1841 Sqd.
British Fleet Mail Office.

Dear Mother and Dad,

I am hoping that from now on you will be getting more regular mail as we hope we won’t be moving about so much from now on. – I was glad to get your letter today with the clippings in it. It was nice for you I should think to hear my name on the news. It really does not merit all that fuss and I am afraid the papers got it wrong a bit as we did not have much to do with the actual sinking. The R.A.F. did that later on. The S/Lt Ross mentioned was in the same ship as myself and I knew him well. The lucky fellow has been sent to Canada on leave. Still I had mine which was nice too –. We are now allowed to tell you a bit of where we have been. We spent some time in Gibraltar and later some time in Alexandria (It was there that I was wearing my great coat. Alexandria is interesting and I enjoyed my stay there but it was the smelliest dirtiest place I have ever seen. The Egyptians really are dirty people and none of us had any time for them at all. – Gibraltar was interesting but very limited in space for a ship with as many people as we have. – The last thing I am allowed to say is that we are now serving in Australian waters so at last you will have some idea of where I am. – Thank you for sending the pen though it has not arrived yet. I hope it does soon because this thing I am using now is the limit. – I have had no word of Phyllis yet but hope to hear soon.

Much love to all
Hampton.

[postscript along margin:] Got a nice letter from Aunt Beth today

[Editor’s note: The envelope’s censor stamp date has been used as the letter date.]