France
27.11.17
Dear May,
Have been well off for parcels since I landed here. First of all Averil’s arrived & then my birthday cake turned up about 3 days ago & today the pcl of sox & honey came. I had just about given up hope of the sox parcel as it is quite a long time since I got Mother’s letter saying it had been sent. Everything landed in good condition but there was just the slightest trace of mildew on the side of the cake where a slice had been cut off, evidently to fit the tin. The dampness from the packet of raisins
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had doubtless caused it as the juice had spread through the packing. However I just took off another slice & the rest was perfectly good. I have been very fortunate in this respect with my cakes as I have seen dozens of lovely big cakes mouldy right through although they have been sealed down. It is always a risky policy to put anything damp in with a cake. Lollies & sugar cause a lot of trouble for unless they are in airtight tins they usually get sticky & damp & that starts the mildew. Another tip is don’t put fancy soap in with eatables, the taste goes through everything in the box.
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It is a wonder these pcls were sent on to me because, owing to the number of pcls that go astray when re-addressed, we have an understanding in the Coy. that when a man is away to Hosp. his section gets his parcels. At a time like this there are so few in the Coy & so many backsheesh parcels that they have sent mine on. I am rather pleased too as I have been helping some of the Tommies in our tent with their parcels & I am glad to be able to “turn it on” now & then. They were amazed when I told them the cake was from N.Z. & had been in the tin for nearly 4 months. You will probably know that Mark Collins has evacuated with trench feet. He was crook when we came out & had to go with the baggage B guard because he could
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not walk. They have sent away several big batches since I left so there can’t be many of the old hands left. Of our section of 9 there is only one still going & when I left he couldn’t sleep for the pain in his feet. I don’t know if I told you that our Coy. marched back to the billets 33 strong & about half of us have been evacuated since, but the few men who came out with the baggage are not included in that. Our Coy. offs. are all gone – one wounded & the rest killed on the 12th. I almost dread the thought of going back as I will hardly know a soul. “Punch” is still going strong & advises me to “swing it” as long as I can as there is not much sport in the Coy. now. He tells me Fred Smith has joined up again.
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I don’t think I told you that when we were marching from Ypres to the trenches just before the stunt a moving picture man took our photos as we filed past in full fighting kit. He was winding away as I passed so ought to be in it. I don’t know who he was representing but the film might possibly get out your way. I’d give something to see the film myself. Unfortunately he wasn’t about when we came out, or he would have got something choice. What do you think of Ernie getting back to England with trench fever. He is lucky in a way but must be disappointed. Since I landed here I have been doing a good bit of reading. They have a big Red Cross recreation room here
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& a very decent library. We pay a deposit of 3d for a book & get it refunded when the book is retd. They have a decent class of books but there is a big demand for them, especially those of the Jack London type. I don’t think there is much more news. I have just been exploring my kit & the only things I could find that that I brought from N.Z. are my purse watch, a few watchmaking tools & that little Khaki Testament that Old Hain gave me. The latter (the Testament, not old H) got has been a casualty since our blow-up in Armentieres but I am afraid that was just what was wanted as it was looking terribly new up till then. Hooray just now.
Love to All
Len
P.S. Did I tell you my warts have all gone away? They got worse until last spring but have all disappeared now.
