again. And then he went limp in my arms &
gave two or three jerks - it was all over. The M.O.
came across, but there was nothing to do. The
poor little chap must have been knocked to pieces
by the truck. Apparently, he had rushed across
to have a bark at an Arab, the truck had been
coming along & could not stop itself.
So I carried him down to my room & put him
on his bed outside - & then I cried awhile