Hut 46. C.

Sunday evening, 6 January, 1918

My darling mother,

This Sunday has not been a very happy one for me. It is simply depressing to be confined in this dreary hole with nothing to do knowing that I am within "gettable" distance of home.

I spent a nice time with Mr. Stanton and Holwell yesterday. I arrived, after a dash across London, at the theatre at 2.40pm and the play had only started five minutes before. "When Knights were bold" is a very laughable play; you would have enjoyed it. I have enclosed the essential part of the program.. Afterwards we went back to Mr. Stanton's house and had a high tea which we greatly appreciated. Mr. Stanton and Holwell walked back to camp with me. He is a real sport and the fact the he has asked me and presses me to come to his house as often as I can makes my stay here far more pleasant. He will be coming to "117" next Sunday; we shall arrive at 12 noon, all being well. I have ascertained that he is a Roman Catholic (and none the worse for that) so that he may not go to the Quadrant in the evening. In any case I shall go to Sunday School in the afternoon.

We had a nice service in the Brigade church this morning; the officiating minister is the Rev. James Beeby, quite an eloquent preacher. I have sent his card along for you to see. The rest of the morning I spent in the YMCA and made myself as cosy as possible reading and writing letters. I did the same this afternoon; we had a good tea which rather cheered me up.

I am going to the 7pm service at the YMCA tonight after which I shall soon get to bed. I shall not be going to Dalston if we are to be inoculated on Tuesday. I am going to see Isa on Thursday if possible.

What are you going to do on Saturday? I shall be home as soon as I can. We are dismissed from drill at 12.45pm; if I stay to dinner I cannot get out of camp until 1.45. Shall I cycle home without waiting for dinner here? I shall be an hour longer at home.

The pay which the Surveyor has forwarded is quite correct; a shilling per diem is deducted from my salary.

I shall have to take you and dad to a theatre soon to make a change.

I have been to the service and enjoyed it very much: I have now more hopes that the war may soon be over than before.

I want to catch the post so I will say goodbye. Give dad and the boys their goodnight kiss which I now send to you.

Your loving son,

Dinkey xxxxxx

xxxxxx