No 10 Con Camp
15.12.17
Dear May,
I have posted today two parcels one containing p.c.s & the other a few shells etc. The p.cs consist of 5 books of ruins etc. & a few loose Boulonge views. I fancy I sent you one of these books a few months ago but can’t remember for certain & anyway I don’t know which one. Of course I have seen very few of these ruins but they are all so much alike that it makes little difference. It gives you a little idea of what a town near the line looks like, & what sort of a time the civvy population have had. The Albert church & Buerre St. Ypres are about the only places I know well but have seen a few of the others, but everyone knows the places by name. Have not been able to get a book of Paris views yet. In the other parcel you’ll find a few little souvenirs de Boulonge in the shape of a serviette ring & a little mother of pearl brooch. There is a tremendous lot of this mother of pearl stuff sold here but it is so terribly fragile that it would be courting disaster to send it so far. I doubt if the serv. ring will be very serviceable but these were the two samples that I thought most likely to stand the journey. They might arrive somewhere near your birthday so
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you can put them in your pocket with my compliments. The few shells were picked up on the beach about half a mile away, but they are very ordinary. There are also an old coin or two from various countries you can put them in with the rest of the collection. As you remarked in your letter the collection of various rubbish must take some housing. I think I’ll be surprised myself when I see how it has mounted up. Of course the most precious part of it is the Egyptian photos. I often long to have a look at them again. (A word to the wise is sufficient – just one or two of the best of them.) The p.c department must be wisibly swelling. These picture p.cs are a wonderfully sensible idea when you come to think of it. I don’t know why they didn’t think of them sooner. For a few piasters, a franc or two & a handful of coppers I have been able to send you a picture of every interesting place I’ve seen so that you know almost as much about these places as if you’d been there. Have just made a break to read 7 letters that have just arrived from N.Z. including two from Mother – Sept 26th & 30th. I am glad to hear that her illness didn’t last long & I hope she is still keeping well. You must be some nurse. Those photos of mine must have had a pretty quick trip out as I had to write & shake them up about the end of July.
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I am glad you like them. They reckon in Blighty that they are good of me. I didn’t get many of them just 1/2 doz mtd & 1/2 p.cs & they wouldn’t reach round all my friends. I sent a p.c each to Averil & Joan but didn’t have one for Mr Pratt. He has one of the three of us taken at the Mora &, I think, one of those I got at Trentham. I can’t quite understand Mr Pratt getting no letters from me as I wrote when I got his letter saying the parcel had been sent, & again shortly after the parcel arrived. Will write him again in a few days. I am glad to hear that you get an occasional letter from Walt – it’s more than I can manage. I don’t think I’ve had a line from him since I left N.Z. I will write now & then to 706 St Aubyn St but don’t even know if he is still there. I am glad to hear that the native clematis is flowering. Wouldn’t mind biking home some Sunday to have a look round the garden. It doesn’t seem so very long since I was there. There is no sign of your Xmas parcel yet but there is plenty of time yet before Xmas. I don’t think there is any more news. I told you in a previous letter that the birthday cake & the pcl of sox & honey arrived alright, also a parcel of chocolate from Averil. Hope you all have a good time at Xmas.
Love to All
Len
Have never managed to meet Andersson. I made inquiries about him after the push but could find out nothing.
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Enclosed picture will give you a slight idea of Ypres by night. The photographer must have been in a terrible hurry or else he could have got many more striking views than this.
