1st Command Depot

St. Leonards Hasting

May 11th 17

Dear Mother:-

Just rec'd two letters from you dated April 12th and April 18th. As you will see from the above address I am still moving around.

I was up at Bexhill for a week or two cutting brush but I had to come back as they were breaking up the Garrison Duty Corps.

What battalion did Ford Hawkes go to? I have never seen Arthur yet and don't expect to as our reserve battalion is at Shorncliffe.

I had letters from the boys and Dad last week and they are all O.K. Syd is working in the cook house and Frank is still with the platoon. Dad is still up in the Ypres salient where we were all last summer. I think he must be at Hill 60. He says he is getting stale for want of leave. I guess he will be a lot staler before he gets it.

The mail is pretty badly mixed up and I generally get my Canadian mail in lumps. Have not heard from Fred for a long time but I guess he is busy keeping the pot boiling. Had a letter from Arthur Row about a week ago which I promptly answered.

My arm is almost as good as ever but I am still marked C1, base duty. It will always be a little crooked. Well, it was a lucky thing for me when I got that. I have been in England nearly 8 months now.

Was certainly sorry to hear about Lily George getting into trouble. I used to admire those girls the way they used to work to keep things going.

We are having first class weather here and have had for two or three weeks.

I keep up a correspondence with the Rows and the Thornberys.

Bessie seems to be quite a stenog now. Where did she take the lessons? Is she learning about shorthand too?

Things are getting high over here now; good tobacco is 10d an oz.

Well dear, send me socks as soon as you can and give my love to all.

Jack