21 Dec 1915
Dear Mother
Thank you very much for your letter's & Parcel, it is awful good of you sending things to me, we are still in a rest Camp, & I dont expect we shall go back to the Trenches till after Xmas.

Is has been very wet lately, I shall be very glad when the Spring comes again, maybe the mud will dry up a little then. We are having a Brigade Consort Tomorrow, in the City Hall, of the Town which we are Billited it is a town about the size of Drayton, & although there was fighting here last year it is practicly untouched. The front line Trenches are about 4 miles away, & although the Germans could easily shell the Town they have never done so yet, why I dont know. If you know what part Ralph York & Arbon Major. are in let me know, I suspect Dr Exham could let you know were I am, if he knows were his son is we are just about the same place, I havent seen young Exham for quite a long while, but he's all right, his Regeiment have a pretty soft job, they dont have to go into the Trenches.

We may be turned into an Infantry Regeiment yet, there is talk about it, perhaps it could be better for us, if we were, out present formation, makes it awkward, if we relive an Infantry Battalion in the Trenches. I had a nice long letter from mag yesterday, & another from Tod Patchford, it was a regular Patchford letter it made me a little tired to read it.

I hope you all have a very happy Xmas, & I wish I could be with you all, but I am afraid it is'nt possible, so I'll make the best of it out here. I saw a lot of Xmas puddings that come lately, gift from the paper's or something, so I do'nt expect we should starve. Give my love to Emmy & thank her for the Parcels she sent me

I remain your loving Son

Tommy.