England Oct. 18/40 Dear Mom & Dad: This is only a short note to let you know that I received the thousand cigs from Bob and the kids and also the papers. That was quite a write up I got. Tell Dad I am trying to get an incendiary bomb tail to send him. They would be nice to mount an ashtray on if they were nickled. It is hard to get one that is not damaged but there is a lot that don't go off these are the ones I want to get. Poor Shorty met his end. I thank my lucky stars that I got out in time. As I look back now I'm sure I would have run up against something like that or maybe worse. If this war hadn't started I shudder to think what would have happened to me. The booze had a strong grip on me. I feel now that I have nothing to lose and the world to gain. If I am fortunate enough to come through, I will know how to live like a respectable person. If I don't come through, then I would rather be dead than stumble through life a drunken bum. An army is a queer place to go temperance, but it's a fact, the fellows say I'm looking for strips, maybe I am, but there is one thing sure, I'm never going back to the booze anymore. I am invited out to tea tonight so will have to clean up, so long for now. Love Boyley.