1841 Squadron
c/o British Fleet Mail Office.
April 20/45.

Dear Mother and Dad,

We are at sea now doing a bit of work for a change but really nothing exciting. I cannot tell you anything about what we are doing but you undoubtedly will be able to guess. – I will be able to give you a bit more idea where we have been now. I think I told you about Gibraltar, Alexandria, Colombo and a short while in Freemantle but only now am I able to tell you about Sydney. – Well it is a wonderful place indeed. There is no doubt that it is the most hospitable place of its size I have ever been to. We have a large number of officers and ratings aboard and I do not think there is one of them which did not enjoy their stay there. The ratings who usually find very little to do in a strange port were given a very full welcome and as far as I can see they nearly all got some home life with Australian families which is something they do not usually get. – I myself of course had a good time. I went with my C.O. and stayed with some people who gave us a very full welcome indeed and showed us everything. The swimming there is by far the best I have ever had and I now have a very beautiful tan. – If you meet any more Australians from Lethbridge tell them how much we enjoyed their country. It is the next best to Canada.

Much love,
Hampton