No 27521

Pte. A. Smith

3^rd Essex Regt

Att 27^th Training Reserve

“G” Company

Parkeston Harwich

Dec 2^nd 16

Dear Father

Thank you very much for your parcel received this afternoon.  I was looking forward to it coming; it is a very nice cake & the jelly & paste will be tres bon for lunch or supper all the things are very nice.

Well Dad how is everything going I hope you are quite well?  Pleased to say I am A1 & settled down to the army again now.  We are having a farely good time considering, it is very cold out in the fields drilling but we have a comfortable billet a good fire every evening.  I don’t know how long they will let us stop here but I think we are safe for a while.

You will notice I have given you the army address this time the letters etc come through alright, but the postmen make a fuss about having to deliver each one separate so it will be better in future to direct them to the Regiment.

I hope Jess, Ethel & Winnie are quite well I will write to them the first opportunity but I have been writing about two letters each day I cannot get level with them yet.

I am looking forward to seeing you soon I think it is farely certain we get six days either before or after Xmas.

Well I think I must finish now.

With much love to you all

From your devoted

Son