14/12/15
My dear Mother
I want to send you a special Xmas present so will post it in good time in order that you may get it before shopping is all over. Mary is arranging to buy a general present from us both I believe, and otherwise we think that being war time economy is indicated. I suppose by the time you get this Mary and Baby will have left, I’m glad they have been able to make so long a stay, you will quite miss them now. So you also took a turn at bathing Baby, and no doubt Juliet has done so since.
I hope by this time you’ve heard from George. I expect his leave seems very far away to him now. They are very close in the matter of leave now all round, and we can’t count on it at any time. Still I hope after another couple of months I may be able to get some. I’ll really need a few days change – the work seven days a week gets very monotonous at times.
Has Badsey enrolled many men under the Derby scheme, and have the Wilkinsons’ enrolled! I suppose Jack’s name has gone in now, I saw that the Civil Service had now given permission to all their men to enrol, some of course will be starred subsequently.
Is Mela likely to get any time off about Xmas?
I was interested to hear in Father’s letter about the fate of the Robert [Lea?]. I expect they’ll cut up into a lot of firewood and coal is dear now. Out here I believe it is £4 a ton for it all has to be imported.
I’m glad to think that 1915 is nearly out, and hope and believe that the end of 1916 will at least see the favourable end of the war in sight even if not achieved. I shall be writing home again before Xmas, but will send good wishes now.
With much love.
From your son
Arthur
