6 June, 1918, Thursday

My dearest mother,

At last I have had a jolly good post from home. Your letter of the 30th May, with Dad's and Stan's has just arrived; also a letter from Mr. Waller, the little book of Tennyson's poems from Isa and the Quadrant magazine. Thank you ever so much indeed for your loving letter; you cannot imagine how very pleased I was to get it. I want you to thank dear old Dad and Stan for their letters and tell them that I will write each later in reply. To turn to your letter: I am glad you find my letters such a "treat"; I can assure you that to write them is my most pleasant duty out here and while I can, I shall continue to write each day. I sent two lots of postcards of the place I was last at, I hope you received both safely. Talking about spring cleaning reminds me of that annual household .?. when my old school books usually managed to get rearranged. My word! Don't I wish I was back in the drawing room at my desk this evening, doing maths or writing an essay, and find recreation at the piano. How I miss playing ! I shall be quite "rusty" when I return and Isa will have to manage both treble and bass of our duets. Whatever made you talk about dressing old ..?.. for ? Why, dear me! You are quite young yet. As I don't expect to have the chance of seeing you in the fawn costume for some little time, perhaps you would have some photos taken and then you could send me one. I was glad to hear about baby .?. and to think he is such a dear little chap - I sent a pc to Auntie and Uncle congratulating them on the arrival of a son and heir. Yes! I think I should like a clean shirt sent out from time to time. I shall not need one for three weeks or a month from now.

I wonder sometimes what I am going to do after the war in the business line. I don't know whether the intermediate exam is worth swotting for. I shall have to start all again and it seems to me that the Service has not nearly as many advantages as before the war when it was difficult for a clerk to get on at all well in the commercial world. But still I'm not going to worry my head much about the subject until I have got my "ticket" and then I can look around. As for me not hearing Campbell Morgan when he comes to the Highbury Quadrant, don't be too sure that I shan't be there.

X x x x x x x x x X

This morning we marched with our towels and soap to the usual bathing place for a wash and a swim. The weather being still ideal for this kind of recreation. I enjoyed myself ever so much in the water and could not stay in long enough. We marched back via the Range (I have already located this in a previous letter) and did some firing and afterwards marched back to our billets where we were dismissed. I am getting quite accustomed to marching now; we get such a lot of it. Fortunately my feet have not got sore as my boots are comfortable and I put boracic powder in my socks which prevents sweat.

There are a number of apparently stray dogs about and one in particular who always follow us about day by day everywhere we go. I understand from some of the chaps that he came from the last place with us.

This afternoon I spent in the usual way, reading in the billet and since tea I have made a purchase of biscuits and chocolate from the canteen and am now writing in the usual field.

Last night we had a glorious old sing-song in the billet before turning in. You would be ever so interested to see the jolly way in which we live together and have a good time.

I may not be able to write for a day or two owing to the move. We never stay more than a fortnight in one place it seems.

Au revoir,

With my fondest love and xxxxx

Dinkey