From: Witley Camp, Eng.
Sat. 9 Dec. 1916

Dear Mother -

I received two letters last Thurs., one from you and one from Gladys. Both were written on Nov. 19. I told you in previous letter that I had rec'd letter from Cassie and from cousin Grace. Both promised boxes which should get here anytime now. They are evidently not coming thru as quickly as yours did. Gladys seems to be doing very well indeed but you will likely get this letter about Xmas and will have her and Cecil with you. Yes, I have plenty of sox. Those gloves you sent were perhaps the most needed thing of any. The gloves and mitts that were issued to me in Kingston were collected again before we left Petawawa. We have not yet been issued with gloves and weather was getting cold enough to need them. No snow here yet. It rained last night. I had my old uniform condemned at Petawawa and got new tunic, hat, boots, there - everything I needed except the breeches. The whole brigade wore fatigue breeches over on boat and until we got our new ones recently. I have also told you how your box arrived in good condition.

I think I told you once that I had bought two or three books to read. I bought a couple, quite a while ago one in Godalming and other in London. Then more recently, I bought two more in Godalming. I have read them all and others in hut have read some of them too, so that they show signs of wear. I mailed the four of them in two parcels of 2 books each to you. Harold may like to save the stamps on the parcels, by the way - there is a 5d, a 2½d and a 4d stamp on them. What I wanted to do was to give a book to each of you at home but there lacked one and then the books were not at all suitable for Arthur or Cecil and hardly I thought, for you, altho, I am giving one to you - Short Stories by O. Henry - you may have seen his books advertised in American papers. Another "The Three Musketeers" by Dumas, I have sent to Harold - it is rather badly wrecked, but I think he will like the story. The other two books I have sent to Gladys as I thought they were most suitable for her. I liked them both very much myself. It is too bad there is nothing for Cecil or Arthur but, if you think Cecil would like something, you could give him one of my books as Coral Island, Dvg(?) Crusoe, Scottish Covenanters, Treasure Island or any one that you think would be suitable for him. I have sent Arthur one of my Xmas cards.

I mentioned in a letter getting a picture taken with Willie Dickey. I have half a doz. of these now and am enclosing a couple. I am afraid I rather spoiled the picture - seem to be frowning. Willie will not likely be leaving now before Xmas. I saw him about an hour ago. Looks well and seems to be getting on fine.

I suppose you got in the Canadian papers the news of Asquith's fall and Lloyd George's rise. Lloyd George seems to be the man in England just now. Matters have not been going on any too well and the people look to him to better conditions. Sugar is very dear in Canada, isn't it? Ever since I have been here, it has been very scarce in England -can only be bought a pound at a time and then only if something else is bought with it. It is getting much more serious now and new laws are being passed regarding its use & sale etc. Bread is a fearful price here. I don't think I have tasted butter since I came here. Everyone uses margarine, a cheaper substitute. At first, I disliked the taste of it - a rather porky taste, I thought - it is made from fats, etc. but now I eat it as tho it were butter and butter would taste strange. I don't know whether I told you about that before - I told it to someone - maybe cousin Grace. I may send you an English paper some time if I get one with lots of news in.

Last Sun. I went for a walk thru country roads around here. The farms look now somewhat as ours would in last of Sept. They grow lots of turnips here. They are only starting now to harvest these. In the evening, I went to the Wesleyan Church at Godalming. Don't worry about me. I am in fine health, etc.

Love to all,
Gordon