Raymond Strange has unearthed a letter from his dad written 90 years ago from the First World War trenches.

Mr Strange, of Wootton Bassett, said: “Our son was researching family history, so we opened a box which had been left undisturbed for years,” said Mr Strange.

“My dad Frederick, whose home was in Swindon, served in C Squadron of the Royal Irish Dragoon Guards, right through the First World War, and was one of the lucky ones who returned home safely. In the Second World War he served as a fireman in the AFS.”

The family was interested to note that the British preoccupation with weather existed even then.

The letter begins: “We are getting proper November weather here, and it is now very foggy and cold at nights. Our regiment is doing fine work here, especially our squadron. We have got to do the infantry work; there is no work for the cavalry.

“We generally do a day and night in the trenches and a day and night out. We get plenty of excitement in the trenches with the “coalboxes” – the name our Tommies give to the enemies’ big shells.

“The Germans have got very fine artillery but their rifle fire is rather poor. We had a very warm time in the trenches the other day. We had been waiting for the enemy all night and just after daybreak we spotted them running along in hundreds. It was not long before we were exchanging shots, and then their coalboxes began falling upon us.

“They didn’t half forget to send them over, and one of the shells fell right in the trenches and killed four of our men. The trenches were blown in, in several places, but we got the upper hand of them at the finish.

“Our boys and officers who were there showed them how to do it.”

Later in the war, Frederick Strange’s horse was shot and killed under him.

The photograph of Frederick on his horse was among various items in the box.

Another newspaper cutting revealed that C Sqn fired the first shot at 2pm on August 20, 1914, made the first cavalry charge at 4.50am on August 22 and were the first to kill a German, at 5.10am on that day.

Frederick continued to serve in the Army after the Armistice, and did not return to civilian life until 1929.

A reference from Capt Aizlewood, of the 4th Dragoon Guards, recommended him as being sober, trustworthy and hardworking, able to work as a groom, chauffeur , gardener or valet.

In fact Frederick became a postman at Box, and married in 1932.

“All these discoveries have been interesting, as dad never spoke about the war,” Mr Strange said.